Managing Fear of People in Cats

Although there are many reasons a cat can begin to develop anxiety, it is not always easy for the feline or the beloved owner, when anxiety turns to fear of people. Although the ailment may have many causes there are a number of educated theories as to why the feline may begin to experience fear of people.

Feline Fear of People Theories

One cause may be limited interactions with people when the cat was young. The early environment of a kitten is the most important stage in development of socialization in the feline as the socialization begins and ends early. Felines may also have the trauma of a bad experience. This can be as little as one trauma that the cat carries with her, manifesting each day into anxiety.The cat may have experienced multiple traumas or unpleasant events experienced with a single person or multiple people of the same magnitude. This may be punishable acts by a person or inhuman treatment. Genetics may be a determinant. Some felines inherit qualities such as timid and fearfulness. With these cats it may be impossible to ever condition them to be highly sociable or outgoing.

Signs that Signal Anxiety in Felines

The feline may try to hide or does hide.

  • They may pull their ears back and be still
  • Show signs of aggression
  • Dilated Pupils
  • Arched back
  • The hair standing up on the felines back
  • Hissing

The best way to deal with a feline coping with the fear of anxiety of people is through reassurance. As with anything in life, growth requires nurturing. In the early stages of the kitten's life, socializing through introduction to people and group situations may help eliminate the later development of anxiety of people. Loving care and consistency will also establish a foundation for the kitten that will become the fundamentals for its growth and relationships with people. This may be through simple things such as a set amount of time each day for the kitten/cat and a consistent eating schedule.

For cats that are on medication and as well as the normal ones, it is important to avoid the behavioral situation which sparks the feline into the anxiety attack. Whether this is confining the feline when people are around or to hold her in your arms while gently stroking her, precautions must be taken to help relieve anxiety and avoid the situation. When experiencing anxiety the feline will have a fight response and often times is unreachable.

Fear of anxiety can progress in the feline and it is important to combat the severity and to help manage the disease. This can be a very dangerous disease for both the feline and the human and the cat may resort to fighting and attacking the human out of fear. Cats are naturally solitary hunters and with the development of an anxiety for people situations can be hazardous.

 

 

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