Keep your cat entertained for hours with the SmartyKat Skitter Critters Value Pack Catnip Cat Toys! This set includes 10 adorable, catnip-infused mice designed to engage your cat’s natural instincts. Perfect for all ages, these toys are safe, durable, and just $5.98 on Amazon.
With a 4.7/5-star rating from 59,101 reviews, it’s a top choice for cat owners! Buy Now for $5.98 on Amazon!
Support Techcratic
If you find value in Techcratic’s insights and articles, consider supporting us with Bitcoin. Your support helps me, as a solo operator, continue delivering high-quality content while managing all the technical aspects, from server maintenance to blog writing, future updates, and improvements. Support Innovation! Thank you.
Bitcoin Address:
bc1qlszw7elx2qahjwvaryh0tkgg8y68enw30gpvge
Please verify this address before sending funds.
Bitcoin QR Code
Simply scan the QR code below to support Techcratic.
Please read the Privacy and Security Disclaimer on how Techcratic handles your support.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, Techcratic may earn from qualifying purchases.
Jay makes bed a cat into my home yesterday to foster while her human is in a recovery center for 2 months. It took 2 people 2 hours to find her to move. She had been alone in the apartment for 10 days with a cousin with dogs came in to feed & change water. Cat was never seen. Unfortunately the cousin took her dogs into the apartment before I got there and I’m sure she was terrified. I personally 10:04 found her after 10 minutes wedged behind a trunk under a blanket. I currently have no pets of my own. She’s hiding under the bed in the guest room. Frozen. Got here 19 hours ago. Hasn’t eaten, drank or used the litter box. Help!!!! How long do I let her hide out?
Watching this 4 years later and thank you so much cause damn I’ve done everything. I have two cats same dad different moms and the one that was born in my house is so much more social and comfortable
Shy tigerinos we love you! But, we understand ANY animal hiding from humans. We are sometimes literally the worst animal in the history of the planet.
I guess my kitten is a half wallflower because it's not too scared, eats normally and drinks normally, does business in the litterbox, etc. Not so social I guess. Can't pet it without it running away, so we give it alone and quiet time as much as possible. Always meows after her brother and mother which she was seperated from. Also meows at me, which I'm guessing means she's telling me to help her find her brother and mother. Can someone help me with this? Thanks!
Mr galaxy. I have a problem I haven't heard anyone address advise for.
I adopted 2 one year old girl cats from different families.
All was going well for the biggest part.
My daughter had a housing emergency and she had to come home.
She has 3 boys. 2 three year Olds. And a 13yr old. My girls are scared sh!tress by the bigger boys. The boys are very curious but not threatening. My girls aren't adjusting well. They are very defensive and they both hiss and growl. And start fights and then run for cover and they're completely freaked out by the boys who just wanna know who they are. Its been about 8 days were being patient and keeping them separated for the most part. Do you have any good advice for us?
This is very helpful and reassuring regarding my move with my shy kitty!
Hi Jackson Galaxy love your videos! One of my friends cat who I’m cat sitting has been shy for the longest time. I can’t block it from going under the bed successfully, can I close the room instead?
Cat Daddy
I need Ur help.
Rescued a traumatized cat that all she does is hide.
Got bullied by other cats.
Almost got her programmed on the auto timer, but goes off at midnight.
I want to start her out right, she has the whole place 2 herself.
So much love out here in the light ❤
Cant block behind curtains cant block side of my bed cant block under table cant block behind sofa cant block under a mobile platform whats used for diy. Has a blanket she hides under or bathroom she hides wherever possible even under my coat shirt shell suit trackys
I didn't even notice the shirt, with that ptsd triggering word. Guess I'm not watching this video either. Been two so far I've had to skip and turn off.
I try to watch this but the rambling is absurd. Next
Yes they're gone
This was a super helpful video. I've had 9 cats in my life, always adopted and usually from abusive households. Within a year, every one of them has come around to liking me and interacting with me and other people. Except for one. We've had her for 5 years and she won't ever come out from the closet / bed. Vets recommended prozac but that hasn't done anything. This gives me a different way of thinking of things to try to help her be comfortable while still giving her space. Its interesting though–she was probably the only one not from an abusive or neglectful household. She wound up being born in a shelter though, so maybe thats why. She loves other cats but even after 5 years of caring for her, she'll still hiss and hide when I come into the room. Same with anyone else. I have 3 other cats right now and she gets along super well with all of them. Not sure why she's still so timid around the family after all this time though. One of the other three I currently have was rescued from a hoarding house that had over 50 cats. The other too were ferals I rescued. They're all way more socialized than her with humans. At this point, I'm at my wits end. If anyone has any advice, I'd gratefully take it.
I bought two of those tunnel beds. Cave beds. Both of my cats only lay on top. Neither one ever got inside.
I just got 2 kittens. They are 9 weeks old and sisters. 1 is very shy.. 1 is totally not bothered by anything (except loud sounds wich is normal for those small ones).
They like to sleep in a corner in the bathroom..
Should i wait a couple weeks? Or start blocking it?
Hi Jackson! I just watched your delightful video on bringing a wallflower cat out of their shell. I recently got a spayed orange female from the local Humane Society. Butterbean was a bit retiring but not terrified. While my grown son and I were selecting her, he fell in love with a Tomcat who "helped out in the office" at the H.S. and was shortly due to be neutered. So we applied for Duke and picked him up a few days later. Duke is a delight. He's long and lanky and so loving and he really owns his space, lounging languorously all over the place. But he harbored hidden fires that came to light when he met Butterbean. Duke doesn't scent mark, he's more of a fisticuffs kinda guy. Butterbean made feeble attempts to stand her ground, but just didn't have enough mojo. Getting out the fishing toys last night to distract them only made Duke more aggressive on this occasion . The situation was not improving and I was almost in tears. I hopped online and ordered some Feliway but it won't arrive for two days (we live in the sticks of Ohio) so my son took Duke to his room and I took Butterbean to my room to quell the hostility for a while. We have two huge litter boxes so that I can switch them out for cleaning (my mistake). So I put both into cervice in the middle of the night. My two sweeties are not arguing today…maybe two litter boxes is helping. The Feliway may or may not help. I'll let you know if I detect any change in behavior that seems related to it. The "kids" have both retreated today to their high places: a tall hutch on one end of the living room and a tall wardrobe on the other end. So all is quiet right now.
By the way, my son blocked up all the hidey-holes after we couldn't find Butterbean the first night. At 75 I'm not real good at crawling under beds to retrieve reluctant pets. Thank you so much for wonderful advice! Catch you later.
My cat hides in the closet when he’s scared, but also sleeps in there when he’s fine. He does sleep on the bed, and lays in the sun, all in my bedroom. But venturing out of my bedroom is the problem. I used to have a dog, and the cat was fine,,playing with him, until he passed away. Now he just wants to be in his room by himself. He will let me brush him, rub his ears, stroke him, but on his terms. And, when anyone comes to visit he immediately goes to his closet, safe space. He comes out into the living room, in the morning, and late evenings, but, if there’s a sudden noise, or movement, he goes running back to his space. I have just ordered a huge cat tree, and am hoping that will bring him out more. He’s 16 years old, my first cat, (I have had several dogs in my life), and I still don’t know how to read his thoughts. He wanted cuddles as a kitten, but never sits on my lap anymore.
Cat daddy, how do I dm you for advice if that's even possible? Wendy from Australia x
I have a wallflower rescue cat who I’ve had about 2 weeks now. His name is Blaze and he’s a flame point Siamese. He’s about 5-6 months old.
I adopted him FROM a rescue that picked him up off the street. The rescue thought he was feral because he’s so insecure. He was on his way to be a barn cat but he is so beautiful I couldn’t stand the thought of it, and since I’ve worked with cats all my life, I decided to add him to my little cat family. With him, I now have 3 indoor cats… and I just figured out his biggest issue… he’s deaf! Poor little guy! He would never have survived very long on his own outdoors.
He’s beginning to gain a bit of confidence now and is venturing out of his hidey hole more and more.
I’ve never had a deaf cat before so this will be a learning experience for both of us. We have plenty of time to get it all figured out together.
I just got a spicy kitty, trying to make acquaintance but he just doesn't want to.
My cat becomes a wallflower at the petsitter's. What would be the steps to introduce them properly and prevent my cat from staying over-stressed for days when I am away?
Other than closing the closet he hides in? His previous petsitter had no issues with him but he was much younger.
Are there any JG advice about otherwise-confident cats who become wallflowers when a visitor stops by?
How do i block the under the couch i just rescued a bengal that was never really socialized they had a hecktic big house with a bounch of animals so many places for him to hide and scared of everything and everyone now i closed all closets doors ect but he hides under the couch i did bring his little crate but he does not go there
Thank you Jackson! I am a foster of a cat named Clifford, but we call him Santa Claus because he rarely has appearances. He totally “caves”, I have a small apartment & don’t know where he hides!! I had to stealthy hide under the blankets and I got one picture. He only comes out at night and then he’ll eat and use the box Last night he did not eat, but I heard him use the litter box. I was wondering, should I sneak up and grab him and prevent him for going back into his Heidi which I still have not been able to figure out where it is I have taken the sofa apart twice everything is closed away. I make sure I don’t leave anything open so he can borrow himself in there. I hear something ruffling around, I just don’t know what to do ? As a foster my ultimate glory is to find our kitties forever families that will love them for a very long time. I work with four paws here in northern Virginia. Thank you any advice is much appreciated. 😅😅😅 help
I adopted a cat a month ago. He’s a 8 years old extremely shy/scared FIV+ black cat so obviously no one wanted him and he spent 5 months in a tiny cage in a container. No one came to see him. When I came to adopt him the workers were so relived that I didn’t have to pay anything and they gifted me cat food, litter, toys, box, etc. It’s been 5 weeks and he’s still hiding under my bed. Not letting me get close to him or touch him. I came for advice and there’s been two teams : “leave him alone, don’t acknowledge him and he will come out one day eventually” and “get him out of under the bed, give him another hiding place where he can observe you better and try to interact with him so he can get out of his shell”. Idk what to do.
I don’t know if you will see this, but we have cat that is a year old and she has been skittish since she was kitten, is that normal?
I adopted a female cat that was so abused was told she is shy come to find out she is older than we were told and she is going blind. Had her to the vet after 3 weeks vet was shocked at her turn around now she roams the downstairs and terrorizes her cat brother
I fostered a cat 8 days ago and he has spent the whole time hiding behind the sofa in his 'safe room' – i watched this video today and closed off the area, giving him a cave bed instead. But I feel so so mean! He looks so scared! 🙁
wasn't helpful at all, you talk way to much and saying saying nothing.
I have a foster cat who is a wallflower. I come back to this video everyday to keep her from hiding in closets etc.. She would love that so much.
Oh one more thing,I have 4 other female cats,No males.and Lots of places for the kitten to hide.I feed my cats dry cat food.what should I do?? Rick . Please Help me find her.
My name is Rick,I have adapted a Gray short haired female kitten that I named her Kati,I brought her home,and put a big bell on her and petted her for about a hour and let her go in the apt. I thought that I would find her with the ringing of the bell,WRONG O. I can’t find her anywhere she is about a year old, and hasn’t eaten,I was hoping that I could find her,I looked for her everywhere. Can you help me?
Just got a very traumatized scared little baby rescue who’s just 6 months old. This video helps a lot with understanding him and how to get him to go out into the world 🙂
My cat is a snowshoe cat and I can leave the door open and he doesn't leave the trailer he can't get under anything but can get into a little closet above the bed. He's becoming braver when people talk to me outside I leave the door open and he is now peering out and looking at the neighbor. He has a shelf in the living room so when the aid comes over he goes up there and watches her. He loves his tunnels
I found this video looking for help,we have 5 cats and we got this tabby when he was 6 weeks old and from the beginning he dose not like to be touched he will shrink down and run away and he's so skittish,fast forward one year still the same except he will let you pet him when you are laying in bed or sitting
My cat has been growin up inside a house, and never go outside and once he try to go out and he git bullied by stray cats and since that, he change a lot he is now a shy cat and so coward cat that cant even protect himself from a kitten, he is not even affectionate anymore😢 he dont have that confidence and self esteem yo mate woth other female cats😢 i dont know how to help him now. I love my cat ❤️ please help me
What about a cat that’s confident enough to be out but skittish AF and just darts around like a lightning bolt. And fuck me if I want to give him pain killers or try to get the diarrhea off his freshly chopped off balls. Moment he thinks I’m coming in he turns into lightning bouncing off the walls. I’m in over my head. I just wanted a cat who wanted to be around people. My outside energy trying to give him everything but my inner conflict of realizing what I’ve done is … wearing on me. And before someone says yOu mUsT aCcEpT yOuR cAt! … no cat is fucking happy darting around.
Thank you so much for all your excellent videos. I have had cats for decades and thought I knew everything there was to know but I have now begun adopting extremely timid and scared cats and the game has changed. I want to do the very best for them so find your content extremely valuable. Many thanks.
Adopted a beautiful cat today and he is hiding under the bed, how long should I let him hide there? Adoption staff told me he is anxious and needs to feel safe in a Locked room
I have a cat that runs every time the door bell rings , phone rings or rattling silverware when do dishes by hand
My issue is that my cat is reactive to too many things/everything, often it’s just a family member walking up past him when he wasn’t expecting it. He’s super cuddly and loves affection, so it isn’t like he doesn’t want others near him (he doesn’t understand personal space whatsoever). Sometimes he’s fine with people coming up to him, other times he bolts up the stairs and we won’t see him for at least half an hour. He acts like someone’s gonna hurt him but we’ve had him since he was 11 weeks old and there’s never been anyone acting aggressively.
Omg your cat looks like a toy, what breed is it?
I have a black cat name Bagheera (also) from jungle book. Whos a wall flower. But it seems to be selective on when he leaves. His brother on the other hand isnt scared of leaving he goes all over the house without issue.
It takes my cat about 3-4 days to get used to family and not be scared lol
I'm fostering a 13 yo senior cat who lost her family and the poor thing has been terrified around other cats even the ones she came with. Definitely have to try this I can't get her to come down the stairs with us
For those who cannot afford to purchase something new for this…you can use a small box with a towel to make it cozy instead. Additionally if you don’t have access to boards to block odd hiding spots, you can also use cardboard pieces.
"Shy" doesn't begin to describe the bonded pair I've just taken in. It's been a little over a week and they are still mostly in hiding. They do come out to eat and drink and use the litter box. I'm not even sure where the other one is hiding … and this is a VERY small apartment.
Their food bowls are in the middle of the living-room floor. The litter box is where it's always been: next to my desk. None of those items are hiding. I've also plugged in a Feliway but can't tell at this point whether it's actually doing anything.
Apparently they spent a lot of time in the back of one store, so they saw very few people. Then they got moved to a different store where they were put up front, in the hopes a home would be found for them. So suddenly they were getting a lot of attention that they weren't used to. And this all went on over FOUR YEARS.
I've been advised to just let them be and they will come out on their own. It does seem to be working — barely — for the (neutered) male cat; he just tried to get up on the windowsill (memo to self: clear 'stuff' off the windowsill) and then skittered past me back to … wherever.
Whoops- being a rabbit owner simultaneously made me fall into the trap of embracing the hiding spaces! Good to know I need to do the opposite for the cat.