How do you socialize scared cats around guests?

[NickB79]

Short of rolling our friends in catnip like pork chops in Shake-N-Bake, what can I do to get our two cats to be as lovable and outgoing with them as they are when it's just my wife and me at home? Right now one is purring away on my lap, but if anyone other than the two of us are in the apartment she's hiding behind the toilet.

[lizziegrace]

1. Gracie's been that way for 7 years

I don't think it can be done. :(

[begin_within]

2. I don't think you can change their personality, but they can get used to specific people.

My sister had one cat that was extremely shy and scared, and when we all went there for Thanksgiving that cat always hid in a closet the entire time. It never got used to having extra people in the house. However, one time I spent the night at that house, and during the night the cat wandered out and I sweet-talked it into sitting on the couch where I was laying for a while. I petted it and it purred. But that was only after me being there for a whole day, and I'm a pretty skilled cat charmer. So I think that even scaredy-cats can become accustomed to a new person, when they see them long enough and get used to their presence. But I don't think it's possible to change them so they will be immediately friendly to a new person the first time they see them. It depends on the personality of the cat. My current cat is almost like a dog - always willing to meet someone new and often will sit on their lap even the first time they meet them, if the person acts correctly and does the right things.

[Captain Hilts]

3. If they don't like guests, they go hide. Not a problem. It takes time for some cats

to get used to people. Others greet you at the door and hand you a martini right from the get-go.

All cats are different. Then again, they say the same thing about us.

[madinmaryland]

4. Have the guests rub tuna on them selves. And then open a CAN of TUNA

when they enter your home!

[Orsino]

9. This.

If you want cats to be friendly when they're not already so inclined, you gotta make it worth their while. Some kind of really stinky, luxurious food is probably the best bet.

[Madrone]

5. I got a couple of new cats a few months ago.... trapped ferals.

One of the two is way relaxed and nothing seems to shake him. The other one is WAY freaked around people. In fact, he's only started loosening up more consistently around me during the last few weeks. What I've done with him is introduce him to the allure of TREATS. He can be scared shitless but a shake of the treat bag will bring him out of hiding no matter HOW freaked out or unsure he is. He just can't resist. I don't have people over often at all - but if someone does I make THEM give him treats. The result of all of this is that he's slowly starting to warm up and not be so freaked out by people.

So that's my advice - bribe em! lol

[NJCher]

6. want me to send mine over for lessons?

A guest comes in--they're elated. Company! Exciting! They go mark the company: you're mine, mine, mine. Purr purr. Mark mark.

They will even walk all over the guests like they do with their humans. Step right on your face, no problem. Jump on and off your shoulder. Curl up in your lap and take a snooze but not after coaching you into just the right comfortable position for them. This is done by whining until you've conformed to the proper position.


Cher

[emilyg]

7. When my doorbell rings - my

cats vanish.

[MountainLaurel]

8. Appetizers with bacon

Seriously, my cat was scared of strangers until I had a New Year's party with just a few friends over. She smelled the food and came into the room to check out the snacks.

[Dammit Ann]

10. let them sniff them.

works for my shy girl, patience. that's her name.

[kedrys]

11. Socks still freaks out when he hears a doorbell

The original "trauma" occurred when we had a party for the triplets' first birthday, and 20 people were drinking beer in our kitchen - after ringing the doorbell to gain entry. :D That was 7 years ago.

When Mom came to visit a few weeks ago, he hid for about 45 minutes, then came out and met her. He was okay after that. His brother is the most outgoing cat I've ever met, so it makes for an interesting personality contrast. :)

[distantearlywarning]

12. I have two cats, brothers, adopted at 8 weeks

They are two years old now.

One of them is incredibly outgoing and thinks every stranger came to the house just to see him and pet him and pay attention to him.

The other one is terrified of anyone he's never seen before, and even some people he has seen before. We have a group of friends who has been visiting us every Friday night since we brought them home from the shelter two years ago, and it even takes an hour or so before we warms up to them every week. Sometimes he's even scared of me if I wear shoes that are too "clompy" in the house.

They were raised in the exact same environment, and neither one has ever experienced any trauma relating to a stranger in the house. But one is very shy and the other one isn't. I think it's just a personality thing. You might have two cats that are of the shy personality variety.

[alarimer]

13. My cat used to be that way around my boyfriend.

When started coming over, the cat would hide. Eventually he started coming into the living room with us, but he wouldn't come close. After a few weeks or so he would consent to be petted by my boyfriend. Now he greets him the way he greets me, like he's been gone for ever and he is just so happy to see him. I don't really know how the cat reacts to people who are not here very often because hardly anyone every comes over, except for my boyfriend.

I think if your friends visited often enough, your cats would eventually get used to them and come out.

[applegrove]

14. I think cats just have different personalities. Maybe over time they will feel more comfy. I had

a cat, my dad still has her, who loves to be in the centre of a room when there is a large gathering. That is because when she was a kitten my roomate taught piano lessons and the little kids waiting for a class would all play with her. So to this day she loves a crowd. But try to pick her up to cuddle and she growls. She's just not a lap cat though she will sit beside her best friend (my dad).

[LynneSin]

15. You don't, it's just not worth the hassle

Evita will rarely come out for guests unless they happen to stay a few days and then you might see her beautiful face.

[DS1]

16. You get an awesome cat, like mine

:P

[NV Whino]

17. You don't. Stop inviting guests. It's interferring with the kitties' life.

[charlie and algernon]

Just let them hide till they're ready.

[charlie and algernon]

18. Just let them hide till they're ready.

[DeepBlueC]

19. you don't

they will either do it themselves or not. But if they do come out on their own I strongly advise your guests not to call them, head right for them, or even look them directly in the eyes. These are all perceived as threatening to a scaredy cat. Just pretend you don't see them and it will give them the space to explore and decide on their own. I have a ten year old who heads for the closet when the front door opens and stays there for hours if necessary. Only when my mom came for a week did he have to venture out but he kept his distance and my mom helped him along by not staring him out of the room.

[gblady]

20. my best friend....

never saw my favorite cat of 18 years...
the other two climb right up on her lap.

It's an individual kitty thing.
I would just accept them as they are.

[gbate]

21. Put the cats somewhere else.

This is what I used to do with my dog when we first got her as a resuced German Shepherd.

[montanto]

22. Sometimes you can't change them.