How would you handle a grouchy pet?

Sounds like she's doing something to make them that way if all of them have been like this. I knew a family where the cats were just crazy until the boys grew up & left the house. If he's not used to being held or petted I wouldn't force it, but you might want to hang around the house, watch tv or something so he's not alone for long hours.

give him time he is with different people than he is used to and feels strange most cats will ome around after a few days if you just put out food and leave them alone!

I would leave the cat be. Cats, especially, can be very solitary animals and don't often like strangers, and don't often like attention. If a cat is hissing, stay away! They are telling you they don't want to be bothered. Let the animal come to YOU and don't press it. Cats can be very territorial, and if you are watching the animal at your house, he is now completely out of sorts. It is NOT odd that he won't eat - he doens't feel safe or comfortable because his normal surroundings and his owner are gone. Let Put food out, and the animal will eat when it feels like it. Also, cats are naturally nocturnal, he may eat while you are sleeping, so don't be surprised. I have a very sensitive dog that usually won't eat for 2 or 3 days if I leave him with friends. Most people worry, but he just misses me and is upset. I know he'll be fine, but because of it, I know hire a pet sitter to come watch him at my house, instead of taking him someplace strange, and he eats. The cat will be fine, but you have to realize that it might NEVER want you to pet it, and for that, you'll just have to let it be.

Your mother in law must have trained her cat to be that way. As for now all you can do is just let it raom around the house and who knows it may come up to you and slowly try to pet her it might surprise you. I have experinced some cats like that it takes time. Also the cat may sleep with you as for feeding the cat give her some time and when she's hungry she'll eat :) hope this helps.

First a few questions----these cats that you're mother-in-law has had...and you said they're all like this...are they this way with just strangers, or that way with her as well? Second--now please don't take this the wrong way...but there is a saying that pets often take on the personality of their owner..so,---okay we can start with the mother-in-law jokes here....is by any chance your mother in law of a grouchy personality??--Now I say this because when my mom was alive most of my other cats didn't really bother with my mom much...I was their "mom", save one, J.J. who was a real nervous nelly type...that was my mom's cat...and my mom was a bit of a nervous nelly herself--my cats on the other hand, who were pals with me were a bit laid back and I guess reflecting my personality As for trying to pet the cat...mmmm.... I really wouldn't recommend this--let him come to you first--don't purposely go to him or he just might attack you if he's that nasty

Very, very carefully. With a cat like that he/she may turn on you and attack you. I think you need to make sure the cat has food and water and a cat box. The cat will come to you when it is ready for love. The cat needs to get to know you and trust you. I have had cats most of my life and they need to learn to that they can trust you. Give it time.

try to make it comfortable with the surroundings.give it food and water and a bed perhaps but dont force it.i think eventually it will get back to thses things.still if it misbehaves,pour water on the cat.:)

Sounds as if your mother-in-law has let him go back to his wild days. Usually how I handle this is picking spot that will be just for him, no one can "invade" that space during the duration of his stay. Place his food, water and litter box in this area (keeping his litter box some distance away from his food and water of course). If there is a special treat he likes, try getting some of those and putting three or four in the palm of your hand and don't let him have them til he comes to you (unless of course it is a can of undrained tuna), after or while he is eating the treat(s) slowly move your other hand over to him and gently pet him. So he can know that you aren't there to harm him in any manner. Continue to do this each time you are wanting to pet him, eventually you will be able to factor out the treats as time progresses. I wish you good luck.

My mom had a cat like this years ago - most likely if you just leave him alone and let him get used to the surroundings he'll eat and drink when he gets hungry and thirsty, other than that I would just give him is space as long as he doesn't attach anyone.

I would give it space. As long as it is eating and drinking a little it should survive three weeks. I am sure it is just pining for your mother in law. Cats cn be funny like that. I wonder, when she comes back, will he give her the cold shoulder or be delighted?

Just hang around the house and spend some time there. Sounds like the cat is scared of you but doesn't want to be alone and is lonely. I had similar issues with my cat being depressed when I was gone 12 or more hours a day working. It does sound like she is doing something to encourage that type of behavior in the cat and so it may take more time for it to learn something else with you. Seriously just hang around the house some extra each day to give it the time and contact it needs and let the cat come to you. We've got 4 cats that were recently feral and are still learning to trust us in the house right now and thats what we're having to do with each of them.

LOL, i have the same cat like you just described. He hisses all the time i am trying to touch him. He is also grouchy cat that makes noises all the time, noises that are expressing the anger. It's really hard to take care of my cat. I have similar situation to yours.

Since all her cats have been cranky, maybe they all have the same health problem. Could be that she feeds them the wrong kind of food, so they have irritable stomachs...cats are very sensitive to food, and get lots of ailments if you don't feed them the most nutritious foods. Your aunt may not know this. Mine used to scream his head off when he was a kitten everytime I would give him the canned cat food. But, then I switched to Purina cat chow (dry) and he stopped the yowling and started sleeping through the night. Another thing. If the cat is warning you not to touch him, then don't. Cats are reclusive people. They like to get to know you on their own terms. Give the cat some room. Let him walk around your house and get to know things and people. Everytime you pass, talk to him gently and reassuringly. When he's ready, he'll come to you. That's the way cats are.

My girlfriend's cat is very much how you described this one. The way I handle her is that I just give her space, if she wants me to pet her (which is very very rare) she will walk up, but otherwise I keep my distance from her. As far as the eating and drinking goes, cats, as a domesticated animal, are pretty intelligent and will not willingly starve themselves. He will eat when he is hungry.

I feel sorry for you. I know what you feel. When I see a cat want to pet him/her. I just can't stop it. I think he misses your mother in law. Pet's get attached to the person they live with. About the hissing and petting. Sometimes it helps when you just ignore the cat. When you go to him you give him a reason to hiss. Most cat's are very curious and will come to you by their selfs. When they are not nothing will help. The best advise will be, I know you won't like this, let him. Hopefully he will come to you himself.

Cats are strange animals.He is probably just use to her and he might be old.hes mad really because she left him.cats hate change they are not like dogs.I would just let him hiss and just keep food and water out and when he gets over his mad spell he will eat.I have a cat and he is real sweet ans cuddley but some cats are just old grouches..Maybe if you talk to him and try to get him to let you pet him he will finallylet you.Right now he's mad,cats love to rule and when she left him he got mad,he did notget his way...I would just talk to him and let him hiss,but be careful they will bite and scrath..

i would just put out everything he needs and leave him be.i've had cats that were so dependant on a single person,if a new person they didn't see often entered the scenario,they became frightened and defensive. maybe sit and read a book or the paper in the house,not going near him so he can get used to you,and if he wants to get closer,he will.

I have found that cats tend to be very independent - they really like to do their own thing. They usually love their owners, but many prefer not to show it apart from the odd occasion when they jump on your knee, but then they want to jump down again if you try to hold them there. Good idea not to touch a cat if he's hissing like that, because he can give you a nasty swipe with his claws. Let him decide when he wants to come to you. He'll soon get the idea of who gives him his food :-)

I know that cat's have a personality.They respond to their owners personality.

It's a cat! Cats aren't pets they are 'Superior' Creatures. The truth is there is an underground cat society that thinks they are better than humans. Quick throw it in the fire before it does the same to you!