Cat-sitting an aggressive cat?

Question

I'm watching my friends cat for a week. She came over and got her settled in and she seemed fine. This morning she hisses at the walls and even bit through my hand. I'm trying to give her time to explore and get used to things but she decided that it would be better to hide in a corner and hiss at any movement or noise. She is in the same room as her cat box but she refused to get out of the corner to poop. How can I speed up the comforting enough that she'll eat and go in her litter box? I don't care about the long run, I don't need her to want to be patted or touched and I'm not having guests over. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Is the cat usually aggressive?

The poor thing is most likely scared to death. I would probably leave it alone and let her deal with it in her own time.

Answer 2

I used to be a cat sitter. I have had some aggressive cats to deal with. Only a few things I've tried have worked. Some cats will never adapt to a new setting AND a new person. She probably thinks her owner left her forever.

You might try putting a can of wet cat food or a small can of tuna out in the middle of the room or by the door....or give her some food that you know she likes. If you can pet her nicely while she's eating she will trust you a little more. Maybe a cat toy would work, too.

Another thing is just to walk up to her and take charge. If you are standoffish, she will detect it. You can pick her up by the scruff and pet her until she calms down.

Does she have a cloth that smells like her owner around? towel? an open window for bird watching? She may just need to feel more at home.

Good luck!

Answer 3

As a long time cat foster mom and cat sitter, the first thing is, leave her alone. She is not at home, you are not her mom, and she is feeling abandoned. Put her food and litter in what ever room she has decided to stay in. As often as you want go in that room and sit in a chair or on the floor and talk to her. Don't try to touch her unless she wants you to. I am surprised that your friend didn't have you just check in on her a couple of times a day until she returned. Soft talk and no sudden movements will help too. You can also try a piece of chicken (smile), with no bones.

Be sure and tell her owner how she was acting as she may take a little of that home with her for awhile.

Since it is only for a week don't worry too much. If you can leave the door open only a crack in the room she's in.

Good luck and suggest to her owner that maybe next time she should let her stay home and just have you visit....

Answer 4

Getting Your Cat to Use the Litter Box

Steps:
1. Place a number of litter boxes in different areas of the house to increase the chances that your cat will use one.

2. Use various types of litter boxes and litter materials to entice your cat (see related eHow on cleaning litter boxes).

3. When your cat finally adjusts to using the litter box, keep it in the same place for four weeks.

4. Move the box 1-foot or less per day to the area you want it to stay permanently.

5. Praise your cat when it uses the litter box.

6. If the cat continues to spray, consult an animal behaviorist and your veterinarian. Some cats need temporary antianxiety medication.

Answer 5

We recently had a cat that behaved the same way, if you have an extra bathroom that you could put the cat and the litter box in that may be a good way to go about it, let it out when you aren't going to be home so it can get used to the house without you there.

Answer 6

If she's sitting in one corner and won't move, put her litter box close to her. It sounds like you're just keeping her in one room, which is good. You should close the door to the room and leave her alone. Don't let anyone go in there unless it's necessary. She needs to be alone in her new room. The smaller and less complicated the space and the more things she recognizes as her own (toys, bowls, etc.), the better.

Answer 7

You can't hasten the taming process. Cats don't care about you, your feelings about the fact that they don't and they certainly don't care that you are bigger then they are, they will still attack a threat and you have not been the person regularly feeding it, keeping it clean or any of those life necessities that might just prompt some slight nose lift to sniff you... in time
but if you want the cat to actually "Like" you. Forget it and quit taking it so personally. It's not your boyfriend, it's a cat for Pete's sake! A cat who will be LEAVING shortly!

My cat couldn't give a crap. He comes to cuddle when he feels like it and does his own thing the rest of the time. That's what I like most about it. They don't pretend to like you just because you feed it. and could manage on its own if I stopped. I think my cat is great, but if he could talk I have the feeling that indifference would be as far as I rate. Fine by me, I wish all people were more like Him!

Answer 8

so i take it the cats at your house if so thats why, its a new place and diffrent people, its scaird.

it is best to cat sit at your friends house where it feels safe.

put the litter tray in the corner. put some of your friends stuff in with her (for the owners sent) if she wont eat her food give her bits of chicken and get some cat treats.
make the room feel safe by closing the curtans and leaving her alown and keeping the house quiet.

also where thick clothing and gloves so it cant bite you again and get your hand checked out if you havent allready.

Answer 9

Bring home some catnip for her.

Cat's hate being moved around to new surroundings. She's pissed her owner left her in a strange place so she's taking it out on you. She doesn't know any better.

Try to relax her with some good quality catnip. That should settle her down some. Leave her alone with the catnip, let her eat/roll in it at her own pace and simply ignore her. She'll either come around or she won't, but you can't force it.

Answer 10

Put her in a room where there is no activity and leave her with her food and litter box. Just go in when you need to. She is very stressed and may continue to attack you. You need to soak your bite wound in Epsom salt to help draw the germs from it. It will swell up and become very painful otherwise. Also apply a triple antibiotic ointment to the wound once you soak it. And make certain that the cat is current on her rabies shot!

Answer 11

Cats HATE change. Kitty should have been confined to a single room when first brought into your house. Would give it a chance to get used to the surroundings. Then it would explore as it saw fit. If she knows where the box is, she will go when needed. As far as eating...........when she gets hungry, she will eat.

Good Luck!