My cat is scared of everything! Please help me!?

Question

i got my Siamese cat when he was just 3 months old... so from weaning from his mother, he went into my care.

He is such a sweet cat, so loving and loyal.

Now he's almost 10 months old.. HE'S SCARED OF EVERYTHING!

He's scared of neighbors, new friends coming over, construction workers remodeling our house, my grandfather's wheelchair ( when my grandpa was here )... he's scared of meeting new people basically!

I need help! He even hyperventilates when he's in his cage and surrounded with new people!

I love him soo much, like a baby... but maybe is it because I babied him too much?

please, i do need help with this one guys... i want my cat to be more courageous with new things in his life!

Answer 1

The best way to deal with a scared cat is to let him be. But most times what we see as ''meanness" in a cat is just part of being a cat. You can change this behavior, but only if you understand what's behind it and react properly. Here's what makes cats go crazy and how to correct the problems:

Overstimulation. You're petting your cat, and suddenly he grabs you with his claws and teeth. It's not a full-powered attack, but you still have those sharp tips around your hand. What to do? In the short run, freeze. Don't struggle or fight back, or you may trigger a real bite. Sometimes smacking your other hand against a hard surface -- a table top, for example -- may startle your cat into breaking off the attack. If you stay still, however, he will usually calm down and release you.

That's the solution if you've gotten to the attack stage. The better option is to be familiar with your cat and his body language and stop petting before he becomes overstimulated. Cat lovers often think such attacks come without warning, but they've missed the warning signs of a cat who has simply had enough. The tail is the key. If your cat starts twitching his tail in a jerky fashion, it's time to stop petting.

Play aggression. Sure, it hurts all the same, but the cat who pounces on your feet and then careens off the wall isn't trying to hurt you -- he's playing. Instead of punishing your cat, redirect his energy. Increase your play sessions with your cat with an appropriate toy, such as a cat fishing pole or toy on a string, to help your cat burn off his excess energy before you try for a quiet petting session.

No matter what, never let your cat view you as a plaything, not even when he's an adorable kitten. Wrestling bare-handed with your cat or kitten is a no-no, because you're setting a bad precedent. A stuffed sock is a great substitute for a human hand when it comes to playthings -- let your cat bite, claw, and bunny-kick to his heart's content.

What if he persists in seeing you as a plaything? As with an overstimulated cat, stop the behavior by freezing. Don't give him a reason to continue the attack. You can also inform him that attacks on you are not permitted by letting him have it with a shot of water from a spray bottle.

Redirected aggression. Your cat sees another cat, an intruder, outside your living-room window. He becomes enraged. You walk by, and he nails you. What gives? You were just the victim of redirected aggression.

This one's tough to fix. Try to discourage strange cats in your yard. Thump on the window, turn on the sprinklers, or put an air horn out the door and give them a blast. If you can't keep the intruders out, block your cat's access to the window through which he sees the other cats. And again, be aware of your cat's body language. A cat who's looking for trouble is one who's best avoided.

With all feline aggression, the trick is to eliminate the triggers and work on your cat's tolerance. If you're patient and consistent, your cat will improve over time.

Answer 2

Hey, I am scared of meeting new people too so don't be so hard on him! That is actually a good thing in a way as there are many cats that find a new home as they will go to anyone and then they feed the cat and then it stays. Maybe you could try with just one person and get this friend or relative to give your cat it's favourite treat. Get them to do this everytime they come over and then try it with a different person and so on.

Answer 3

Trying to make a cat more "courageous" is only going to make him more scared. At least a scared cat won't be running through the house like it's on speed and destroying things in the process.

Answer 4

I have a calico cat and she is very loving..at some points lol. But my cat is scared of everything a little different though. Whenever she walks into my room whenever she sees my closet she goes there and starts to twitch and back forward or moving her paw inside. She is scared of paper,pencils,clothing..almost anything you find on the floor she'll bounce.

Answer 5

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RE:
My cat is scared of everything! Please help me!?
i got my Siamese cat when he was just 3 months old... so from weaning from his mother, he went into my care.

He is such a sweet cat, so loving and loyal.

Now he's almost 10 months old.. HE'S SCARED OF EVERYTHING!

He's scared of neighbors, new friends coming over, construction...

Answer 6

This same thing happened with my cat.She would hide whenever people came over. Your cat is still young and maybe it will take a while for him/her to get used to everything. In case your wondering, my cat is now the opposite of what she used to be(she is not shy).It took a while is all. That needs to happen to your cat so my answer is be patient! :-)

Answer 7

cats want their own space.a place wher e they can go for security-wherever that is.cats are not always that sociable to everyone.you can't expect him to be like a dog to like everyone.particulary a siamese-they tend to be loving to only one person.as there are only one person dogs.i might suggest reading up on the breed.i have 3 cats with 3 personalities.one who can't get enough affection-one will let me know when she desires a pet.and one is what ever. i hope i helped

Answer 8

i have 2 male kittens 10 months old out of the same litter. they were born in my living room.I have the mom too. the boys are as different as night and day. absolutely spoiled rotten. Narciss is out going wants to be pet by any one that he sees. Sylvester will only come to me he's afraid of everybody 'but is more curious and a lot smarter. They have their own personalities and idiosyncrasies just like the people they own

Answer 9

The same thing happened to one of my kittens when i brought one of my kittens home just walk(or crawl if u have to) very slowy and pick him/her up gently then go sit on a couch/chair/seat/whatever and just pet her/him very softly and speak very quietly and nicely in his/her ear. then maybe take some cat food and put it in ur hand then feed it to her/him then just comfurt her for the next few minutes and then after the soft side is done fill up ur tub(if u have one if u dont fill up ur sink) and put him/her int he corner but be careful(my cat fell in but he got to the corner himself)and just put ur hand in the water just gently rock the water for a few minutes and ur kitten should get braver hope this helped

Answer 10

I think nervous cats tend to remain nervous. They usually only ever get to trust one person. A nervous cat will never become 'sociable'. I wish I knew what to suggest but my parents rescued abandoned cats and they never became outgoing. Your cat will be loving toward you, but that's all, I think.