Skittish Cat

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Doug Kanter - 19 Dec 2004 22:42 GMT

Just adopted my mother in law's 3 yr old male cat, since granny entered a
nursing home. I've seen skittish cats before, but this is nuts. Or maybe
not, since it's only been here for 36 hours. He's hiding constantly, and as
far as I can tell, is not eating or drinking. He used the litter box
yesterday, but that was probably the result of whatever he ate yesterday
morning before my ex-wife took him to the vet for his shots.

It's a very quiet house, no loony kids making jolting noises. Last night, I
gently scooped him out from a hiding place in the cellar, put him on my lap,
and petted & brushed him till he turned to pudding, and was purring up a
storm. Then, I sneezed, and he bolted & hid under the bed, where I think he
stayed until late this morning.

Am I expecting him to lighten up too soon? I've offered him cable TV,
endless brushing, all the foods he's been eating since granny got him, and
an endless supply of Jack Daniels. I wonder if perhaps a vet visit and new
home was too much for one day.

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Amy Gray - 19 Dec 2004 22:56 GMT

>Just adopted my mother in law's 3 yr old male cat, since granny entered a
>nursing home. I've seen skittish cats before, but this is nuts. Or maybe
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>an endless supply of Jack Daniels. I wonder if perhaps a vet visit and new
>home was too much for one day.

Very common. I can sneeze and the cats will run and hide but nothing
happens when they sneeze. Never figured that one out.

I would give the cat more time. It will take time and
love to get the cat used to a new home.

BTW, speaking of cable, I had a cat a few years ago whose
favorite TV show was the Westminster Dog Show.

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FishWife - 20 Dec 2004 00:10 GMT

>It's a very quiet house, no loony kids making jolting noises. Last night, I
>gently scooped him out from a hiding place in the cellar, put him on my lap,
>and petted & brushed him till he turned to pudding, and was purring up a
>storm.

Aw, this is a good sign.

> Then, I sneezed, and he bolted & hid under the bed, where I think he
>stayed until late this morning.

Cats don't like sneezes, he probably thought you were hissing at him.

>Am I expecting him to lighten up too soon? I've offered him cable TV,
>endless brushing, all the foods he's been eating since granny got him, and
>an endless supply of Jack Daniels. I wonder if perhaps a vet visit and new
>home was too much for one day.

Cats don't like change either, which is probably a massive
understatement! Give him time, he'll come round. Just make sure you
give him lots of attention when he asks for it! He might be feeling
under the weather from the jabs too, but I am sure he will settle down
when he gets used to his new surroundings.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

(Oh, and you don't really give him Jack Daniels, do you?)

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www.katie-walker.co.uk

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Doug Kanter - 21 Dec 2004 16:45 GMT

> >It's a very quiet house, no loony kids making jolting noises. Last night, I
> >gently scooped him out from a hiding place in the cellar, put him on my lap,
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> (Oh, and you don't really give him Jack Daniels, do you?)

I haven't given him any because it's too good to waste. If he asks, I'll
consider it, as long as he's not driving or using power tools. :-)

JUST KIDDING! He'll get catnip. And, by the way, in typical cat fashion, he
decided that 4:30 AM (Monday) was a good time to jump on the bed and have a
conversation. Then, he led me to the kitchen to open a can of food, at which
point he ate and talked for about ten minutes. He's training me already.
We'll have to discuss the hours later this week, if the 4:00 AM business
continues.

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Dr_Dickie - 21 Dec 2004 16:51 GMT

> JUST KIDDING! He'll get catnip. And, by the way, in typical cat fashion, he
> decided that 4:30 AM (Monday) was a good time to jump on the bed and have a
> conversation. Then, he led me to the kitchen to open a can of food, at which
> point he ate and talked for about ten minutes. He's training me already.
> We'll have to discuss the hours later this week, if the 4:00 AM business
> continues.

The time is set by the cat satelite (AFAIK). It passes over Eastern Florida
about 3:00 AM. You cannot change the time, just adjust your schedule to it.

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Doug Kanter - 21 Dec 2004 17:16 GMT

> > JUST KIDDING! He'll get catnip. And, by the way, in typical cat fashion,
> he
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> The time is set by the cat satelite (AFAIK). It passes over Eastern Florida
> about 3:00 AM. You cannot change the time, just adjust your schedule to it.

Hopefully, this cat will get past his skittishness to the point where a
discussion with a water pistol (at 4:00 AM) will be an option. :-) But,
that's probably months away.

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Gee - 20 Dec 2004 01:03 GMT

> Just adopted my mother in law's 3 yr old male cat, since granny entered a
> nursing home. I've seen skittish cats before, but this is nuts. Or maybe
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> an endless supply of Jack Daniels. I wonder if perhaps a vet visit and new
> home was too much for one day.

Yes it was.

I agree with what Fishwife said completely. Right now he feels scared ,
lonely and lost. He is NOT on his territory(always a scary thing for a cat)
and cats are VERY territorial.Your house smells strange. His mummy is not
there to reassure him. He is terrified. Plus no cats like the vets, or cars,
so that was additional trauma. Let him hide and recover.

But don;t worry he WILL be fine. It will take time tho. Offer him the best
just like you are doing it already. Give him the food he knows, if possible
fetch his bed/ing from ex owner, something that smells like him/home. Let
him hide till he's ready to come out. Speak to him a lot in reassuring
voice. Offer treats and games. No yelling or shouting. No Jack Daniels :)
Is he used to TV noises? They might be scaring him if he's not used to it.
Don;t force him to be with you if he doesn;t want to, but if he comes around
offer a friendly scratch and teats.Bribe him, its OK. Once he start
exploring and getting used to new smells,he'll be OK.Hell accept you don;t
worry. Just takes time. Id say a week for particularly scared cat. My
Shadow got her name not only cos she is black, but also cos I didnt see her
for 5 days when she moved in as a kitten :) Too terrified, so kept running
and hiding, and all I'd see was a little shadow running across the floor
occasionally :)

She is fine now :) So she should be, she is 7yrs old he he :)

(Lactose free cat-milk might entice him a wee bit more then Jack Daniels ;))

Gee

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Doug Kanter - 21 Dec 2004 16:46 GMT

> > Just adopted my mother in law's 3 yr old male cat, since granny entered a
> > nursing home. I've seen skittish cats before, but this is nuts. Or maybe
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>
> Gee

His previous slave watched TV, probably more often and at higher volume than
I do, but even so, I used headphones last night. I thought it best if he got
used to the other sounds of the house, particularly the furnace, floor
squeaks, etc. As far as the vet, I understand all that. My ex's cat once had
the vet and her assistant cowering in a corner five feet from the examining
table. To her, the vet represented a potential source of fresh meat. :-) I
had to hold my breath to keep from laughing. After trying a whip and a
chair, like a lion tamer, they finally had to call the police department's
SWAT team, who filled the room with tear gas shot through a window, and told
her over a megaphone that they expected the hostages released unharmed. She
finally agreed to the the vaccinations, but negotiated an outrageous list of
conditions, which included no prison time.

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Gee - 21 Dec 2004 17:26 GMT

"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>My ex's cat once had
> the vet and her assistant cowering in a corner five feet from the examining
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> finally agreed to the the vaccinations, but negotiated an outrageous list of
> conditions, which included no prison time.

LOL, that is a one clever cat! We humans are relly no match to them :) So
we might just as well accept who;'s in charge and dutifully follow the
orders of our catmasters :)

BTW, did he manage to get some of that fresh meat ? :) Poor vets, they are
always trying to help yet are always on the receiving end he he :)

You sound like an extemely suitable slave to this cat, so Im sure that once
you prove your worth to him, he might even allow you to stroke his hair
occasionally :) Although I agree you may wanna renegotiate your T&C as per
working hours perhaps push 4 to 4:15 am. Good luck with that!

(Slave to slave, a lil tip, if you want him to accept you faster, feed him
from your hand directly, not a dish, at least dry buiscits.He'll get used 2
your smell sooner)

Gee

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Doug Kanter - 21 Dec 2004 18:10 GMT

> "Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> BTW, did he manage to get some of that fresh meat ? :) Poor vets, they are
> always trying to help yet are always on the receiving end he he :)

Actually, the vet and her assistant donned leather gloves which went up to
their elbows, like the ones people use when handling large birds with claws.

> You sound like an extemely suitable slave to this cat, so Im sure that once
> you prove your worth to him, he might even allow you to stroke his hair
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> from your hand directly, not a dish, at least dry buiscits.He'll get used 2
> your smell sooner)

I'd love to feed him by hand, but he's behind a pile of boxes in the cellar
and I can't reach him. When I move the boxes, he flies out and finds another
unreachable spot. However, I know he's improving a little. I went out
shopping last night, and upon my return, half his food was gone, and most of
the water. And, the litter box has been HEAVILY visited.

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