Scardey Cat

I am curious about cats that are scared of everything. We are in Colorado watching my brother's 4 kids (ages 7 and under) plus our three kids for 9 days. My brother and SIL have two male cats, both indoor only and neutered. They were both adopted as kittens. One of them, Owen, is a sweet cat that wanders around the house and seems fine. The other cat, Tiggler, is freaked about everything. The only people he is not scared of are my brother and sil. He is freaked about their kids and anything else that breaths. So basically he stays hidden under a bed all day long. He is so freaked of everything that he will even miss meals. Some days we have been here, Owen eats all the food and Tiggler gets nothing cause he is too freaked. Anyway, I had a cat that was freaked but that was because she was abused before she came to us. Tiggler has had no bad experiences in his life and always beeb in a loving home. Can anyone relate to this or have a cat that is like this? It is just strange to me.

I have three cats, 2 males and 1 jumpy female. One little noise and she takes off. If anyone comes over she's gone under the bed. I wish I could desensitize her; it must be awful to be scared of everything! If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Let him stay in a room with the door closed and food close by (as well as water and a box of his own). He needs to eat, after all, and until he's back home I'd give him the extra help.

I think cats like people just react differently to the same experience. I remember when my five orphans were young kittens and once they were happily exploring the basement. I walked in on them unexpectedly and 3 out of 5 were startled and hid right away while the 2 sort of smelled the air and stayed put. As they grew up, the 3 have always been jumpier than their 2 siblings.

Originally Posted by Larke

Let him stay in a room with the door closed and food close by (as well as water and a box of his own). He needs to eat, after all, and until he's back home I'd give him the extra help.

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He is home. We are staying in my brother's house so he is in familiar territory. He is skitterish even with no one here besides his normal family. I was thinking that even though it is not my home I would put food and water where he stays but with a baby and toddler roaming it is hard to keep them out of that area. I am trying the best I can to make sure he eats. As for the litter box, I am unable to move that where he is.

Is there no closable door, and can't a new (if smaller) box be used temporarily?

Originally Posted by Larke

Is there no closable door, and can't a new (if smaller) box be used temporarily?

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There is a closable door but not to be able to keep out the toddler. I really am doing the best I can with watching 4 extra kids under the age of 7. I can try to go out and buy an extra litter box but not sure if my brother would have use for it when we leave. We will be flying back to our home state on Monday so I couldn't take it either. I know he can at least come out at night when the house is quiet and use the litter box. Like I said, he is freaked and does this when only his family is around cause of the kids. I was really just curious why he would be such a scared cat when there is no abuse in his back ground.

Originally Posted by Larke

Let him stay in a room with the door closed and food close by (as well as water and a box of his own). He needs to eat, after all, and until he's back home I'd give him the extra help.

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He is just scared. I would also suggest you geting another litter box for him and sitting all the children down and explain to them to keep the door shut.

I have 5 cats and my cats are just like that with strangers. I have had 4 of them since birth. Its a feral cat trait..

He really needs to be as comortable as possible because health problems can result him being so stressed/not peeing when necessary and of course not eating.

In my house, no one can even come over withotu calling me first, so I can make sure the cats are in a safe place.

Originally Posted by Pami

He is just scared. I would also suggest you geting another litter box for him and sitting all the children down and explain to them to keep the door shut.

I have 5 cats and my cats are just like that with strangers. I have had 4 of them since birth. Its a feral cat trait..

He really needs to be as comortable as possible because health problems can result him being so stressed/not peeing when necessary and of course not eating.

In my house, no one can even come over withotu calling me first, so I can make sure the cats are in a safe place.

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I agree completely with all that. My kids are great with our cats at home and also have been great with my brothers cats while here. I have talked to their kids several times about leaving the cats alone and such but two are too young to understand and the other two don't give a care. Tiggler did come down after the kids were in bed and I made sure he ate and had litter box access. Believe me I am a major cat lover and I would never let this cat go hungry or with out access to litter box. If he was to have problems from stress then he would have already had some since he seems to have been stressed through his 7 years of life. Thanks for suggestions. I am doing what I can to take care of him while he is under my care till Saturday.

Aww I have no doubt that you are taking good care of them all. I apologize if my post came across as though I thought you didnt.

If he came out to eat and use the litter box after they kids went to sleep, then I would say you have the routine down to the best you can.

Originally Posted by Pami

Aww I have no doubt that you are taking good care of them all.

I apologize if my post came across as though I thought you didnt.

If he came out to eat and use the litter box after they kids went to sleep, then I would say you have the routine down to the best you can.

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It didn't at all. I think I am sleep deprived...well not "think" I KNOW I am So I was coming across defensive when I did not mean to. <going to crawl into bed before baby wakes-up > 5 days down...3 1/2 more to go.