scardy cat

I have just adopted a Snowshoe cat from the local Humane Society and he seems to be much too timid and not as energetic as his breed should be. He spends most his time in the closet or under the bed and seems to want to be left alone. It's been a while since I have had a cat, but I don't remember them being this distant before, even at the beginning when I have just welcomed them into my home......also, the fire alarm went off in my building today....could this be a big factor to his never ending hide and seek game? Any tips to help give him some courage to come out of his hiding places? Any tips about this type of breed? He is still very new with us, we have just adopted him on Friday.

Patience grasshopper! What's your cat's name? Cats don't tend to handle change that well, especially something as dramatic as a new home (and yes, that fire alarm was probably quite traumatic for him). Give him time to get comfortable, it will certainly take more than a few days. In the meantime, read this post for more tips on how to help him adjust: http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=492728&highlight=shy+feral+acclimatizing+cats#post492728

Is he eating okay? What are you feeding him?

Thanks for the reply sugarcatmom,

He's eating ok, he's a snacker, he'll take a little bit every so often. I give him a little dry and a little wet seperately both from Iams....(the orange bag and cans) it's what he had been eating at the shelter. And going to the bathroom a couple times a day as normal. I just haven't seen a cat stay in one place for such a long time before. I will give him time and read the info in the link.

Thanks again!

Oh and his name is Butters :)

I will post a picture of him for my profile picture :)

Oh and his name is Butters :)

Great name! Lots of nickname potential too :D.

I will post a picture of him for my profile picture :)

Please do. Snowshoes are gorgeous.:lovestruck:


He's eating ok, he's a snacker, he'll take a little bit every so often.

Good. I worry because some cats get so stressed that they stop eating, which has serious potential to turn into a medical emergency.

I give him a little dry and a little wet seperately both from Iams....(the orange bag and cans) it's what he had been eating at the shelter.

While I wouldn't make any changes until he's better adjusted to his new home, you might eventually want to consider ditching the dry and feeding a better quality wet food. Male cats especially shouldn't be eating kibble because it's THE main cause of blocked urinary tracts. Lots of great info here on what the proper feline diet should be: www.catinfo.org

Good luck!

It looks like you posted this twice.

http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=67869

We already nickname him "but but" for short :p

He does eat the wet food more so than the kibble, but I will transition him over to some other food, what do you recommend?

He started coming around, he jumped into bed in the middle of the night last night and took over my pillow :D

I spent a lot of time in the closet with him last night (good thing it's a walk-in and there was room for both of us in there :laughing: ) I almost fell asleep laying on the floor with him, petting his face.

I guess I was just concerned that he was getting depressed or something but yes, I should be more patient :o

I will post pictures this evening, my computer wasn't cooperating last night :)

Sorry yes I did post this twice, I wasn't getting any responses when I was on last night in that topic and wanted someone to respond asap to me....sorry I don't know if I can delete my own threads that I make....I'll get that hang of it!


:sorry:

Glad to hear he is coming around :thumbs up, some kitties need to "assess" their environment before making their big "debut" :laughing:.

Boy, have you come to the right place to ask for food advice. Sugarcatmom is our absolute guru on cat nutrition, moreso than any vet I have known.

Here are some great websites for your reading enjoyment:

First off is some reading on cat nutritional requirements: It is wordy, but very complete.

http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm

Here is one by a vet:

http://www.catinfo.org/

We already nickname him "but but" for short :p

He does eat the wet food more so than the kibble, but I will transition him over to some other food, what do you recommend?

He started coming around, he jumped into bed in the middle of the night last night and took over my pillow :D

I spent a lot of time in the closet with him last night (good thing it's a walk-in and there was room for both of us in there :laughing: ) I almost fell asleep laying on the floor with him, petting his face.

I guess I was just concerned that he was getting depressed or something but yes, I should be more patient :o

I will post pictures this evening, my computer wasn't cooperating last night :)

Sounds like he's coming around...or has a thing for pillows. :)

Looking forward to seeing his picture.

Thanks for adopting Snowshoe boy "Butters". You've received some excellent guidance so far.

Patience is the key, but one can usually make the cat come out of its shell faster by spending brief periods of quality time with it. Never push beyond his comfort level. Sit on the floor in front of him and play with himr with a teaser toy or drag a string cord around on the floor to encourage play, roll a foil ball from one hand to another on the floor in front of him and roll it to him to encourage his participation. If you can engage him in play, you may be able to sneak in a few caresses during it. Give him some catnip mice toys. Grooming, can also enhance a relationship, if cat enjoys it. Gentle brushing (or even with an old toothbrush). If he's not enjoying it tho, stop immediately. If he likes it don't get to the point of overstimulation where she may strike out at you--watch his body language closely, especially her tail. Give him some yummy treats from time to time--most cats love a nibble of cheese. Soon he should come to trust you and realize you're the source of food and fun and affection. Keep us updated. Good luck! :cat:

He does eat the wet food more so than the kibble, but I will transition him over to some other food, what do you recommend?

You want to look for something with little to no grains in it, and preferably a specified muscle-meat source like "chicken" or "turkey" rather than, say, "poultry by-products" or even worse, "meat by-products". Some decent brands to try out would be Wellness (look for the flavours with the yellow triangle that say "grain-free"), Nature's Variety Instinct, Innova Evo 95%, By Nature Organics, Ziwi Peak, Nature's Logic, Precise, Merrick, Evangers, Eagle Pack...... I personally like to feed lots of variety and rotate brands/flavours frequently because it prevents a kitty from getting bored of the same food all the time, and it also avoids the potential of the same kitty getting addicted to one particular food, which is a problem if that food is ever discontinued or hard to find or is involved in a recall.

It's also a good idea to limit the amount of fishy foods to a couple times a week, and eliminate it entirely if there are any urinary tract issues or the cat has a propensity towards fish-addiction.

There's a really great pet-food store in Alberta called Tailblazers (http://www.tailblazerspets.com/tailblazers_contact.html), which stocks quite a few of the brands I mentioned. They also have freezers full of prepackaged raw diets, if you're ever so inclined to go that route (my kitty particularly loves Red Dog Deli (http://www.reddogdeli.com/whyraw.html)).

He started coming around, he jumped into bed in the middle of the night last night and took over my pillow :D

Yessssss!!!! :highfive:That's fantastic, and I guarantee you'll be cuddling with "But But" in no time. But like catlover2 mentioned, go at his pace.

I will post pictures this evening, my computer wasn't cooperating last night :)

Patiently waiting........ http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/Zen/zen-reading-news.gif (http://freesmileyface.net)

Yes the trailblazers is near my house here I'll go check it out.

Pictures are up as well!

He has claimed his home now here :) I brought home a whole bunch of new toys and a tunnel and kitty condo and I think he is loving the stimulation :) Finally sleeping with us on the couch while we watched tv....

Thanks for all the advice everyone.....this is a great forum I'm glad I found it.

:grouphug:

He is gorgeous!:lovestruck: I never knew of such a thing as snowshoe cats until one happened to waltz into my life in the fall....I really love their markings, and the blue eyes....well they get me every time! I don't know about yours, but Mickey here is HYYYPER! We have tons and tons of toys and I swear he thinks he has to play with each and every one on a daily basis....and he'll play string and laser and fetch until he can barely breath....I have to make him sit still and catch his breath!

Beautiful boy! you're going to have a lot of fun with this guy. Glad to hear he's come around and is taking over your house and your heart! :goodvibes: :cat:

Ooooo pretty kitty!! Why are they called Snowshoe?

Why are they called Snowshoe?

Because of their white feetsies.

Ah, thank you.