Xenophobia in cats. Methods for getting rid of fears

The cat is wildly afraid of strangers

Hello!
The cat is approximately 7 months old (neutered a week ago, vaccinated, healthy). Two months ago she was picked up on the street. Since then, he only trusts the girl with whom he lives. He hides in front of strangers, shakes, and is wildly afraid. As soon as he realizes that a stranger has come in, the cat changes before his eyes and disappears. At the same time, he is an ideal cat with his owner. Affectionate, sociable, playful. This behavior problem has remained unchanged for these two months.

Some cats cannot stand strangers in the house. One of the reasons for this behavior is the lack of communication with people at an early age: sometimes, for a cat to hide from guests for the rest of its life, it only takes one case when a guest was too noisy or treated the kitten poorly.

A particularly nervous and fearful cat can be given a sedative - special drops, but you should not give such a remedy all the time. A sedative is just a small help that helps to slightly speed up the process of getting used to strangers. In any case, with or without drops, frequent meetings with people should help the cat understand that the arrival of guests does not threaten it in any way. It is very important that the cat, without running away, learns to allow strangers at a fairly close distance.

One of the ways to accustom a cat to guests is to prevent it from running away and hiding. To do this, put a harness on it or put it in a carrier for a while. Moreover, it is desirable that the cage is located in the same room as the guests, who need to be warned so that they behave calmly, do not shout or raise their voices. At first, your family members can play the role of invitees. Of course, at first the doorbell will alarm the pet, but the cat will no longer be able to escape from the carrier and as soon as it sees its friends, it will quickly calm down. If you do this constantly, the cat will very quickly get used to the idea that the doorbell does not pose a threat. Over time, you will be able to ask "real" guests to enter the room with one of the family members and sit next to the cage. It is only important that the training is regular. In this case, the cat carrier will become a shelter.

As soon as the cat, being in its house, gets used to guests, you need to gradually accustom it to closer contact with them. Let guests sit as close to the pet's cage as possible, but do not lean over. In this case, you can offer the cat some kind of treat: food strengthens relationships much faster than affectionate conversations. Most likely, the cat will refuse the treat at first, but sooner or later everything will work out. The main thing is to be patient and attentive.

Best answer

Guard^ (33) 5 (3429) 1 28 55 3 g

When I was little, our family had a dog. And one night it was raining heavily, there was a thunderstorm and thunder, and I, afraid of this, ran into my parents’ room. I thought they were sleeping and lay down at their feet so as not to wake them up. But my dad didn't sleep. And with the words: “Rex, get the fuck out,” he pushed me with all his might so that I hit the closet. Since then I am no longer afraid of thunder.

Show the cat that there are worse things. For example, all cats are afraid of water, try washing him.

Why is a cat afraid of strangers?

A famous English writer once said: “A real cat strives to live its life peacefully, so that people interfere with it as little as possible. In this way, real cats are very similar to real people.” Indeed, most cats, despite their love for their owner, behave somewhat distantly, reacting sharply to the invasion of the personal space of strangers. Moreover, some individuals are very afraid of strangers and, when they appear, rush to sneak away. What could be the reason for this behavior and can it be corrected?

Answers

rouxx 6 (18760) 3 46 163 3 g

the cat was offended, maybe he thought that you exchanged him for a new cat and stopped loving him..

You need to wait. He will get used to personal experience

He is not afraid of him, but shows hostility. Cats are owners. It's rare for an adult to get along with a new pet. He could even easily kill this kitten. For them this is a betrayal. If you want two cats, it is better to take them as kittens. The cat has nothing to do with it. This is their nature.

b0dia 4 (1711) 5 13 3 g

fuck the cat and he will be afraid of you

lojcin 7 (92196) 34 176 787 3 g

Don’t be upset, your adult simply considers himself an authoritative (leader) - this will pass over time. The only thing is that you need to pay equal attention to both (both small and adult), because cats are very sensitive to such relationships and perceive them with hostility.

7LivE 6 (9171) 2 7 37 3 g

The cat is depressed, he doesn’t recognize his son, he forgot whose he is, he went to look for his mother

Egalitarian 6 (8830) 3 9 66 3 g

the cat is also not an idiot, he realized that they would love him more and not him

Main causes of fear

The character of cats is not as flexible as, for example, dogs. In addition, these animals are not so successful in training, and few people manage to teach them complex tricks. Experienced cat owners believe that if a pet experiences fear of humans, this can lead to serious consequences. There is a completely logical explanation for this - even small mustachioed striped animals are, in fact, predators, and at the genetic level they are accustomed to attacking a frightening subject, rather than fleeing.

Among the main reasons for cats' fear of people are:

1. Human rudeness towards animals, physical torture, deliberate intimidation.
2. Previous negative experience of communication between an animal and people, because we must not forget about the excellent memory of cats.
3. Infringement of rights to territory.
4. Lack of self-confidence.
5. Incomplete or impaired socialization.

Excessive fearfulness of a pet usually worries the owner, but most conditions can be corrected. The main thing is to find out why the animal is afraid of people.

The main fears of cats

The main fears of a cat that poison her life are water and noise. This is the worst thing that can happen to a pet. And if these two phobias are well known to the owners, then others may turn out to be a real surprise.

Water

Water is a real horror and nightmare for many pets. In its natural habitat, a cat does not need bathing. She is an excellent swimmer, but she will never voluntarily get into the water. Of course, among the felines there are exceptions: the Maine Coon, Turkish Van, and Bengal breeds are prominent representatives of lovers of water activities.

In the wild, the tiger loves to take a bath.

The cat is afraid of water for a reason. Let's just say it's not even fear, but disgust.

It's all about the coat. It is designed in such a way that the hairs hold air between themselves, warming the animal. Even if the pet does not have long and fluffy fur, it is nevertheless very warm in a short fur coat. Water getting between the hairs displaces air, causing the cat to become terribly cold. In order to dry as quickly as possible, she is forced to lick herself for a very long time. Not only is this activity tedious in duration, but the cat cannot reach with its tongue everywhere. As a result, the cat freezes for a couple of hours, and then warms up for a very long time. Violation of thermoregulation is not the best event in the life of an animal.

Video: why cats don’t like to swim

How to wash a pet who is afraid of water

To wash a pet that is afraid of water, you will have to put in a lot of effort.

You can, of course, simply confine the animal and protect yourself with gloves, but it is better to simply accustom your pet to water procedures from childhood.

When swimming you need to follow certain rules:

• The water temperature should be as close as possible to the temperature of the animal: 38–39 degrees.
• You need to put cotton balls in your ears.
• You can't wash your hair. Getting water or shampoo into the ears and eyes will not only be unpleasant for your pet, but can also lead to health problems.
• The shampoo must be special, intended for cats.
• You need to rinse the wool until it reaches clean, clear water. Detergent residue on the skin can lead to various dermatitis.

It is not necessary to dry your pet. It is important to exclude drafts: all windows and vents must be closed. At the end of the water procedures, you need to treat your pet with treats, because he has experienced stress.

After water treatments, it is enough to dry the fur with a soft towel and eliminate drafts, the pet will put itself in order.

One of the kittens born to my cat was constantly getting into trouble. They lived in the courtyard of a private house, so he easily found adventures for himself. My favorite thing is to get into the dog's territory. The mesh in the enclosure is quite small, but the kitten’s small head fits in there quite well, which means the rest of him can too. The dog greeted him with joy, licked him, and carried him in his mouth on excursions around his property. Need to say. She acted carefully, but the slobbering kitten felt discomfort. He had to be washed often, because his mother completely refused to lick her traveler, and he himself did not yet know how to do this due to his young age (he was just over a month old). He is so used to swimming that he is absolutely not afraid of water and still tolerates water procedures calmly, even though he now lives in an apartment and is able to take care of himself.

Noise

Noises are incredibly unpleasant for a cat. Her hearing is so subtle, and her hearing aid is so gentle, that the noise of a hairdryer can be compared to the roar of a jet plane flying a few meters from a person. By the way, cats often attack the object of noise. Cats are great lovers of comfort, coziness and peace. The animal spends most of its time sleeping. Therefore, the roar of a hammer drill, the roar of a mixer or the howling of a hair dryer is a real apocalypse for a pet. If your pet has hidden itself in a secluded corner, there is no need to lure it out of there. Let him sit through all this fuss calmly.

But practice shows that not all noises make an animal angry. So, some people are only afraid of a hair dryer, but the noise of the mixer, on the contrary, suggests that there will be something tasty, for example, turkey pate. Others lie imposingly in the path of the vacuum cleaner, interfering with cleaning, but rush away from the working hair dryer. This may be due to events from childhood: what frightened you in infancy haunts you for the rest of your life.

I had a cat, Murzik, who was very aggressive towards the source of any noise - be it the cry of a child or the loud sound of a TV. He always lay in wait for one of the household members (whoever happened to be closer) and bit him on the leg. But his hatred reached its climax when I sat down to “torment” the button accordion. Yes, the sound may not be comparable to the trills of a nightingale, but lessons had to be learned. First, I determined Murzik’s location, then I retired to the room with the button accordion, tightly closing the door. Otherwise, torn legs could not be avoided.

Smells

Smells do not so much frighten cats as they cause a persistent aversion to them. By the way, this is another reason to avoid bathing: the smell of shampoo that is pleasant to humans does not evoke similar feelings in a cat.

Based on this feature of the animal, various means for raising cats have been created. For example, products for weaning people from dirtying in inappropriate places have the smell of citrus fruits. But products for accustoming to a scratching post, on the contrary, contain the aromas of catnip, so beloved by these animals. The smells of glue, paints, varnishes, vinegar, and medicines are very irritating to cats. This is not surprising: humans can hardly tolerate such pungent odors, and the olfactory receptors of these animals are many times more sensitive.

Cats also cannot tolerate the smell of onions and garlic. If you do not want your pet to appear in any area of ​​your home, leave a plate of these finely chopped vegetables there.

Video: the smell of citrus fruits scares away a cat

Dogs

Dogs are the eternal enemies of cats. But it turns out that cats are not afraid of dogs at all. The whole problem lies in the habits of these two representatives of the fauna.

Dogs are communal animals. They live in packs, feed together, observing a hierarchy, and also hunt and protect the territory. Cats, on the contrary, are solitary animals. In addition, the sign language of these animals is completely different:

• A dog wagging its tail shows its friendliness and readiness for contact. A cat, on the other hand, twitches its tail when it is irritated.
• Inviting to play or being guilty, the dog presses to the ground and lays down its ears. The cat, doing the same, is preparing to either attack or flee.

This difference in gestures leads to misunderstanding between them. It’s the same as communicating with a foreigner among people. In addition, a running cat evokes a hunting instinct in dogs, a desire to pursue. And the cat knows well how this “game” can end. But any cat can put a dog to flight.

If a cat and dog grow up together, they can even become friends

Street

The street is very scary for a pet. If the pet has never been further than the apartment, then the mixture of smells, noises and the change of environment itself can plunge the pet into a state of shock. You should not strain your pet’s nervous system and forcefully drag him outside. Walking on a leash should be taught from childhood, not in adulthood. Of course, if fate decreed otherwise, the cat will get used to living outside the walls of the house, but if it does not enjoy walking, then it is better to leave it alone. In addition, after walking you will have to bathe your pet, and this is another stress.

Many pets are happy to walk with their owner, but if the animal is afraid of the street, do not insist

My Thai cat and I often walked. Not far from the house there was a forest and a meadow, where she walked with pleasure, sometimes even without a leash, because she followed me like a little dog. But within the city limits, I didn’t let her out; she rode in a bag, sticking her head out and looking attentively at everything. In addition, there are always many animals around houses whose health is questionable, and it’s easy to get fleas.

Strangers

Strangers in the house are like aliens for cats. Cats are fierce individualists. They can live in small colonies, but prefer to be alone. Family members for a pet are members of its colony, to whom it has become accustomed since childhood. But strangers are strangers who have violated boundaries. In addition, strangers can smell of colognes, medications and other unpleasant odors.

If a cat hastened to hide during a visit from guests, there is no need to forcefully pull it out of its hiding place. If she calms down, she’ll come on her own. Cats are very curious. But you shouldn’t immediately reach out to her. You can get a good hit with a clawed paw.

New pets in the house

New pets, like strangers, are trespassers. The cat is not afraid of them, she just hates them. The entry of another kitten or puppy into the house is an encroachment on the territory. And the stranger must be expelled. It will take time before the cat gets used to the neighborhood.

To establish friendly relations between pets, you should pet them and say pleasant words in front of each other. Moreover, if you stroked one, immediately do it with the other. This way the animals understand that they are equal to their owner and have the same rights to live with him.

Cats do not feel jealous towards small pets (birds, fish, hamsters), but they are unlikely to become friends with them - they will always remain prey for them

Driving by car

Driving in a car makes cats scared for obvious reasons:

• a change of scenery;
• speed: flickering outside the window, instability of objects, which causes stress on the vestibular apparatus of the animal;
• pungent odor (metal, gasoline, exhaust, etc.);
• strong engine noise;
• body vibrations.

This is enough for the cat to experience extreme stress. Therefore, you need to transport the animal in a carrier in order to avoid madness in the cabin.

Strange fears

There are a lot of videos floating around on the Internet where cats are simply thrown up a meter out of fear of cucumbers. They react with the same horror to zucchini. Animal psychology experts say that it is not the cucumber itself that causes fear. Panic appears in a cat after it discovers an object right behind it. It’s enough to watch a few videos to notice this detail: a cat gets scared when a cucumber is quietly placed during a meal. It is enough to place any other object, and the cat’s reaction will be just as violent.

The thing is that the cat, before starting dinner, carefully assesses the surrounding situation. She will start eating only after she is sure that she is safe. Of course, the unexpected appearance of something outside the animal’s field of vision will primarily cause the desire to escape. With a high jump along an intricate trajectory, the cat will save its life. This is an instinct that works great in completely domesticated pets.

Video: cats are afraid of cucumbers

Other fears

Fear of the vet is another overwhelming pet nightmare. There is a superimposition of all possible horrors here:

• change of environment;
• traveling by car;
• a cacophony of sounds and smells.

The apotheosis of a nightmare is a stranger causing pain or trying to do so. We must assume that such an event is extremely stressful for a cat. It’s rare that a pet is indifferent to visiting a veterinary clinic or enjoys it.

Wild and domesticated cats

Usually, when talking about wild cats, we mean animals born on the street. The four-legged animals stay in the nest for up to 1.5–2 months and do not see people or other animals. Afterwards they explore the world under the strict control of their mother. Naturally, the “two-legged giant” seems like a threat to the little kitten. The reaction is quite predictable - run for cover, and if caught, then scratch, hiss, bite and call for the mother.

Important! Even a 1-2 month old wild kitten is capable of causing serious scratches and bites, and if the mother comes to the cry of the baby, you will have a very hard time. Not only will the mother cat attack, but she will also chase you until you leave her territory.

Tamed cats are animals that lived in human company for some time, but suddenly began to be afraid of people. In addition to bites and scratches, you can receive gifts from a frightened animal in the form of piles and puddles, torn wallpaper or torn curtains. It is more difficult to correct the behavior of a domestic cat than a wild one. A kitten on the street can be accustomed to itself gradually, because the main reason for fear is mistrust. The domestic cat already knows people, but harbors a grudge (fear).

Important! Overly aggressive behavior also indicates fear, but the reason may not lie in fear of people.

Water

Almost every cat's eyes become huge and pitiful at the moment when he realizes that he is in danger of bathing.

This reaction of cats is explained by their nature. As is known, their undercoat, which creates an air cushion, plays a large role in the thermoregulation of the animal. Thanks to it, cats can tolerate both heat and cold well. This is especially true for those who live on the street and can only dream of the comforts of home.

But if the cat gets wet, then its natural protection disappears. This can lead to illness or, in the worst case, disastrous consequences. For this reason, cats do not like to bathe, although they can swim well. As soon as their undercoat gets wet, they immediately shake themselves off and try to crawl out of it in order to dry as quickly as possible and protect themselves.

In addition, the animal’s subconscious tells it that the smell emanating from wet fur can scare away prey. And the animal itself is exposed to becoming a victim of stronger and more agile hunters.

In addition, wet fur gets dirty and tangled very quickly, which is not particularly appealing to clean cats.

The main reasons for cats’ fear of people and methods for correcting behavior

What to do if your cat is afraid of people and even you? What if an animal attacks your children or guests? Does it bother other animals in the house? First, you need to figure out what causes your pet’s stress. The first thing to exclude:

Rough behavior, physical punishment, intentional intimidation

Do you scream, spank, swing or stomp on your pet? This is rude, aggressive and threatening behavior, if after such gestures the cat begins to be afraid and attack you - do not be surprised, you deserve it! If you want to correct the situation, start with yourself; it is not your pet’s fault that he is forced to defend himself and fear for his life.

Negative experience

Usually, in this case, cats are afraid of certain people, for example, veterinarians after undergoing surgery. Also included in this category are animals that have experienced rough treatment or bullying by their former owners. Animals that have experienced the horrors of existence in municipal shelters are usually also afraid of people who resemble former caretakers.

Behavior correction

Do we need to change anything at all? Many people think that there is no point in doing anything, just let the cat hide behind the sofa and sit there. If we exclude aggression from the purr, another problem remains - stress. After experiencing a shock, the pet may begin to mark its territory, tear up wallpaper or chew shoes. What happened will have a bad impact on your pet’s health. Now the answer is clear: you need to help the cat! How? Follow a few rules.

1. Train gradually! Try to invite guests once a week. At first, 1 person will be enough.

2. Don't force your cat to meet strangers. Everything must be on a voluntary basis.

3. If it becomes necessary to invite a group of people, take your pet to a separate room and close the doors. This will make her feel safer.

4. Buy an enclosed house for your pet so that he has his own personal territory. No one should disturb him there.

5. Organize either shelves or ladders. The cat must be able to climb up. The ideal option is a special tree with scratching posts.

Strong odors

These furry animals try to avoid intense scents. There is a simple and logical explanation for this - cats have a much more developed sense of smell than humans, so overly strong odors can irritate the cat’s receptors. This is not even a phobia, but a natural reaction of a living creature to an unpleasant factor.

The following odors are most unpleasant to cats:

1. Citrus fruits are orange, lemon, grapefruit, etc. They are the strongest allergen for animals.
2. Hygiene products. For example, deodorant, hairspray, shampoo.
3. Construction chemicals, which include paint, glue, varnish. These odors are very irritating to the nasal passages.
4. Many medications, vinegar and alcohol.

Cats have one unique feature. Thanks to the sensitivity of their nose, they can foresee disasters such as a cyclone or a volcanic eruption. The animal is capable of capturing the smallest particles of ash and dust. It is their smell that causes the alarm to sound.