Hi all,

I adopted a year old cat (called Cypher) from the RSCPA just over a month ago. I am not quite sure what happened to her before she came to me, but she is very timid. In general she seems to have settled in to her new home, however I have a few concerns and was wondering if any one can offer any advice:

1.) I was told by the RSPCA that Cypher is a lap cat. She was very affectionate in the first week after coming into her new home. She sat on my lap and followed me around everywhere!.

One evening, she tried to jump on my husband's lap and he wasn't so keen and gently shooed her off. I don't know if it is related, but a few days after that she hasn't even tried to sit on my lap (although she sleeps on our bed every night and comes up to me for a stroke now and again). It is a real shame, as I would love her to be a lap cat.

2.) I recently started letting Cypher out. She loves being outside ... I thought she wasn't going to come back the first time I let her out as she was away for two hours!. Unfortunately, she has become scared to go out now as another cat has been bullying her.

This cat comes into the garden at night and has even tried to come in through the cat flap. I have woken up a few times to growling noises and have run downstairs to see my Cypher cowering by the cat flap and this other cat outside it. Half asleep, I chase it back over the fence.

I just want my kitty to be happy, but the poor thing is scared of everthing!.

Any thoughts on either (or both) of my concerns?

KixChloe

Female cats are very much on there own terms some times when it comes to affection and some arent lappy cats but like to just be near. Its hard if you let your cat out at night as most cats will end up in fights at this time of night. You will find alot of other cats will start coming in as they know you have a cat and theres food about. I think alot of people have the same problem. You can get cat flaps that are magnetic and only work with your cats own coller with a chip in it. It will stop the neighbouring cats getting in and them your cat relax a bit more.

I have an indoor kitty so I don't know what to suggest for the catflap bit.

However, I would certainly say that my Waffles is a lap cat because she follows me everywhere and likes to sleep on my lap all day but she does go through phases. Sometimes she won't sleep on my lap and prefers her comfortable little beds (which is a relief sometimes because they were expensive lol) but at the moment she is all over me and won't go away
I think it just depends on their mood and you will find that cats really make their own rules which can be ---- >
Something I will say is that you can really bond with your cat by playing with her. If I play with Waffles a lot she seems to want to be with me more but if I am particularly busy then she kind of sulks lol.
When I first got Waffles I used to sit on the floor reading a book and she just came and sat with me out of curiosity. I think the fact that I wasn't staring at her helped because I read somewhere that cats don't like eye contact.
Good luck and hope you are able to put your mind at rest.