Help for Skittish Cat

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 17:33:50 GMT, "Jess Knoch"
wrote:

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch

Feliway? Folks find that it calms down cats.

I have two cats. One is skittish and one is willing to walk under a
lawnmower. I know because he's tried to do so. The skittish one takes
off at any strange sound. But it didn't start suddenly as far as I
know. He's always been like that.

I once had two littermates. Totally different personalities. Cats are
weird.

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 17:33:50 GMT, "Jess Knoch"
wrote:

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch

Feliway? Folks find that it calms down cats.

I have two cats. One is skittish and one is willing to walk under a
lawnmower. I know because he's tried to do so. The skittish one takes
off at any strange sound. But it didn't start suddenly as far as I
know. He's always been like that.

I once had two littermates. Totally different personalities. Cats are
weird.

in article , Jess Knoch at
wrote on 12/5/03 11:33 AM:

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch


you might try some Feliway around the place. www.feliway.com. Available at
pet stores and vets.

Karen

in article , Jess Knoch at
wrote on 12/5/03 11:33 AM:

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch


you might try some Feliway around the place. www.feliway.com. Available at
pet stores and vets.

Karen

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 17:33:50 GMT, "Jess Knoch"
wrote:

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch

IMHO I have stated this before. I believe cats from a quiet
environment are more skittish than those living around noise --
people too.

For instance -- I worked over 47 years and always had a telephone
ringing at my side. Now that I am retired and living in a very quiet
environment, I nearly jump out of my skin if the phone rings!

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 17:33:50 GMT, "Jess Knoch"
wrote:

Hello all, after reading your newsgroup for a while I think it is time to
ask my question. I have three female cats, one 13-year-old with some health
problems, and two year-and-a-half littermates. Urza is bigger and a bit
stronger than her sister Mishra, but for some reason Urza has turned into a
very skittish cat!

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

It's not all the time, though, and I don't know how to help her. She's a
very sweet cat, and loves attention from me (when *she's* ready for it, just
like every cat I know :-) so I would like to help her out. Does anyone have
any ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Jess Knoch

IMHO I have stated this before. I believe cats from a quiet
environment are more skittish than those living around noise --
people too.

For instance -- I worked over 47 years and always had a telephone
ringing at my side. Now that I am retired and living in a very quiet
environment, I nearly jump out of my skin if the phone rings!

"m. L. Briggs" wrote...
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 17:33:50 GMT, "Jess Knoch"
wrote:

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal
most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

IMHO I have stated this before. I believe cats from a quiet
environment are more skittish than those living around noise --
people too.

For instance -- I worked over 47 years and always had a telephone
ringing at my side. Now that I am retired and living in a very quiet
environment, I nearly jump out of my skin if the phone rings!

That's a good point, and I've thought about it some more. The other young
cat, Mishra, is one of the most easy-going and, well, pliable kitties I've
ever met. She would let you do just about anything to her. I think Urza is
not really so skittish compared to normal cats; just when compared with her
sister Mishra.

That said, I am looking into Feliway as the other two folks suggested. I
have never heard of it and I think it might help all my cats with different
things if it really does work. Thanks to all!

Jess K.

"m. L. Briggs" wrote...
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 17:33:50 GMT, "Jess Knoch"
wrote:

It started when we moved six months ago. Since then, she seems normal
most
of the time, but sometimes if you move suddenly or make a noise she will
take off like a shot. Last night she was next to me on the couch, when my
husband moved a chair across the room. She flew across me and out of the
room so fast she scratched my leg and my hand badly.

IMHO I have stated this before. I believe cats from a quiet
environment are more skittish than those living around noise --
people too.

For instance -- I worked over 47 years and always had a telephone
ringing at my side. Now that I am retired and living in a very quiet
environment, I nearly jump out of my skin if the phone rings!

That's a good point, and I've thought about it some more. The other young
cat, Mishra, is one of the most easy-going and, well, pliable kitties I've
ever met. She would let you do just about anything to her. I think Urza is
not really so skittish compared to normal cats; just when compared with her
sister Mishra.

That said, I am looking into Feliway as the other two folks suggested. I
have never heard of it and I think it might help all my cats with different
things if it really does work. Thanks to all!

Jess K.