Cats Can Be Shy: How to Recognize It and, Most Importantly, Solve the Problem
Owners of meowing pets are sure that cats, like people, can experience various emotions, including embarrassment.
Shyness in cats can occur in a variety of situations, such as meeting unfamiliar people or animals, visiting the veterinarian, or changing their usual environment.
Therefore, it is important to know the behavioral characteristics of a cat experiencing shyness and be able to recognize them in order to provide timely support to your pet. Among them, the following can be highlighted.
1. Refusal to interact with the environment - the cat may avoid open spaces, hide in secluded places, or avoid interaction with people and animals.
2. Avoiding eye contact – the cat tries not to look into the eyes of either the owner or other people or animals.
3. Slowness of movements – the cat becomes less mobile and active, its movements seem constrained and awkward.
4. Rapid breathing – stress or discomfort can cause your cat to breathe faster and deeper than when calm.
5. Change in behavior – the cat may show aggression or, conversely, excessive affection, which is a reaction to stress and discomfort.
To help your cat overcome shyness, you need to create a comfortable environment for it and show it care. Try to introduce your pet to new situations and people gradually, so that over time it can get used to them, and therefore feel more confident.
If you feel the situation is tense, provide your cat with a quiet place where she can hide and rest.
Praise and encourage your pet for every manifestation of calm and confident behavior. But you shouldn’t insist on communicating with strangers if the cat is not ready for it yet. Give your pet the opportunity to choose when and how to interact with others.
We previously wrote about why not all cats respond to catnip.
