Understand your cat's fears

 You may have observed your cat hiding, freezing in a certain location, or struggling to escape a certain situation. These are all common signs that your cat is scared. So what can you do as a tutor to calm him down and feel safe again?

Identifying a scared cat

Fear in cats is usually caused by negative associations made in childhood. This could be fear of dogs when socialized at a young age or simply trauma that occurred when they were kittens. It could also be due to an abusive caregiver in the past. Whatever it is, it is necessary to identify the trigger and help the kitten to reassociate this situation with something positive, always with a lot of patience and affection.

Common signs of fear, is when the cat is:

•        Running away;

•        Hiding;

•        Aggressive;

•        Freezing in place;

•        Urinating involuntarily.

Common triggers are:

•        Loud noise;

•        sudden movement;

•        Strange environment;

•        New person or animal;

•        Noisy children.

But what are the possible reasons for fear?

new tutor

A common reason a cat is so scared is because he needs time to get used to his new owner. If you've just adopted him, he'll also need time to adjust to his new home. Cats are generally very reserved animals, which is why it is common for them to be a little scared and shy when being adopted.

new environment

Similar to a new owner, a cat can also get scared if you move into a new home, you will need to adapt to this new space. This adaptation may be why your cat hides under furniture or climbs into high areas to look around.

New pet or person in the house

Another stressful situation for a cat is having a new person or pet in your home. Cats are very territorial and will find it difficult to share their space with newcomers. This process will also take time to generate positive associations with the new member.

Street cat

If you have decided to take care of a stray cat, you may notice that they are very fearful, cautious and shy. This is probably because they haven't had many interactions with other humans and are therefore very careful. Over time, they will understand that they are safe with you and in your home.

bad socialization

Cats who were poorly socialized as kittens may also have difficulty adapting to new situations. This will make them feel fearful when faced with a new person, another animal, or a new environment.

Abuse suffered in the past

By adopting a cat from the animal shelter, you can deal with an animal that has been abused by its previous owners. This will make the cat afraid of humans or certain situations such as: loud noises or sudden movements. Your cat will need a lot of patience and love to show that they are perfectly safe in their new home and that they will not be abused again.

Health problems

Lastly, your cat may become fearful, reserved and shy due to a health problem. This is always the most important cause to rule out. You can do this by simply taking him in for a checkup at your local vet.

How to help a scared kitten?

Patience

For most of these problems, you will need patience. Some causes, such as a new person, pet, or environment, will take time. However, you will also need to avoid common triggers and encourage your cat to socialize with the new family member through positive reinforcement, never forcefully.

If you've moved into a new home, remember to bring your own toys, bedding, feeders and drinkers , etc. That way he won't feel completely lost in the new environment. Whenever your kitty appears to be anxious or unwell, try to speak to them in a low voice and have them stay close to you so they feel safe.

connect to kitty

Whether you've adopted a new cat or brought someone new into the house, you'll need to bond with him. You can do this by playing with the cat, giving it affection, and even training it to do simple tricks through positive reinforcement.

This will make your cat feel calmer in your presence or in the presence of the newcomer. In addition to being important in cases of adoption of a stray cat or a cat with trauma from former tutors.

It is a good idea to introduce them to a new person or pet

When introducing your cat to a new animal or person, it's best to do it slowly, cats need time. Therefore, it is important to introduce them gradually, giving them space and time to get used to the new situation. 

Positive reinforcement

Lastly, positive reinforcement is crucial when it comes to raising a happy, healthy cat. You should never punish or scare your pussy as this will scare him. He may develop behavioral problems that lead to health problems.

That's why we should always train the feline through positive reinforcement. This also helps in re-associating positive things with situations that generate fear, helping them to overcome their old traumas.