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Hey guys! I hope I set this in the right category. . . well I will set up my problem right now.

Maomao, my cat, is TERRIFIED of shoes. He got spanked by my dad with some big pairs of Crocs a few months back because he urinated on our carpet. He’s been frightened by slippers, sneakers, even flip-flops since then. Is this because of him being spanked? I told my dad about that but he doesn’t believe me. Every time I have to wear my favorite slippers around the house, Maomao gets a fright and hides. I’m not sure how I can help him. I’ve searched on the wikiHow site itself, but I haven’t really found a real answer why. Can someone please help me? Thank you so much!

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If you still have this problem, perhaps try not to wear shoes around him whilst he is recovering. Let your dad know that it upset you that he used abusive behavior towards Maomao, and in the time being, just stroke him and make him feel comfortable.

Show him his favorite toy and make him follow it, then place it in a shoe. He will want to get it. If he simply goes for another toy, put all his toys in shoes. When he eventually takes one, stroke him and give him a big fuss and a cat treat. He should start to recover. Keep his toys visibly in shoes until he seems fine with them:slight_smile:

Hope that helps! 

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I have a problem I am supposed to be in recovery and I keep finding myself relapsing every weekend. What do I do?

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@Sola844 You know the result of your actions well. What you need is control over your actions. To do that, you will benefit if you stop doing what you know you must not and doing what you know you must, for your own good. Only kids or babies have someone guiding them to wake up on time, eating on time, going to school etc. But after a certain age, you are expected to be your own decision maker. Your decisions will make you the person or personality you are today. You are a strong girl. Im sure you will bounce back and od what is right for you.:slight_smile:

Its like you are what you choose to be or you can choose what you want to do.

I hope my response was relevant. If not please let me know.

Thanks.:slight_smile:

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Thanks Brianna, even though he doesn’t have toys I can give him his favorite broken guitar string! It’s starting to work, I hope he feels better from that awful treatment! Thanks again!:smiley::D 

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How do you expect the cat to recover? It’s a cat, not a person. It won’t stop being afraid of being brutalized again by people, especially people in shoes or slippers, until it can be convinced it is safe from being harmed. Fear is instinctive in animals - cats are born afraid of far more things than people are. Human babies are only afraid of loud noises and falling until something happens to them that changes that. Cats are scared of anything bigger than they are and anything threatening them. I am saddened that your cat was beaten at all. Please, other cat owners reading this, NEVER hit your cat. If the beating incident was months ago and the car is still scared, it’s going to take you some major training to overcome the issue. Try having one of the shoes your cat is afraid of within sight whilst he’s being fed. Bring the shoe progressively closer over a couple of weeks - NOT whilst the cat is eating but before he starts. Eventually, when he’s eating with the shoe or slipper next to his food dish, he will be accustomed to the thing that scares him and start to associate it with being fed rather than being harmed. I hope Maomao stops being afraid and feels content in his home again soon

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Great advice, HB.

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Thanks HB:slight_smile:

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I don’t think your dad should have spanked Maomao… poor cat. Anyway, there is always a way to clean a carpet full of cat wee. You can tell your dad that you have gotten lots of support from the wikiHow community.:slight_smile:

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bumped