Shyness and Fear in Cats - the Scairdy Cat

Building Confidence in Fearful Felines
Refer to this behavior article by Amy Shojai, CABC, for About.com, to understand how to help fearful cats. Learn why cats act fearful and how to help fearful cats become confident.

Ask Amy: Scared Cats
Read this Ask Amy column by Amy Shojai, CABC, for answers about scared cats and how to make a cat friendly.

Shyness and Fear in Cats
Is your kitty a "Scairdycat?" Shyness and fear stem from a number of causes, but can be overcome with gentleness and patience, as these tips explain. Is your cat trying to tell you something? The optimum word here is patience. You must allow your cat to set the pace, otherwise he or she may change from "flight" to "fight." Remember always that there are no "bad" cats, only uninformed cat caregivers.

The Shy and Fearful Cat
King County, Washington Animal Control Unit offers thoughtful, considered advice for bringing your scairdy cat out into the social world.