Cats with a Nervous Personality

Adapted from an article originally published on natusan.co.uk

Cats can be quite particular creatures, and pet parents know that their unique personalities can be very different.

Even in the same household, and from the same litter, our furry friends can vary quite a lot when it comes to their individual habits and quirks.

Researchers have found five cat personality types, and find most cats fall into one of the following categories – Neurotic, Extraverted, Dominant, Impulsive or Agreeable.

In this blog: the neurotic, or nervous, cat.

Cats who score in this category tend to be more highly-strung than others, and can also be the most shy.

These cats love a hiding spot, so give them plenty of spaces around your home for them to retreat to.

Over time, and with the right support, these cats can become just as confident and cuddly as any feline, albeit only to those they truly love (which makes it even better!)

Top Tips for Nervous Cats

Give them space – Boxes, cat tunnels and other “safe spaces” are very important to nervous cats. 

Reduce “triggers” – If possible, try to determine and avoid things that may cause anxiety for your cat. For example, if your cat is scared of the hoover, take them to another room before flipping the switch.

Be patient – It may take a while until your cat is comfortable enough for a cuddle, and some cats just plain don’t like it. Respect your cat’s personal space and try to read their body language.

Try distractions – If your cat is triggered by something beyond your control, such as fireworks, try shutting the curtains and playing soothing music or television (ours love a bit of Attenborough)

Keep calm and purr on – Your cat is an expert at picking up your vibes, so try to stay cool, calm, and collected, and hopefully your cat will do the same.

Make a routine – cats are creatures of habit, and aren’t too fond of change, so bear this in mind, try to sync your schedules and don’t interrupt nap time (this goes for humans, too)

It is worth noting that most “undesirable” behaviours are just cats expressing their natural behaviours, but perhaps in a place or at a time which isn’t appealing to us as humans!