How do I help this cat?

[Tobi]

This is a long story but I will try to keep it as short as possible. (But it's still not going to be short.)

4 years ago a neighbour asked me to look after her cat for 2 weeks. She is rarely in the country. I am still looking after her cat. She visits about 3 times a year for one/two days. I am sent money regularly to pay for cat food etc. I do not fault that.

The little cat -Sally -is very sweet but knows her own mind. She is not very dependant but has grown to like me very much. It was always a pleasant experience -going to visit her twice a day, spending time there with affection, playing, food, companionship, and then me going home. She seemed very contented, basically healthy, socialised, accepted my coming and going....etc.

I told her in plain English: "I am not your 'owner', I am your friend who visits you to help you."

She loves the outside world. She has acres of land which she likes, and is fiercely independent. But the house is now rented to 'guests' for weekend breaks, retreats etc. It has been that way for 2 years now.

Once (months ago) a dog might have put his nose through her cat door (to her own private room where she has her food, bed, shelter etc. The room is well away from the main house and she always liked it.) I didn't see that happen, but deduced that was what scared her from going in her room suddenly, as the gardeners sometimes bring a Spaniel. She was scared of the room for a while but soon settled down. I moved her soft bed to a higher place. She liked that.

Suddenly, she became very scared of the room again. That was at least 2 months ago. She will dash in, get her food, then wants to get back outside as soon as possible.
When I am there I block the cat door, and when I do she will often settle down for a while and relax. But as soon as I open the door she races out like there is a devil behind her.

Now there is no danger, and she knows there is no danger any more,. Guests last week brought an old dog with them. She kept away from it. She was intelligent enough to know when it had gone and stretched out on the sun lounger in the garden within one hour of their departure!
But she has gained a habit of being scared of her room. The habit won't go away. She behaves as if she expects danger there any minute.

I tried all sorts of things....catnip toys, letting her do things at her own pace -never pushing her against her will, food treats as positive reinforcement whenever she came in....etc

Now it has got worse. For the first time in ages, it rained heavily all day and night. I went to see her as usual this evening and she was refusing to go in her room, and was completely drenched from determinedly staying outside. She hates water, and I have never seen a cat so wet.
I dried her off, gave her food, blocked the cat door, and she relaxed. I stayed 2 hours with her. Yet she refuses to get onto any soft bed, and will only sit on a small hard place where she can't sleep properly or even lie down. She sits tensely on a hard surface, almost nodding off, then wakes up again. She behaves with terror if I try to encourage her to get onto a soft bed! She seems afraid of relaxing.
I have placed 3 different beds in the room, yet all she wants is to be out of the room. Like severe claustrophobia.

I was sure that if/when the weather turned she would come around and go back to her room....Not so apparently.

Nothing I do helps. I have given her small food treats when she has gone even near a soft bed. I have sat on it myself to put my scent on it (which I know she trusts). I have kneaded and purred to make it clear to her the bed is a happy place. I have tried to distract her by playing with things she likes or by whistling a gentle tune which she always likes very much. She has responded, then moments later, made a dash for the door and howled.
None of what I do helps.

By the way, it isn't physical. It's not a sudden need to poop or pee etc.

I have tried my very best to give her a happy life under the unusual circumstances but nothing is working.
I tried her a couple of times at my house and she was even worse there, and couldn't wait to get home!

What do I do? Can anyone suggest anything?

[Catherine]

Poor Sally Cat. She is really not giving up her fears is she.

I think you are going to have to find another place for her to sleep.  Is there another shed or room she can use.  Could you build her a shelter that would at least keep her dry. I don't think she is going to give in and accept her room again. You might not be able to give her a room, but even a lean-to or smaller sheltered space would keep her warm and dry.

Could you give her a different opening to her room, maybe through a window. The cat door could be closed so she would feel safe.
I guess she feels vulnerable because another animals can get into her room and she doesn't have a second way out.

I still think it is admirable that you have been able to cat sit all these years.

[LPC]

Oh, poor Sally! I'm so sorry to read about these difficulties.

I think Catherine has made some sound suggestions. You could try them and see what happens. You also try pouring some valerian tincture on her cat bed. Yes, I know that you don't like the smell, Tobi! But cats adore the smell and will go crazy for it. Worth a try.

If all else fails, perhaps you could keep Sally with you at your house for a longer period (say a week), with lots of valerian in strategic areas, LOL! Yes, she may look nervous and even howl, you both may get little sleep for a couple of days while she adapts, but she will be safe and no dogs (except for unseen visits from M&B). After a week, you could take her for walks in your garden on a cat harness and lead. Just a suggestion. Only you know what is best for her.

Please keep us posted.

[Tobi]

Something happened which is intriguing.

Yesterday Misty was very far and I didn't sense her at all. I felt quite 'cut off' from her, but knew she is busy so that was okay.
Late at night, I tuned in to Misty, sent her all my love. Didn't sense any response.
Even though I didn't sense her, I asked her if SHE could suggest anything and asked for her help! I hoped an idea might come through a dream....
(Not so. I dreamed about seeing buildings in Hollywood! Random....or what?)

This morning when I went to see Sally she seemed just fine. It took her ages to come to her room for the food, but I kept rattling her box of treats. She arrived. I shut the door and blocked the cat door as usual.
When she had eaten we played with a tiny spinning-top which she likes. She went to the door as usual and meowed to be let out. I said No, and got 'busy' messing about with some marbles.
(She often responds when I ignore her and whistle a nice tune)
She then jumped up on the high surface and went straight into a lovely bed I put there for her as an experiment. Wow!
She stayed there, curled up, and fell into a deep sleep.

As I was walking home it was almost as though Misty was trotting along beside me & I felt very happy.

[LPC]

Well, that IS good news. Sounds like Sally had a "pep talk".

[Tobi]

Thank you for your suggestions Catherine. They are very sensible ideas. I'm not sure about the open window idea, as the windows have been fitted with alarms! The door where I come through hasn't, but the other door to a storage space also has. I daren't disarm the alarms.
There is a little garden building further up, like a shed/chalet. It is falling to bits, and the door is secured with a rope. I could fix it ajar enough for Sally to get through, and wedge it. Old things like skis, surfboards, wood preserver, house paint etc are stored there. That is a thought....but there is only one way in and out. But it might be handy if things don't get better in the long run.

[Catherine]

It sounds like she is  doing better for now. Maybe Misty was with sally when you couldn't sense her. Who knows and who knows why a cat does things.

I can see why an open window wouldn't work. I didn't think about alarms.

The other shed would at least be a dry place  for those days when Sally Cat is being a silly cat.

[LPC]

Is there any way of knowing in advance when the gardener or visitors might be bringing a dog? That would seem to have been the source of her latest upset.

What is the latest news about how she is getting on?

[Tobi]

It is quite hard to know when dogs might be around. Usually any dogs don't go anywhere near her room. I have a suspicion it might have been the gardener's Spaniel. He is WAY too big to get through her door (most dogs are) but he might have pushed his nose through, or scratched at the cat-flap.

Anyway....there was a replay of "Sally getting into a bed"! And she did so the same evening....purred and kneaded, and curled up. We listened to lovely low volume music (Classic FM Smooth Classics at 10pm) I stayed with her quietly for quite a while.

This morning....still scared of the room of course. She is happy to come in to eat, and shows no tension if she is waiting for extra food! But dashes out as soon as she can. I couldn't stay long as I had a dentist appointment miles away, so this time kept the door open, and sure enough when food was finished, off she went.

But I think we have made good headway! Twice she relaxed in a bed! We will try to repeat that tonight.

She is generally quite a happy cat, loves her territory, loves her food, likes me, likes being free.

Misty could well have had something to do with it, as she carries a beautiful unusually peaceful atmosphere, and a strong sense that all is well. Especially as I asked her IF she could help..... I vaguely sensed that yesterday.

[LPC]

Please keep us posted tomorrow, if you have the time.