Shy Cat Enrichment
**Adults only depending on the cat**
If you’re interested in helping socialize shy cats, sign up for cat cuddling and talk to a staff member when you come in. Each cat has their own needs and comfort level.
The goal in socializing is to help the cats create a positive association to help build trust with people. Anything negative, like punishing them, yelling at them, etc. will only set them back further, so our goal is to do things that show cats people = good things.
Some things that can help:
Reading out loud. Have a book you’re enjoying or a textbook you need to get through? Very shy cats often benefit from having a human nearby talking. It helps them get more comfortable with being near people.
Slow, calm pets. Some that are okay with human contact would greatly benefit from having different people give them some calm affection. Some may take some time before you can pet them, but once they warm up it is such an incredible feeling. Gaining the trust of shy animals is one of the most rewarding things about working with shelter animals.
Playtime! Wand toys especially can be helpful with this. Playing can be a great way to help a shy cat come out of their shell. We’ve had many cats in the past who we couldn’t pet right away, but they would happily go after a toy. We have plenty of wand toys at the shelter, just be sure anything with strings is put away before you leave.
Always keep in mind we don’t always know what our animals have been through in the past. Some may have been abused, but more often than you might think they just haven’t been socialized. We get a lot of cats who just lived with one or two people their whole life then suddenly they are thrust into a busy shelter with new people, other cats (which they may not have been around since kittenhood), and all sorts of new smells and sounds including dogs. See Also Why are you being weird, shelter animal? Socializing cats takes a lot of patience. Patience and being calm are the most important things when it comes to socializing cats. The staff is happy to help show you subtle signs of stress and help you learn the best way to help our cats.
Patience and being calm are the most important things when it comes to socializing cats.
Many stressed cats also like to hang out under kennels when we are open. If you would like a blanket or towel to lay on, just ask the staff! We are happy to grab you one and point out where any nervous kitties might be hiding (if they are up for some attention).
You should ALWAYS let the cat come to you!
Signs of stress:
- Hissing or growling
- Wide eyes/large pupils (especially if not in a dark environment)
- Lip-licking
- Ear flattening
- Tail whipping (cat “wagging” their tail is a sign of agitation)
- Body tensing up and staying low to the ground
If a cat exhibits any of these behaviors, calmly back away and leave them alone.
Good signs:
- Slow blinks/partially closed eyes
- Relaxed demeanor
- Tail up
- Upright forward facing ears
- Showing belly (this is NOT usually a belly rub request though!)
- Purring CAN be a good sign, but it can also be a sign they are very stressed, so a purr alone is not enough to determine if they are happy
Here is a great resource for understanding cat body language: https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/cat-body-language
Contrary to popular belief, forcing love on cats does NOT help them come out of their shell. Handling young kittens can be good socializing, but forcing any cat that wants nothing to do with you to be held or touched is just mean and only sets them backwards. It makes it harder for them to trust people. You should ALWAYS let the cat come to you!
This may take time. You might not even get to touch the shy cat in your first few visits, and that’s okay. It’s more important that they learn you are not there to hurt them. When/if they want love they will come to you. Food can help get some cats to come out of their shells, but ALWAYS ask staff before giving a cat any food or treats. Some have sensitive tummies, and we have special stuff we can give them that won’t make them sick. Just ask! We are happy to give you stuff to work with them.
Updated: 9/8/25
Author: Rebecca Brink, Assistant Manager at CCHS, ABCCT