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Feline
Fear of People
What is it?
There are many reasons why cats
develop fears of people. These cats
are often called skittish or scaredy
cats. They run away if people get
too close or hide when new people
are in the home. They may also
startle easily.
The goal of gentling exercises is to
shape a calm, relaxed, friendly,
confident adult cat personality.
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Why is it?
Cats that are
punished or experience something
disturbing in the presence of a
particular person or other animal
may avoid that person.
Just one bad experience that was
intense or traumatic enough may
cause cats to avoid similar
situations. For example, a bad
experience with a small child can
cause cats to avoid all small
children.
What to do
Ideally felines fears are prevented
by early positive handling of
kittens from birth to adoption. Cats
that are handled frequently and
regularly during the first few weeks
of life generally have more
exploratory and social adult
cat personalities.
It is important that young
kittens are protected from scary
experiences with people and
places between 3 and 9 weeks of
age when in the peak of their
social learning period.
For fearful adult cats, patience,
protection from further
reinforcement of fears and hand
feeding may help regain a cats
confidence. At first the person may
simply sit quietly in the same room
when the cat is eating, looking the
other way. The goal is gradual
increases in the cat's comfort and
confidence.
The goal of gentling exercises is to
shape a calm, relaxed, friendly,
confident adult cat personality.
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"Helping you raise a fabulous feline
friend for life." |
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