Cat with Fear
Answered by: Kerry Hackett
Question from: Daphne Bobb
Posted on: November 03, 2005

What is good to tame or calm a kitten down. I was given a kitten who is always dashing and hiding, never comes out until all is quiet, even a slight movement will cause her to retreat to her hiding place.

There are many reasons your cat is behaving this way. First off, look at where your cat lived before she was adopted. Did you pick her up from a shelter? Was she a barn cat? Might she have experienced any trauma before she came to your house? Was she taken from her mother before she was ready? How long has she lived with you? Is she adjusting to a recent move? Are there other animals or small children in your house? All of these could impact on her present behaviour. The next area to investigate is her food. Many commercial cat diets contain a number of additives and preservatives that have an effect on neurological balance and therefore on behaviour.

It has been my experience that several things can help with the behaviour you describe. One, let her come to you. She will decide when she feels safe. Cats, like humans, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are extroverts, others take a while before they are ready to interact. Two, if there are children or other animals in the house make sure your kitten knows she has a safe place to hide where she won’t be bothered. In addition, if there are several cats in the house already, make sure there is more than one litterbox available. Three, feed your kitten a good diet, devoid of any synthetic substances. Four, employ Bach Flower Essences. Found at most heath food shops, please look for: Aspen, Mimulus and Cherry Plum for basic fear. If a recent move is involved or your kitten was recently adopted, add Walnut. If you feel there may have been earlier trauma, add Star of Bethlehem. Fill a sterile 50ml dropper bottle with spring water and add two drops of each of the flower essences chosen. Add one dropper of the diluted flower essences to her food twice a day.

Back to | Q & A Index

Copyright © 1997-2024 Otto Richter and Sons Limited. All rights reserved.