Dear Critter Corner: Loud noises make my cat very nervous, and she has had a difficult time during the rainy season over the past couple of years. She is very timid and hides in the back of my closet in a place where I am unable to reach her without having to move all my things out. On top of being unsure of noises, she has a difficult time meeting new people. I have a couple of friends that I will be hosting at my apartment for the holidays and would like to help make this easier for my kitty. Do you have any ideas for how I can help my kitty overcome these challenges?
The first thing I would suggest would be to begin “catifying” your living spaces by increasing the number of environmental enrichments for your cat. This includes providing more horizontal places for your cat to perch up high and creating spots where your cat can hide and observe their surroundings.
It is important to create hiding spots that are easily accessible to you but also give your kitty a safe place to go to when she is scared. I would begin by closing off all the hiding spots where you are unable to safely reach your cat and replacing them with new hiding spots. This could be as easy as placing a couple of cardboard boxes around your apartment and covering the openings with a towel to create concealed hiding spaces for her to duck into when she needs to.
Working on slowly integrating your friends into your kitty’s circle is important, and you can do this by having them come over to visit multiple times before the holiday comes around. You can let your friends know that she is shy and will come over at her own pace and not have them seek her out or try to pet her when she is not ready. Once she is curious and begins coming over on her own terms, you can ask your friends to begin tossing treats over to her. This will allow her to build a positive association between your friends and receiving a yummy treat!
Amanda Loo is a Behavior Assistant for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, call 650-340-7022×419 or email aloo@phs-spca.org.