My cat is suddenly scared of everything after a fright. What can I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It could be due to the stress related to that event you describe. Cats can sometimes be very sensitive to things that scare them. If this is the case, things should improve shortly. If no improvement is noted in the next few weeks or your kitty develops symptoms like inappetence or lethargy have your veterinarian take a look. Good luck!

Poor girl! There could be something that has spooked her. Or she could be not feeling well. Or there could even be an internal conflict with another cat in the household. The first thing I would do is make sure she is healthy. I would see if your vet can look at her and make sure she isn’t painful, no infection, no fever, no urinary tract infection, etc. if she isn’t feeling well, this definitely can cause a change in behavior. If everything is normal then I would make sure she is getting along with everyone in the house. Make sure there are plenty of litter boxes as this is something they commonly will become territorial over. You can even put out some feliway diffusers which are pheromones they help calm down cats. Unfortunately these don’t work on everyone. You make also look into vetriscience composure treats as a natural calming supplement. I hope this helps!

Hi there! It can often take several days for cats to fully calm down and return to normal after a stressful event, so I would tend to agree with your vet - it's likely that he just needs more time. You can try using a Feliway pheromone diffuser to help him relax, or a natural calming supplement such as Composure or Zylkene to see if this helps.

This takes lots of time and patience to improve. You can try a Feliway pheromone spray or diffuser. That often relaxes cats and reduces their anxiety. If she enjoys grooming brush her for a short time each day. Usually then they will start coming out to get groomed and be with you. The loud noises are hard and there is not much to be done other than act calmly like you are doing. I never force a cat to come out or do do things that make them anxious as this will only worsen the problem. Make sure she has a quiet, private 'safe' place to go. With time she should improve, it's hard to get over bad kitten experiences. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Princess.

I'm so sorry to hear about Kit Kat! She could be scared, hurt, or anxious. The best thing you can do is just pick her up and sooth her. She might like to perch up high on a shelf or cat tree (but make sure she can walk normally and doesn't seem to be injured). And then just try to let her rest and have quiet as much as possible tonight. If she's still the same in the morning, schedule an appointment with your vet for as soon as possible. It's very likely she'll be better by then. Best of luck to you and Kit Kat!

It's probably best to simply give her space if she seems to be in a place where she feels safe. If she seems very agitated you can try to take her to a smaller, more enclosed area. Feliway sprays and diffusers can help calm an anxious cat as well.

I'd put Sophie in her own room with food, water, and litter box. Close the door, and let her stay there overnight. This may help calm her down. Let her out in the morning to see if she is more relaxed. She may just need some time to herself. I hope this helps!