Cats can be cautious creatures depending on their character, early socialization, and past experiences, and getting them to trust you when they’re scared is a tall order. Kittens can be even more scared, especially if you’ve just brought them home, separated them from their mother and littermates, or rescued them.
The silver lining is that there are ways you can help soothe their initial fear and uncertainty and foster a loving relationship, with plenty of time and patience. To find out how to go about it, let’s check out what you can try down below.
The 6 Vet-Reviewed Tips on How to Get a Scared Kitten to Trust You
1. Learn How to Read Cat Body Language
Like most animals, cats largely communicate through their body language, so understanding that will be the foundation for getting the kitten to trust you. Scared cats puff up, stand sideways to make themselves appear larger, stiffen their tail, and may stare at you with dilated eyes. Alternately, they might curl up or straight up run away from you.
If this is your kitten’s first day in a new home, some fear and uncertainty are to be expected. However, if you’ve had them a little while, and they remain fearful, try and identify the cause of your kitten’s fear, whether it’s people in general or you in particular, or a certain object, noise, room, or another pet. Avoid any sudden movements to avoid triggering a flight response.
Remain calm and never try to chase or catch the kitten. Do not raise your voice. Speak in a calm and reassuring voice and let the kitten choose where they want to go and how close they want to get near you. Do not try to corner them. However, if your kitten is constantly hiding or not wanting to eat, hissing or seeming painful, then their “fear” may actually be a sign of illness and they should get checked out by the vet as soon as possible.
2. Create a Calm, Welcoming Environment
Cats are attracted to calm, safe spaces with access to perches and raised hiding spots, with plenty of food and water, from where they can observe their environment and feel secure, and most importantly, someplace peaceful and quiet away from any noise or other pets. You can put food out for the kitten and give them a soft blanket or bed to lie on, for starters. Allow them to approach the food and bed at their leisure, and don’t overwhelm them if they’re initially timid eating around you.
Depending on their character, early experiences, and socialization, it may take kittens a variable amount of time to get used to living with dogs, other cats, or children. Some will adjust to this very quickly, while others will require extra time with patience and supervision, so they can learn to coexist safely.
If your kitten is timid, do very slow and gradual introductions with other pets and family members, so as not to overwhelm them with too much in a short space of time. They need time to get to know their new home and family members, and this process should not be rushed.
If possible, keep your kitten in a cat-proofed room to keep them safe and give them their own space to figure out their boundaries and get their confidence up. Some colorful toys like crinkle balls or a cat tower would work wonders in helping them feel more at home too. Then allow them to explore more each following day until they feel comfortable around the whole home.
3. Become Less Threatening
Many people don’t realize that the way we approach cats can sometimes come off as scary or threatening to them, so you have to get on their level—literally, if possible. Crouch down or lie down on your stomach in an area near the kitten and talk to them in a soft, soothing voice. Don’t make any sudden movements and let them come to you. They’ll probably be very curious about what you’re doing down there with them. If they don’t seem interested, though, don’t force the matter and simply try again later.
As the cat becomes more at ease near you, they might take their eyes off you or turn their back to signal some sense of trust. The truly encouraging signs are when the cat lies down or grooms themselves near you because that’s when a cat is most vulnerable, and they typically only groom in comfortable and safe locations.
4. Minimize Contact With Other Animals
Kittens have a very keen sense of smell that lets them detect nearly everything you’ve come into contact with—food, drinks, soaps, and even other animals. A kitten’s nose is one of their most powerful tools for gathering information about the world and probably the worst thing for them to smell on you is a dog or an unfamiliar cat. Try to avoid handling other animals or perhaps wash your hands with an unscented soap after touching other pets to minimize potentially scary scents on you.
5. Wait for the Kitten to Come to You
A cardinal rule of interacting with cats is to let them come to you at their own pace and to never approach them unsolicited unless they’re displaying friendly, relaxed behavior. The best thing you can do is to sit in one spot near the kitten and avoid making any loud noises or sudden movements. The kitten’s innate curiosity should eventually compel them to come check you out.
You can use toys such as wand mouse or feather teasers, or tasty treats, in order to intrigue and encourage your kitten’s playfulness and create first fun bonding memories.
6. Use Positive Reinforcement
Cats thrive on routine, and adding positive reinforcement to your kitten’s life will help make them warm up to you much faster. Start by giving your kitten a high-value treat they can’t ignore any time they approach you and remain relaxed, and eventually, they’ll learn that being around humans likely leads to getting food. This connection is a powerful one, and rewarding the kitten for coming to you and interacting with you will be key to establishing a strong bond with the kitty.
On the flip side, never use punishment of any sort with either a kitten or a cat. They don’t understand it, for one. And it’s just mean. You can discourage undesirable behavior like clawing or hissing by simply ignoring it, taking away the attention your cat is seeking to get through some of these behaviors, or redirecting it to a favored toy, but you should never raise your voice or strike your cat.
Conclusion
Kittens are some of the most adorable and delicate critters, and you can start earning their trust by making your home a calm, welcoming environment with plenty of hiding spots. With patience, the right approach through interactive and stimulating playtime, and tons of treats, anyone can get a scared kitten to trust them within a few weeks to months.
Featured Image Credit: FamVeld, Shutterstock
