Help with terrified cat!!?

Question

Hey,
I have owned two cats (brother & sister) for over 2 years. I live with a older man (we're roommates). I work, he's doesn't do a damn thing! I've seen his temper flair in the past.
Anyway, I came home from work yesterday and my male cat is terrified! he stays upstairs...will come down occasionally...but at the sight of my roommate, he goes busting up the stairs and hides under my bed!!
Could someone give me their experience of animals and what might be wrong with my cat?? He's always been a big old spoiled baby, he's nothing like himself!

Please, experience only, no speculations!! Should I call the vet??

thanks

Answer 1

Fear of the other housemate means one thing--he was hurt or very badly frightened by the person and doesn't want to be in the vicinity of another 'attack'. Listen to your cat, things are not going good if he's terrified. Cats don't make this up!

It's got to be more than a simple accidental step on a paw, to cause fear like that means something a lot worse happened. Check your cat over, look for sore spots, blood, 'guarding' or wincing when you touch, check all joints and around the head. Physical abuse may or may not leave a mark, but cats are small animals and can easily be badly injured.

Answer 2

I don't really see how a vet could help. Sedatives don't sound right for the reason. Chamomile has worked to calm cats I've known in the past; you can get some cat-friendly chamomile products at most pet stores.

But did you ask your roommate if something happened while you were out? You say no speculations, but you gave a very plausible reason in your introduction. Your cat freaks at the sight of your roommate, after a period of time that you weren't present. I've only ever seen cats respond like that when the person did something to cause them a great deal of stress or pain (intentional or not).

If nothing else, try to spend some quality time with your cat. If whatever happened was accidental (and not a bigger issue to deal with), some extra loving should help him be more at ease and go back to normal.

Answer 3

You need to confront your roommate. It seems that he yelled, kicked or threw something at the cat. You need to get to the bottom of this. If he had accidentally dropped something I don't think the cat would be this terrified. It's probably been leading up to this.
Cats don't have this reaction unless there is a reason. I had a cat that went thru the Oakland earthquake. Although we were approx 25 miles away our house shook violently. The cat would not come out of a cupboard for 2 weeks. This made him nervous to loud noises for the rest of his 18 years.
Yes, call the vet, have him checked for injury and ask if he can give him a light sedative for a few days.

Answer 4

This is speculation, but to me it's obvious that your roommate has been abusing or at least terrorizing, your cat.

I think you think the same thing but want validation from us in Answers.

You'd better do something -- either place the cat elsewhere or, preferably, get rid of the roommate, or either the cat will mysteriously disappear or it will mysteriously die.

Once someone starts abusing an animal, it doesn't stop, it just gets worse. And people who start with brutalizing an animal often progress to humans. You could be in danger yourself before long.

I once worked for a woman whose husband would kick their dog around. One day he killed the dog. She was getting ready to leave him, and when she came home, he killed her.

Answer 5

im sorry to say but your roomate IS hurting your cat. I had the same situation happen with me. U can tell too because if they see your roomate he will RUN. That is ALLL you need to know. Move or make his *** move. Your cat should be treated like your child. Since u have no evidence that he is hurting ur cat your gonna have to do one of those. Either that or set up a cam and try to bust him then report him to the police and he WILL get arrested. I wouldnt waste any time tho. I am sorry this is happening. If u cant move and he wont if u really loved your cats u would find them a better home.

Answer 6

I have a cat who came to me I tryed not to keep her but she insisted on staying this cat was terrified of people especially men she would sleep with one eye open hide under anything jumped up in my closet to the highest shelf for about a year she still gets scared if a loud noise my opinion my cat was abused and so is yours when your not home take a moment to look outside of the box instead of in and you and your cats can live a safer life

Answer 7

nicely, Ben's peeing on the carpet grew to become into probable extra an act of marking his territory than the rest. Cats, as you probable already be responsive to, are very territorial creatures. So he's rightly disenchanted approximately this little newcomer. My dogs did the comparable element as quickly as we've been given our budgie approximately 4 years in the past. She grew to become into not a chuffed camper and grew to become into deathly afraid of our new feathered pal. She at last have been given used to the actuality that we've a chook, yet she nevertheless sulks if we pay interest to the chook whilst she is in the room. final analysis is- Ben is often going to resent the actuality that he now has to share the attention with yet another animal. the perfect element to do is to instruct him that even in spite of the indisputable fact which you have Holly on your life, you will consistently discover time for him. Spend some extra suitable minutes right here and there merely giving him your finished undivided interest. it will make each and all the adaptation. sturdy success :)

Answer 8

I think your roommate has done something to terrify your cat. I am not accusing but, he may have even gone as far as hitting him. My ex-husband beat my dog with a pair of mini blinds and he still doesn't like men very well and that has been over 9 years ago. He loves my new husband ,but it took time and he has really gained his trust. He growls and nips at other men.

Answer 9

i don't know how you can ask this question and not expect to get speculation since we are not there. all i can tell you is this: my husband's grandson is big and rambunctious and his temper has flared on occasion also. not necessarily at the cats or dogs (that i know of, but who knows what goes on when i'm not here) and all of my animals run when he walks in the door. i can only assume that either he has terrorized my animals when i wasn't here, or they just sense his nasty attitude.

Answer 10

your cat is being abused by your roommate so i would get a new one. (regarding the roommate)