My rescue cat is timid, aggressive, and won't bond. What can I do?

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.

Poor little Sooki! If she comes from abuse or neglect, it’s possible she has a certain level of fear or anxiety around humans. You’re doing the right thing by being patient with her. Continue to encourage her to come out of her shell. Keep the environment peaceful and quiet. Continue to try to entice her to play. Try different types of toys to see if you find anything she is interested in. Cats will eventually come around to trust their primary care taker. Using a pheromone diffuser can help her in general to combat anxiety. Providing many hiding places and areas where she can get up high can also help. Lastly, there is a brand of food called Royal Canin that makes a diet called Calm that can help with feline stress. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The main thing is trying to get him to associate you with something positive. You can try to find treats and things for him to eat that he really enjoys. You can get him to come out and feed him a treat while you pet him. This will most likely help if you stay consistent and persistent. It is important to note that some kitties are really not very affectionate and while he may become more social, he may never be a kitty who enjoys constant interaction. Good luck and have a good day!

First of all, Daisee and Zimba are beautiful cats! Different cats can develop a hierarchy among themselves and some more passive cats can become more and more withdrawn. Anxiety can also develop in either or both cats, leading to some of these changes. Some cats benefit from calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example) to help ease any anxiety. You can also consider having a specified time each day where Zimba needs to be confined to a different room so that you can have some bonding time with Daisee. It is also worth consulting a veterinary behaviorist who will be able to evaluate their behavior in your home and determine if any other behavioral modifications or medications are necessary. I hope that all goes well!

Time and patience! If Princess is skittish in your new home it may just be she needs some time to settle in and relax. If she was abused or not handled much before coming to your home, she may also take longer to bond or just never be quite as cuddly. A few things you can do: Let her approach you instead of forcing interactions. This can help her gain trust and make things less stressful. If she does approach, offering your hand for her to sniff before petting, giving a favorite treat, or just talking in a calming voice can help. Pheromone diffusers and collars are great for reducing stress and anxiety and may help her to relax some and settle in. Treats are friends! Hand feeding her meals, giving treats when she approaches, and rewarding her for when she is calm and not nervous can help build trust as well. Playing with toys, if she likes them, such as a feather on a string can help increase bond and interactions without petting that may be too stressful for her, while still letting her interact and have fun.

Sorry to hear Luna isn't very social with you. Cats, just like people, are individuals. Some are very outgoing while others are reserved. It sounds like you are doing everything right. You can try different toys or calming agents (such as Feliway) but they may not cause any changes in her. She may still warm up over time.

It was so good of you to take her in and try to help her out. Unfortunately, this is a feral cat and she may never warm up to people. If you think she needs more medical treatment, your vet may have a few long-acting tools to help. For example, there are a few long-acting ear medications wherein your vet applies it once and it lasts 2-4 weeks. Other than that, anti-anxiety medication and a lot of patience are really all you can do. Despite your best efforts, Suria, may end up needing to be an indoor/outdoor or outdoor only cat.