Scared Kitty

[smokingboot]

Oh Dear.

A friend came to visit last friday and she brought her 18 month old toddler with her. Smaller of my two kitties freaked, dashed in terror into the dining room and then ran upstairs.

She hasn't been comfortable downstairs since.

The little girl didn't do anything that I could notice in particular. But my little white kitten is not herself. She is startled and runs away from any sudden movement, and though she will come downstairs if bribed with ham, shoots upstairs again very quickly. She won't come into the garden, she won't play with her sister who is perfectly happy downstairs...she's still affectionate thank goodness, but she's living a solitary life up there. This is such a far cry from the playful fun little thing she was I just want to cry. I have tried spraying catnip everywhere, giving her cuddles ,and of course, letting her be so she can come down in her own time, but it's three days now. I'm really scared the child has given her a major trauma. Her mother is mortified of course and swearing that the little girl didn't do anything and I believe her - the cat was spooked as soon as the child walked in - but I don't know what to do to make this better.

I want my joyful little cat back.

Comments

[cyanidemigraine.livejournal.com]

would it be too trite if i said time healed most wounds?


give the lovely kitty some time of nothing bad happeneing to it when its downstairs and im sure things will get better, remember also that it might sense you getting all emotional about it being downstairs or not and get strange signals from that

next time im fussing about my candles will say a hope for it to calm down, as long as you dont mind?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I would like that very much, thank you x

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Feliway is your friend. It's the most amazing stuff and gets kitties over most trauma.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the thought, actually we did have some for the move... I'll see if I can find it. Don't know whether to spray it over her or over the front door, where she first saw the child.

Am worried, cos even catnip hasn't worked and she loves that stuff!

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

We had one of those plug in air freshener things with feliway in it - we just used to plug it in in any room Jadis happened to have taken a dislike to this week...

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

Feliway plug in would be best, but until you get one, you could spray all down the stairs and into the downstairs rooms. Trails of biscuits may help too.

No matter how tempting it is to do otherwise, leave her to come downstairs in her own time. If she used to be happy, she should come back. In the meantime, move all important resources - food, water, litter tray into the central area of castle she has retreated to.

(castle great cat analogy. She has retreated into the top of the turret and pulled up the drawbridge. She will emerge from her castle inside her moat when she feels safe)

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

it's a good analogy. I think you are very right about how to deal with it, it seems to have worked, drawbridge came down this morning and she's playing in the front room with her sister!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Demon children don't have to touch...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Eeewaaaaaa!

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

How worrying. Poor puss. I am hopeful that within a day or two she will venture downstairs and want to play again.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your concern, she is doing just that this morning! I am delighted to see her back to her old self:-)

[feinoak.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty. Has she ever reacted like this before to strangers or novel objects? Are you confident she was well socialised before coming to you?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Never, if anything she is incredibly laid back about everything. We've had her since she was 8 weeks old, during which time the house has had its full share of roleplaying strangers and burly Belgians...she couldn't care less. My brother may well be one of the loudest men in Europe, doesn't worry her in the slightest.

Then a toddler walks in and she acts like she's just met Damien...

[evilwillow.livejournal.com]

I'm sending fairy catmother vibes your way!

Hope the little one gets her groove back soon honey

xx

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

The FCM works her magic once more! Kitty is fine and happy today, I thank you. Can't wait to see you at the weekend btw xxxxx