Poor Makis... Please Help!

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Originally Posted by mamaducky

Oh, come on now. We just KNOW your sweet little Grandma was going to chase Makis around her basement with a chain saw, wearing a hockey mask like something out of a horror movie! :D :D

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hehe :)

I can understand getting frustrated and just wanting to "force him" to get used to loud noises but as everyone has said, that won't work. What will work is time and patience and it sounds like your Grandma is the perfect person for that. Makis is very lucky to have found her :)

Hello everyone!

Just thought I'd give you an update on how Makis is doing.
Makis is doing <i><b>much</b></i> better! :D And I have all of you to thank for it! I told my grandma about the techniques you suggested; she tried some of them, and now, Makis only goes into his box if something really frightens him.
THANK YOU to everyone who helped!

That is SO GREAT ! :)

Thanks for updating us on sweet little Makis' situation! Give him some skritches under his chin for me when next you see him, and all the very best to Grandma!

Hugs,
Diana

:) I will, definitely! Thanks again for your help!

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Originally Posted by mamaducky

Oh, the poor little guy! I'd have to agree with you that abuse is likely part of Makis' history.

I also agree with you VERY STRONGLY that subjecting him to loud noises would be really upsetting to him, and would not achieve the desired results. If she does that, then Makis might start associating the loud and traumatic noises with her -- and that would make it even harder for them to build a close and trusting relationship!

Has Grandma had Makis to the vet to be examined, and to discuss this problem? That would be a good first step.

My vet -- and many, many of my PT friends -- recommended a product called Feliway. It is a synthetic pheromone that comes in a spray or a plug-in diffuser, and helps cats feel calmer and more comfortable. It made a big difference in my multi-cat household in just a matter of few days, and I think it would definitely be worth a try in Makis' case.

Now, having said all that, there are cats who just tend to be timid and not "people" animals -- and that might be Makis' basic personality. However, I'm sure his vet will be able to help Grandma come up with some strategies to help him be happier and better adjusted. God bless her for adopting from a rescue shelter -- and the best of luck to all of you!

Hugs,
Diana

P.S. Here are a couple of links with further advice about dealing with timid cats -- hope they help!

http://www.gardenstew.com/about92.html

http://www.best-cat-art.com/nervous-cats.html

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Hi, where do u get that product and is it safe to use around a 9 yr old boy? My cat is very scared of a lot of different sounds and she is one and a half, so I have tried giving her lots of attention and extra xo's but nothing seems to work. I just need to make sure it won't harm my son at all. Thanks

Hi there!

Feliway can be found at pet stores and a number of other places; I've gotten it from PetSmart, my vet's office, and Amazon.com!

It's very safe, and though our cats seem to be able to smell it, we people have never been able to! It's totally harmless as far as your son is concerned -- no "fumes" or anything else disagreeable.

Catty1 gave me a fantastic suggestion about using the Feliway spray on a stretchy collar; you just spray a little on each day, and it goes where the cat goes (instead of having to worry about which particular areas to spray, or using the diffuser).

Best of luck!