Calming our scaredy cat

We rescued an adult cat a year ago that may have been badly treated as he only trusts us.

- DR DAVID GRANT

You wrote recently about how to introduce a new cat to the household. Our problem is different - how to introduce visitors. If anyone comes to visit, the cat runs upstairs, hides and won't come down for hours. We are not sure what to do.

This is a common problem and it is important to solve it. Although some people might think the cat has provided a solution for itself when visitors arrive, the reality is a very anxious cat hiding, and no doubt hearing, the source of its anxiety. In the long term this can’t be good for your cat.

Part of solving the problem is an understanding of possible causes. Past bad treatment could be a possibility, as you suggest, and unfortunately in my career I have seen many such cats. Some were very aggressive when approached by people, especially men.