If your cat has suddenly started acting scared of you, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why is my cat suddenly scared of me? Likely reasons why your cat is suddenly scared of you are that there has been a change in the environment, a change in how you have been interacting with them, you did something that scared your cat or that they are injured or ill.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat is suddenly scared of you and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why is my cat suddenly scared of me?
Below are likely reasons why your cat is suddenly scared of you and what would make each of them more likely.
A change in the environment
Cats can often become skittish when there is a change in their environment. If your cat has suddenly started being afraid, after a change in their environment, it is likely to be due to the change. Examples could be if you recently moved homes, got a new pet or a new noise was introduced to the house.
A change in how you have been interacting with your cat
The cause could be that your own behavior is causing them to get intimidated. If you shout around your cat or you have aggressive looking body language, it will likely cause your cat to get scared. Instead, it would help to be calm around your cat and to use more open looking body language.
If you have been petting your cat differently, it might also be the case that your cat does not like how you have been petting them. This would be more likely if your cat has been avoiding you since you started petting them differently.
You did something to scare your cat
It might also be the case that you did something to scare your cat such as step on them or catch them unaware. In this case, your cat should become more comfortable around you again over the course of a few days.
Illness or injury
The cause might also be that your cat has gotten an illness or injury. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it since showing other signs of having an illness or injury such as limping, vomiting a lot more or being fatigued. If it does seem like, illness or injury is the cause, the best option would be to take them to a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
What else happened when your cat first started being afraid of you
It would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started being afraid of you since it might be the case that there was an event that caused it. Examples could include if it started since moving homes, getting a new pet or since you stepped on your cat.
If there is a certain time that your cat tends to be afraid of you
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to be afraid of you. If there is, it might be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if your cat tends to do it more when you are loud, it would be more likely that your cat is intimidated by your behavior. Whereas, if your cat does it when there are loud noises inside, it would be more likely that your cat is intimidated by the noises.
Your cat might not actually be scared of you
It might also be the case that your cat is not actually scared of you and it might actually be scared of something going on around you or have an injury or illness. It would help to consider if your cat specifically hides when it sees you or if it starts hiding when something else happens.
How to get my cat to stop being afraid of me?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Deal with any changes in the environment
If your cat started being afraid of you since a change in their environment, it could help to try to revert back to how it was before. Alternatively, you could try giving your cat access to a different part of the house that is quieter and away from other pets that your cat might be trying to hide from.
Avoid intimidating your cat
As mentioned above, it might be the case that your cat has been doing it because of the way you have been behaving around your cat. Instead, it would help to be calm around your cat and to avoid making bold movements when approaching it. Also, it would help to ensure that you have been petting your cat in a way that your cat likes.
Reward positive behaviors
It would also help to encourage your cat to behave the way you want by rewarding the behavior. So, whenever your cat shows signs of not being afraid, it would help to reward them with a treat that they like.
Give your cat distractions
It could also help to give your cat things to be distracted by when your cat is likely to be scared. Things you could give it could include toys or treats.
Why is my cat scared and hiding?
A likely reason why your cat is scared and hiding is that your cat is scared of something in their environment such as another pet or a noise. It might also be the case that your cat is hiding from you which would be more likely if your cat does it when you shout or are intimidating. Sometimes, cats will also hide when they are ill or injured and could be why your cat has been doing it.
Why won’t my cat come near me anymore?
Possible reasons why your cat won’t come near you anymore are that your cat thinks that you do not want them to come near you, you have been intimidating your cat or that your cat is avoiding another pet or person that is near you. It would help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat won’t come near you and it would help to reward your cat whenever it does show signs of coming near you.
Why does my cat want to be alone all of a sudden?
If your cat suddenly wants to be alone, it could be due to getting an illness or injury, an issue with how you have been interacting with them, an issue with the environment such as noises or other pets or they might just want some alone time. It would help to consider whether or not your cat always wants to be alone or if it’s just some of the time.