Hi all,

Something very odd has happened to my previously happy and confident boy, Bert. He has suddenly become really nervous and scared of his own shadow, will no longer snuggle up to us on the sofa and even sleeps apart from his brother.

I can only think that he's traumatised by an event that happened last week - but have no idea how to turn him back into the funny and loving mischief-maker that he was before

You may laugh at what happened (at first we thought it was funny too!) but it's had a really serious effect on him - basically he got his claws trapped in a pair of hubby's walking socks and when he pulled his paw back all the elastic threads in the sock stretched - so it looked a bit freaky like his claws were extending in a sort of Freddie Kruger way.....

I helped him untangle and he jumped off the sofa - but since then he doesn't like coming into the lounge and is really nervous at the slightest movement. I managed to get him onto the sofa once and he lay down for a while, but he's just not the same any more.

Do people think that this might be a permanent thing? We are giving him lots of fuss, and talking to him (he's not one for cuddles but likes to be stroked) - but I am devastated that he no longer gives me his little headbutts any more

Any ideas anyone? Do cats suffer long term trauma from a small event?

Thanks

Teresa

Cats have a unbeliveable memory, just this weekend one of our friends cats completely freaked out for apparently no reason whilst the owner was carrying it past a large stand that was holding rosettes......after some disscussions someone remembered that the year before in the very same show hall and in the very same ring that particular stand collasped very close to the same cat!

Unbelieveable but obviously the cat remembered it happening!

I'm sure Bert will get over his experience given time and provided he doesn't catch sight of any stray/feral socks in the near future.

I think its important not to make a big deal of scary situations involving cats, for instance if during a fight between your cats you always seem to favor the weaker rather than the aggressor......you are then appearing to confirm to your weaker cat that something bad has happened and that they should be dubious of that situation arising again.

By this I'm not saying don't intervene during fights or potentially harmful/frightening situations, just do it without making a big deal out of it.......try it out and you'll see after a few minutes all is forgotten!

Sometimes just completely ignoring a cat for a few days will make it come to you for cuddles instead of it running away from you all the time.....The mind and thought process of a feline is very basic once you get to grips with it, try getting hold of a few books on cat behaviour.....its a very interesting subject!

Thanks for that - I'll give it a try (they were pretty scary socks, I have to say - no wonder he's suffering from post-traumatic sock syndrome....)

It's my boys' birthday next week, I must post some new pictures of them soon - we managed to weigh them recently - 14lb and 13lb - definitely not little kittens anymore.....I might not get them both in one shot

Teresa