FEARFUL CATS FIGHT, FLEE, OR FREEZE
No, it isn't the latest game show sweeping the nation. Instead, these
three "F"s describe the ways that cats usually respond to objects,
persons, or situations they perceive as a threat. Each cat has his
preferred way of dealing with a crisis.
You'll notice that your cat probably tends to try one option first, and if that doesn't work, she's forced to try a different option. For instance, if your cat is afraid of dogs and a friend brings his dog to your home to visit, your cat puffs out her fur to make herself look big, then hisses and spits at the dog. If the dog doesn't retreat, your cat may flee the situation, find a hiding spot, and freeze until she deems the situation safe.
Although some fearful behaviors are acceptable overly anxious or fearful cats may need a little help from you in the form of training, patience, and love. Here's some guidance on how to handle these situations.
Your cat may show the following behaviors when she is fearful:
Fleeing Hiding Aggression (which includes spitting, hissing, growling,
swatting, biting, scratching, puffing fur and tail, arching back,
swishing tail, and flattening ears) Loss of control over bladder and/or
bowels Freezing in place It's normal for you to want to help and comfort
your cat when she's frightened. However, that isn't necessarily the best
thing to do from your cat's point of view. It's normal for a cat to feel
insecure or frightened in a new environment.
Often, your new cat will hide for a day or two when you first bring her
home. Sometimes a traumatic experience€€ťsuch as taking her for a car
ride to the veterinarian or introducing a new animal into the home€€ťcan
disrupt her routine and send her under the bed for a few days.
What Causes Fearful Behavior?
You'll need to closely observe your cat to determine the trigger for her
fearful behavior. Keep in mind that just because you know that the
person or animal approaching your cat has good intentions doesn't mean
your cat shares the same view. The trigger for her fearful behavior
could be anything.
Some common triggers are:
A particular person A stranger Another animal A child Loud noises
What You Can Do Take the following steps to reduce your cat's anxiety
and help her become more confident:
First, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough
physical examination to rule out any medical reasons for your cat's
fearful behavior. Cats don't always act sick, even when they are. Any
sudden behavior change could mean that your cat is ill.
Some common symptoms that suggest your cat may be sick are sudden
aggressiveness, hiding, and eliminating outside the litter box. If your
cat is healthy, but hiding, leave her alone. She'll come out when she's
ready. To force her out of her hiding spot will only make her more
fearful. Make sure she has easy access to food, water, and her litter
box. Clean the litter box and change the food and water every day so you
know whether she is eating and drinking. Keep any contact with the fear
stimulus to a minimum. Keep your cat's routine as consistent as
possible. Cats feel more confident if they know when to expect daily
feeding, playing, cuddling, and grooming.
Try to desensitize your cat to the fear stimulus by following these
steps:
Determine what distance your cat can be from the fear stimulus without
responding fearfully.
Introduce the fear stimulus at this distance while you're feeding your
cat tasty treats and praising her. Slowly move the fear stimulus closer
as you continue to praise your cat and offer her treats. If at any time
during this process your cat shows fearful behavior, you've proceeded
too quickly and will need to start over from the beginning. This is the
most common mistake people make when desensitizing an animal, and it can
be avoided by working in short sessions, paying careful attention to
your cat so that you don't progress too rapidly for her.
You may need help with the desensitization process from a professional
animal-behavior specialist. A Note about Aggression If your cat
seriously threatens you, another person, or an animal€€ťand the behavior
is not an isolated incident€€ťyou should seek help as soon as possible
from a professional animal-behavior specialist.
Contact your veterinarian or animal shelter for assistance or a referral
if you need a specialist. To keep everyone safe in the meantime, confine
your cat to an area of the house where all interactions with her are
kept to a minimum and are supervised by a responsible person. Cat bites
and scratches are serious and can easily become infected. Bites that
need to be treated by a doctor should be reported to your local animal
control agency so that your cat can be quarantined and watched for signs
of rabies.
If you can't keep your cat separated from the stimulus that brings on
her aggressive behavior and you're unable to work with a professional
animal behavior specialist, it may be time to re-evaluate the cat's
situation in your home. Remember, trying to place an aggressive cat in a
new home should be done with extreme caution.
The safety of your cat and of the other animals and humans she
encounters should be your first consideration. What Not to Do Do not
punish your cat for her fearful behavior. Animals associate punishment
with what they're doing at the time they're punished, so your cat is
likely to associate any punishment you give her with you. This will only
cause her to become fearful of you and she still won't understand why
she's being punished. Do not force your cat to experience the object or
situation that is causing her fear. For example, if she is afraid of a
certain person, don't let that person try to pick her up and hold her;
this will only make her more fearful of that person. Be cautious in
handling your cat when she is frightened. She may accidentally direct
her aggression to you.
Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal
behaviorists at the
Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.
If you have questions or need our services, please contact the shelter
at
618.346.5213 or contact us today via
e-mail
Copyrights 2009 WARREN BILLHARTZ ANIMAL SHELTER OF
COLLINSVILLE. A KTLLC Communications Solution