5/30/2023 0 Comments Kitty jump scare![]() You can gradually get your cat used to the presence of other pets by starting with a “safe” distance and then gradually moving your pet closer. How do I use behavior modification to make my cat less fearful? You can also put them in protected areas, such as on top of counters. To counteract this, place food dishes, water dishes and litter boxes in several locations in your home. Highly confident cats often “guard” these resources by sitting or standing near them, preventing your fearful cat from approaching. You should also provide a “house of plenty” so your fearful cat does not have to compete with other pets for food, water, toys, or attention from you. You can also buy cat collars that signal a cat door to open, which limits access to a room to only the cat wearing the collar. Place baby gates in doorways cats can jump over them or squeeze through them if a dog is in hot pursuit. A low-tech alternative is to provide cardboard boxes with two holes cut out of them the second hole allows your cat to escape if another cat jumps in. Adding skirts around tables or chairs also creates hiding places for your cat to feel safe. Clear off some bookshelves or add cat trees to your home so she can jump to an elevated, protected area. (For guidance, refer to the resource called “ Dog Chasing Cat: Tips for Stopping This Behavior.”) This sends a message to the instigator that this behavior is inappropriate and provides reassurance to the fearful cat that she is safe.īefore you start the exercises, you should provide safe areas for your fearful cat to retreat to if she is chased or otherwise intimidated by other pets. The first objective is to prevent other pets from intimidating and chasing the cat. (Please refer to the resource called “ Cat Behavior Modification: Desensitization and Counter-conditioning” for general information about these training techniques.) One of the most effective ways to help cats feel more comfortable with stressors is to use the behavior modification techniques called desensitization and counter-conditioning. How can I make my cat more comfortable around my other pets? If your cat was not exposed to dogs at a young age, he may be more apprehensive of them. Even if your dog has never chased a cat, she still smells and looks like a dog to your cat. Understandably, this can be a very scary experience for a cat he may learn to avoid your dog after even one negative experience. And, of course, many dogs instinctually chase fast-moving objects that are smaller than they are. Cat fearful of dogsĬats have good reason to be fearful of dogs, since most dogs are bigger than cats and smell like a predator. Your fearful cat gets the message and goes out of his way to avoid conflict. A more confident and bold cat in your household may be sending your fearful cat a subtle message to “stay out of my way.” This message can be communicated with a stare, by blocking certain pathways in your home, or by making one’s presence very obvious (e.g., lying outstretched in the middle of the living room). In addition, like dogs, cats have a hierarchy, though it is more complex. If your fearful cat did not grow up with other cats, he may not be used to interacting with others of his species and may not recognize your other cats’ overtures of friendship. If so, it’s a good idea to have your cat checked by your veterinarian, since many behavior changes are caused by medical problems. We can't wait to see what you'll do next.The first thing to consider is whether the fear represents a change in your cat’s usual behavior. She's already turned you into an internet star. And don't hunt your person! You'll learn. ![]() What I'm saying is: cat better, little kitty. But you're never going to catch any prey at all if you think that pounce is effective. You shouldn't be hunting your person, let's be clear. What the eff, my little feline friend? You didn't jump forward at your prey you jumped sideways, swinging your paws pointlessly through empty air. Your efforts to scurry into position at the last minute don't really help, given that you've already been spotted. When your human sees you peering out from behind the wall, that means she knows you're lying in wait. (opens in a new tab) (Opens in a new tab) The 8-week-old kitten in question belongs to Twitter user Her baby cat has developed a habit of hiding just behind a wall whenever she knows her human is approaching and then leaping out at just the right moment to surprise her much larger prey. ![]() This one just happens to be exceedingly bad at it.
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