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Griffindream
Aug 31, 2009, 03:43 PM
A stray cat had two kittens on my lawn.I used her kittens to make her follow me into my house.She herself was shy and took two years to trust me.One kitten is fearful and to this day is scared of everything his brother is the opposite. His mother is easier going know then he is. My Question is how do I make him less nervous.He walks or around almost all day in the house making sure nothing wrong.He puffs up his fir every time he is afraid of something. If someone gets hurt he comes to check out.He will then avoid that object that hurt you. Also he decides when he will be touched but does love to be petted on his terms. Also hates weird textures, sounds and new objects. This comes to the most major problem he freaks out at the vets(growling, defecating and hissing).We tried having a vet to come to are house but he acted the same and I prefer sticking to my regular vet. Know the vet has suggested using aesthetic when we come to get a check-up or shots. Is there a way to avoid this.

hheath541
Aug 31, 2009, 03:47 PM
How old is he? How old was he when you brought them inside?

Some cats are just naturally skittish. He may also have been partly feral when you brought him in, which would stick with him.

Griffindream
Aug 31, 2009, 04:00 PM
We brought them in when they were just born, and he is about two years old know. We treated him and his brother the same. His brother is friendly, curious and very easy going and loves new people so I not sure it is anything we did. However Cosmo(the skittish cat) was closer to his mother and I think because his mother was shy at the beginning copied her a bit. But the mother today tame and less skittish then her son however she does not like strange people.

J_9
Aug 31, 2009, 04:02 PM
Cats have personalities as to dogs and humans. This may just be his nature.

hheath541
Aug 31, 2009, 04:07 PM
At 2 years old I would have to say that it's just part of who he is. You could have learned it from his mother initially, but at this point I don't see it changing. The only thing you can do is try to show him that things are not a threat and pet and cuddle him whenever he lets you.

I assume you keep them inside all the time?

Griffindream
Aug 31, 2009, 04:20 PM
They are indoors cats, but I walk them on a leash every day on a leash. The calm one loves his cat walks. The skittish one does not like this idea totally and is not walked on a leash outside. However he does not mind being on a leash and harness sitting with on my porch with the door open to rush back in if he is afraid. I have catnip plants and potted grass on my porch for him so he loves to go out there to eat the grass. I am thinking of having my porch made into a run so he can hang out and rush back in if he is afraid (although I would supervise him for he does not like being alone outside.) and in case if anything went wrong.

hheath541
Aug 31, 2009, 04:42 PM
It sounds like they are very well cared for cats and you have done everything you can to put him at ease. He's just naturally skittish, like some people just have naturally nervous personalities.

morgaine300
Sep 1, 2009, 03:21 AM
For the sake of the house, that is just his personality. One of my cats is friendly and trusting, but also very skittish and runs off if I breath the wrong way. It's not hurting anything.

However, for the sake of the vet trips, you might try a thing called Rescue Remedy. Just Google that name and you'll find places you can get it. (You might even find it locally or maybe your vet has heard of it.) I know a lot of people who use this to calm their cats down for vet trips. It's better than being anesthetized for every trip in.

earl237
Sep 3, 2009, 12:07 PM
I have three cats and one was a stray that I found about 7 years ago. He was very hyper and often chased and bit the others. Even today he still runs around the house and howls at night and still picks on the others occasionally. Neutering him didn't change him at all so I guess that is just the way he is. Sometimes you have to accept them they way they are.

spitvenom
Sep 3, 2009, 12:13 PM
My mom has had a cat for 4 years and he is the same way. You seriously can't even look at him without him hissing. He lets me pet him a little bit then he will bite me. If people come over he is hiding upstairs under the bed. And if you go in that room he attacks and I am not talking about playing I mean ears back hissing and growling and then claws in your legs. Nothing ever happened to him he is a rescue from hope for the animals. Some cats are just skittish.