When your cat feels threatened, he may have a variety of responses. Generally he follows a pattern or displays one of three reactions: fight, flight or freeze. Each cat has a preferred way of dealing with a crisis. Knowing how your cat reacts to a perceived threat and what may cause your cat to consider a situation threatening, helps you better understand your cat.

Common fearful reactions include hiding, freezing in place, loss of bladder and/or bowel control and aggression. Aggression can manifest in spitting, hissing, growling, swatting, biting, scratching and puffing up of fur. These are all normal behaviors if your cat feels scared or threatened. Your reaction to your cat's behavior is most important. Wanting to help and comfort your cat when he is frightened is natural; however, it isn't necessarily the best thing to do. Providing your cat with a safe and protected place (a box, space in the closet, under the bed) is often the best decision. Allowing your cat to deal with his fear is healthy as long as his aggression is not destructive and/or directed at you or other pets.

Many things can trigger fearful behavior in cats. The trigger could almost be anything, and until you learn what it is that initiates this behavior in your cat, you need to closely observe him when faced with new situations. Common triggers can be a particular person, a stranger in your home, another animal, a child, loud noises, household appliances and so on. It is important to note if your cat's behavior changes when faced with potentially frightening situations. In other words, the vacuum may draw an initial fearful response, but gradually change into acceptance. By noting your cat's ability to adapt to scary situations over time, you can learn quite a bit about his personality.

So what can you do to reduce your cat's anxiety or fear? To help him become more confident and secure, follow the steps described below.

• Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough physical exam to rule out any medical reasons for your cat's fearful behavior. Cats very often show symptoms of sickness in their behavior. Any sudden behavior change could mean that your cat is ill. Common symptoms that appear in sick cats include unusual aggressiveness, frequent hiding and eliminating outside the litter box.
• If your cat is healthy but hiding, leave him alone. He'll come out when he's ready. To force your cat out of his hiding spot will only encourage fearful behavior. Make sure he has access to food, water and a litter box from his hiding place, and avoid "checking in" on him. By giving him space, you will not be conceived as a threat, therefore giving him a sense of security.
• If you have identified a specific person or circumstance that stimulates fear in your cat, minimize contact with that particular person or situation.
• Keep your cats routine as regular as possible. Cats feel more confident if they know what to expect daily. Feeding, playing, cuddling, grooming and napping generally round out a cat's existence. Interfering with you cat's routine may cause him to behave as though threatened.

Attempting to desensitize your cat to whatever causes a fearful reaction can be time consuming but can ultimately help your cat feel more confident and secure. While you may need help from a professional animal behavior specialist, there are a few steps to try that may, at the very least, help your cat minimize his fear.

• Determine what distance your cat can be from the fear stimulus without responding fearfully.
• Introduce the fear stimulus at this distance while you're feeding your cat treats and praising him.
• Slowly move the object/noise closer as you continue to praise your cat.
• If at any time during this process your cat shows fearful behavior, you've proceeded to quickly and need to start over. This is the most common mistake people make, and it can be avoided by working in short sessions, paying careful attention to your cat and his responsiveness.

Regardless of the degree of your cat's fearful behaviors, punishing your cat for these can increase the level of insecurity and fear. Animals associate punishment with what they are doing at the time they are punished, so your cat is likely to associate any punishment you bestow with you. This only causes your cat to become fearful of you and continue the unwanted behavior. Never force him to experience the object or situation that is causing his fear. For example, if he is afraid of a certain person, do no let that person try to pick him up and hold him. This only fuels his fear of that person. If given the proper time and conditions, cats can sometimes come around on their own.

A note about aggression: if your cat is threatening you, another person, or another animal, it is best to consult your veterinarian and perhaps seek help from an animal behavior specialist. The safety and happiness of your cat, your other pets, and all humans he encounters, should be your first consideration.