I recently adopted a 4-year-old siamese female from a Shelter. I was told that she's very sweet and good with children. However, she hisses and growls at my child, and sometimes growls when I pet her. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle her, so she feels more at ease?
2007-08-13 04:41:19 · 4 answers · asked by Natasha 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Routine. Cats love routine and knowing what others will do, so you need to let her see how you interact with her and how you go about your daily life.
No sudden grabs, not pinching (by the child), no rough handling. Siamese are pretty smart, but they bond to certain people. This one may be mourning the loss of her owner (former owner) since she's four years old, and needs time to adjust. In cases like this sometimes less handling is better--the cat needs to make moves to you when she feels comfortable and needing contact, but you need to be open to her without pushing her warning buttons.
Try 'drive by pettings'. Talk to her from across the room. When you come by, just lightly stroke her side, or pet the top of her head, if she's comfortable with that. Don't pick her up for a while. This lets her feel in control and that nobody's pushing at her too much (the growling usually means personal space is violated too fast or unexpectedly). By talking quietly with her you lower the stress levels too.
She's in a new place, it does take time.
2007-08-13 19:02:39 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just remember..a feral cat is basically a wild animal. Not quite completely wild in nature due to its domesticity but pretty close. I've had a feral cat before and it never became completely "tame". Best thing to do is start off slowly. Give it a nice place to sleep outside near your house. Like on a porch or deck or near the back door. Depending on where you live just something simple like a box with some straw or old blankets. Leave food out for it and let come and go as it pleases. That way it will come to know and trust you. You just have to let the cat dictate when, or if, it's ready to accept you and your cat. When it feels comfortable enough it will ask to come inside and get to know you better.
2016-05-21 06:19:57 · answer #2 · answered by shirleen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the problem is that the cat was treated badly or left alone before it came to the shelter. Siamese cats don't like to be left alone, expesaly for long periods of time. The best way to tame your cat is to teach it that you are a good guy and that you aren't going to harm him/her. To show this, you can start by letting him/her sniff you or your child and give her/him a treat. Get closer and closer to you cat in time and you should soon be able to hold out a treat and him/her will eat it from your hand. Start by gently stroking him/her down her back lightly. Your cat just needs some time to realize that you are going ot be the good guys. Good luck!
2007-08-13 04:51:28 · answer #3 · answered by lacrosse_love 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
siamise cats are temperamental kind of like chihuahua of dogs they get over stimulated easyily her growling is just her way of saying i'm in a bad mood so stay away
2007-08-13 04:50:30 · answer #4 · answered by gidget lil bit 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋