Our youngest cat, Striker (aka Gweeky) has a few major issues. He is about 5 years old and was adopted from our vet when he was about 4 months old. He is the child of a feral cat but was born at the vet's office. When we 1st adopted him he was relatively friendly, but overly timid with strangers. When he was about a year old things began to change. He has progressively become more shy/paranoid. He lets no one touch him now - I am the only on who can, but I can't approach him, he has to approach me. He startles very easily. He comes across as feral, but has never been feral.
I think the issue stems from a check up we brought him to when he was about 1. I don't know if he thought we were going to leave him at the vets or what. He was fine when he was in previously for his neuter. The last time he was at the vet's he was 2 and I still have the scar 3 years later to show how petrified he was of getting caged. His fur is so matted now that it must hurt him, but he won't let anyone near enough to cut them out. Have tried Feliway, to no affect.
I just don't know what to do about him. He is not picked on by the other cats and does deal well with them. I am concerned I can't get him to the vets for a check up and I am concerned about his mats.
What can I do?
I think the issue stems from a check up we brought him to when he was about 1. I don't know if he thought we were going to leave him at the vets or what. He was fine when he was in previously for his neuter. The last time he was at the vet's he was 2 and I still have the scar 3 years later to show how petrified he was of getting caged. His fur is so matted now that it must hurt him, but he won't let anyone near enough to cut them out. Have tried Feliway, to no affect.
I just don't know what to do about him. He is not picked on by the other cats and does deal well with them. I am concerned I can't get him to the vets for a check up and I am concerned about his mats.
What can I do?
Afterward after returning home to encourage him to become more social with you and other folks around the home, buy several bags of cat treats and keep them randomly around the home, when ever you or someone else in the home walks past him, toss a treat to him, soon he will make the connection that humans=yummy treats and the more he comes out and comes close the more he will get. So reward the good with treats (him coming to you), and ignore the bad (him runing from you). This should do it, that way he will be freed of his discomfort from the mats and will learn to be a little more socialable. Best wishes, I hope this helps. 
