Why Is My American Longhair Cat Acting Scared Of Me After A Trauma? (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Small Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Karyn is a small animal veterinarian originally from Australia, now based in the UK. She holds degrees in Veterinary Science (2010) and Zoology. When not helping pets, she tends to her 5 cats and garden!
The Question
Annie witnessed her sister Sylvi being attacked by a raccoon who invaded their little outdoor space while I was in the hospital. Sylvi is on the mend due to emergency vet care, but Annie is now doing everything in her power to avoid me. She runs even if she hears my voice and won't be in the same room with me. Is she just traumatized?
Quick Info about Annie
Annie's profile pictureDear Kathy,
Thank you so much for writing in. Annie certainly is Big, Black, and Beautiful! And I'm sad to hear about her anxiety. It's clear how much you care for her.
When kittens are separated from their mother and littermates at such a young age, it can have a profound effect on how they interact with people and other animals for the rest of their lives, and it sounds like Annie is a particularly sensitive soul. One of the hardest things for us to do as humans is to go against our instincts to nurture and reassure an animal that seems to be struggling, but when it comes to cats like Annie, it is often the best thing we can do.
From what you've described, Annie seems to be living in 'survival mode', always ready to defend herself against an unknown assailant, even if she has never experienced an attack, and this recent episode has likely reinforced her fears. The problem is that whenever we try to approach, reassure, or comfort a cat in this sort of situation, they often feel pressured, even threatened.
There are a few things I would like to suggest to help Annie feel more in control and relaxed about spending time with the people who love her.
Let her come to you, always. Unless you need to pick her up or examine her for health reasons, let her approach you and initiate all interactions. Reward any positive interactions with her favorite treat.
Provide plenty of hiding spaces, cat trees, and shelves so she knows that she will always have a safe place to retreat to when she is feeling brave enough to come out and interact with you.
Try some calming sprays or supplements. There are a lot of different options out there; some are specifically designed for multi-cat households, some are based on pheromones, whereas others are based on more calming herbs. Just be aware that diffusers might not be the best option with Annie's asthma.
Talk to your vet about trialing an anxiolytic like Clomipramine or Fluoxetine (yep, kitty Prozac!).
I really hope this helps.
Dr Karyn