How to cure an anti-social cat?

dusty's mom

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My kitty Dusty is a 2 person cat - me and my husband. She was a stray that adopted us when she was about 2 - 2 years ago. At first she ran from us, but after we started feeding her, she gained trust. Now she is a total lovebug
with the 2 of us. Yet if anyone else comes over, she runs away or begs to go outside, or hides upstairs. She just won't let anyone else get near her. Is there a way I can break her of this habit?

My 6 year old granddaughter loves animals and would love to pet her, but she won't let Natalie get too close. Help! Is there anything I can do to change this?
 

pami

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My cats all run when someone comes over that they dont know. But with my nieces and nephews, I had to teach them to sit on the floor and talk softly to the cats, not approaching the cats. Eventually, all of mine learned to love and trust them. Easy will even sit at the door and meow when they leave
 

katachtig

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Originally Posted by Pami

My cats all run when someone comes over that they dont know. But with my nieces and nephews, I had to teach them to sit on the floor and talk softly to the cats, not approaching the cats. Eventually, all of mine learned to love and trust them. Easy will even sit at the door and meow when they leave
Good advice. You may not make Dusty sociable with everyone, but you could make him comfortable with a few like your granddaughter who is willing to work with him. You can try having your granddaughter sit near where he is hiding and just talk quietly to the cat, maybe tell him stories? And then work with her to slowly let him approach her when ready. You must always leave the control in his paws.
 

meow meow

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As I always say, most cats exist for the pleasure of their owners and don't care if they ever see another human being other then them.

Try having your granddaughter give the kitty treats. Then at least she could get in a couple pets because the kitty leaves and she will feel like the kitty likes her.
 

mom of 4

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My kids are all in college. To get our new kitten familiar with their smell, I had the kids each send me a towel that they had rubbed over their dry, clean bodies. This way it contained their shampoo, lotion and natural scents.

At various times, I had the towels lying around the house. When the kids came home for Christmas, it only took a couple of days for the kitten to start approaching them. I gave the kids their towels back and scent-loaded some of our towels to use around here before they come back again.

I also did this exchange of scent for the kitten and our dogs. It really made their introduction easy. And the kitten is now the boss of three large dogs - 82, 88 and 105 lbs.
When I come home fom work, she has joined the dogs in their room, usally lying on one of their dog pillows. Poor abused dogs.
 
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