Many humans dream of a sociable and cuddly kitten and instead have to deal with a cat that is wary, that hides, that fears people, that runs away as soon as it hears one noise too many, that blows as soon as an approach is attempted. Other cats on the other hand, after an unpleasant episode and/or a change, seem to be no longer the same: they stay aloof, remain alert, stop playing and behaving as usual.
The element that unites these behaviours is often fear, an emotion that is as important as it is sometimes counterproductive in terms of physical, mental and relational well-being. A state of fear, prolonged hypervigilance, traumatic episodes or repeated shocks can in fact lead the cat to develop anxiety, stress and aggressive or repetitive behaviour.
In my practice as a feline counsellor and animal flower therapist, I meet frightened cats almost every day, many of them mistaken for aggressive cats, and just as many I see emerge safer and more serene after a targeted intervention, a different approach adopted by their humans, and gentle flower essence-based care.
If you wish to recover your relationship with your kitten, increasing its sense of security towards humans, the environment and above all in itself, my intervention will help you get closer to feline feeling and accompany your cat towards a dimension of well-being and trust.
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form.
I will get back to you as soon as possible!
HOW TO TELL IF A CAT IS AFRAID?
Fear and all its declinations – from alertness to panic to distress – is a pivotal emotion in a cat’s emotional life. The dual nature of prey and predator has endowed our feline friend with an extremely sophisticated sensory apparatus, through which he is able to sense the world around him differently and, in some cases, more intensely than we do: smells, noises, movements, electromagnetic variations. While these characteristics make the cat a skilful hunter (and a little ninja!), they also make it very vulnerable to states of anxiety and stress. Let us also think about the size of the cat and how it can perceive from its perspective the size of our body, that of a car or an empty room…
Biologically, fear is a useful and functional response mode. It is the emotion that allows us to keep ourselves out of trouble: without it, we would all be extinct! If, however, the fear becomes excessive compared to the actual danger of the stimulus, becoming a phobia, if it is continuous or if it results in anxiety (i.e. if nothing ‘worrying’ has happened yet, but certain signals lead the cat to behave as if it were already in danger, e.g. the sight of the crate), or in generalised anxiety (if, regardless of the stimulus, the cat appears constantly nervous), then it is necessary to understand the reasons for this state and intervene to bring it back to a state of equilibrium.
HOW TO TELL IF A CAT IS AFRAID
A frightened cat is not difficult to recognise. Several physiological changes can take place in its organism, for example:
- increased heart rate;
- piloerection: the coat along the back and tail lifts;
- dilated pupils;
- tremors;
- releases of urine and faeces;
- secretion of alarm pheromones;
- hypersalivation.
Behavioural changes may include:
- a change in posture, which generally becomes more subdued, with a flattened back, low tail carried under the body and retroflexed ears;
- if there is no possibility of escape or if the source of danger does not move away, a threatening posture, like a ‘Halloween cat’, with bristly fur and claws in view;
- vocalising with whispers and growls.
Faced with a threat, typical responses are:
- avoidance (cat avoiding eye contact, hiding or running away);
- paralysis (the cat does not move and remains rigid), mistaken by many as a sign of docility or submission;
- small, repetitive, nervous movements (e.g. licking of whiskers or hair);
- defence or aggression (the cat blowing, swelling or attacking).
Whether a cat shows one response rather than another depends on a number of factors including genetic predisposition, the type of stimulus and life-long experiences with it, the environmental context, the cat’s personality, and the presence or absence of reference persons.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FEAR AND ANXIETY IN CATS?
The potential causes that can stress a cat are wide and varied. One of the most common reasons why a cat feels afraid is the perception that its territory is not safe or is no longer safe following a change: a move, changes in the environment, but also sudden and intense stimuli such as a loud noise, a sudden movement.
Another cause of fear is the perception of another subject or category of individuals/species as threatening: it may be one’s partner, children, another cat, dogs…
Fear and anxiety may in some cases derive from a traumatic experience, especially if experienced during the first year of life: it may be an accident, abuse or an event in itself that is not harmful (e.g. a visit to the vet) but that has created a negative emotional mark in kitty’s memory.
An inadequate quality and quantity of stimuli during the sensitive period, which runs from 2 to 7 weeks of age, can make the cat nervous about any unfamiliar stimuli. This occurs especially in the case of cats kept or bred in cages or raised in hypostimulating environments.
A lack of or incorrect socialisation with humans or other species will make the cat fearful towards certain categories of people or species.
An insecure attachment, a history of abandonment and abuse or a character predisposition of the cat (sometimes reinforced by the human’s behaviour) may lead the cat to develop separation anxiety, whereby the cat may show anxious behaviour, stop eating, vocalise, eliminate outside the litter box, adopt repetitive or stereotyped behaviour when the people of reference are not present or certain signs suggest that they are about to leave (e.g. putting on their shoes).
HOW TO HELP A FRIGHTENED, ANXIOUS OR STRESSED CAT?
Although kitty’s fears sometimes make us smile because they are apparently inexplicable or funny, it is always important to look at the world through his eyes: from his size, through his senses and his role as prey in nature.
Trivialising his state of mind will not help kitty and will therefore be counterproductive for the whole family. Fear is an emotion that must be protected and absolutely not induced. That is why I advise you to:
- Avoid loud noises, sudden movements, sudden changes, unsolicited approaches.
- Do not pick up the cat and carry it towards the source of its fear with the intention of reassuring or encouraging it: this has detrimental effects because the cat will only become more afraid and we risk compromising our relationship of trust with him or her.
- Do not punish or scold the cat if it shows defensive or aggressive behaviour, with blowing and growling: it is most likely just frightened or irritated and scolding it will only increase its discomfort.
- Contact the vet: Sometimes anxious behaviour, such as hiding or retreating, or wary and aggressive attitudes are a sign of health problems. That is why, if your cat is behaving unusually for no apparent reason, it is always a good idea to rule out any medical disorders.
If the vet rules out a physical problem as the cause, this may mean that the problem is purely emotional in nature, perhaps arising from poor relationship and environmental management. And here I step in, to help you understand what your cat is feeling and to support your human-feline family on a path of relational, environmental and emotional rehabilitation.
HELPS YOUR KITTEN (RE)GAIN CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY
Some of our cats’ fears are normal, functional and part of their nature and character.
If, however, you think your cat is severely frightened and anxious, time will most probably not be enough to improve things, nor will attempts to ‘desensitise’ him thinking that he will get used to it sooner or later. Just as with humans, chronic stress can also have a physiological effect on a cat’s health.
But let’s not panic either! With patience, open-mindedness and a willingness to be guided by an expert, kitty has a good chance of gaining more confidence. As a Feline Relationship Counsellor and Animal Floritherapist, I will help you with a targeted intervention that lays the foundations for the correct management of your cat’s routine, environment and relationship. To live peacefully together, without fear.
1 - THE FIRST CONTACT
Write me an e-mail using the contact form or at info@aliceguardaigatti.it and tell me why you need my help: I will get back to you for a brief chat. If the case falls within my competence, we will make an appointment for a home visit.
Do you live outside Lombardy or is it not possible to meet? No problem, a video consultation can be arranged.
2 - VISITING YOUR HOME
The time has come to get to know each other! I will come to your home and here the case study will begin, which will last between 1 and 2 hours. The visit comprises 3 moments:
- Listening: you will tell me everything you know about your kitten or kittens, their history and your cohabitation.
- Observation: I will ask you to show me the house to collect clues and study it through the eyes of a cat…
- Discussion: I will give you my initial thoughts on the case and the first steps to be taken, weighing up the pros and cons and feasibility together.
3 - A TAILOR-MADE PLAN
Thanks to the impressions and information gathered through observation of the animal, the family and the environment, and after analysis of materials that you will send me (diaries, videos, photos and materials about your cat), I will share with you all the advice and recommendations to follow for a new life with kitty.
Here I will need maximum co-operation and commitment from the whole family to be able to achieve good results together!
4 - HOW IS IT GOING?
It has been a few weeks, how is the situation with your feline companion evolving? Some time after the visit, 14 to 30 days depending on the case, we will get in touch for a new discussion.
We will take stock of the situation, understand what is working and discuss any changes or adjustments to the initial plan.
If you are ready to improve your relationship with kitty or take on a new challenge together, write to me!