Get Your Shy Cat to Come Out & Play
How do I get my shy cat to come out and play?
Are you wondering why your new kitty won’t come out to play? Are you looking for some tips to promote interaction? As Cat Sitters, we at Trusty Tails deal with shy cats all the time. Read on to learn the reasons why your new cat might exhibiting shy behavior and how do I get my shy cat to come out and play?
Why is my kitty so shy? Shy behavior in cats may be indicative of some type of underlying fear or stress.
Here are some reasons your new cat may not want to come out of hiding:
- Lack of social skills
- Noise
- Illness
- Pain
- Changes in environment
- Scared
How can I help my cat to not be so shy?
Now that I have an idea of what’s causing my kitty to be so shy, what can I do to help?
It is very important that you begin to develop a bond between with your cat. You can only do that if you have established trust and mutual respect. Here’s how:
Provide your cat with places to hide.
Cats like to feel protected by a shelter especially if it’s one that he can peek out of and survey his surroundings. The best hideaways also give him the opportunity to escape easily. Cat trees are great because your kitty can get up high and see people and other family pets coming from a distance. Hideaways are important for all cats because it gives him a safe play to calm down, distress or just relax. Consider placing hideaways in rooms that you spend most of your time in so that he can be with you but at a safe distance.
Give your cat his space and move at his pace.
Don’t force the issue. Give him time and he will come out but you will delay his progress if you try to force him. Give him choices about where he can hide, when he can come out, how he moves about (cat tunnels are great for this) and who he interacts with.
Let your cat decide when they should be petted.
You can start by offering him your hand so he can become comfortable with your scent.
A little incentive goes a long way.
You may be able to entice your cat to come of hiding by using treats. Initially, you may have to start by placing treats at the entrance to his hiding place and then slowly place it further and further away. As he begins to trust you, he will come out on his own terms to retrieve his treat directly from you!
Encourage Play Time!
Encourage your cat to come out by luring him with toys! The best toys to start out with are the ones that will give him the opportunity to play at a safe distance from you or anyone else he has yet to establish trust with. The toys that are on the end of a string that is attached to a short pole are fantastic toys to start with.
Your cat wants to play with you and he will if you are patient enough to establish trust first! Always use quiet and careful movements when interacting with your cat otherwise you will startle him and he’ll run for cover.
Do you have any tips or tricks that you have used to develop trust with your cat? Contact Us and let us know.
