Where'd she go?

[BassetHound08]

I like showing off all my pets! When I got my cat I wanted to show everyone but she always runs and hides! No one believes I have a cat except my sister who took care of her for a weekend.
How can I stop her from always hiding?
~BassetHound08

[margaret]

I'm sorry your kitty is always hiding! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif Does she only hide when "strangers" come to visit or does she hide from you, too? How long have you had her?

I think the general rule of thumb with cats is that it's best to let them come to you. If anyone tries to go after a cat, it will probably try to avoid being touched or picked up. But if things are quiet and no one is running about, a cat will be more comfortable and less skittish. It will be more interested if you "ignore" it.

My cats often hide when I have people over. Especially little kids because kids like to touch and grab. But generally when things quiet down, the cats come out to see what's going on. If someone approaches one of them to try and pet her, she will most likely scamper away--to return later when the person sits down again. But if a person stays quiet, one of my cats might actually approach the person and sniff them. She may even get on the persons lap and let the person pet her.

When you have friends over, you might ask them to sit on the floor and flip a bit of string around to see if the cat might be interested in coming out of its hiding place to play with the string (usually that's irresistible to cats http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif).

I think everyone else here will have some good suggestions for you to help your "fraidy cat". http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

--Margaret

[This message has been edited by margaret (edited March 22, 2001).]

[thelmalu99]

Hi BassetHound08,
Charlie did the same thing for a while. I don't know if it had anything to do with the fact that he had moved around a few times. Maybe he thought everytime someone new showed up, they were going to take him? Maybe it's because for the first 2 months he was with me, I didn't have anybody over. All I know is, the first time some friends came over, he freaked! I thought I had a terribly anti-social cat.
After that, as people came over he got progressively better. I would tell people to just act naturally like they weren't trying to get a look at him, as opposed to standing there trying to coax him out of his hiding place. Strange people cooing at him just seemed to make him more shy. I would just sit in the living room with the guests and hang out, and he would eventually come out on his own to say hello. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Now sometimes he doesn't hide at all, and when he does it's not for long.
Just try to make it seem as natural as possible, not like it's a big deal and she should come around. Good luck and let us know it goes!

[Troy]

Thelmalu99, my two were exactly the same.

It can take some time for cats to get used to environments they are not familiar with. One of the key points is not to force cats/kittens out when visitors are around.

They will start to come out eventually when their curiosity gets the better of them http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[4 feline house]

Bassett-

It's not always a bad thing that your cat runs and hides when company comes. I had a big old fat cat named Zebo, who thought that everyone who came through the door came to see him. Therefore, as soon as they were settled onto the couch, he was immediately in their lap. This was fine, for the people that liked cats. It wasn't so welcomed by the people who were allergic, or afraid, or just didn't want to be sat on!

[pam_pesto]

My Pest ALWAYS runs and hides as soon as she hears someone knock on the door. Since we don't have any really "regular" guests, she doesn't come out until she is coaxed out. I don't know if there is any way to make a scaredy cat not be scared! What you will have to do is come up with a way to coax your cat out. For me, it is because she is her momma's girl and she trusts me that when I tell her that she is safe and that I will protect her, she believes me and she comes out. I hold my hand out to her (usually she is under the bed) and I "talk her out."

------------------
Personal servant for Pesto

[BassetHound08]

Margaret-
Thanx sooo much for your advice I didn't go after my cat when a few of my friends came over, we just sat in my living room and talked for a while. After awhile she crept out and started purring and rubing against our legs. I was so happy =)
~ BassetHound08

[This message has been edited by BassetHound08 (edited March 26, 2001).]

[margaret]

Yay!!! I'm so glad!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Now your friends can believe you that you have a kitty! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif