My cat hides away from and hisses at my parents!

[Rosella moggy]

What do you think Ged? 

[fluffybunny]

Did they look after her just the once and did this start straight after?  Have you spoken to your parents about it?  It might not be that they actively did anything to distress her, but maybe she associates their arrival with you going away and leaving her alone? A bit like many of our cats know exactly what is up when they see the pet carrier! 

Or might there be a reason that they smell different?  Have they got any new pets, moved house, anything like that?  Even something daft like a new perfume?

I agree with trying a pet remedy/feliway and see if she will come round to understanding that you're not going to leave her or that something bad might happen every time your parents come.   

Hope you manage to get to the bottom of it x x

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Hi Ged,

Sorry to hear Quorra has taken a dislike to your parents .... is she like this with other visitors or is it just your parents?

Do your parents have pets of their own?

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I suspect this may have something to do with when they looked after her!

What exactly you will probably never know but do not force her to try and socialize with them cos that will make things worse, they need their safe place to go and hide.

The cats obviously associate them with something very unpleasent now.

[Lyn (Slugsta)]

Hi Ged,

Something has obviously upset Quorra which she associates with your parents/their visits. It might be worth using a Feliway or Pet Remedy spray/plug in when your parents are going to be visiting in order to help Quorra feel calmer. I would also suggest that you don't try to force the issue as that will only increase the stress and the unpleasant associations.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along to offer some suggestions soon.

[Gerdagan]

Hi all,

I've had Quorra, my cat, for three years. Up until recently, she loved my Mum and Dad.

She used to happily come to greet them when they arrived, and take treats from them. No, as soon as she hears the door go, she seems to know it's them and hides away under the bed until they leave.

I don't understand why she's suddenly changed her behaviour toward them.

I've had to start keeping her out of the bedroom to attempt to make her socialise with them again. But whenever my parents look at her, she hisses at them. If they get close to her, she starts growling at them.

She's obviously stressed out. But I can't understand why she is. Whenever my parents visit she's getting stressed. They also looked after her when I went away, whereas now I won't be able to have them look after her.

Any advice?

Thanks. Ged.