My shy kitten hisses when I pick him up. How can I make him feel safe?

Congratulations on your new kitten! Sometimes it takes a while to gain their trust. Try to get him to play as this will help him to bond with you. Make sure to put the toys away after the play session so that they remain fresh in his mind and always associated with you. Sit quietly near him at mealtime and gradually work up to petting him or hand feeding him. Feliway does help and I recommend to use this product but it will not alter his behavior on its own. Make sure to provide an area for climbing such as a tall cat tree or shelves as this will help to satisfy his natural instinct and decrease stress. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!

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.

You could try asking visitors to toss treats to him while they're in the house, and also ask them to ignore him and not reach for him, talk to him, or try to pet him as many fearful cats find these kinds of interactions threatening. Using a plug-in Feliway diffuser and a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure might also be helpful.

From your description, I wonder if Nala is a feral kitten. A feral kitten is a kitten that is born to a cat who lives outside and is essential wild without very much human contact. The general rule is that if feral kittens are taken away from their mom by the age of 10 weeks that they can get used to humans and become well socialized. If they do not have human contact until after 10 weeks of age, then that can be much more difficult. I would ask your friend where Nala came from and get more information on her situation. In the meantime, I would not push Nala to have any more contact than she is comfortable with. Let her hide and come out when she is ready to. I would also consider adding a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected ) to your house to decrease stress. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water. I would try to find toys that she can play with herself that do not involve you if that stresses her out. You may find some good ideas on this website. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Here is a great article on introducing a new cat to the household. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-steps-to-introducing-your-cat-to-a-new-feline/ You might want to back up a few steps and try to start the introduction over from the beginning. The second thing you can try is to help Fiona deal with the anxiety of the new kitten by using Feliway, which is a cat pheromone that can be calming. It is available in a diffuser that is plugged into an outlet and is great for a room in the home. It is also available as a spray, which can be used on towels, or the most common locations Fiona likes to spend time. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8906 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 Another product I like is Composure, which is available as a little treat. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews If these do not help, you might consider discussing prescription medication for anxiety with your veterinarian. Thanks for using PetCoach.

If only Taro could talk! With an unknown background, it's hard to know but it could be related to abuse, rough play or not socializing properly. Give him time to adjust. Keep his environmental calm and happy. Make sure to keep your movements calm and slow until he bonds and becomes comfortable. A few other therapies could also help. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.