How to tame a shy cat?

Today's chat is with those who need to tame a skittish cat!

Because of their more independent and self-possessed instincts, cat parents – and especially first-time cat parents – may find these felines' somewhat skittish behavior a bit strange.

And today’s content is aimed especially at these people!

Throughout the text, you will learn some special techniques for those who want or need to tame a shy cat and develop a better relationship with their pet feline.

The profile of a shy cat

Although it is not that difficult to identify a shy cat, many people may have doubts about the profile of this type of animal.

Therefore, we have gathered some information to facilitate the identification process and help identify the profile of a shy cat.

It is territorialist

One of the most striking characteristics of a shy cat is territorialism.

Therefore, he wants to constantly mark his territory, always showing that he is the 'king' there. This often causes a lot of problems with other cats and pets, such as dogs.

It's aggressive

Another very common characteristic of these animals is aggression. A shy cat will most likely scratch, attack and bite.

Additionally, a shy cat is easy to identify because of its bristly fur and posture. 

This is actually a defense mechanism when the feline feels threatened.

In nature, in a possible combat situation, this type of posture makes the cat appear larger.

With this stance, the goal is to intimidate your opponent.

It's hard to deal with

After reading the two previous topics, it is not difficult to conclude that skittish cats are very difficult to deal with, and can cause a lot of headaches – especially if they live with other pets.

The need to tame a shy cat

Even though it is a behavior that is part of feline nature, when a new cat arrives home and displays this type of behavior, it is necessary to take some steps to try to tame this cat.

This action is necessary to build a healthy and trusting relationship between the owner and their cat.

After all, when a cat displays this type of shy behavior, its relationship with its owner is usually very fragile.

Furthermore, when a skittish cat is adopted, there is a high chance that he will try to escape frequently.

And everyone knows that the street is not a safe place for any animal.

Therefore, for his own safety, it is necessary to adopt some measures so that he leaves this instinct behind and becomes a tamer and easier-to-handle cat.

Tips for taming a shy cat 

Seek specialized help

First of all, it is necessary to understand the origin and what causes this type of behavior in your cat. To do this, there is nothing better than seeking help from your trusted veterinarian. 

With it, it will be easier to identify possible causes for this shy behavior – which, in some cases, may even be caused by a health problem the animal is facing. 

Use special products for these cases

Fortunately, there are now a variety of products available to help owners of skittish cats tame their felines. Among the most common are floral remedies for cats. 

These florals – which are essences extracted from specific flowers – act directly on the emotions and, consequently, on the behavior of these animals.

And the best part is that this type of product can be easily found in pet stores.

Work in the environment 

In most cases, a skittish cat's behavior may be related to the environment in which it lives.

As cats are more territorial animals, they like to know the entire space where they live and, at the same time, feel safe in that environment.

When these requirements are not met, the cat in question may feel cornered and fearful, resulting in skittish behavior.

Therefore, invest in the environment so that this cat can – even if little by little – feel at home.

These can be specific toys and accessories, such as boxes and scratching posts, for example.

It is impossible to estimate the time frame, since each cat behaves differently. However, by adopting these techniques, over time your shy cat will adapt and you will gain its trust. 

Be calm and respect the cat's time and space

And last but not least: be patient!

As mentioned at the beginning of the text, it is in the nature of felines to be more free and independent – if we compare them to dogs, for example.

This means that, in some cases, the cat may develop some behaviors that are more risky than others. 

This type of situation happens a lot in cases where the cat is adopted as an adult. 

Unlike cats that are adopted as kittens – growing up and receiving good treatment – animals that are adopted after they are grown are not so lucky.

As, in most cases, this animal lived on the streets for a certain period of time before finding a home, a more shy and suspicious behavior is like a defense system for the feline to deal with the dangers and challenges that can arise when living on the streets.

So, if you are going through this situation with your cat, it is important to keep this in mind before getting upset – or even angry – because the cat is more skittish than you expected. 

Although they are generally not as warm-hearted as dogs, cats are extremely sensitive animals.

Therefore, it is essential that owners are patient, do not use violence to reprimand them and know how to respect their space. 

Over time, you will earn the trust – and heart – of your furry friend.

Did you like this content? In addition to this material, this week we also released other special content for cat parents that may interest you.

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