Scaredy cats

You bring your newly adopted cat into your home, looking forward to years of happiness, purrs, and snuggles. But as soon as you open the carrier door, she bolts and hides under the bed for the whole day.

Does your feline friend spend a lot of time hiding? Every cat is different, and a naturally timid cat may be afraid of many things and spend a lot of her life in hiding, while a naturally confident cat will be less fearful and will usually recover more quickly from scary events.

A scary event to a timid cat could be when a family member comes for a visit; she may hide under the bed the entire time.

In fact some cats are so fearful that they seem to live in a near-constant state of anxiety.

There are many reasons that a cat can develop fear and anxiety. A cat can develop a fear of people or other animals as a result of having only limited exposure to people and other animals when she was young.

Animal behaviorists say the critical period for socialization is between 2 to 7 weeks of age, when their personalities are forming. If kittens aren't held, or are not exposed to many people during this time, they could grow up to be extremely shy, timid or fearful - scaredy cats.

Socialization is an important aspect of raising a kitten, and because the socialization period in cats begins and ends earlier than it does in dogs, the early surroundings of the kitty are very important.

Many cats adopted as strays or from shelters may not have had adequate exposure to people and other pets. Cats can also learn to be fearful through the effect of just one unpleasant experience that was intense or traumatic.

Genetics and the early environments are important contributing factors to the development of fear.

A cat that is handled frequently and regularly during the first weeks of life are generally more exploratory, social, and outgoing, although there are some kitties that are genetically timid and fearful.

A cat behaviorist may be needed for your cat that is showing extreme fear and/or aggression. But if your kitty's fears are mild, then you may be able to help keep her fears from progressing.

First it is necessary to find out what triggers your feline friend's fear. You'll need to observe Kitty carefully to determine the reasons for her fearful behavior. Often there are certain situations, people, and places that set off her anxiety.

Here are some common triggers:

• A loud noise or a quick movement.

• A strange environment.

• A strange person or animal.

• An active child.

• A stressful event, such as a move or a trip to the vet.

Some fearful behaviors are actually acceptable and normal. For example, most cats will feel insecure or frightened in a new environment. Your feline friend might hide a day or two when introduced to a new home.

There are ways you help make your cat's life less scary and stressful.

Try to keep your feline friend's environment peaceful. If there is loud music playing, if your kids are arguing over a new video game, or if the family dog is sniffing around her bed, that may be too much stress for your cat to handle.

If your feline friend is hiding but healthy, leave her alone. Respect her hiding place; she'll come out when she's ready. Forcing your cat out of her hiding spot will only make her more fearful. Try spending quiet time in the room where she's hiding by reading a book or catching up on paperwork, she just might come up on the bed for a visit.

Over time, Kitty will become more comfortable on the bed instead of under it. And after time, your timid cat may come out of the bedroom and sit in the hallway to monitor you and your family's activity - just as long as everyone pretends they don't see her. When your scaredy cat gets up the courage to enter a room full of people, the best thing they can do is to ignore her.

Think about this: Isn't it usually the person in the room who doesn't like cats who ends up with the cat on his lap? This person paid no attention to your cat, so Kitty felt comfortable exploring him.

A cat needs to feel in control, so it may take a few visits out in the open living room, and leaving with nothing scary happening, for a super-timid cat to be comfortable around people. And, cats are individuals, so some cats will desire closer relationships with people than others.

Even when your cat starts to feel comfortable around you, she still may not do as well around strangers and unfamiliar activity. It takes time to overcome fear, but with patience and love you can help your cat learn to enjoy her life.