Adopting A Shy Cat: 5 Steps to Success
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2024
- Did you just adopt a shy cat? Or maybe your cat just experienced high stress or trauma. This video will teach you the best way to bond with a new shy cat or your stressed out kitty!
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I just volunteered to socialize at a cat shelter and yes, shy cats are so loving when they come out of their shell.
My current boy took a few months and a little help with a prescription. He loves to be on my lap and be held like a baby. I got a few shy cats to come out at the shelter, one hid in his litter box and another under her blanket. I gave them extra time and treats, they are now really loving affectionate kitties. Don't overlook the shy ones.
THIS WORKS, I adopted a 2 year old stray cat that was hit by a car and has a neurological deficit. He has a permanent head tilt and sometimes has wobbly wobbles, I put him in my room with everything, and I would stay in there on my bed, I basically ignored him most of the time, didn't bother him but I would give him lick lix he was petrified and I was told if I didn't take him he would be euthanized. I did everything, including the slow blink he is now jumping on my bed, purring rubbing on me. I wanted to give him access to the rest of my flat, so I am not going to force him, I think I will do it when I'm home. I will just open the doors and allow him to come out at his time. I can't believe the change in maximillion, and I'm so happy and proud of him
I just started fostering and my foster cat is suuuuppper shy and she doesn’t want to come out of her carrier 😭 - I’m hoping she comes out of her shell ❤
@samantha.mariam I feel your stress, it works I promise my cat is now on my bed ge comes when I call him, he has been in my room only, today I have opened up all the doors to the rest of my home, we will see.
@@louisegiordano959 how long did it take to get to that level?
@@samantha.mariam it took from Dec 14 to literally I wrote the comment
@samantha.mariam i opened the doors today and he is hiding under my bed so I just closed the door, it's hard I know, but it will happen they feel our ❤️,
Thank you so much. I adopted a shy cat today, and it breaks my heart about how shy he is. He is a beautiful, sweet cat, and I am going to be as patient with him as he needs. I'd hate it if he was afraid of me.
You'll do great!!!
I lost my second feline son to cancer who was shy and adopted another boy some time after. But he is extremely shy. Would not come out of hiding and would tighten up like an armadillo just touching him. With patience and love he got better but still buried his head in a box. First trip to vet he ran around exam room to hide so bad the vet prescribed buspirone. It takes a couple months to work, we're one month in now. I hope he comes around. He is a gentle boy, as scared as he was he didn't snarl, bite or scratch.
Before the vet he loves pets and chin scratches, with a head bump once or twice but only in his box.
I look forward to cuddling with him on the couch with my daughter cat.
We had a breakthrough with our shy cat Luna, we adopted 2 months ago. Last night I was taking a nap on the couch and she climbed on me (never happened before) and purred (never happened before) when I pet her. She didn't purr loud but loud enough. She is finally beginning to trust us and feel comfortable with her surroundings. We also have a kitten who is a bundle of energy. They get along great so I think our other cat is helping Luna feel at home.
Such wonderful news!
thank you. I have a shy girl coming home with me in a couple days...trying to make it a positive thing for her.
Good luck!!
Interesting video and nice to know i'm essentially doing it right .Although I will say that I think adding a synthetic cat hormone diffuser to the safe space has helped .I'm on day 4 of settling a very nervous little 1 yr old female (spayed) who came from a home with lots of cats and several small kids .She has her quiet room and hiding spot with a folded blanket ,her food ,litter and water etc and is slowly becoming more comfortable .My go to bribe has been a little cooked chicken breast ,she loves that and will hopefully decide she loves the person who gives it to her .I'm currently giving her a clear 3 or 4 hours in the afternoon when I don't go into the room so she can have a quiet nap or explore without interruption .Otherwise I do several short visits in the morning and evening to bring her wet food (or chicken ) let her come to me for pets ,exchange some slow blinks (More me than her but never mind ) and offer interaction with toys .
I adopted a shy cat yesterday it was my birthday so I wanted to welcome a furry friend into my home he’s not mean or aggressive he’s a sweet cat but he’s just scared I saw him just suffering in the shelter and I knew he was just coming home with us that day.
Excellent, thorough advice. Thank you!
So glad you found it helpful!
This video is soooo good. I’m fostering a shy kitty and these are such great reminders
Thank you & so glad!
I’m looking to rescue a bonded pair who are both really shy. Thanks for the tips!
I love that! Bonded pairs are so hard to place in shelters so thank you!!!
wow what a comforting video. Thank you so much!
Thansk!
I used the slow blink with my last semi-feral cat and it worked wonders. He lived on my patio and eventually came inside. It works!
Very good! Thank you.
Thanks so much!
Thank you! This is the most helpful video I've found yet.
Thanks so much! Really appreciate it!
This is a really helpful video. Thanks so much
So glad you found it useful!
Thank you so much for the great tips. My new furry shy best friend Diego will
Appreciate too.
Awesome!!
I adopted a shy and scared cat. This makes me feel better and know Im not wrong. Youre welcome btw! 🥹🥹🥹 I want to be better at this so I can foster more shy cats and get them ready for a new home.
Very helpful video! I'm going to adopt a really shy cat who has been spending way too much time at the shelter and this video really helped me with my preparations, thank you!
Aw congrats! Shy cats are desperate to get out of shelters.
This is a really good and informative video, Shani. I thought I knew pretty much everything about cats, but there’s a lot of information here I didn’t know- for instance, about the “slow blink”. I’m definitely going to try it on the cats that stay in our hospital!
Thanks for sharing and caring!
So great to hear! Thanks so much & let me know how it goes! *slow blink* =)
I have been reluctant to consider a shy cat. You have changed my mind.
amazing 🤩
Thank you so much! I've adopted a bonded pair and Schooner the sister is super shy and her brother Keith won't leave her even though I think he is more curious. I'm so glad they have each other but this video is so helpful. Imma get out of their business lol ..I feel like I have a much better idea of what will help them adjust. Much appreciated ❤
So glad you found it helpful!!
Great video. Thank you!
♥
Thank you so so much for this. Wanna do right by my shy old man we just adopted. He's been failed by humans in the past. Never again thanks to your help.
Love this for him & you! 💜
This is amazing. Such great advice. Really appreciated.
Can you advise how you make a safe room if you only have one bedroom or a studio as it’s ok in a house with a few rooms but difficult if you are short on space?
I love shy cats because once they trust you you know they love you and that feels so special. It takes alot to gain that trust but once you have it it’s the best feeling ❤
Bathrooms arent super ideal for many reasons but you can make it work if you dont have any strangers coming over during this initial period. You can also make a "safe room" in a studio apartment using the same techniques. Blocking inappropriate hide places, etc.
@@WildAtHeartCats Thanks will always remember this advice as it could come in useful one day.
@@SC-de5to 🙌🙌
just watched you video , I will try to a mummy cat that we just rescued with her kittens and she’s so afraid of us ! kittens are fine very social but she’s really nervous thank you
Thanks, in hindsight, I did some things right and other things not so well!
live and learn ❤
I have guests coming and my kitty is shy when people come over, would love a video on helping her with this. She’s wonderful with those she knows, but with strangers, she hides.
I have it here =) ruclips.net/video/-XXtL8kGSU8/видео.htmlsi=gmC_DPvh21ScL19i
Hello this video is very helpful as we are bringing home a pair soon one of which is very shy and we want to do everything we can to make her comfy and happy. Could you pls explain what you mean by covering the cat tree with a sheet? So that she can hang out underneath and completely out of sight? Is it ok if she can’t see her surroundings? Would be grateful for a reply thanks again for the video!
Hi! Congrats on the pair. In this video I show you what I mean: ruclips.net/user/shortsRzNNaULYkVg
I just trapped a mama cat and her single 5 week kitten where I work. We weren’t sure if the mama was feral or not, so I took her after she was spayed and got all her health care, and it turns out, she isn’t feral. Just scared to death….but likes being petted, and she purrs and makes eye contact. She’s only about 1 year old, and has probably been on her own for about 8 or 9 months. Easy to find a home for the kitten, and then an angel I work with offered to give the mama a home. I know it’s going to take time…..but I’m so worried about her. First someone (me) took her baby, then she got lured into a trap, then the scary process of surgery, then going to the rescue, then to my house, then her new home. She spends most of her time hiding, plasters herself against a wall or the back of the crate. The woman who took her texted me this morning and said she stopped eating as of Sunday night. Now she has to go to the vet today. Poor kitty.
In the future you should leave mom & baby outside until the baby/babies are 2 months old. You may try to re-home the kittens after they are at least 2 months old (but also realize that may not be best for them) but mom should be TNR'ed.
@@WildAtHeartCats the vet found nothing wrong, thinks it’s just all the trauma she’s been through in her short life. She ate chicken today and some dry food today. Wouldn’t a kitten two months old be harder or even impossible to tame? If he even survived that long. Lots of foxes, coyotes, hawks, and owls around. And, a lot of my coworkers were trying to catch the kitten. The types of people who love kittens but later say “oh, she/he ran away” or 6 months later cat is pregnant and they are looking for someone to take yet MORE kittens. As for the mother, she isn’t feral…so why TNR her? I would have loved to have been able to keep mama and baby together in a safe place, but it just couldn’t happen that way - but in the end, I think they are both better off.
@@geslinam9703 Research proves that kittens left with their mom for 12-14 weeks fair better behaviorally & medically. The death rate for kittens taken from their moms too soon is extremely high. No one can care better for that kitten but their mom. ALL adult community cats, whether they are socialized or not should be TNR'ed.
@@geslinam9703 More info: highcountryhumane.org/community-cats-program/
&
ruclips.net/video/h8lgljb_JOU/видео.htmlfeature=shared
@@WildAtHeartCats I understand that it’s best for kittens to be fully raised by their mothers. That makes perfect sense, and I considered it before taking her….but weighing the risks, the kitten was not safe where it was. Someone else would have taken it, or it would have been killed. And I’m surprised you would think that any cat except for a true feral is better left to the outdoors. Should I have just ignored all the street cats I’ve taken in over the years and went and bought kittens instead?
The kitten is doing great. We went to the vet today, has put on weight, eating well, playful and energetic, using litter box and doing all the things a kitten her age should be doing. The mother started eating again after a few days and is coming out of her shell, exploring more of her new home every day, accepting affection.
I have two six month old slightly under-socialized kittens (brothers) that have been with me for three months. One still doesn’t tolerate much affection or attention and often bolts away. He plays and has moments of semi- confidence but he’s always on edge/eyes dilated. I’ve noticed that although the two kittens get along and like each other, he is more confident playing with me when his brother isn’t around. He’ll also allow me to pet him just a bit more when his brother isn’t around (I don’t get it).So my question is: since I don’t have any rooms in my apartment (loft) and they’re already used to being out in the apartment/on their cat trees/playing in their tunnels, do I need to try to do this in the bathroom? They meow to get out when they’re in there because they’re used to being out. When I brought them home, I made the mistake of not doing this and just let them out in the house right away 🤦🏻♀️ And 2. Do I need to lock his brother in the bathroom while I play with him outside in the rest of the apartment? I just really want to help this scared kitty become more confident to make sure he feels safe and has as much kitty mojo as he is capable of having. I’ll love him either way, but I want him to feel super happy here.
I would not lock them in the bathroom but I think its ok to separate cats for play time but it shouldnt seem like a punishment for the cat who is NOT being played with. So play with that cat first & then feed a meal using a treat ball or food puzzle (takes longer) so they can be distracted & rewarded.
Ì youta rent a old farm house with a barn.Ive made 3 of them my in house only pets.Shes 100% correct. I fed them by a plastic ball they had to move around to get food. 45 handicapped now the minor work & responsibility i dont want now.I miss my cat soooo much.Adopt don't shop! Cats & kittens show appreciation like no other!! I'm an introvert cat guy! Lol❤❤them!
I wish I watched this before adopting my cat! I feel so bad! Now I know to leave her alone more and it's okay if she stays in my room all day and wants to hide ;o;
We learn & do better 🥰🥰🥰
@@WildAtHeartCats Yea 🥺 she was sooo stressed when I covered all of her hiding spots. Luckily she finds my bed nice and comfy and it’s her safe spot and she seems very happy now and walks around the house confidently. I just feel so bad for not letting her ease into it better. It’s only been a week and a half 🥺🥺
hi thank you so much for the tips! I have a question- my new shy cat loves hiding in one of those donut tunnel beds - is that an appropriate hiding place for her? She hides in the back where she can’t see me, and I worry I won’t be able to socialize her with slow blinks if she cant see me.
Its totally appropriate & the more time & space you give her the better. Allowing her to come to you will increase the trust & bond. Keep giving her high value treats/wet food with no expectations of an interaction. Try some play!
@@WildAtHeartCats thank you so much !
We just got a shy cat last night from a friend who can't take care of him anymore. We didn't know about inappropriate hide places, so we set his safe room up in our closet, but now he is hiding way up on the top shelf behind some luggage. If I needed to get him down I would have to use a ladder, but I want him to stay confident! How should I deal with this situation? I tried to give him a treat and he hissed at me... but there's evidence he came down to use the litterbox and to drink sometime during the night!
Just leave him be. I would open the closet & allow access to a room as a closet may be too small. Not sure how big it is. But just bring him treats & yummy wet food at a distance & leave them. No expectations. He needs time to adjust. You can slowly try to play.
@@WildAtHeartCatsThank you, that’s reassuring! The closet is a big walk-in, there’s a ton of space in there. I had apartments in college smaller than that :) I’m leaving the door cracked open too so he can go to the master bathroom or our bedroom.
I'm fostering scared/shy cats. My advise is to not free feed dry food either. You can give them kibbles a couple of times per day but it works better to not free feed them at all. Now, having said that, I can imagine that you would not have a choice if you are away from home for MANY hours at a time.
How come?
@@Subs1338 If you don't free feed they are more motivated to actually come out when you bring food. They will connect you and your scent with food, so positive association.
Also their natural way of life is to prey, kill, eat, groom and sleep. So if you feed them after playing (aka catching their prey) they will be more in their natural flow.
@@Just_Me_Being_Myselfthank you! If they don't eat their food do I take it away til next meal? Thanks 🙏
I just got my new kitten yesterday and she literally went under and somehow got into the spring box. She came out today for like 15 min or so.
Now my question is how can Iure her into the carrier box so I can block off under the bed and under my dresser?
I should also mention, that I’m also scared of her stretching me. Lol
If she willingly comes out I wouldnt overly stress her out by trying to get her into a carrier to block access. Provide appropriate hiding places, work on building trust. She will eventually come out & you can try blocking that area.
The volume is too low. Even at 100%. : (
Thats probably your computer- make sure your computer volume is up as well as the volume on the actual video.
When the volume's up enough to hear you and the ads come out blasting, it's not the computer doing it.@@WildAtHeartCats
@@estherdail1334 So sorry- no one is having the same issue or has said this.
@@WildAtHeartCats Your videos are defenitly quieter than most on RUclips
@@scorchooo8624 Hopefully not so with my newer videos.
You just talked me out of a kat way to much work,😢 think Adonis way easier at this point
Yup, I agree, if you aren’t committed to having an animal, don’t get one.
Don‘t get a dog if a cat seems like too much work. A dog needs to be socialized ant trained as well. Don‘t get any pet if you are not prepared to care for it.
"The shy ones are sensitive and kind" - or Jeffrey Dahmer.