think someone has been unkind to our cat

[myermay]

Our cat has gone from being a confident cat to a bundle of nerves. He's almost 2 and he's always been happy and friendly. I'd say over the past few months, he backs away from my husband, gets terrified when i make noises in the kitchen like, tinfoil, move pans, oper binbag etc he runs off and hides. He's fine with the children and ok with me.

I know cats are a pain in peoples gardens, i've been known to shooooww cats out of our garden when they are about to poo, but i'd never physically hurt them. He's come back twice before soaking wet too.

There's a miserable old man who lives over the road who i know hates cats and has moaned endlessly about them to my husband prior to us getting one - he even admitted putting one into a water barrell in his garden to scare it - can't help but think it may be him as he no longer talks to my husband

Has anyone else had experience of this and did you cat ever return to it's old self?

It sounds like it could be him, poor poor cat shooing them away and even a squirt from a water gun is all fine in my books and should work to keep them away from your garden. But putting them in water barrels! That's just cruelty.

I think tbh because you can't prove it was him so do nothing about that, I would be keeping cat in in your shoes.

There are some horrible people out there

Lots of cuddles and reassurance needed I think. My old boy came back home absolutely terrified one night and really miserable - wouldn't move off his bed - I tried Bach Rescue Remedy then - just a couple of drops in his mouth - that worked well.

You can now get some destressing capsules called Zylkene that mimic the feeling of well-being a kitten has when drinking mothers milk. You break open the capsules and sprinkle them on food - I've tried it and it really works - more info here - best value I've found

thank you both. Yes i'll admit to shooing and a quick squirt -never get them though they are too fast!

i will try to keep him in for a bit and will get that zylkene, thanks

wow they are expensive!