Frightened Kitty

[BastetsMum]

I got broken into.

The door got smashed in and Bastet escaped and hid in a tree until I got home. I heard her mewling from the branches. She is positively terrified. Is there anything more I can do for her other than make her feel safe and secure?

I am worried that she might develop some kind of stressy thing over this. Whoever scared her like this must have been pretty bad.

Help!

[PayItForward]

I am so sorry, what a horrible experience for you and for Bastet.


I don't know what to suggest, apart from give her loads of cuddles.

It is a good sign that she hid until you came home, she obviously associates you with safety.

Hopeing Bastet recovers quickly and that the police catch the *blank* people who did this.

[IttyBittyKitty]

That's so awful! The same thing happened to my partner's sister and brother-in-law. They were living in Sunnybank when they were broken into - and their cat Mugsy was in the house at the time. My suggestions are definitely heaps and HEAPS of cuddles for poor Bastet, plus lots of kitty treats. Also, be mindful of new things that Bastet will now be afraid of - for Mugsy it's men, in particular men with big clunky shoes as one of the robbers kicked him. Bastet clearly associates you with safety, so make sure he can be around you as much as possible! He will probably cling to you more than ever before!

Hopefully, what scared Bastet was more the smashing of glass and strangers in the house. With a bit of luck, the burglars themselves didn't do anything to him

Pixel sends hugs'n'kisses to Bastet!

[Russian Blue]

I am so sorry this happened!! How horrible for both you and Bastet!!

How about some Rescue Remedy or a Feliway plugin? Both are meant to calm an anxious animal, it couldn't hurt?


Total ((((((( hugs ))))))))) going to both of you!

[Barbara]

Oh what a horror experience for you and Bastet. I hope they did not destroy or take away anything.

Cats hate it when their daily routines are changed by some chaos. So I think the best thing you can do is to give her a regular life with you as much around as possible.

(I am going to work daily ) and my husband stays home as he is retired. But the weekends you can see the cats love it when both of us are here. So if you can take a day off at your work to stay with Bastet that would be a good idea

[HayleyRosie]

What an awful experience for both you and Bastet. I would give Bastet some extra attention and loads and loads of hugs and scritchies. It appears Bastet associates you with being safe because otherwise she would have stayed hidden. I think she will be fine in a little while. Give her some hugs and scritchies from me, Hayley and Mandy.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

What an awful experience for all of you! I am really glad that Bastet had the good sense to stick close by until you had come home.

I hope you are all able to relax and move on from this - it's a really horrible thing to have happen to you, and you really have my heartfelt sympathy.

In South Africa, where I am from, violent crime is rampant, but you NEVER become desensitised to it - especially when it happens "close to home", and I feel like everyone on Pet Talk is my extended family!

Sending prayers and positive thoughts to you all.

[fairlady68]

Dear Bastet,

I am very sorry to hear of your further travails. Seems like you were quite sick or something a while back.

For some reason you really touched my heart many months back when your picture appeared on Cat of the Day. I loved reading about what your person wrote: "my little pink abyssinian", and what a social butterfly you are.

So I hope you get over this traumatic experience soon.

Love from Martha and Julie in Sacramento CA USA.

(Interesting, so far I am the only "Yank" to respond to this post thus far...Greetings to those in Australia and New Zealand! I spent some wonderful times in those countries back in 1980-81.)

[slick]

You know, that's my biggest fear, to get broken into and have my pets killed or hurt in some way. I'm sooooo sorry. Material things can be replaced but your pets.....

I'm so glad that Bastet had the sense not to run away. Hugs to you all and I'm praying the *&&^%$ get's caught!!

[batgirl1980]

Oh no!!!!!!!!! That's horrible! I hope they catch those **&&^%$!&!*'s! I've had enough of stupid people lately, and to hear that this has happened to you well... &!%$!!!

I am relieved that Bastet stayed around for you and didn't take off and get lost. I've only so far had our car broken into (on my one month wedding anniversary last year!).. so I'm not sure what advice to give you and Bastet.

I would say extra cuddles, becareful of making loud noises or anything that you think could have happened when the break in occured, so that she doesn't freak out, and just try and reassure her that you're there for her.

I know after our car got broken into, I was a wreck for a bit, we kept thinking they would come to our apt next.. luckily we moved 2months later out of town... but still.. I know it's hard on you as well. You will eventually move on, but I know I didn't without some extra precautions! Luckily having a cat (or 3 in my case) really helped give me something else to concentrate on.

I'm sure with time that Bastet will get less frightened, but it is excellent that she knows you're the SAFETY . I'm not sure about my cats, I can only hope they would do the same.


((((((((((((((for you and bastet)))))))))))))

[jenluckenbach]

This is terrible news! I am so sorry you both had to go thrugh this. I have no real advice for Bastet except that maybe a vet can prescribe a type of sedative or stress reducing drug for her until she can stop being so afraid. She may associate the event to the house (or room in which she was most scared) for a while. {{{{{Hugs}}}}} to you both.

[BastetsMum]

Thankyou so much guys you are all very sweet *hugs*.

I burst into tears at all the sweet replies I got. I gave Bastet some rescue remedy and rang the vet's.

I took her round there this morning to get checked out. He didn't charge me anything because it was an accident and I am a regular. She just had bad bruising from where they kicked her. He said that rescue remedy will be the best and that if she shows any more signs of trauma (like blood in her urine) to give him a call immediately.

She seems fine today although I dare not touch her tummy. She is still a bit skittish over noises and if I walk down the stairs she is right there beside me looking up and making mrrrrrrrt noises like asking *are you going out?*.

I went shopping and bought her two new mousies and a chicken wing for dinner. I know I am such a softie.

Thanks again guys

[IttyBittyKitty]

That is horrible!

So they *did* kick poor little Bastet! Iwas hoping she wasn't physically hurt

What kind of people do that to a cat? If they do get caught (unlikely, but you never know your luck) ensure that him/her/they are charged with animal cruelty on top of unlawful entry, theft etc. I'm sure your vet will attest to that (how nice of them to provide free care!) Sure, they wanted to take your things, but why hurt an innocent animal? Could it be the same thugs who broke into my boyfriend's sister's place? Could be! I don't think they were caught either and it seems rather unusual as many people (even druggie losers) would not hurt an animal.

People like that make me so mad!!!!!!!!

Definitely keep an eye on Bastet - but take heart, Mugsy is to this day a lovely and trusting kitty and Bastet too will recover. Sending even more hugs her way!

[Denyce]

I am so glad that Bastet is ok. But I am soooo sorry she had to go through this at all!! Well you too. *smile* I too worry about my girls while I am gone.

I am so grateful that she managed to get away from the creeps without running so far you couldn't find her. What a terrible thing to come home too. *really big cyber hugs from PA*

Denyce

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

OMG!!! This is horrible!! And not only did they break in, but they had to kick poor Bastet too.

I'm so glad she had the sense to go up a tree, and not out in the street or something. I think you're doing everything you can for her, and to reassure her. I hope you're doing the same for yourself since I'm sure this was traumatic on you as well.

Make sure and give Bastet lots of extra cuddles and I'm sure she'll be back to normal in no time, although I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't trust strangers at all after this.

Hugs to you and hugs and smoochies to Bastet. What a horrible thing to have happen.