We have a very strange situation, one I have not seen expressed anywhere else.
We rescued a 2-3 year old half-siamese a few months ago. The agency told us she was a real cuddler, and she was, for the first few weeks in our apartment. She would climb up into our laps on the couch, and climb up onto the bed after hours. She had the normal 'exploration' period in our (relatively small) apartment, but she adapted very well. There wasn't a single area she wasn't curious about, and not a single place she wouldn't wander over to, without reservations.
Suddenly, about two weeks in, she began exhibiting very bizarre behavior. My spouse went to place her on the bed and the cat scratched her and jumped three feet in the air, terrified. She then refused to go near the bed.
She also refused to go near the dark carpet next to bed, treating it like hot lava. If placed on the rug, she jumps sideways off of it, and walks away, scared and twitching. She's fine with the carpet though.
When also noticed she seemed skittish about the couch. Sure enough, she can't touch it or get placed there without doing wild frightened leaps once her paws touch the couch.
So, We try to leave her alone and not force her to go anywhere she doesn't want to go. Something about these places terrify her now. We can tell she wants to join us, but she can't - she's too scared. We have NO IDEA what might be scaring her.
We've already tried Fellaway hormone spray and catnip in these areas, no to avail.
Every so often she surprises us and shows up on the bed, or the couch, or is sitting on the carpet. Most of the time, she will jump and twitch after being near those places. Even when she (rarely) climbs into bed with us, in the morning when she realizes 'where she is' she starts freaking out again and jumping with fright.
Just so you know:
*Her claws are NOT getting caught on the bed, couch or rug. Her paws are healthy, and she handles all the carpet and most surfaces well.
*We know very little about her previous family except that that cat was always really loving and friendly.
*She is eating and drinking fine, and as long as she isn't placed near the 'scary zones' she is actually quite affectionate and 'normal.'
*We have a safe zone for her, with a bed/food/toys/everything she could need. From time to time she exhibits a huge fear of even this area, a fear that subsides minutes later.
*Again, she is usually a very normal cat, expresses affection, loves to play, talks to us once in a while, eats quite well.
*Nothing about our situation (bed, rug, couch) changed in the slightest before she began acting weird. Nothing was moved around or washed or scented. She was one moment to the next, a completely different cat.
It's a shame, since it's clear she wants to join us on the couch/bed places we sit, but something about these places terrifies her. We have tried everything and are at our wits end. How common is this 'area-specific' terror in otherwise normal cats?
Thanks in advance for any information or suggestions. Has anyone else encountered this?
We rescued a 2-3 year old half-siamese a few months ago. The agency told us she was a real cuddler, and she was, for the first few weeks in our apartment. She would climb up into our laps on the couch, and climb up onto the bed after hours. She had the normal 'exploration' period in our (relatively small) apartment, but she adapted very well. There wasn't a single area she wasn't curious about, and not a single place she wouldn't wander over to, without reservations.
Suddenly, about two weeks in, she began exhibiting very bizarre behavior. My spouse went to place her on the bed and the cat scratched her and jumped three feet in the air, terrified. She then refused to go near the bed.
She also refused to go near the dark carpet next to bed, treating it like hot lava. If placed on the rug, she jumps sideways off of it, and walks away, scared and twitching. She's fine with the carpet though.
When also noticed she seemed skittish about the couch. Sure enough, she can't touch it or get placed there without doing wild frightened leaps once her paws touch the couch.
So, We try to leave her alone and not force her to go anywhere she doesn't want to go. Something about these places terrify her now. We can tell she wants to join us, but she can't - she's too scared. We have NO IDEA what might be scaring her.
We've already tried Fellaway hormone spray and catnip in these areas, no to avail.
Every so often she surprises us and shows up on the bed, or the couch, or is sitting on the carpet. Most of the time, she will jump and twitch after being near those places. Even when she (rarely) climbs into bed with us, in the morning when she realizes 'where she is' she starts freaking out again and jumping with fright.
Just so you know:
*Her claws are NOT getting caught on the bed, couch or rug. Her paws are healthy, and she handles all the carpet and most surfaces well.
*We know very little about her previous family except that that cat was always really loving and friendly.
*She is eating and drinking fine, and as long as she isn't placed near the 'scary zones' she is actually quite affectionate and 'normal.'
*We have a safe zone for her, with a bed/food/toys/everything she could need. From time to time she exhibits a huge fear of even this area, a fear that subsides minutes later.
*Again, she is usually a very normal cat, expresses affection, loves to play, talks to us once in a while, eats quite well.
*Nothing about our situation (bed, rug, couch) changed in the slightest before she began acting weird. Nothing was moved around or washed or scented. She was one moment to the next, a completely different cat.
It's a shame, since it's clear she wants to join us on the couch/bed places we sit, but something about these places terrifies her. We have tried everything and are at our wits end. How common is this 'area-specific' terror in otherwise normal cats?
Thanks in advance for any information or suggestions. Has anyone else encountered this?