Think our cat is anxious - help!

pinkteapot

As I've posted about before, we rehomed our two year old kitty a month ago. For the most part he's settled well. But, I think he's still a bit anxious:

• There are times when he's very skittish - scared of us, startles if we move and then runs off. Half an hour later he'll be in our laps and fine!
• Occasionally (like once every few days, for a couple of minutes), he'll roll around and bite at his back legs. Not hard - he's not pulling fur out or drawing blood or anything. No sign he's hurting himself but it upsets me to see. He's been flea-treated regularly and we've checked carefully for fleas or anything else odd-looking. On days when he's relaxed he doesn't do this - only during skittish times - which makes me think it's an anxiety thing rather than something physical. On that basis we haven't gone to the vet for a check-up, but should we?

I've spoken to his previous owner and he wasn't skittish around them. I'm worried he's not settling as well as he could be at ours - are we doing anything wrong?

He was very stressed in his last month at his old house by the arrival of a dog, then in the end he moved to ours.

When he arrived at ours we had the remainder of a Feliway plug that his previous owner had tried when the dog moved in. That ran out a couple of weeks ago and I wasn't going to replace but have now ordered a refill plus a second plug for the other floor of the house.

He has a regular routine. He gets breakfast and dinner at the same time each day and regular play sessions three times a day while he's stuck indoors (we're sorting out getting a cat flap).

It's a quieter house than before as we don't have kids and his old owners did.

When he first moved in he was skittish around us all the time and it's definitely decreased. Does it just take time?

johnnyleeds

It sounds like things are improving and of course it will take time for any cat to adjust to a new environment. You just need to make sure your cat feels loved and spend time bonding with him so he knows he has a loving new owner.

I'd also recommend getting a small bottle of Valerian / Hops extract which I discovered by accident. Its like a natural cat attractant, a bit like catnip, but I've found that rather than sending cats into a frenzy as catnip can do it more chills cats out. I'm sure its similar to the stuff they put in the feliway plug ins.

My 2 female cats go into blissful ectasy .. when they get a sniff of the valerian / hops extract. If you drop a couple of drops onto your cats favorite toy and then rub the residue around your cats bed / scratching post you should find it will make him very happy for a good 1/2 hour. Just dont use it all the time as he will get used to it, I've discovered its best saved for special occasions or times when your cat might get stressed - bonfire night, when you have new visitors etc.

Also I find that playing with your cat is a great way of bonding with them and making them relaxed after an active playful session. My 2 cats absolutely love chasing laser pointers or even just a bit of rope being twirled around.

Plus one of their favorite toys was just something I made by tieing a feather with a shoelace to a stick. By holding the stick I can make the feather dance around in the air for the cats to leap after and pounce upon.

If your cat is entertained.. this goes a long way to helping him relax once he has spent up all his pent up energy and he will be grateful to you for the opportunity to exercise his hunting instincts. I know this might all sound obvious and it is but its easy to overlook the simple things that cats enjoy.

Honestly my neighbours cat associates me with playing so much that when I go round to visit if I dont play with her I can see she is getting withdrawal symptoms from me ignoring her! I think one of the major causes of anxiety for cats is lack of stimulation. Its also great fun to play with cats and releases a lot of stress for us too so make the most of it and you'll both benefit. Hope this helps!

cabbage

the feliway plug is a good idea. We've just moved into a house that used to be home to a big dog. My cat is a rescue cat and being at a cattery just overnight on the move day was very stressful for him but not as stressful as coping with moving day if he had been at home.

My feliway plug in ran out after a few days at my new home and I noticed he was more skittish. Now its been replaced he is more relaxed and is settling in nicely into his new home.

As the other poster said, lots of play helps build a bond and he should settle down and feel more relaxed.

tea_lover

We've had our 9 yr old cat for nearly 18 months now, most of the times he's relaxed and basically lazy, happiest when he's asleep on someone's lap. Sometimes (maybe once every 10 days or so) he'll be skittish... jumps if you so much as look at him, runs out of the room, randomly hides.

I think it's just normal cat behaviour. They're funny little things.

pinkteapot

Thanks, all. Fellow cat owners at work also think it's all pretty normal.

We have regular play with the Flying Frenzy (he LOVES it!) three times a day. We've made sure there's lots of play while he's cooped up inside (need to sort out a flap before he can start going out).

Also now have some more brainy games. He has a treat ball he has to roll around to get Dreamies to fall out of which has gone down well - we've found it all around the downstairs - he can roll it for ages. :rotfl:

Got another brainy type toy - a tray with different places to hide treats. Just started that yesterday by putting treats simply on top of it. Then it has things to introduce like hiding them under a cover they have to swat away, hiding them under a slidey cover, building up to inside a little drawer. It's kitty Krypton Factor.

So, yes, plenty of play on the agenda. Sometimes think we enjoy it more than him.

Thanks for the Valerian/Hops extract tip - that's really interesting - will have to pick some up!

pinkteapot

BTW, this is our anxious kitty... Maybe colleagues are right that I'm being a paranoid parent.

tea_lover

He seems to be coping ok!

The wrapping paper picture made me laugh - Percy is scared of sellotape. I know I'm mean to laugh at him but I can't help it... whenever I try to wrap a present he gives me a filthy look and runs away lol.

KiKi

My two run a mile if someone knocks on the door, or if I make an unexpected and sudden movement. I wonder what on earth goes through their heads. They are so pampered and loved, I don't understand why they run like hell for cover if I sneeze, or simply stand up without warning them!!

I've also just moved to a new house with them. They've hidden under my bed almost the whole time. They've ventured into the lounge a bit, but they HATE the basement, I wonder if it's because it doesn't have carpet? They've not really eaten much since Sunday (couple of mouthfuls), and haven't pooed at all...but I'm going to give it a few more days. They managed to eat some treats, funnily enough, so clearly they're not ill.

crazycatlady1984

:):) I think the fact that he is snoozing on your lap speaks volumes. From the sounds of it I think he is fine; he is just young and sometimes will be skittish. Also, you know cats have a mad half-hour where they just run around being crazy for no reason?

I have two rescue cats and it took them ages to be comfortable enough to jump up to me for a cuddle. Now they are all over me and very relaxed most of the time, but they are terrified of other people.

Every cat is different, but I think your guy looks fine. Feliway diffusers are good, and a calm household sounds ideal. xx

pinkteapot

I'm well familiar with the mad half hour. He's not scared of us during that. The other day, he galloped through the lounge at full pelt, into the conservatory, then leaped onto the back of the sofa, top of my head and onto the table. :rotfl:

I know all cats have the mad half hour and that's fine. We just try to stay out of the way. It's seeing his skittish times (which are different) that makes me sad, and the biting at himself is worst of all to watch, but that's only happening a few times a week.

He's 2.5 years old so still a young 'un.

We've had him almost six weeks now and when I look back he's come a long way from the first couple of days of hiding!

Might go to the vet if the rolling around and biting doesn't stop (I'll video it on my phone so the vet can see if it's just totally normal cat behaviour or not). Otherwise, I'll try to stop worrying.

EDIT: here's a video of a cat doing similar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjsDywlLzaU

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Your cat is anxious. Gosh, our Raffles then is absolutely ...


Sweeps the latest feathers from the yard and releases catch back to the wilderness!!!

Note to self, last effort, Monty! Took best part of a year to quieten down. Try the stick treats on him,. Raffles loves them!