When Visitors Come Over...

I'd like to know what everybody else's cats do when visitors come over. My husband and I don't have kids, so maybe my 3 cats just aren't used to having strangers in the house. On the rare occasion that somebody comes over, they go right under the bed. A few weeks ago my 10 and 12-year old niece and nephew came over and Jiggy and Sophia ran under the bed, whereas Gette stayed on it and let them pet her (which surprised me). I was really surprised by Sophia's behavior, because at thetime she was only 8 months old and I was hoping she wouldn't be a "scaredy cat". But now I'm thinking maybe she was just reacting to Jiggy running under the bed. (She never came out until after they were gone and the coast was clear).
Also, when my cat sitter comes to take care of them while we're on vacatoin, she said the first time she did the cat sitting for us, Gette followed her around while she changed their food, water and litter box while Jiggy stayed under the bed (didn't have Sophia then). But the past 3 times she's been here, she says they all are under the bed.
I hate that when she comes, they don't crave human attention like they do from me. She does try to coax them out and talks to them. Jiggy even lets her pet him while he's under the bed.
Anybody else have this same reaction to "strangers"???
Sorry for the long post!

yuppers. mine do the same, at least, the older ones do. the kittens are more apt the strangers, and play,lol

Princess runs and hides, then may come out and play later, but won't allow anyone to touch her but me.

Originally Posted by menasmom

I'd like to know what everybody else's cats do when visitors come over. Anybody else have this same reaction to "strangers"???

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My cat (not a kitten) comes out to greet them if she is not already waiting by the door. She will sit on their laps and basically be an attention hog. As far as she is concerned people are lovely creatures created to give her the attention she demands

My Petunia would run and hide the minute she heard strangers in the house. After I moved in with my hubby, his cat Much started to do the same thing. I think she was influenced by Petunia.

After Petunia died and we got Lucy, Much still will run under the bed, but Lucy will at least check out the guests for awhile. Then she will go off and hide some place. Carly is just downright friendly with everyone. I have to make sure that she isn't bothering the repair people. And since Lucy and Carly stay out, Much now will hide initially but then come out later.

I don't have kids over at all, so I don't know how Abby would react to them now that she's older.

Chynna is a social butterfly and is right at the door to greet people as they come in, she makes sure they aren't lonely when they are here and she escorts them to the door when they leave, secretly hoping that they will take her with them, LOL

Abby used to be a real fraidy cat and went and hid behind the bed or in the closet when anyone came over. If they were here long enough she would come out and lay along the wall across the room watching them but if they moved towards her she would run and hide. Now that she's 9 years old she has started to become less afraid of people, and she will even let the odd person actually touch her. She absolutely loves Peggy, my homecare cleaning lady. As soon as Peggy comes in Abby is all over her. In addition to Peggy, she's let a few others touch her too, but not many. She seems really choosey.

Bagheera isn't "affected" by them unless they attempt to pet her (but she's hand shy even with us). Khan takes off, and depending on who it is, will either eventually return or will just not be anywhere to be found.

Noel greets them, and will sometimes even jump up in their lap.

Pogue, surprising as I expected him to be a friendly cuddly cat, vehemently removes himself from anywhere that someone who is not family is in.

Joyeux is more like, oh, did you come to visit me??? Huh? Le'ts play! Oh, pet me! I like visitors! Babies are great! People are wonderful, love me pet me hold me, I love you...

My 3 bottle fed orphans are all over any visitor to the house. Scarlett in particular will get in their face and if they don't love on her, will fling herself on her back and request tummy scritches. Muddy stands on his hind legs against them and asks to be picked up. Koko will jump into a cat tree and watch them intently.

Stumpy and Pinky will come out and observe them out of curiousity.

Pinky runs for cover and you can almost set your watch to him - he comes back out after 2 hours.

Sage and Dakota aren't really consistent with their behavior. Sometimes they stay out, sometimes they disappear into a back bedroom.

The rest stay under the bed until the visitor leaves.

Thanks for your responses! Now I'm wondering if it's a male/female thing or perhaps the way they spent the first 8 weeks or so of their lives (all of mine were rescues, though 2 were fostered when kittens...).
???

Cassi, Ivory and Trouble will all disappear, sometimes after a while they'll come back.

Vash and Spaz are attention starved and look forward to loving on anyone.
Well, mostly, Vash loves kids, Spaz will disappear if it's kids.

Shadow is indifferent.

Max hides Ashley sticks around to say Hello

Jamie initially runs upstairs or behind the living room curtains, but then curiosity gets the better of him, and he starts peeping at the visitors. Sometimes he'll come out and go over to them, while other times he gets on his window perch or climbs his cat tree.

The big exception is relatives; he demands scritches when they visit.

Most of them are always up for some lovins...no matter where its coming from! They dont run and hide usually.

Gracie runs and hides, Casey's sure that the visitors are here to see him.

Maisie is a scardey cat. She will usually get all nervous with strangers but she is usually in her own room anyway.

Kitty is the complete opossite! He has to be wedged in between me and whoever on the sofa even if there is no room.
He usually puts one paw on my knee as if to say, 'She`s mine! Back off!'

Isis, Luna and Neffie will hide under the bed if someone comes to the house. (or under the fish tank.) Twig and Rocket are my ambassadors and will stay out no matter who's here.
But tow of the girls were former ferals and Neffie was a basket case living in a basement hating all people. They are all getting better slowly but it's taking baby steps. (and years so far.) Once in awhile, you'll catch one of the girls out while there are only a few people here, but not very often. If someone tries to pet them though, they are gone.

As a full time pet sitter, I see cats that hide slightly more often than cats that don't.

Many can get used to particular strangers over time (after they aren't really strangers anymore), but some just never warm up to strangers. Just like a few cats never even warm up to their own owners!

And this is true even if they were all excited about people when they were younger. It can be a habit they mature into.

Part of the problem is that many strangers want to "see the pretty kitty" and are way too excited about it. Strangers that come in, ignore the kitty, and talk in normal voices get the most attention from scaredy-cats. It gives the cats time to sniff the new smells, hear the new voices, and decide there are no threats.

Socializing your cat on a consistent basis right from kitten hood does help. Have strangers come over periodically to show it is a "normal" and not scary thing.

They all hide!!!

But hey, when we have company over, sometimes *I* want to hide too!

Jaffa hides under the bed but Mosi is a social butterfly and loves everyone. He climbs onto their laps and rubs his entire body against them. Most leaving sporting the latest in cat hair clothing.

Magpie, my bridge babe and Jaffa's brother, would hide initially but if someone stopped a while he'd come out and demand a bit of fussing.

Sebastian will greet and love on anyone who walks in. He craves people. I rarely have anyone over, though.

My sis and her daughter came over the other night and Daphne was unsure about them at first. She did warm up in the few minutes they were here. I hope living with just me doesn't make her anxious later on.