I am going to be away for a few days for the Thanksgiving holidays and have asked a "cat sitter" to come in to feed my cats and clean their litter pans while I'm gone. She's great! Aidan (my flame point ragdoll) and Mira (my tortie) took to her immediately. In fact, even Bianca (the former feral) was not afraid of her. However, Shree (my seal bi-color raggie) is always shy with new people and hid the whole time that the cat sitter visited.
I am concerned because Aidan and Mira are a pair of piglets! They eat and eat and want more! Normally, I feed them both on the kitchen floor, Bink (my nick name for Bianca) in her area and Shree on a counter top. It works well, but I am worried because with a stranger Shree will hide and I'm afraid that Aidan and Mira will eat her food before she gets a chance to do so.
The cat sitter said that she will try to quietly hang out. I don't know what else she can do.
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Thorne was a very shy cat too. I found when bringing in a sitter for when I was going away, it was best to have them over a few times, and keep Thorne locked in the same area as the sitter and treats to force him to deal with them. It always worked and after 3 attempts, him getting their smell, me letting them hold him, and feeding him some treats, he would be willingly sitting in their laps. (course he still never ate much when I was away, he was a touch co-dependent). The trick is quiet voices and no quick movements. and constant petting and reassurances.
You might try that, every cat is different and she might be scared at first, but it forces her to realize the new person is not a threat.
Marian Wrote:I am going to be away for a few days for the Thanksgiving holidays and have asked a "cat sitter" to come in to feed my cats and clean their litter pans while I'm gone. She's great! Aidan (my flame point ragdoll) and Mira (my tortie) took to her immediately. In fact, even Bianca (the former feral) was not afraid of her. However, Shree (my seal bi-color raggie) is always shy with new people and hid the whole time that the cat sitter visited.
I am concerned because Aidan and Mira are a pair of piglets! They eat and eat and want more! Normally, I feed them both on the kitchen floor, Bink (my nick name for Bianca) in her area and Shree on a counter top. It works well, but I am worried because with a stranger Shree will hide and I'm afraid that Aidan and Mira will eat her food before she gets a chance to do so.
The cat sitter said that she will try to quietly hang out. I don't know what else she can do.
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
That's a good idea! I don't know if this cat sitter has time to spend that way, but I'll ask! Thank you!
Consider keeping them confined in different parts of your home for the absence. However, it is not likely that a cat would starve rather than coming out and competing for the food when it is put down.
Thanks Jan! I will tell the pet sitter to feed Shree in the bedroom leaving her food under the bed. I probably shouldn't worry. Shree's not a "thin" kitty and she's not dumb. Survival instincts will kick in I'm sure as you suggested.
Well we KNOW that Aiden will certainly eat, that boy is a machine!!!! I love how Shree's cheeks look puffy in that picture.