I have a very shy cat..

@mobhomeir (7558)
Philippines
July 4, 2012 2:29am CST
Of all of my life caring lots of cats I had one that is so shy with people aside from what he usually see. I found this cat as a little kitten (a week old I guess)being thrown on a grassy place near the church. He grown up on us without being exposed to different people around since we never use him to go outside. His grown-up playmates our two older cats and our dogs. Now as he is already on his adolescent age he would run and hide to our most hidden part of our house whenever we have visitors or other people around us. I would just like to know if this would not be changed as he grows older or he can overcome his fear and shyness as time goes by... Do you have also this kind of cat? Mobhomeir here 070412 1529hrs
7 responses
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
6 Jul 12
I had one cat that would hide in the rafters if anyone strange came over. One time, they were working on the roof, and she was so well hidden I started to think she got out. She didn't have claws, so I was very worried about her. She was like that as a kitten and never grew out of it in her 14 years.
1 person likes this
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
Whoa!! cat without claws? First time to hear that my friend . Is the one you put in your picture profile? Thanks for responding... Mobhomeir here 070712 2130hrs
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Jul 12
A declawed cat is pretty common here in the US. At least it used to be, I don't think vets do it as much anymore. It is only the front claws that are taken out, so they still have the use of the back ones. The cat can't damage your furniture, but it also can't defend itself. If you have it done, you have to keep it inside. The one in my profile isn't one of mine. I got it off of a calendar, I wasn't sure how to post it, so just used one that was handy to see if I could do it. After it worked, I liked it, so I just kept it!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
4 Jul 12
I have a VERY shy cat. I got Murphy when she was 10 weeks old. She had been taken to the humane society and tossed into a cage. Unfortunately the person didn't latch the cage and she got lose. It took three days for the people at the humane society to catch her. Unfortunately the men chased her a LOT during that time, and it terrified her. When I met her we instantly bonded and she felt safe with me...but not anyone else. When the people at the humane society tried to handle her she lashed out. When I picked her up she snuggled and was content. It remained that way when I got her home. She did learn to tolerate my Mom (I lived with her, helping take care of her) but if we had anyone come to visit Murphy hid for the entire time. To this day she is still that shy. There is only one other person she will come out to visit and that is my boyfriend. If she is on my lap or in any other part of the house and she hears someone coming up to the house she runs like crazy to hide in my bedroom, cowering under the bed. Usually the fear and shyness doesn't go away as they get older. Murphy is 18 and is still very shy. It comes from the horrible start that they had as a kitten. People don't think that animals remember, but they do and the cause of their terror stays with them for life.
1 person likes this
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
6 Jul 12
One thing you will find with your shy cat is that he will panic when you try to take him anywhere. Both of our abandoned babies love their people and their homes so totally and are so secure with us that any unusual event where you remove them from their home will frighten them terribly. My Murphy gets so upset when I take her to the vet that I don't do it too often. I get her in the carrier and she promptly starts screaming, clawing the cage door, and losing hair in huge quantities (the hair loss is a sign of stress and fear). Once on the road she will continue screaming and then will vomit and pooping through the whole trip. It's the same way on the trip home. Since the little girl is now 18 years old, I am not subjecting her to any more trips like that. The stress and terror could kill her. It is a great feeling to have a cat so attached to you that they don't want to leave their home. In a way it's sad, but in another way it is great because you know the cat is going to be safe because of their desire to stay in their happy home. There is another plus to having a shy cat, and that is that no one can come along and steal your cat! I've had cats stolen from my doorstep before...and the people did it when I was at home! This way if someone approaches the cat they run like crazy and are hard to catch. I thought you might like the benefit of my experience with Murphy and her absolute terror of losing her home. Cats that have the shyness trait all go through the separation from their home anxiety. Tranquilizers don't help either, so if you have to take your cat to the vet, keep it in mind and carry some cleaning supplies and bags to hold the paper towels. Above all be patient with the poor cat, it isn't doing this to be mean, it is absolutely in terror.
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
6 Jul 12
Yes. I guess you're right my friend. We have one common kind of cat. I don't know where this cat came from and his family history because I picked him when I happened to heard him crying on the grassy portion of the church. I guess he was just a week old when thrown from his master. Out of pity I picked him up and take care of him. He'd grown up never expose to some other people because he grown up til his maturity just inside our house. He is almost a year to us but like yours he runs every time there would other people come around to us... On the other hand, we like it because he just inside the house unlike our other male cat who keeps on going outside he would just come home to eat and go out again. Thanks for responding my friend... Mobhomeir here/ 070612 2017hrs
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 Jul 12
It is hard to tell it might just be his personality
1 person likes this
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
6 Jul 12
Yes you're right my friend as what other said. Thanks for responding my dear.. Mobhomeir here 070612 2018hrs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Jul 12
Most likely his personality won't change however, he may get a little more relaxed as time goes on and he grows up however, you'll need more people to visit so he'll be exposed to more and more people. Especially those who love cats and will treat them right when they're around. The more the cat is handled in a gentle way, the more he'll learn to trust humans.
1 person likes this
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
6 Jul 12
I hope that would work because as what I had observed there were already lots of different people come and go in our house but still he goes away and hide every time he sees someone new or even to someone who already coming back to us... Mobhomeir here 070612 2006hrs
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
4 Jul 12
I think he will eventually come out of it as he learns to trust people more. But don't get your hopes up for a huge behavior change. If he's satisfied with the interactions with what he has now it shouldn't be a big worry for you.
1 person likes this
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
6 Jul 12
As what i observed this is already his personality. thanks for responding my friend.. mobhomeir here 070612 2003hrs
• Philippines
4 Jul 12
hi mob, I have lots of cats they are very active specially if I am calling them But I think you are lucky to have that kind of cat at least you will not worry where he will go, once I have a cat who only stay at my place until the time he learn to court a female one he rarely goes home by that time. happy mylotting
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
6 Jul 12
I have other female cat and she became his love interest but still my he cat don't like to go outside which we like it much unlike my other male cat who is opposite. He keeps on the outside going with some other cats outside. Thanks for responding my friend.. Mobhomeir here 070612 2001hrs
@natliegleb (5173)
• India
1 Sep 12
atleast by this way she wont cause any trouble and trouble you much ,she likes to being quiet and calm always,that is also nice in some ways