Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat Sitting

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/8/2008


Question
I have taken my parents cat from their home because I live an hour away and cannot get to him regularly to check up on him.  He is about 11 years old and the only cat in my parents house and there are also no other pets.  I have brought him to my home and he hides in the closet or under my bed.  I lived with him at my parents house for about 5 years an hoped that he would be okay staying with me.  He will come to me and I will pet him but when he hears the sounds from outside he hides again.  How and what can I do to make him more comfortable at my place?

Answer
Arsenio,

Your parent's cat is approx. 60 years old in human years and older cats do not take change and stress as well as a younger cat.

A whole new house with new smells, new noises, and a new routine would be confusing and frightening to him. Plus he is probably having separation anxiety from your parents and is missing them.

I would keep him in the one room that he feels the safest in and let him come out as he feels comfortable. Don't try to force him, and don't let him have the run of the whole house, at least not yet. Wait until he gets used to the one safe area before exanding. And only if he wants to.

Love him, reassure him, and talk to him. Those things will help him relax. Also kitty treats are a great bribe.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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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).

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