Why is my cat fearful of visitors but affectionate with family?

Some cats just are like that. I have 5 cats, three of which love people and come to greet visitors and want to be petted and part of the party. And I have two cats which disappear for hours and will not come out until the visitor is gone. The best thing you can do is provide her a safe place where she can hide and decide to go to or come out when she wants to. Over time she may change, then again she just may not. This is not a training thing, it is more a personality trait.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like the cats natural survival instinct perhaps. Cats don't like to seem vulnerable or weak in front of assumed prey. Fouska has apparently imprinted on you and sees other family members as prey or potential prey. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats, like people, have different personalities; some are very sociable and always want to cuddle, while others can be more reserved and independent. It may be partly personality contributing to his behavior, as well as adjusting to his new environment. A pheromone collar (they can be found on amazon, such as nurturecalm) may be a good option instead of feliway spray, as it is a continuous release for a full month. While the response is variable among cats, it is definitely something I would recommend giving a try. Additionally, if there is a type of treat that Vin really enjoys, I would recommend putting some down by you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV, etc. When he comes to eat them, don't force an interaction, but allow him to nibble on them and then decide where he wants to go. Over time, they can be moved closer and closer to you to encourage him to be more comfortable in close proximity. When he seems playful, play with him with a toy, etc and then allow him to leave when he is done. If he is on a feeding schedule, get his attention by opening a can or shaking food into his bowl, allow him to stand next to you and have a short interaction before you set it down. If he still seems uncomfortable after these suggestions, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pip. Some cats simply do not like strange visitors in their homes. You can try a pheromone diffuser such as Feliway as this can calm some cats. It plugs into the wall in room where he spends most of his time. It secretes pheromones that he can smell, but not people. This can have a calming effect. Visitors can also offer treat or a toy to try to engage Pip. I hope this information helps!

Poor Moka! It certainly sounds like those children really frightened her when they came to visit. To begin with, I would place her in a safe room every time a visitor comes over. Be sure to put her in this room with her own litter box, food, water, and toys before the visitor comes. This room should be out of the way and quiet so she can relax. Give her a special treat that she only gets when she is put into that room. This will help her associate people coming over with a treat, thus making it a positive experience. Keep her in this room until your guests leave. After she seems comfortable her in her room with people coming over, it's time to introduce her to strangers. Have a friend help you, and put Moka in her room when they come over. Once your friend is settled in the home, take Moka out of her safe room and place her at a distance from your friend. The distance depends on her body language. If she appears fearful, move her back. If she is calm, reward her with a treat, petting, and play. Continue this exercise for a few minutes, then put Moka back in her safe room. You can do this exercise a couple of times during your friend's visit. It's important that your friend remains motionless during the exercise. If she becomes anxious, move her back to a distance where she isn't anxious, reward her, and then bring her back into her safe room. Over the course of a couple of sessions, Moka all get used to a stranger, and you can start encouraging her to move closer to the stranger by placing treats at shorter and shorter distances from your visitor. If she's relaxed, you can decrease the distance. If she's anxious, move her back to where she's no longer anxious and start the exercise from there. Over time she will realize that strangers are fine and she should stop hiding in fear. Keep in mind that this will take time and patience to achieve. I hope this helps!

It sounds like Garfunkle is a cat who may be a bit wary of people or be more of a loner. This is not uncommon in cats, and I know many cat owners who say their family/friends don't believe they have a cat because the cat is always hiding. Some cats just have a personality where they do not enjoy interacting with lots of people! Just like human introverts! You can, however, try some anxiety relieving products just to see if there is a difference in your cat's behavior. I would consider getting an Adaptil diffuser (this is a pheremone producing plug-in) which you can get at many vet offices or online. I would also consider the supplement Zylkene or Composure. These are also available online.

At this age it may be very difficult to change her pattern of behavior, she is obviously a very shy and anxious cat. Natural calming supplements or royal canin calm food can have very dramatic results and would be worth trying, as would a pheromone diffuser but it is unlikely she will become overtly friendly to strangers at this stage