A cat with chronic fear requires gentle handling and patience. Professional help is also available.

By Karen Commings

Scaredy cat, ‘fraidy cat — you’ve certainly heard these expressions before. Let’s face it: Some cats have a reputation for timidity and experience fear in situations that may leave other cats undaunted. “Behavior is caused by a combination of genes and learning,” says Kim Barry, PhD, certified animal behaviorist at the Town Lake Animal Center in Austin, Texas. “Some cats have more flexibility in handling their fears due to their genetic makeup.”

Hiding a large part of the time is a common behavior of the timid cat.

Each cat has genetic traits that influence certain of his reactions to his environment. Some adapt well to new situations, but others are influenced in ways that make them more sensitive to noises, for example, or prone to be…

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