Timid cats are often afraid of their own shadow when they first move in. Some will be startled by their new owners, as well as other cats already in the household. How can you help timid cats to settle in?
Offer the Cat Loving Reassurance
Adopting a timid cat is a challenge. Will the cat settle in? How will it get along with other, established household pets? All of these issues can weigh on your mind and cause anxiety for you as well as the cat.
But it is important to get your priorities straight and not focus on your own misgivings. Offer the cat loving reassurance. Spend lots of time in the early days trying to bond and form an attachment to the cat. Do not be surprised if the cat rebuffs you at first and runs from you.
Encourage Interaction and Play with Other Cats
If you own other cats, do not try to keep the timid cat isolated. It will help the cat to develop and come out of its shell more easily if it has an opportunity to interact and play with other cats, even if the only interaction they have to begin with is a mutual hiss-fest. Cats need time to redefine boundaries and work out territory disputes on their own.
When I brought one cat home, my older more established cat let it be known straightaway who was in charge. The newer cat was timid and allowed himself to be put in his “place”. Over time the cats adapted to the new living arrangements and got along tolerably well.
Do Not Coddle the Cat
Timid cats often appear fragile and in need of constant protection. While it is vital to help a timid cat settle in by offering a consistent, loving routine, it is also important to let the cat find its own feet. Coddling the cat will not be helpful. If anything, the cat will not learn to be independent or know how to defend itself from other household pets or animals if it becomes an outside cat.
My older cat has retained much of his earlier timidity. However, I have had to step back and allow him to interact with the other cat without always stepping in whenever there is a territorial dispute or one picks a fight with the other. Coddling does not help and can actually foster a jealous, competitive spirit in cats.
Although a timid cat may seem completely helpless, do not let outward appearances deceive you. Your actions can have a direct bearing on whether the cat thrives or stays cocooned within its shell. Work hard at integrating the cat with the rest of the family, including other household pets. Step back from time to time and let your timid cat find its own way. Doing so can help cure the cat of much of its timidity.
More from this contributor:
How to Accommodate a Shy Cat.
How to Prevent Your Cat From Turning Into a Bully.
How to Treat a Distressed Cat.