My cat is scared of his new elevated bed. How can I encourage him?

Try to recreate a positive association. Give him treats, encourage him to come into the room and play with him. Try take make all his experiences in the room positive. Most cats will come around within a few weeks but he can't get scared again. I hope this helps.

This will take time to retrain him. I recommend using a large bedspread to cover most of the bed frame to make it less scary. If it’s seems to high now or the floor is slippery where he is jumping from, put a rug down and a step if needed. Then I would put him on the leash and lead him into the room. Shut the door and have toys or treats available to lure him to get on the bed. Lift him up if you can if he won’t jump up himself and sit with him on the bed petting him, giving treats, and staying with him there until he relaxes. Then help him down, praise him and lead him out of the bedroom. I would work on this several times a day and hopefully with praise, treats and patience he will get back to jumping up and sleeping in the bed again. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Opie.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that you try a product called Feliway which can help cats deal with any stress inducing situations like the one you describe. You can buy this as a spray for example at your local pet store or online. If she does not improve, the other thing that should be considered is if there is a medical reason for all of this which is certainly possible. If her behavior does not improve, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. She is adorable! Good luck!

Poor BB! I would recommend putting his litter box, food and water bowls, etc. in the room with the bed and leaving him alone with the door closed for now. He will eventually come out to eat, drink, and use the bathroom when things are quiet and he feels comfortable - many cats wait until nighttime when everyone is asleep to do this. A Feliway pheromone diffuser in the room may also help. It may take a week or two for him to be comfortable enough to come out from under the bed for more than a moment or two, so I would be patient for now and give him time to adjust. Once he's acting normal again, you can transition his food and water bowls, litter box, etc. to wherever you would like them to be in the long term :)

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!

Water fountains are a great item to have available for your cats! You are right! They may just need a little time to get used to the sounds of the fountain and the movement of the water. Let them explore I️t on their own and at their own pace for a few days. You can also give them positive reinforcement associated with the fountain- eg feed them their favorite treats when they are near the fountain or feed them their food close to the fountain. I️ hope they come around the fountain encourages them to drink often :).

Cats can get afraid of the silliest things sometimes! A change in the house can cause a cat to freak out a bit, but she will get used to it over time. I would start leaving her food outside your room and over time, moving it closer and closer back to her normal spot. You can't feed her in your room forever, and she needs to get used to the fridge. Best of luck, I hope this helps!