My cats are terrified of me after 2 years. How can I help?

Just like people, some cats are quite introverted and it can take a fair amount of effort to get them out of their shells. For many of these cats, their “shyness” is actually a sign of stress and anxiety, which is often fear-related. Try to find something your cat enjoys – a special treat, ear scratches, playing with the laser pointer – and encourage your cat to approach you. Do not force any interaction, as this often makes stress and anxiety worse. It may take a bit of patience and time. Calming pheromones, such as the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser, can help to minimize some cats’ stress, as can anti-anxiety medication prescribed by your veterinarian. If these strategies are not successful, it may be best to consult a [veterinary behaviorist](www.dacvb.org) for further advice.

Your question doesn't really describe what is going on. If the cats are fearful of you, taking time to let them approach you, and making sure you're the one feeding them, etc, can help with bonding. A toy that can be played with from a distance, such as a feather on a stick or laser pointer can also help with bonding without stress. If they get stressed out from handling, taking a break is best. If the cats are having trouble with each other, making sure they both have their own access to food, water, litter, etc can help avoid competition over resources. A pheromone diffuser such as Feli-way can also be plugged in to common rooms to help reduce stress.

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.

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!

She either is afraid of you or does not like you. You can try getting her used to you by sitting quietly in the same room with her without trying to touch her. Be the person that feeds her, once in a while give her cat nip and make sure she sees you putting the catnip down. All these are things that are nice for the cat and it may make her less afraid or like you more. Eventually she may come sit with you. Again, do not touch her, just be with her until she attempts to touch you. Never hold her down, force her to stay. This will take a lot of time, but the reward is waving at the end of the tunnel!

You will have to take your time and be extremely patient with them. You could try to feed them close to you and then slowly move the feeding bowl closer to you after a few days so they get used to being around you and trusting you. You could also try some Feliway spray or diffuser and see if that helps, too. Hopefully with some time they will let you actually touch and pet them.

Poor Piper, it must be really hard for her to live in this constant state of anxiety. I would personally suggest to help her settling in her own environment more, by providing lots of resources like places where she can hide if scared, feeding stations and introduce food puzzles, litter trays in quiet areas of the territory that she can access 24/7, and also recommend a pheromone diffuser https://amzn.to/3f74Ozw. There are also some nutritional supplements that helps reducing anxiety. Once she is more settled, try to leave an object out one at time and see if she will investigate it, go closer, sniff and praise her for doing so. This should be done in a gradual positive manner in order not to cause any stress. Hope this helps !