I am at my wits end with my scardy cat and am just not sure what to do any more! I follow Jackson Galaxy and have tried various things he recommends and nothing is working! I come on here occasionally to try and find answers to some of my questions.
My cat, BW, is about 5-6 years old. Not sure exactly, she was a feral and stayed around my house for a few years before she decided to come in. She prefers to stay inside but I do let her go outside twice a day, first thing in the morning and just as the sun sets. She very rarely goes off the porch/patio unless I am out there (too scared). She will follow me around the yard. Every now and then something comes by and scares her and she will run back inside. If she truly freaks and we are not close to the back door, she will hide under the house next door where I won't see her for hours. Eventually she will come back though.
I have learned to handle most of her quirks, but I just don't know what to do about her being so scared of everything! If the doorbell rings, a neighbor comes over or I have guests, she hides and I won't see her for hours. I have tried blocking access to her hiding spot but she just finds a new one. I have tried both pheromones and Jackson Galaxy's Scardy Cat hoping that it will help. Anywhere I place either product she will no longer go there. I placed it on my hands but she won't let me pet her if she smells it on my hands. She drinks from the faucet - won't drink from a bowl or a water fountain so I can't put it in her water.
One thing that has helped is that I play with her at least once a day - sometimes twice if she has too much energy at night. She never plays to the panting stage but she will get tired and only bat at what we're play with. I have gotten her lots of toys to play with by herself but she won't play with anything nor does she use the tree I got. Scared of all of it. Sometimes I think she is extremely bored but I can't play with her all the time! Only thing I can get her to play with is if I wad up a piece of paper and throw it at her. She may chase after it for about 5 minutes before she gets bored. I figured that since she is feral she was never taught to play with toys so I try to teach her but she looks at me like I'm crazy!
I'll admit I'm obsessed with what to do with this cat but I just hate to see her hide for 8-10 hours a day. She usually sleeps with me at night so at least she isn't hiding then! Or at least until 5:00 am when she starts demanding I get up and feed her!
Anyone have any suggestions? She is the first cat I've ever been around and taken care of. I understand dogs, cats no so much!
Thanks!
My cat, BW, is about 5-6 years old. Not sure exactly, she was a feral and stayed around my house for a few years before she decided to come in. She prefers to stay inside but I do let her go outside twice a day, first thing in the morning and just as the sun sets. She very rarely goes off the porch/patio unless I am out there (too scared). She will follow me around the yard. Every now and then something comes by and scares her and she will run back inside. If she truly freaks and we are not close to the back door, she will hide under the house next door where I won't see her for hours. Eventually she will come back though.
I have learned to handle most of her quirks, but I just don't know what to do about her being so scared of everything! If the doorbell rings, a neighbor comes over or I have guests, she hides and I won't see her for hours. I have tried blocking access to her hiding spot but she just finds a new one. I have tried both pheromones and Jackson Galaxy's Scardy Cat hoping that it will help. Anywhere I place either product she will no longer go there. I placed it on my hands but she won't let me pet her if she smells it on my hands. She drinks from the faucet - won't drink from a bowl or a water fountain so I can't put it in her water.
One thing that has helped is that I play with her at least once a day - sometimes twice if she has too much energy at night. She never plays to the panting stage but she will get tired and only bat at what we're play with. I have gotten her lots of toys to play with by herself but she won't play with anything nor does she use the tree I got. Scared of all of it. Sometimes I think she is extremely bored but I can't play with her all the time! Only thing I can get her to play with is if I wad up a piece of paper and throw it at her. She may chase after it for about 5 minutes before she gets bored. I figured that since she is feral she was never taught to play with toys so I try to teach her but she looks at me like I'm crazy!
I'll admit I'm obsessed with what to do with this cat but I just hate to see her hide for 8-10 hours a day. She usually sleeps with me at night so at least she isn't hiding then! Or at least until 5:00 am when she starts demanding I get up and feed her!
Anyone have any suggestions? She is the first cat I've ever been around and taken care of. I understand dogs, cats no so much!
Thanks!
