HOW CAN I SOOTHE AND CALM MY CAT?
A nervous cat will take cues from your actions. If you're acting nervous, she'll feel even more stressed herself. Make a point to be calm and confident around your cat. Whenever she's acting out or hiding, move slowly and speak calmly and softly. If you can catch her gaze, blink slowly at her. This communicates in her language that you feel safe, and she should feel safe too.
Don't force her out of hiding.1 Rather, sit calmly nearby and wait for her to approach you. You can try to tempt her with treats, but don't be overly assertive about it. When she does come out of hiding, extend a hand but don't force her to be petted. Let her approach and sniff your hand. If she rubs your hand with her head, she's telling you it's okay to give her a gentle pet on the head.
Take the same actions if she's overwhelmed and hissing. Just be calm and slow, with lots of slow blinks, letting her approach you on her terms.
Provide a Safe Space
Every cat needs a safe space to call his own. This is especially true for nervous cats. Give him a space isolated from the hustle and bustle of the household. For cats that are just a little skittish, it can be a closet, cat tree or condo, or a comfy cat bed set high on a shelf that he can escape to.
You could also try a room isolated from the rest of the home. Introduce him slowly to other pets, starting by keeping a closed door between them and slowly graduating to supervised visits.
This safe and isolated space is especially important for cats that are extra scared around people. Sometimes a scared cat will bond more with other cats and not need as much human comfort. These cats might benefit from having a safe space separated from other household cats for a few weeks until he learns to bond with you. Keep a comfy cat bed, food, water, and litter in the room, along with a shirt that smells like you. Choose a room with windows so your cat can watch the outside world when you're not there. Start with short visits a couple of times a day, slowly extending your time together as his comfort increases.
