JUST SHYUNDERSTANDING AND WORKING WITH

FEARFUL AND SHY CATS

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

DEFINING SHY AND FEARFULTo do this, we must look at behaviors that are likely to

accompany these emotional states

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

Body clenched

Feigning sleep

Pupils dilated

Moving away

Tail wrapped around

body

Ears alert and erect or flat

to head

Whiskers flat against face

Body Language

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

Burrowed or buried

under blankets or

towels

Avoids eye contact

Makes themselves

small

Head turned away/

kept low

Visible tension

Avoidant in every way

Body Language

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

May have no response

to your presence

Often silent

Frozen

Hard stare

May hiss or growl

If forced may strike out

or attempt to leave the

cage

Body Language

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

WHY ARE YOU SHY?Causes of shy and fearful behavior in

cats

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Lack of socialization

from humans, mother or

littermates

• Genetics

• Physical problems

• Previous experience

with humans

• Experience with

veterinarian

• Rough handling by

humans (kids!)

• Life experience

Causes of Shy and Fearful Behavior

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Strays

• Hoarding cases

• Owner surrenders

• Colonies

• Anywhere!

Where Do They Come From?

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

THE GOOD NEWS?No matter what the cause, our approach

will be the same!

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Medical care first

• Safe housing

• Establish a routine

• Quality over quantity

• House singly as often as

possible

Order of Events

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Be calm/ still

• Talk normally

• Act normally

• Move slowly and

deliberately

• Be predictable

Human Body Language

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Give the cat space

• Allow them to choose a

comfortable distance

• Allow them to approach or

retreat

• Allow them to choose to

interact

• Allow them to investigate

• Allow them to watch from

a distance

• Allow them to choose not

to interact

Important Considerations to Remember

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Routine

• Possible helper cats

• Short interactions with

multiple handlers

• Directed/ controlled

interactions

• Exposure to adopters

• Save fosters for the ones

we can’t reach

Benefits to Staying in the Shelter

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

DESENSITIZATIONA process of presenting a weak version of a stimulus

(people) at a level that does not produce undesirable

reaction (fear) and gradually increasing the intensity as

the animal’s comfort level grows.

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

COUNTER-CONDITIONINGThe conditioning of unwanted emotional responses

(fear) to a stimulus into a wanted emotional response

by associating good things with the stimulus

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Toss treats into cage

• Read through cage door

• Talk to cat with door open

• Offer very high value items

to cat

• What is high value? The cat

decides!

• Use of toys

• Hands off until the cat tells

us otherwise

• Watch YOUR body

language

Humans Are Good…

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Watch their body

language

• Cat loosens: body

unclenches, ears relax,

pupil reaction, eyes

soften, ear movement,

whisker movement

• Curious of your hand in

cage

• Responds to your voice

• Responds to food

motivator

Responds to play therapy

When Can I Touch That Cat?

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Go slow, deliberate

movements

• Focus on head/ face/

chin/ cheeks

• Stop as soon as body

language shifts

• No full body pets- not yet

• Don’t reach into their

space

• Let them come to you if

possible

• Offer a toy

He Told Me I Could Touch Him!

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Used to engage with a

cat who may not allow

handling

• Cat chooses the toy and

the game

• Broaden relationship

• Engage natural

behaviors

Play Therapy

Humane Society of Huron Valley | (734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

• Progress takes time

• Set small goals

• One step at a time

• Rushing creates anxiety =

setback

• All cats are different

• If we push too hard, we

lose them…. Don’t push

hard enough, we never

really meet them… it’s a

balance!!

Final Thoughts to Remember…

3100 Cherry Hill Road | Ann Arbor, MI | 48105

(734) 662-5585 | www.hshv.org

QUESTIONS?