Nervous cat

Question
Dear Tabby,
         Hi, my name is Davina.

My partner & I bought a rescued 2 year old (possibly quarter Persian)cat from a nearby vet about 6 months ago.

From day one she was extremely frightened scared & extremely nervous-in the beginning of moving her in she was extremely aggressive ie,she would scratch,bite,hiss etc.

As the months went on she has come a long way as we have showed her so much love & care which we believe she may not have had in the past as she was apparently found in an abandoned home sadly. She has stopped biting (except for the little warning ones on the occasion when we pick her up-but they are more like love bites now).
She now doesn't scratch anymore yet she does still hiss on the occasion for no apparent reason.

The one main worry we have & the reason Iam writing is because she is always extremely nervous. She jumps at every little noise-inside & outside. Sometimes she even jumps at the smallest noises that we can hardly notice & we can't have her live like this anymore-it's to much for her.
We can't have her suffer due to her apparent nervous disorder & we want to find out what we can do to alleviate her unnecessary stress.

We have thought of getting cat Valium at the vet yet the vet staff are completely ridiculous & say silly things like put lavender around the house-however her problem/disorder it's far beyond this. (We still did this anyway because we have lavender in our front yard-even though we knew it would make no difference).

Can you please tell us what we can do to stop her from suffering her nervousness to such an extreme extent?

We have no past history of her other then that she was found in an abandond home.

Thanks so very much for your time, it is so very much appreciated.

:0) Davina... :0)

Answer
Davina,

Edit: There was a problem with the link I sent for the feral articles so I have now corrected it.

It sounds like she had a feral parent, or both parents were feral. The skittishness is normal behavior for them. I have one that if she hears a strange noise or person she hides under the bed for hours! For reference, here is a link that has a GOOD 4-part article on ferals that you may find informative:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)

http://petplacestation.com/articles/?s=jacobi&paged=2

I would give her a 'safe' area where she can hide if she wants. Especially since you don't know her past experiences and traumas, it may take quite a while for her to learn to trust you and her surroundings and settle down. Let her take her time. Don't try to make her sociable, that will only make things worse for her by stressing her out more. She may enjoy hiding in a closet or somewhere she feels safe. She will come out as she gains trust and feels secure. Give her lots of kitty treats (like tuna, or tinned sardines in oil, etc.). Food is a great bribe and helps her equate you with something pleasant and not negative.

Have you tried Bach's Rescue Remedy? People swear by it for stressed cats and other emotional issues. You can get it at a health food store (people use it too) or on-line.

Bach Flower Essences for Pets: Bach's Flower Essences were developed for humans, but they work on animals as well. Flower essences work on both physical and emotional issues to help heal and calm. They are non-toxic and have NO side effects, and are safe for pets and animals of all sizes.  

BACH'S RESCUE REMEDY is the most commonly used. Rescue Remedy can be used on for any acute trauma, fear, or stressful situations. It will not change the inherent temperament of an animal, but will help bring them into balance.

The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method, but a few drops of the Rescue Remedy on the gums, or even in the ear, of the very stressed and/or aggressive animal will calm them down and make them easier to handle. It can also be sprayed on the skin or ears with a spray bottle and it will still have a beneficial effect.

For cats, only a few drops #2-4# are necessary. They need not be swallowed, but MUST contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can also put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb the flower essences in this way.

There is no improper or wrong method of applying the Bach Remedies. It is not necessary to be precise in counting the number of drops in any of the dilution methods. The Rescue Remedy is non-toxic and therefore has no side effects. For serious or acute conditions the remedy can be given as often as needed. For most behavioral problems 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks is sufficient, though some may animals may need drops or a dropper full added to their drinking water long-term.

More information about Bach's can be found on these websites:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)

http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

http://www.nelsonbach.com/BFE_for_pets.html

http://www.petsynergy.com/flower.html

http://www.oes.org/page1/Bach-Rescue-Remedy.html

Another option is to talk to your/a vet about getting a prescription for "kitty Prozac". It is commonly used for cats with stress and emotional problems to calm them. For some cats a short term therapy works (about 2 weeks), and others need it for a long period of time. I would possibly find a different vet to go to also....one that understands, and has knowledge, of feline nervous disorders and emotional issues. Not all vets have the knowledge and experience of those issues.

The kitty is VERY lucky to get a chance to have a loving home with loving owners. Thank you for caring about the poor little kitty. Keep me posted on how she is doing!

Tabbi