Hi, I have a 3 year old cat called Missy, she is a long haired white cat with blue eyes and is deaf.

After leaving Sheffield last year when I moved back with Parents in Doncaster we have returned to Sheffield. Missy has been staying at the house for 5 days so I understand she will be settling in to a new routine / surroundings etc.

She will sit looking out of the window but even with encouragment wont go outside.

When I hold her in my arms she is relaxed but as soon as I walk outside with her in my arms on to the garden she freeks out like she has been spooked, she digs the claws in and is shaking.

Question i have is what would cause the suddan change in behaviour?

I have tired it on 2 seperate days so its not as if there was another cat sat there, there are no dogs locally.

I have seen Ultrasound cat deterants in shops, could this cause her discomfort, I know i mentiond she was deaf but wondered if these would still work (not saying I know someone is using one but just a question thats in my mind)

Kind Regards

Andy and Missy

I've not heard of ultrasound cat deterants before?!

Maybe the move has upset Missy. Did Missy like going outside when you were in Doncaster? She may just feel uncomfortable within the new surroundings and different smells etc and after some time she may start to relax a little and state her mark on the new territory.

awww bless her , maybe just let her do it in her own time ...leave the door open n spend some time out there calling her take some of her favourite things into the garden that have her smell on them...good luck

I have to say I'm not really any sort of cat expert, but I will give you my thoughts on things if you like.

First of all I think it is just a case of the cat settling down in the new house, if she is happy in there I would just simply keep her in... I would anyway for at the very least 2 weeks, I know that you think that your being supportive cuddling the cat outside but in my experience they really don't like that, they don't seem to get comfort from it like say a dog might.

If it was me I would keep her locked in for another week, even if she looks like she wants to go out, she is just sussing things out, then just open the door and leave it, let her go under her own steam, just keep watch that she doesn't get picked on although it is sort of inevitable for a while.

The deterrents mmm although she is deaf it may be possible that she can hear a very high frequency, although I doubt that is the problem I am sure that she just needs time to get up her bravery and go out under her own steam.

Hope this at least makes you feel a little less concerned :)

Hi Andy

I think that the issue will be one of two things, either:

a) your new garden has the smell markings of a very dominant resident tom (bear in mind that toms will have a much larger territory than queens and so her garden is likely to be under the 'overlord' protection of a tom, of whom she may be frightened). That cat does not have to be physically visible for her to know that he's there. Alternatively,

b) at some point recently she may have had a very frightening experience that she relates to going outdoors. This can be hard because it doesn't need to actually be something of which you are aware and which is actually about fisticuffs in the garden, just something that has made her scared (as an example, if something scary happens at the same time as meeting a person, they may be continue to be scared of that person, even though we know that the two things are not related).

Both of these can be worked on over time, but she needs to have a little time and space than most cats because of her deafness. Most cats have a 'sound picture' of their surroundings and this is obviously missing for Missy. It's quite possible that another cat has approached her from behind and scared her and getting her confidence back is going to take time.

How about you leave the door open whilst you go into the garden to do some chores for a while? Could be anything from the gardening to taking a cup of tea outside and reading a book (assuming that it's not hammering it down like it is right now!)?

A little rescue remedy in her water or a Feliway diffuser could help her to feel less anxious and more secure, as could taking a little of her dirty cat litter and digging it into the garden, so scent marking her territory for her.

Thank you all for your advise, I will keep her in side for a bit longer, she is very happy inside house so i guess thats what counts

Andy and Missy