URBAN ANIMAL: Introducing kitten may help bring cat out of his shell

Dear UrbanAnimal,

Our eight-year-old cat, Danny, refuses to come out from under the bed. This started when my husband and I were having our home renovated and we were forced to live on the second floor for two months until the work was completed.

Danny has always been a calm cat, but the hammering and banging threw him into a tizzy. The only place he felt safe was under the bed or in the bedroom closet. The work has now been completed. We have the whole house back, but it's been two weeks and Danny refuses to come downstairs.

We've tried to get him out with treats, toys and lots of encouragement, but he won't budge. We've put his litter in the bedroom and we've been feeding him there, too, but this really isn't a good solution.

We want our cat to come out from hiding. This surely can't be a nice life for him, but we don't know how to make him feel confident enough to come down the stairs.

Marie

Hi Marie,

It sounds as if Danny's nervous system tripped and his normally calm nature was tested beyond his comfort zone.

First, as always, it's important to make sure it's not a medical problem that is causing his self-imposed solitude. Can you possibly get him into a cat carrier to have your vet check him over? A vet visit may only exacerbate the problem, however. If that's the case, your veterinarian may be able to refer you to a mobile vet (a veterinarian who makes house calls) who can visit Danny to assess his health.

Cats tend to steer clear of their humans and hide in dark places when they're not feeling well.

When health problems have been ruled out, you're probably correct that all the noise and confusion of home renovations caused him to become terribly frightened.

The presence of you and your husband during that period would have created only a small measure of relief to him, but now weeks after the renovations have ended he's still unwilling to enter the source of all those terrifying sounds.

You're on the right track by bribing him with treats, toys and happy talk and if Danny had been in hiding for just a few days I would probably suggest you wait a few more days until he gathers enough nerve to meander down those stairs to explore the new terrain.

But you wrote it's been two weeks so I think you're dealing with a sensitive cat who may not have had any reason to show this part of his personality in the past.

You could still give him more time and wait for him decide when he feels confident enough to leave the security of the bed. But I understand your concern. You want Danny to feel good again, as quickly as possible.

My only alternative suggestion is to add a second cat to your home. Preferably a youngster who is inquisitive, outgoing and sociable. I'm thinking Danny will find a new cat to be impossible to ignore and, of course, the newbie isn't going to hang out under the bed, but will hopefully entice Danny to follow him around the house as he investigates.

Of course, you know Danny best, and you may already know how he would feel about welcoming a new cat to his home. If you think he would be agreeable, however, consider getting a kitten as it would most likely be less of a threat to Danny, and he might even act as a big brother, taking it under his wing and showing it around the house.

Whether you decide to allow him to decide when it's safe to journey downstairs, or if you decide to get a young cat or kitten, be careful when Danny takes those first tentative steps. Dropping a pot on the floor or turning on the vacuum might send him back into hiding. You'll need to be aware of all the noises in the house until he feels safe again.

Good luck.

Please keep me posted on Danny's progress.

Email jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.