O'Malley, a rescued feral who survived being hit by a car
Training a fearful cat presents a challenge for a new pet owner. Not only will you need to help your pet adjust but you'll also need to train an animal that still sees you as an enemy. The fear factor will make training more difficult. However, using positive reinforcement, maintaining a schedule and slowly building a trust relationship with your new cat will help your fearful cat adjust to your home and family.
Instructions
1. Research your new cat's history through the adoption agency. Ask for information on behavior problems, health issues, situations that frighten the cat, food and litter preferences, and exactly how the adoptive pet parents dealt with the cat on a daily basis. Adoptive pet parents often try to socialize animals to help with placement. Collecting some tips and ideas from the adoption agency will help you train cat.
2. Bring your fearful cat home to a secluded room set up specifically for the cat. This "home base" provides a quiet place to adjust to new surroundings. Include a litter box, food dish and water bowl as well as a cat bed and some toys. Make sure the room is warm and comfortable. Before any training can occur, you need to calm the cat and make him feel secure. Your new cat will become curious about the rest of the house before you know it.
3. Establish a schedule for feeding, litter box cleaning, and visiting time. Training a cat involves first obtaining the cat's trust. Once this animal sees you as a provider, she will warm up to you. Visit the cat at regular times each day to care for her basic needs. A desperately afraid animal also seeks something to ease that desperation. Be calm, encouraging and supportive. You absolutely must get past the fear before you can train the animal.
4. Provide a clean litter box that you scoop every day, preferably with the cat as a witness. If using the box is a problem for your cat, sit on the floor near the litter box and pat the floor, speaking softly to the cat. He may cower but consistency is the key. Get down on the cat's level frequently since he will be less scared than with you towering over him. Some cats spray or mess near the box when they are fearful so be patient. Never yell or strike the animal.
5. Work towards establishing trust with the animal by grooming the cat. Even the most fearful cats will respond to pats, rubs and scratches on the head. Let the cat sniff the hairbrush and comb before attempting to groom her. Again, get down on her level and brush for just a minute or two the first visit, working up to longer periods of time with subsequent visits. Positive reinforcement training such as grooming works best with frightened animals.
6. Allow your cat access to the rest of the house when you feel he's accepted you. Give the cat time to skulk along the walls and investigate rooms. Return him to his room after a short visit around the house. Increase the amount of time the cat can roam his new surroundings each day. Keep kids, other pets, loud noises and quick movements to a minimum around the fearful animal as he is exploring.
7. Move your cat's dishes, litter box, toys, and bed to permanent locations in the house. Leave the secluded room door open so your cat can hide if she wants to, but encourage your cat to be part of the family. Recognize that adjustment to a new home takes time, especially for an abused animal. Feral cats often never adjust but instead find a peaceful existence with their caregivers without any physical contact. Remember to maintain the same reliable schedule of feeding, litter box cleaning, playtime and grooming.
8. Begin training your cat with a hand clap or spray bottle. Curious cats love to jump on tables and counter tops. A squirt from the water bottle is a gentle way to discipline. If your cat isn't fearful of loud noises, a hand clap will often stop bad behavior. Be consistent, always remembering that you can threaten your trust relationship with the cat if you get overly angry.
9. Lavish love and attention on your animal. Regardless of your cat's history, your care is what matters now. Keep earning your animal's trust with daily care, playtime and routine.
Tags: your fearful, adoption agency, down level, feeding litter, feeding litter cleaning