Is my kitty Insecure or scared ??

I have a question from a friend at work. She has a male kitty that won't go downstairs to eat by himself. He wakes her up every night and insists that she escort him downstairs where he eats a little food and then wants outside. She said she put a litter box and some food upstairs for him and he nibbles on the food from time to time, but still wakes only her up--not her husband or daughter. She wonders if he wants to be social while he eats or is just scared--his name BTW is Spooky! I wonder if she should maybe stop the "free feeding" and only offer food at set times?? Any ideas?

 

Well cats generally do well with the "free feeding", it's how feral cats and the bigger ones (lions, tigers, etc) eat as well.

How old is the kitty? And was it rescued off the street or from a good home?

Without knowing a little more background it sounds like he may have come in off the street and has had an experience with being attacked for his food and wants someone there he trusts to "watch his back" so to speak.

Perhaps she could coax him downstairs (or gently carry him) to the food during the daytime several times. And afterwards spend some time playing with him. Her husband or daughter could do the same as well to instill trust in him and let him know he's safe. Just don't make it a whole ordeal by dragging him out from under a bed or anything.

This sounds like one of those behavioral problems that will go away in time with a little love, care and trust. Tell your co-worker good luck! :y_the_best:

 

Pumpkin will wake up my hubby mostly or me occassionally at a set time in the morning for fresh food, then leave us alone for awhile. I think it's a social thing. I think your friend's cat has formed a strong bond with her like my Pumpkin to my hubby. :mrgreen: I let her graze dry food 24/7.

 

I'm leaning with vene on this one. I think it's just a social thing. When I was feeding Booger at set times of day, I always assumed when she'd wake me at the crack of dawn, it was for food. But I've been free-feeding her for weeks now and she still wakes me. Yet, if my hubby is home she doesn't bother me as much when I'm sleeping. My hubby is a trucker and is gone most of the week and she absolutely loves him to death. He's her favorite playtoy. But when he's gone, if I close the bedroom door she'll sit outside the door and literally cry and scratch all night long. But even when hubby is home, she'll often sleep in the bed with me and any time I roll over she'll mew at me and rub her face against me. But when she really want's company, she'll literally claw gently at my nightgown as though to say, 'common mom, it's time to wake up!' LOL Or she'll gently nibble at my toes (which drives me crazy because I'm super ticklish). :mrgreen:

And even though she loves my hubby to death, she never does this to him. I believe that cats bond with different people on different levels.

 

Yes, he just moved in off the street. She thinks he was a neighbor's cat before the neighbor went to a nursing home. Thanks so much for the adivce, I will pass it along!! I am still learning about these wonderful creatures as I was never a "cat person" myself and they continue to fascinate me!

 

heya coppersmom, welcome to the forum!
hope everything works out for u
Lex prefers i be standing in the area when he eats too lol

 

I have two thoughts....
thought one, the kitty is getting used to his new home and your friend is his identified "Mommy"/caregiver.


thought two, cats know how to get us wrapped around their little paws....do we train our cats or do our cats train us??? I for one know, that Hunter has me trained on several things (more than likely everything). :lol:

 

I know all about cats training us! I say all the time I'm just the staff around here. I wish I could reset Copper's clock to daylight savings time. I used to get a wee bit more sleep. If he can't wake me, he wakes the dogs and they wake me.

 

lol yeah alot of thins u get trained in but im lucky ollie has learnt not to wake us up hell sit by the door till we get up or wait till my boyf alarm goes off n then he will no its ok now 4 him to cum in coz i dont mind the boyf does so wen he gets up 4work ollie cums in to see me