I recently adopted a spayed, female cat from a local rescue and she is quite skittish and shy. Like every other indoor cat, she likes to sit by the window for hours and hours. The weird thing is, whenever she sees a cat passing by any of our windows, she lets out long, drawn out yowls(never hissing or spitting or anything) then she follows them from window to window. Once I decided to open the sliding glass door (we have screen doors) just to see what would happen and they basically just kept staring at each other. Then I came to see if anything was going on and the other cat started to run away. At that time, my cat let out some more yowls as if she were calling it back. I have asked many message boards and a few people at Allexperts.com but everyone seems to have a different opinion. Either they think she is lonely or dislikes the other cats. Can you guys tell me whether she is lonely or just protecting her territory? (P.S. when we adopted her, she was in a large room with a bunch of other cats, hiding. So it seems like she doesn't like other cats, right? But I also heard that shy cats like kitty-company and my cat happens to be very shy...) It would be REALLY great if you guys could help because I really want my cat to live a good life! Thanks alot

-- Emily Chiu (lafannikita@aol.com), November 03, 2002

Answers

Gee, Emily, if the experts can't give you a definitive answer, I doubt we can either. In my experience, when my cats howl at another cat, they're doing the equivalent of yelling, "Get off my property, you trespasser!!" You'll have to decide if that's what your cat is doing.

-- Tricia the Canuck (*jayles@telusplanet.net*), November 05, 2002.

Cats are generally slow to make up with other cats. If she gets plenty of attention and has some toys to entertain herself, she will probably be very satisfied. If she is young, she might appreciate having a playmate. That way she won't attack your feet at night. It really is hard to tell how cats will respond to another cat in the house.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), November 05, 2002.

Nice to see you peeking in, Gene. Did you see my note to you on the old "Where's Gayla" thread?

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), November 06, 2002.

Long, long time lurker here. How about an update??

-- (Meemur@Tree.Street), December 08, 2002.

Welcome Meemur, glad you've enjoyed our site!

If you wanted an update on the cat, you may well be out of luck. As far as I know, this is the only thread that Emily ever wrote to us on.

If you want an update on how folks here are doing... well, I think I'll just go start a thread to invite comment on just that. You never know who all will pipe up ;-)

-- tricia the canuck (jayles@!telupslnaet.net), December 08, 2002.

I recently adopted a cat who does the same thing. She walks around yowling alot, like she is lonely. I have to other cats who have been less than trilled since she arrived. At first the new little cat intimidated them and acted like it was her place, know the tables have turned and they are chasing her. She is fine with me and my husband but she is terrified when other people come over. I don't think it is lonelyness, I think she is just confused and has'nt figured out the pecking order. If you have any insight into her fear of other people let me know.

-- Kim Ormiston (kormiston@1000islands.net), January 26, 2003.