Scaredy cats.

[pussnboots]

I am looking after my neighbours two cats for a few days and I have never in my life after having cats for 20 years met two of the most nervous cats. They run a mile when I go in their house to feed them, if they are in the garden they run away before I even get near them. I suppose this is not really a quesion but more of a talking about them kind of thing. I have talked to them, been calling them, approached them very quietly but hey just look frightened to death. I will be looking after these cats for 4 days a week for the next month or so ( their owner works away) what's the best way to get them to trust me.

[wolf63]

Cats are contrary little b*stards - your best bet is to ignore them and then they might start to like you.

My two are indoor cats and run upstairs when the buzzer on the outer door rings. Merlin (a lady cat) usually comes out of hiding if my visitor is male - she almost wraps herself around them.

Have fun with your new friends - they are a pain in the butt sometimes but are rewarding and amusing company.

[rsvp]

My concern is that these cats are allowed out and could possible go missing as they are so nervous. Great you are concerned but don't the owners address this problem.?
Have to say if they were my cats and were so nervous, I would have made other arrangements and this is in no way detrimental to you!

[str]

Let them come to you, don't make any sudden noises or movements - they will get used to you if you are feeding them for the next month and they will associate you with good things! Don't lose patience if they take their time, and don't force them to come to you - they need to do it in their own time, which they will. Enjoy them, they are so entertaining.

[DrFilth]

my 3 were like that when my friend went in to feed them , the eldest would run then the other two would follow
same if i was in and someone rang the doorbell , when itchy came in and they heard his voice they would come back down from upstairs one by one and then settle down

[pussnboots]

Thanks for all your answers, I so want to be friends with these cats, one of them (Fluffy) I may have a chance with, when he hears me call him he looks at me with a quisical look. The neighbour has just put a cat flap in which they have never known before so I've taped the flap up so they can get in and out. Just makes me think that because they are so nervous could something have happened for them not to trust humans. My own cats were so friendly they would go to anyone who fussed them.

[bunkmoreland]

patience and food puss. we have a previously very nervous,bullied cat happily in and out of our house now. we work with how comfortable she is. Offer her food from you if you can,and be very still. She will eventually trust you how you behave gently to her

[pussnboots]

Fluffy has started coming to me today, great improvement. Monday he would not come within about 10/12ft from me before runing off, today he actually came about 6ft away before diving under a car. The other cat (Gizmo) is still a scaredy cat but the owner is back tomorrow till Sunday, I hope next week the two will finally trust me.

[islasmum]

I'm sure that they'll get used to you , given time - anyone who feeds them usually goes up in their estimation - would they play a bit if you took in one of those rods witrh a toy on the end? We took over the very nervous cat when we bought this house, and moved in with 3 dogs and another cat, and I honestly thought that we had lost her as she did not turn up for 3 days! Now she's top cat, and the dogs are scared of her!