Recently Unsociable Cat

[curlytowers]

Please help!

We have 3 cats, Annie - who is just over 13 months (we've had her from being a kitten) and Bob & Bass aged 5 & 6 - who we adopted in January 2011.

Annie spent all her time with us, just in the same room or wanting to sit on your knee and be loved.

But, when we first adopted the 2 boys Annie wasn't very happy and displayed normal "there's new cats in my territory" behavior. This went on for a few months and they all settled down and everyone seemed very happy.

Over the last few months Annie has started being really unsociable, she spends most of the evening upstairs - as the boys are sat with us. She often bites or hisses when we stroke her and the only time she'll be loving is in the bathroom!!!

We don't know what to do, how can we restore the happy, affectionate cat she used to be? I feel terrible that we've upset her :o(

Thanks
Sarah

[jckkerrison]

Makes you think there has been something else upset her feelings especially if she had settled down with them,one of them hasn't been a bit rough & perhaps hurt her,Bruce goes all hissy when his back is hurting him & the only place he settles is in the cats bedroom,sort his back out & he is pretty happy again. You could go back to basics & try feliway or zylkene to see if it would ease her out,has she a favourite toy that you could play with her alongside the other two,could mean a trip to see someone in a green coat just to make sure she isn't under par,take it that she is eating & drinking ok ? I know I felt like that with Bruce when the babes came but in the end had to be strong & pretend that nothing was different & eventually he went back to on the lap,knead,knead,kisses in the ear & all was well.
Good luck I know it is horrible when one of our furries seem upset,hope things soon work out for Annie again x

[candes]

Well, we know the cause, but it could be medical also. Major changes deserve a check-up. The new cats could have given her a virus or something else.

Yes Feliway is an excellent idea.

But I would force socialization in a polite way. You may not be able to get her to be happy in the same room as the boys, but at least in the same room as you. Close the doors to keep her from going into the upstair rooms except when you are in bed. Then she will find a safe spot downstairs also. There to much? Then close off downstair rooms if you can. Let her have her safe spots, but try to get them closer to you. Then entice her out with her favorite treats, brushing etc...

Enticing is sometimes easier if you do it underhandedly. Get her favorite treat, call her once, and leave it out next to you if she doesn't come along. Go get a cup of coffee and accidentally leave it out. Come back and walk up to her slowly speaking in soft tones. Etc... You get the idea.

[curlytowers]

Thanks for the advise!
She's at the vets for her booster on Thursday, so she'll get a once over there. We had a bit of progress on Saturday evening - she came in the front room when the boys were elsewhere, so I shut the door and she snuggled down on the coffee table in front of us. This was a massive step compared to recent behaviour. We're going to make sure she has some 'us time' on her own in the front room more often, and hopefully she'll realise what she's been missing!!! :o)

[candes]

Thanks for the advise!
She's at the vets for her booster on Thursday, so she'll get a once over there. We had a bit of progress on Saturday evening - she came in the front room when the boys were elsewhere, so I shut the door and she snuggled down on the coffee table in front of us. This was a massive step compared to recent behaviour. We're going to make sure she has some 'us time' on her own in the front room more often, and hopefully she'll realise what she's been missing!!! :o)

She WILL notice what she has been missing. She may never like the boys, but she certainly loves you. Eventually she will somewhat peacefuly coexist with them the majority of the time. You just need to help her get over her avoidance behavior.