fraidy cat

Question
Dear Ali,

2 years ago, I rescued a cat from outside my building in NYC.   She was very undernourished had wounds on her paws.  From the beginning, she has been a near-silent and hiding cat.  I have another cat which is agressive towards her and attacks her anytime she is caught out in the open.  So, she just stays in one spot all day long.  I take her out each night to pet and brush her (as her fur gets matted if I don't since she hides in a space to tight for grooming.)  She likes to be pet around her head, but hates to be touched or combed on her sides.  She growls and even bites.  I don't know what to do with this cat.  I am responsible for her, but she is not happy at all, and I doubt the other cat will ever tolerate her (after 2 years, there is no change).  Is there anything you can think of that I can try?  The obvious answer is to find another home for one of the cats, but this is not easy, especially since one is agressive and the other is antisocial.

Answer
Lori,

I think that through some patience and training as well as some help from the vet we might be able to at least get the two cats to tolerate each other and maybe even draw your shy kitty out a little. I would suggest a full vet check up first with you letting the vet know what sort of issues the two cats have with each other. I would also suggest putting the fraidy cat in a room with her own litter, food and water as well as a few toys. I am going to suggest a homeopathic remedy for unknown trauma as well as anxiety. It is a Bach flower essence called Rescue Remedy. You can get it at most natural food/health product stores. Put 6 drops in fresh water every day. You should gradually start to notice a difference in her anxiety levels, although she may need prescription anti anxiety medication from your vet. You are going to try to spend some quality time with the fearful cat daily. A bedroom would be the ideal place to have her at this point because you spend at least 8 hours a day being completely non threatening to her there. Spend at least an hour or two just sitting quietly on the floor reading near where she is, let her come to you...If worse comes to worse you may consider having your vet clip her hair short for this time period so that your cat feels that she is in control...She is coming to you, you are not chasing her or grabbing her out of a place that she feels safe in. Cats are naturally curious, so eventually your fraidy girl will come out and inspect you, allow her to do that with minimal movement on your part. Have a treat (like tuna) ready to give her for being so brave....She may eventually solicit pets from you knowing that there is a reward forthcoming if she gets close to you. As time passes and your fraidy cat becomes braver I would try some gentle pets starting in areas that you know she is comfortable with and rewarding her with praise and a special treat. Over time you will be able to pet her gently in her more sensitive or anxiety producing spots, remember, praise, rewards, and even some catnip may help. As I mentionned earlier, she may very well need a presciption anti anxiety med from the vet, but try the Rescue Remedy first, because it has no side effects and it is gentler than a drug. I am fairly sure that with consistant rewards and gentle handling she will come around...Once your fearful kitty comes around you can start a reintroduction process to your other cat beginning with switching bedding back and forth between the two cats for as long as it takes for both cats to be comfortable with the idea. You will need to reward good behavior with food and praise and spritz aggressive advances with a water pistol or plant mister containing just water. Over the next little while you may find yourself with questions or concerns that you would like answered...Please do not hesitate to contact me again, I will do everything that I can to help as much as possible. This is a tough, but rewarding journey, you will be changing a cat's life forever for the better and giving her a truly happy place to call home. Don't rush things, they will unfold at their own pace.