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

[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...