Is Your Cat Shy? Here’s How to Help

As most cat owners know, cats feel most comfortable in an environment they are familiar with—that’s when their personality really shines. 

Even the tiniest of changes to their safe space can upset them and cause your cat to act timid or different. Shy cats, most often, tend to hide or act aggressively if startled. These responses may be triggered for many reasons such as a new person or animal entering their environment, or their environment has changed. 

If your cat is shy or unsure about their environment, there could be a myriad of reasons causing their behavior. In this post, we’ll talk about causes of shyness in felines and methods you can implement to make your shy cat feel more comfortable.

• Why Are Cats Shy?
• Signs of Fear in Cats
• How to Get a Shy Cat to Open Up
• How to Help a Shy Cat
• What To Do If Your Cat is Hiding
• Shy Cats: Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are Cats Shy?

As mentioned earlier, cats need to be comfortable to prevent them from feeling scared or threatened. Most cats will act shy when faced with the following scenarios:

• If your cat was a stray before it became your pet, the chances are that it has been bullied or has fought other stray animals. If this is the case, then your cat may start hiding away or acting strange each time something poses a threat, such as a new family member, roommate, or pet.
• Fear of loud noises and explosives may also similarly trigger your cat. Your cat may stay in hiding after hearing any loud noise. This could be the sound of thunder, engines, firecrackers, or even balloons popping.
• If a kitten did not grow up around humans when it was younger, the chances are that it will act very antisocial. Such cats are wary of loud noises, strong scents, and even body warmth.
• Some cats are just naturally more careful than others. Many believe this is due to hereditary factors.

To prevent kittens from acting apprehensively once they grow up, socialize them with other humans besides their owners (including children) as well as other animals. Between 2 and 7 weeks is the best time to start socialization, training kittens while they are under 3 months of age helps rule out social anxiety. 

It is not uncommon for a cat or kitten to be shy in certain scenarios, like vet visits or in the car, but you just want to make sure the timidness isn’t a consistent behavior. However, if you are noticing a pattern of timid behavior in your furry friend there are ways to help your cat feel more comfortable.

Signs Of Fear In Cats

To accurately identify if your cat is feeling anxious or scared, look for the following signs:

• Your cat jumps at the slightest noise.
• Your cat appears to stay hidden and out of reach.
• It pretends to be immobile.
• It tries to pretend like a smaller being and pulls its ears back.
• Arches back curve.
• Dilated pupils and weird gaze.
• Piloerection or standing fur.
• Hisses whenever someone tries to get near.
• Scratches or bites.

How To Get A Shy Cat To Open Up

Are you worrying about a shy kitten? Does your cat appear frightened? Do you want to help but are afraid of harming your pet or yourself? The good news is that you can follow a few tricks to help your cat open up safely. 

• Try to gently persuade your cat with the help of a friend. You can offer your cat treats or some toys to play with.
• A person with a high voice is best suited for calling out to a cat as they don't find them threatening. Cats find low or deep voices threatening and dislike them. Sit down and appear small when calling out to a shy cat. Make sure to avoid direct eye contact as cats hate stares.
• You could also make use of a cat carrier to provide them with a safe space to hide. Place your cat inside the carrier and cover it enough to create a small hiding place without disrupting the view. Place the carrier in the center of the room, so the cat can see and hear everything without feeling threatened. Leave the door open, just in case your cat decides to socialize.
• Do not touch your cat unless you feel that it is truly comfortable with this, if they show signs of discomfort do not pet them. Play soothing music or the radio to help the cat become more aware, you can repeat this exercise daily.
• Occasionally make eye contact and blink gently to indicate friendliness.
• Walk slowly and cautiously so as not to scare your cat.
• Use a wand to initiate contact. Slowly and gently use your hands for petting once you feel your cat is not as scared. Know the safe areas of where to pet a cat before you do this.
• Make your cat feel comfortable by keeping all basic necessities within reach, keep their food and water bowls full and their litter box(es) clean.
• If all else fails, you can go ahead and use pheromone products or consult a vet to rule out any illnesses.

How To Help A Shy Cat

There’s nothing wrong with a cat having a more introverted personality, but if it goes beyond just shy behavior there are ways to make sure your shy cat is happy and comfortable in your home. You can also implement a daily routine, feeding them and playing with them at the same time every day will increase their awareness and familiarity with you and your space. 

The first step in helping a shy cat is to observe your cat and gain a better understanding of their personality, their cues and overall body language. You do not want to further frighten them, so it’s important to learn their cues that they are uncomfortable or anxious. As a cat owner dealing with a timid feline, you never want to overwhelm them while trying to get them to come out of their shell. Read their body language as you attempt to get them acclimated and give them time if they are still displaying apprehensive behavior.

One of the best ways to ensure your cat feels safe in their environment is to make sure they have access to places where they can hide. It may seem odd to provide a shy or timid cat more places to hide, but small and enclosed spaces help your cat feel safe and secure. As your cat becomes more familiar with their surroundings, they will come out and explore on their own. 

Other ways to help a shy cat include:

• Keep any other people or pets out of your cat’s designated space until the cat becomes more relaxed.
• Use synthetic pheromones, treats, and toys to charm your cat.
• Be patient and sit quietly nearby so that the cat can adapt to you. Offer your hand for them to sniff to become familiar with your scent.
• Never directly approach your cat or stare. Slowly blink your eyes to appear as less of a threat. 
• Be calm and gentle at all times. 

What To Do If Your Cat Is Hiding

To lure a cat out of its hiding place, offer them delicious treats or toys they enjoy. Make sure you know how to feed a cat that is frightened before you choose to lure it out with food. Dangling toys are another great way to spark curiosity in a shy cat. Synthetic pheromones may or may not charm your cat, but it is worth a try.

If your cat has suddenly changed its behavior or your kitten is not responding to any efforts, you might want to visit a vet to rule out anything more serious. Underlying illnesses and diseases may also be a reason why your cat is acting strange.

Shy Cats: Frequently Asked Questions

Will My Nervous Cat Warm Up To Me?

Yes! It may take time, but your cat will slowly warm up to you with consistent effort and patience. Once your cat shows a bit more confidence, you can try talking to them in a gentle voice, introducing them to new people or petting/holding them. You can also offer your cat a treat each time it interacts with you for positive reinforcement. 

How Long Does It Take For A Timid Cat To Trust Me?

Dealing with a timid cat will require time and patience. There’s no magic wand to make your shy cat more outgoing. There also isn’t a specific timeline for how long it will take for a cat to trust you. 

You will need to sit and spend time with your cat on a daily basis. Each luring technique should be applied at least 3 to 5 times properly before moving on to the next. Make sure to spend at least 15 to 20 minutes on each activity to enable your cat to understand and adapt to its surroundings completely. Do not jump from technique to technique too fast, and always make sure that your cat feels comfortable. 

All in all, each cat is different and will come around in their own time–it could take weeks or months for a cat to warm up to you and its surroundings. At times it could be frustrating, but remain patient and calm when interacting with your shy cat or kitten and continue to provide them with a safe and secure environment.

Final Notes

We hope this article helped you grasp the tips and tricks you can apply to help your cat overcome its shyness and become friendlier. Remember that patience is key! You will need to be gentle and consistent with your efforts to enable your cat to adapt to you, other family members, pets, and even its surroundings.

However, if at any point you feel that your cat is not responding to the luring methods, you might want to consult a professional veterinarian. As mentioned, underlying illnesses or diseases can be other reasons why your cat may be acting weird. 

Furthermore, if your cat suddenly becomes shy, you should always book a vet appointment to rule out any serious concerns. To get an online appointment with an experienced vet, you can visit the Dutch website and give your pet the professional attention that they need. 

As a reliable service provider, Dutch aids with establishing VCPR (Veterinary Client Patient Relationship). A professional vet will help your furry friend while you remain in the comfort of your home. Moreover, you will not be required to forcefully take your already frightened or shy cat to the vet clinic (it’s a win-win!). The vet can provide insight into various cat issues, including worms in cats, cat pacing, cat bronchitis symptoms, and many others that could be influencing their behavior