We've had our newest kitty for a week now and while I realize sometimes they can take a while to be acclimated into a household, he has proved to be more of a challenge then any we've had before. He is still absolutely petrified of his new environment, along with our presence, and while he eventually calms down when you hold and pet him but only after he has something almost akin to an anxiety attack with tremors going through his body.
We bought a Feniway diffuser (those thing aren't cheap ) and although I've read some positive things about them, so far it really doesn't seem to be helping. The wife also ordered some drops to put in his water but since it is homeopathic, which I believe is pseudoscience, I'm not really gambling on a solution there.
So has anyone ever had an experience with Feniway or any other product used to calm animals and can offer any insight? Do this things really work or will it more come down to feline psychology or social engineering (unfortunately hiring Jackson Galaxy would cost even more then the diffuser)? Indeed has anyone even had such an experience with a pet and how did you deal with it and did they ever overcome it?
While I realize that perhaps it might come down to just patience and time, but at this rate I really have to wonder if he will ever get over it and be like all the other cats we had or if the challenge might be too much. Right now we still have him confined to his own room (and he seems to prefer that) mostly because he can't have contact with the other cats yet due to ear mites (another thing the shelter neglected to mention). But I'm worried once he is introduced to the others, it will set back even the minimal progress we've achieved since just adjusting to non-hostile humans seems to be a high enough mountain let alone fellow felines who won't necessarily be as welcoming initially.
We bought a Feniway diffuser (those thing aren't cheap ) and although I've read some positive things about them, so far it really doesn't seem to be helping. The wife also ordered some drops to put in his water but since it is homeopathic, which I believe is pseudoscience, I'm not really gambling on a solution there.
So has anyone ever had an experience with Feniway or any other product used to calm animals and can offer any insight? Do this things really work or will it more come down to feline psychology or social engineering (unfortunately hiring Jackson Galaxy would cost even more then the diffuser)? Indeed has anyone even had such an experience with a pet and how did you deal with it and did they ever overcome it?
While I realize that perhaps it might come down to just patience and time, but at this rate I really have to wonder if he will ever get over it and be like all the other cats we had or if the challenge might be too much. Right now we still have him confined to his own room (and he seems to prefer that) mostly because he can't have contact with the other cats yet due to ear mites (another thing the shelter neglected to mention). But I'm worried once he is introduced to the others, it will set back even the minimal progress we've achieved since just adjusting to non-hostile humans seems to be a high enough mountain let alone fellow felines who won't necessarily be as welcoming initially.