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A cat I am looking after has suddenly become afraid of the only room she has available right now. That is where her food, water, and beds are. It is a lovely carpeted room, warm and cozy, and I keep light classical music playing at a very low volume. She has always liked that, used to purr in there, and rub her face against things, and lie on the floor for a belly-rub. We also played with toys she likes in there.

There is nothing obvious to me in that room which could cause her to be afraid, and nothing, to my knowledge, has happened in there to scare her. The atmosphere of the room is pleasant and gentle (i.e. no bad ghosty-things! LOL!)

She has liked the room for over a year. Now suddenly, she won't go in there.

I have deliberately left her food in there so she might become desensitised, and have to brave it out to get to her food. She has obviously been doing that, as she has become no thinner, and the food is eaten when I go back.
I have however, put her water bowl outside, as she was getting dehydrated.

With Autumn and Winter coming, she can't go on like this, as that room is her only shelter. Her fear seems quite strong. I tried gently 'flooding' her by carrying her in, then stroking her, scratching her ears, purring (yes I can purr!), 'kneading' on her bed, talking in a sweet voice, laughing a little, offering her favourite cat treats, and trying to engage her in play.
She was not interested in any of it, and only wanted to dash outside, so I let her go.

Every time she dashes away I ignore her, and have tried the method of just going away silently when she displays fear, and giving her encouragement every time she braves it to come in. But she is tense, bolts her food, and can't wait to dash outside again, so it's hard to catch a relaxed moment in there.

Yet turning my back on her for her fear doesn't seem to work. All that happens is she runs away, stays outside and I eventually have to go home, as I can't stay there indefinitely.
She will not come near the room, even for a cuddle. And I don't want to start to pander to her being outside by taking her food out there, or she will never come in at all.
It started raining tonight, and when I visited, she was sleeping under the laurel hedge..... She was slightly wet.

If there is anyone who can give me any clues or practical suggestions to help this cat, or who has successfully overcome apparently irrational fears in their cat, I would appreciate it very much.

I am completely baffled. That seems like strange behavior, even for a cat.

Everything about the room is the same?
You haven't painted it or cleaned it.

Could an animal like a badger or a fox have slipped in and left its scent? You wouldn't be able to see or smell a scent marker. It would have to be a small animal to get in the way the cat does, but it would also need to be a predator.

You would need to clean the room with a special cleaner that uses enzymes to break down animal scents. I have some, but it is a little too far to send it. I got the stuff from a pet store. I am sure there are a number of good products on the market where you are.

I can't think of any other reason for the cat to reject a place she has been using up to now. Her fear seems real so there must be a real reason for it. Is there a chance that some other animal is still visiting her place. If you sprinkle a fine layer of powder(flour would do) you will be able to see any tracks going in an out.
If I think of any other reasons I will let you know.

Thanks Catherine.
I would know if a Badger or fox had been inside the room as I'm used to both scents. Also they would have to be very small/young to get through Sally's cat door. Full grown ones couldn't get in.
However... that doesn't mean one didn't try to, or poke its head through one night! That would have left (for me) little or no scent at all.
I guess even if one pushed its front paw through, that could have scared her -yes.
That is worth considering.

I might have made some progress!
Last night after midnight I was concerned about her and couldn't think of sleeping until I'd had another attempt. It had started to rain slightly. I went round there and she was in the hedge again.
She was hungry, so followed me to her room. At that point, she sat outside and refused to come in once more.
I went in, lit a little lamp, and brought cat treats to the door. Little by little -one treat at a time, we got her through and into the room.
I had tried that before however....

Anyway suddenly I had an inspiration. I moved one of her beds up to a wide shelf about 3ft off the floor. After enticing her with treats for 20 minutes, I then put some in her bed. She had to actually get in her bed to get them. I then purred and kneaded, and every time I saw her attention slip, got it back again by treats.
Soon, she started purring and kneading too. Then she flopped down and curled up after admiring the view from up there.
I stayed there about 10 minutes and she fell asleep looking content! I left a night-light on.

When I went back this morning she was still asleep on her bed!

She ate, then dashed out again. I thought we'd be back to square one. But interestingly after a little while, she came back in much slower and stayed there with me! I got her back in the bed again easily and she fell asleep. She must be exhausted.

Then I left and went home. I will see what happens later.

Hopefully we might have cracked it....but I am not sure yet....

It appears that lifting her bed up to that shelf has made a great difference! Also, leaving the night-light on!
I went again at 10pm and it was the same as last night. I hope we are making headway.

That was a good idea to put her bed up like that. Something about being on the floor scared her. I don't suppose we will ever know what happened. Poor cat, she must be so tired.

It might take a few more times with her to get her to feel safe, but clearly you are making progress. Being able to purr like a cat is a useful skill and being able to knead as well makes you almost an honorary cat.

Good luck with her.

Whoops! Spoke too soon. The cat-dramas continue. (I am so unused to feline dramas.)
Fine this lunchtime. All was well. Then I went there later in the afternoon, and she was sleeping on the rubbish-bin. I sensed something was up again, but didn't know for sure at that stage.
Went round there again 10pm. It had been a warm sunny day, but at 10 it was raining again.
Wet cat geeted me. A wet cat who had obviously not been inside her room for hours and hours.

We went in, although even in the pouring rain she hesitated on the threshold then dashed in as if a devil was on her tail.

She guzzled her food (obviously hadn't eaten since midday)

Settled beautifully in her bed once dried off. That is one good thing. At 11pm, I left her sleeping, listening to the most beautiful low-volume classical music, and left the night light on.
But she obviously was having some dramas today again.

Is it the door she has a problem with? She seems better once you get her inside. Did something happen with the door when she tried to go in once. You know how cats never forget something that upsets them.

Maybe another cat came near her door.

Maybe she is just being weird, which is actually somewhat normal for a cat. Is there anywhere else she can go inside?

As it is you are having to spend more time than usual going back and forth. Could you take her home. Maybe this time she would stay.

She hates it at my house -even more. She is extremely attached to her huge garden and territory.
There is another place -the greenhouse....and I put a bed in there, and left her water there.

However when I go round to visit, she is quite happy to come into the scary area for cat treats! And shows no tension at all! One would think she was born there! She is also very happy to eat, then curl up in her bed in the terribly scary area late at night (when most normal people are abed!...except me...)

Cat dramas...... fortunately I am amused.....

I have a sneaking suspicion one of the Italian Greyhounds who lives in an "Italian Greyhound Pack" on the adjacent land, may have possibly come near her door, or even poked his head through.
I think I know who it is too. His name is Jon, short for Jonquil, and he has a crush on me. He has come through onto Sally's land three or four times looking for me in the past.
Maybe he is the culprit. He is just too big to get through her door, but he could get his head through.

Quote:I have a sneaking suspicion one of the Italian Greyhounds who lives in an "Italian Greyhound Pack" on the adjacent land, may have possibly come near her door, or even poked his head through.
I think I know who it is too. His name is Jon, short for Jonquil, and he has a crush on me. He has come through onto Sally's land three or four times looking for me in the past.
Maybe he is the culprit. He is just too big to get through her door, but he could get his head through.

That would make sense. The dog could get his head in the door, but nothing else. A cat of course would not like this and would not forget it even if it happened only once.

Maybe the cat is scared to be in her room unless you are there. I wonder if she doesn't realize that the dog can't get in. If you are there you will protect her. Without you the dog might somehow get her.

She is a scardy cat. The greenhouse might at least give her a dry option so she is not sitting out in the rain.

Update: she is doing very well.
Thanks to 'Dreamies' cat treats! (Am I allowed to do a commercial 'plug' like that??)
But no kidding. Those treats were very helpful. I watched her like a hawk, and caught the exact split=second she showed any bravery or relaxed about coming through the door. Then I gave her a treat.
Ignoring her -walking away when she behaved with fear, and only giving her attention when she was okay, did NOT WORK.
Only positive reinforcement did.
Ignoring her, turning my back on her when she was afraid did no good at all. She wanted me to stand by her and encourage her.

She is now a lot more relaxed, and will go inside onto her bed. That is what I wanted as Autumn is here and it won't be long until the cold weather.