I have a 6 year old Calico female named Casey. We took her in off the street when she was 5 and she was so tiny when we got her, we thought she was about 4 months old. I took care of her and fed her and it looked to me like she was just growing, when we took her to the vet I was so surprised when he said she was 6, they said she was so malnurished, she looked like she was growing, but that I was doing everything right and that her nervousness would eventually go away. She is so afraid of the vacuum, my other cat (who just died last week), the rustling of plastic bags, even when people sniffle loudly! She doesn't like to be held and I try to hold her a lot for short periods of time because I love to give my animals constant love and I want her to get used to it, she also throws up her food almost every other time she eats, and I'm very concerned for her. Also, she is an indoor cat now. How can I help her?
2007-02-15 19:20:26 · 8 answers · asked by &hearts Emmy's Mommy &hearts 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Who knows what ordeals your cat had to go through while living on her own as a street cat. My cat is also very skittish, even though she's 13 now and we've had her since she was a little kitten. Nothing bad has ever happened to her as far as I know. She also freaks out every time I run the vacuum cleaner, and every time the garbage truck comes to our house. She also has phases where she upchucks frequently. If your vet has ruled out any physical cause for the vomiting, maybe it's just because your cat is nervous. Some people have nervous stomachs, too. Also, since your cat lives indoors, make sure she has cat grass to help her get rid of hairballs. There are also special-formula cat foods for indoor cats. I hope you poor kitty can learn to relax more. Just be patient with her.
2007-02-15 21:58:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also have a female Calico, she is 12 years old. She does the same thing, every time too. I go to get a plastic bag, she jumps ten feet and runs like mad when she hears it. The vacuum, forget it, she's gone! I think, in my opinion, they have a tendency to be very jumpy and jittery cats. The only explanation for me is their breed, maybe. My cat too throws up several times a week. She has done that too since I brought her home from the shelter as a kitten. She's healthy, not sick at all. I haven't met a cat yet that likes to be held. I think that's in all cats. Show her affection by petting her and scratching her around her ears and chin. Like my cat, I can't hold her. I have tried since she was a kitten, there is no way she will be held. Hope this helps!
2007-02-15 19:37:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most cats are afraid of the vacuum cleaner and some cats simply don't like being held alot. Other cats like being held so much they can be too pesky at seeking attention.
It would be a good idea to have her seen by the vet to try to figure out the cause of the vomiting problem, vomiting that frequently is not normal. It may be caused by parasites, hairballs, or some other simple cause, even nerves, and the vet should be able to help you with that.
You don't know what kind of experiences this cat may have survived in the streets, and most likely her fears are related to something that happened in her past.
Above all, time and patience are necessary when dealing with a rescue cat, it sometimes can take months for a rescue to learn that this new comfortable world of good treatment is a total change from the past.
2007-02-15 19:44:51 · answer #3 · answered by TheSnakeWhisperer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Is she a new cat? Or is this new behavior? Cats are always going to be skittish creatures - my cat will sometimes be so startled by a noise that she'll go zooming into a wall (which is cute, but also a little sad). When I first brought her home, it definitely took her a while to get used to hearing the person in the apartment upstairs. If it's a new behavior, I'd advise you to take her to a vet - maybe there's something wrong with her ears, that these formerly normal sounds are suddenly so upsetting to her. Good luck!
2016-05-24 06:10:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when an animal like that lives a hard life it develops increadible sensitivity to anything stimulas which could threaten its life, or cause it injury. These insticts kept it alive for 6 years, and are very ingrained into its mind. It will take a lot of time for her to realize that she no longer needs them, that her life is not in danger anymore. Once that sinks into her subconciouse mind, then she will begin to get over those fears. Only through exposure and time can this happen. There is no cure.
2007-02-15 19:29:39 · answer #5 · answered by Jack of 4 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
all cats have different personalities, i mean some cats are skiddish and some aren't. u said u adopted that cat so it could have easily been abused in the past so i mean anything is poosible. just love it the way the cat wants to be loved.
2007-02-15 19:28:52 · answer #6 · answered by Reyes&Ricky 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pet Her!!!! Give her lots of loves, give her turkey and/or chicken lunch meats when you know shes going to get scared, and Shell be back for more...no matter what!!
2007-02-15 19:32:29 · answer #7 · answered by sick_incentive 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
set a good example and hopefully time will tell. Good luck
2007-02-15 19:22:57 · answer #8 · answered by The TrutH 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋