I have a 3 year old American short hair tabby that has been an indoor cat his whole life. He has a balcony that is fenced in so he gets to go out there for fresh air every day. Recently I brought in a new kitten for him, about 5 months ago and they seemed to hit it off right away, playing every day together. 2 weeks ago i brought in some kittens to sell and he suddenly started becoming scared of everything, nervous, jumpy, and ready to bolt at the slightest noise. Last night he was in his usual spot on my bed when a motor bike went by outside and he totally feaked out like never before. He jumped off my bed and ran out off my room like the devil was after him. I went and found him and he was really scared again, i brought him to my room but he was having no part of it, he was sure something was on the bed and when i tried to place him on it he freaked out again and took off. Now he refuses to get on the bed. Also yesterday i tried to pick him up tp bring him to the new spot i had put his food dish to keep it away from the kittens and give him a quiet place to eat and he freaked out so bad he ripped my arm open with his scratches trying to get away. Now every sound scares him much its sad. This is so not like him, i mean he was always a bit of a nervous cat but it has gone from a 2 to a 10 on a scale of nervousness in a matter of days. He used to socialze every day, now he just hides downstairs by himself all day unless he is hungry. That was the first time since i have owned Oreo that he has really injured me with his scratches, i know he didn't mean to, but it doesn't change the outcome.
Please help me, what can i do to get my old Oreo back or at least get him to calm down and mellow out a bit and stop being scared of his own shawdow.
I can't take many more of these injuries from him and i hate seeing him suffer like he is.
Hello TD
I am sorry to hear about your injury and Oreo’s response.
I recommend separating him from the kittens until he is fully relaxed and returns to his old self or until the kittens have left the home. Oreo’s safety and security have been compromised, which elevated his fear-anxiety response. It sounds like he is in a state of high arousal. The fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) spectrum ( 
) escalate very quickly in cats, making them afraid of the slightest noise, other pets and even their caregiver causing redirected aggression ( https://cats.com/aggression-in-cats ). I would minimize picking or handling him since he feels he has lost control over his home and core territory. Generally, non-affiliated (non-siblings) cats carry different smells and energies and are not readily accepted by a resident cat despite integrating easily with his newly adopted kitten.
Your main goal is to help Oreo feel secure in his environment. Here are some steps you can take to achieve this. First, I highly recommend purchasing a Feliway plug-in diffuser and plugging it into his safe area. A Feliway spray can also be instrumental. You can spray it on his bedding, blankets and your bed. Next, increasing cat hiding spots, boxes, and tunnels will also be helpful to ensure he has a place to escape and retreat to. Finally, talk to him calmly, minimizing coercing him from his hidey holes. Play calming harp music in the background daily.
Remember, you are a crucial part of Oreo's recovery. Your patience and understanding will go a long way in helping him feel secure again. Lastly, consult your vet about calming supplements like Zylkene or CBD oil. Dried cat herbs like valerian and silvervine can also be beneficial during a high state of arousal. Most important, please give him time to decompress and feel at home with his favorite scents.
Best of luck with all the improvements.
Melina