Question: "How can I relieve fearful behavior?"

Lisa and Jim and their two children Ty and Jett share their home with four cats. The three females (Eve, Jack and Diamond) are all spayed and the neutered boy Meyou rules the roost. All the cats get along well.

Lisa writes, "Meyou was accidentally let outside in the cold, not for long but it was very cold. He was missing four days. Someone coaxed him to go home with them and kept him locked up in their house.


We have him back after witnesses saw him and we produced paperwork confirming he was our cat. However, for two days he acted fearful and untrusting towards us now, and prefers to be left alone. This is not like him and I worry it may be long lasting change. We let him have some time to wander and become familiar with his own home again. We constantly praise him and speak in loving tones."

Amy's Answer

A sudden change in personality can be caused by health or environmental issues. Let's examine Meyou's physical and emotional health, as well as traits of instinct to help figure out what's going on and find solutions. Think of this as the H.I.S.S. Test, which stands for health, instinct, stress, and symptom solvers.

H=Health

Any outdoor excursion, especially during freezing temperature, could cause health problems. Meyou could be at risk for frostbite that injures the toes, tail and ear tips or hyperthermia (low body temperature).

I=Instinct

Cats rely on instinct to keep themselves safe. Being in a strange, unfamiliar environment-an indoor kitty lost outside in December weather, then thrust into a strange human's home-certainly could increase defensive behavior.

S=Stress

It's pretty normal behavior for a stressed, upset cat to withdraw and stop interactions. In a period of four days, Meyou's stress levels must have gone over the top. The fight-or-flight chemicals produced by the body in response to fear, anxiety, and defensive emotions take some time to go away.

S=Symptom, Signs & Solutions

Lisa indicates that Meyou last visited the vet about six months ago, so my first recommendation would be a health check. Even a brief episode in freezing temperatures could impact the cat's health. Lingering discomfort from frostbite, which can be hidden by fluffy fur, certainly might account for some of the behavior changes.

It's very fortunate Meyou was found and kept safely inside. But just the disruption of environment certainly can result in anxious behavior. He no longer trusts that his world won't change, because it's been in upheaval over the past several days. That makes even a confident cat revert to self preservation of what I call stranger danger instinct-distrust of any change, just in case it's dangerous.

After being away four days, he smells different and his personality changes make him seem odd to the other cats so they also treat him like a stranger. He no longer smells like them. It's a similar situation as happens with after vet visit aggression.

I'd recommend treating Meyou as though he's a new kitty, and follow the steps for introducing a new cat. By confining him to one room at least initially you take away some of the anxiety of having to navigate the entire house. He can become accustomed to his home one room at a time. It's likely that as he relaxes and realizes he's home to stay, the re-introduction protocol can move along quickly until he once again rules the roost and is the loving cat from before.