How to help my scared senior cat play, feel safe, and be a lap cat?

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!

Poor Sophia. Some cats never truly do warm up or want attention. But there are some things you can try. One is try feeding something she really wants by hand. Either cat treats or canned food. Or if she won't eat from your hand yet. Start by sitting still next to her food bowl when you put it out. Resist the urge to pet her initially. Let her get comfortable with close proximity. Gradually over time see how she likes being petted. Some cats may only accept attention while you're on the floor wth them or she's on the bed with you. Try to keep things in her comfort zone Feliway diffusers around the house may also help with her baseline anxiety level as well. I strongly recommend looking into Feliway for skittish cats. https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected But mostly it's going to take time. It could be months but if you are patient and gentle about it she will likely start to look for more interaction. Try not to force things and don't grab or pick her up unless necessary. Let her come to you on her terms. Good luck! Thanks for using PetCoach.

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.

A cat who was basically feral for 5 months may take quite some time to become more comfortable with handling, and she may never be a cuddly lap cat. It does sound like she is willing to have some interaction with you, so I would continue what you are doing in terms of offering her nice tasty treats when she comes to you. Also feeding her near you if she will eat with you nearby but not touching her (don't want to overwhelm her at first, just get her more used to your presence being nonthreatening). I wouldn't pick her up if it scares her just yet, and I wouldn't force her to meet/be touched or held by new people just yet. I would give her a few more months of settling in. You may also add feline pheremone diffusers (Feliway is my favorite brand) to the house and try calming supplements such as Composure or Zylkene to see if these help relieve some of her anxiety as well. You can find all these products online, or at some vet clinics.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is gorgeous!! Some cats are just a bit more timid though that tends to get better with time. I would encourage you to speak softly to her and try to avoid sudden movements when interacting with her. There is a product called Feliway which can help cats feel more at ease in situations that are stressful to them and this may be helpful. Good luck and have a great day!

You may want to consider adding in a few feliway diffusers. These are a natural pheromone to decrease stress in cats. Also there is a nice website I like that had good information on environmental enrichment in cats. www.drjeffnichol.com Best of luck and continue being patient. Most rescues I’ve had have taken close to a year to really adjust. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sukkar. How lovely of you to take him in, what a lucky boy. I would set up a window seat for him next to a window that gets sun all day. A cat tree would work well too. He can lay on it, look outside, and enjoy the sun. You can also look into a catio, which is an outdoor enclosure for cats. He could go into every day for a few hours, enjoy the outside, but not escape and still be safe. This may help him and cheer him up a bit. Keep in mind as well that he's four, so the playing stage may be gone for him. I have a six year old Ragdoll who spends most of his time sleeping in the sun and eating. Probably why he's fat! He doesn't play at all, but he's happy. I hope this helps!