Do my cats need professional help?

**squeaky** · 10-02-2003, 01:30 PM

Cat #1 KC:
I've had KC for almost 7 years now, she has always been an affectionate lap cat, up until a couple years ago after she fell through a glass table and very badly cut her leg. She's healed very nicely from her injury, but her attitude has completely changed since the accident. She will not allow anyone to touch her, walk past her, or even look at her without hissing and growling at them (unless it's me...but from time to time I get the same treatment) Can anyone give me some advise as to how or what I can do for my little gurl so she's not so mean and miserable?

Cat #2 Lucy_Furrrr:
Lucy is a year and a half old, and she was rescued by a friend of mine, and has become a member of my household. Lucy is VERY jumpy! is the easiest way to explain her. She's constantly coming up to me to be petted, but as soon as I move any part of my body, she bolts. She won't let me pet her very much, she never lets me come up to her, pick her up, hold her..NOTHING. Is there any advise or suggestions as to how I can get lucy to trust me?

**catlover4ever** · 10-02-2003, 01:58 PM

Hi Squeaky....Welcome to PT.

How long ago did you get Lucy? I ask because maybe KC is upset with Lucy being new to the household. I had that happen in my house when introducing Tigger (9 years old) to Mystic (1 year old). Tigger was extremely upset that a new cat was introduced into "her" house OR it could be that KC is traumatized from falling through the table.

As for Lucy, do you know if she was abused before you got her. You said that she was a rescue from a friend of yours. I have both Mystic and Abner who were abandoned and the slighest movement or sound will send them flying. I am able to pick them up and give them lots of loving but sounds and movement really spook them.

**BastetsMum** · 10-03-2003, 12:12 PM

They sound like previous *owners* have traumatised them.

I would do the reward thing. Cats respond very well to food rewards. Maybe starting off by just getting them to eat near you (food reward on the floor) so they come to recognise you as a person who doesn't pose a threat. Then gradually move it closer to you until you can touch them etc ... It is amazing what a lot of love and pateince can do

**squeaky** · 10-03-2003, 03:54 PM

I got Lucy at the end of May and her and KC get a long quite well actually. KC was a little ticked off at first, but now they play together, eat together, and have started napping together. I just can't understand why Lucy is so afraid of me. She will come up to me when I'm sitting down, and lets me pet her, but as soon as I move any other part of my body she bolts. I've tried approaching her with treats, toys, but nothing seems to work. And she is so adorable and cute and all I want to do is give her some lovin'.
As for KC, I've had her since she was a kitten, so she was never abused, and it wasn't until she had her accident that she's developed this "attitude" towards other people. I just don't know what to do to bring her back to being herself. I miss cuddling with her every morning, like we use to do.

**spunkadelic** · 10-03-2003, 04:07 PM

*rubs hands together* This is my speciality!

KC had a bad experience. You'd still be a little grumpy too if you got hurt really bad, wouldn't you? It probably didn't help when Lucy came to stay. My suggestion to you, is get KC's favorite treats and whenever you walk by her (or anyone else does), drop a treat (or just a kibble from her food dish) and so she relates people with something good. Have people she doesn't know talk very gently to her and then give her a kibble. Whatever you do, don't walk fast towards her, keep your eyes down (not focused on her) and try to work with her when Lucy isn't around.

Lucy sounds a lot like Maui. Maui was very roughly handled because of his showing and when he retired and we adopted him, he would NOT let anyone touch his belly, or let him pick him up. Simple (food related) answer. When she sits on your lap (if she does) just gently drape your arms around her and give her a quick squeeze, and when she doesn't react, give her a treat. But if she does (...this worked FABULOUSLY with Maui) hold her for 15 seconds until she stops struggling and then give her a treat. Always give them a reward for letting you "handle them". Don't raise your voice - keep it neutral. High pitched voices will scare them too.
Another good thing that I did with Maui was whenever ANYONE came to the house, they had to let Maui sniff them and then they had to give him a treat. That made him like strangers.

Maui is still very skittish when it comes to noises though. Especially when we've been quiet and one of us moves. It really makes him fly out of his skin! I've found that if I whisper something or just talk for a second before I move, Maui won't jump and it aleviates the jumping.

I also found it very helpful when I trained Maui to like to be held. It was a hard task (I did it the way I explained for KC). Maui hated to be confined and to him, being held was confinement. It meant that he was going to be twisted, and turned and have body parts touched and he didn't have a say in it. That made him scared. So when he would sit in my lap, I would just drape my arms around him and give him a hug and then just gradually hold it for longer - and when he squirmed I let him loose and then gave him a treat. He realized that he had the power to make me let him go. Eventually after him granting me access to his belly (he loves tummy rubs, weird, huh?) I picked him up - but let him loose at the first sign of tension but gave him a treat. I still hold him in front of the window so he can see outside. It gives him an advantage and he rarely squirms now (unless he "really" wants down). My method might have been unconventional, but it worked! (I'm trying this on my sister's kitten, she's afraid of 'falling' I think).

Just make sure you work with them seperately though. And do tell KC from time to time that she's still the the princess and that she's in charge. Cats have an ego problem, lol.

Good luck and I hope everything goes okay! *pats Lucy and KC*