You are here:
Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/cat back home
Advertisement
Question
hi,our 5 month old male cat went missing a month ago,we had put up flyers and after one month got a call and got our cat back.now he is acting very hostile ,how long will it take before he acts like his old self ?
he dosent seem to remember any of us or his surroundings.help !
Deeba,
I so happy you go your cat back! That's great. Cats remember people by voice and not by sight. He will remember his surroundings by smell, also not by sight.
He probably went through a lot of traumatic experiences for such a little guy. Give him time to re-adjust. It may take a week or more before he settles down some. Let him be if he wants to sleep or be alone. Give him time to relax and reacclimate himself. Give him lots of kitty treats, like tuna or sardines in oil, etc. Food is a great bribe. Also get him to play if you can. Get a pet laser light (from PetSmart, Petco, etc.), they love to chase the little 'red bug', or
pull a string around for him to chase. That will help keep his mind off of his experiences and will help him rebond to you.
If he is not neutered yet, I would get him done soon. That will help keep him home.
Tabbi
Related Articles
- A Different Kind of Visit - Meezer Express Page 2
- About Cats Calendar Cats of the Year 2001 - January through June
- Kitty Flavor of the Month - January - Silver, Blue Cats - Page 6
- I'm Tired, I'm Frustrated, and I GIVE UP! What To Do When You've Reached the End of Your Rope?
- Helping with Organizational Skills - Parenting Children with Dyslexia
Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
***********
Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.