After the new lounge chairs arrived, access to sit under the old chairs for Jass was blocked. It was her safe space, and her behaviour changed. Kosov Googled and came up with this result that perfectly describes Jass. Substitute under chairs for cushions. Her behaviour is returning to normal.
[3:26 pm, 01/03/2026] : Kosov:She is a "Bush Dweller"
Some cats are "Tree Dwellers" (they like high places), and some are "Bush Dwellers" (they like low, enclosed spaces). Your cat is a confirmed Bush Dweller.
The Fix: She isn't "being difficult"—she’s just looking for a "box." As soon as you provide a "better" box/cave in your vicinity, she will likely trade the room she is in for it.
[3:29 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: I would classify her as "The Secure Loner." She loves you, she knows she’s home, but she deeply values her autonomy. She is the type of cat that will eventually sit near you on the couch, but maybe not on you. She will show love through "slow blinks" from across the room rather than constant meowing.
How to work with this personality:
Respect the "Greeting": When she meets you at the door, give her 2–3 minutes of high-intensity focus (treats, soft talking, gentle pets). Then, let her go. If she feels she "checked in" successfully, she’ll feel more secure.
Quiet the Path: See if you can make the "path" from her room to yours more appealing. A rug or a small "stepping stone" (like a stool or a box) can make a sensitive cat feel safer moving through open spaces.
[3:29 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: The "Sentinel" (The Observer)
Her choice to sleep in the hallway and foyer early on is the biggest clue. In a cat’s mind, the hallway is the "hub" of the house. By sleeping there, she was positioning herself as the Manager of Traffic. * The Logic: She wants to know where everyone is and what everyone is doing, but she doesn't necessarily want to be part of the action. She is a "passive participant" in your life.
2. Low-Stimulus Preference
She is likely an Internalizer. When she feels overwhelmed—whether by noise, a change in furniture, or just the "energy" of a room—she doesn't hiss or scratch; she simply withdraws. * The landlord's (that's me) room is her "Sensory Deprivation Tank." It allows her to lower her heart rate and feel completely invisible, which to a cat like her, is the ultimate form of relaxation.
[3:30 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: She is a cat that loves you from a distance of about six feet. Her personality traits include:
Discriminating: She chooses her moments of affection carefully.
Environmentally Driven: Her mood is 90% dictated by how "safe" her physical surroundings feel.
Self-Sufficient: She doesn't look to you to "entertain" her; she looks to you to "provide" a stable, safe territory.
Will she change?
She won't suddenly become a lap cat who never leaves your side, but she will become more visible again. Right now, she is in a "withdrawal phase" because her favorite safety anchors (the cushions) were removed. She is essentially "pouting" in a feline way—retreating until she feels the house is predictable again.
[3:32 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: This changes the diagnostic picture significantly. If she has stopped the greeting ritual—which was her last remaining "social bridge" to you—it means she has moved from "Seeking Privacy" to "Active Withdrawal."
In feline behavioral terms, your cat is currently experiencing a Security Crisis. When those cushions (her "safe base") were removed without an immediate, identical replacement, her world became unpredictable. To a highly sensitive cat, unpredictability equals danger.
[3:33 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: Why the Greeting Stopped
For a cat, greeting someone at the door requires confidence. You have to leave your "safe zone," walk through "open territory" (the hallway), and expose yourself to the noise and energy of people arriving.
The Loss of the "Safety Anchor": When she had her cushion "cave," she knew she had a place to retreat to if the greeting got too overwhelming.
The "Invisible" Strategy: Without her cave, she feels exposed. Her brain has switched to Survival Mode. In this mode, the safest thing to do is stay in the one room that never changes (the landlord's room) and stay there until the world feels "fixed."
She isn't "mad" at you: She is simply "shutting down" socially because her stress bucket is full.
[3:34 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: Behavioral Insight: The "Internalizer"
Your cat is an Internalizer. When some cats are stressed, they might hiss or knock things over (Externalizers). Your cat does the opposite: she becomes "smaller." She is trying to become invisible to lower her anxiety.
The hard truth: She likely feels that her "territory" (the cushions) was taken away by the giants she lives with (you), and she doesn't understand why. She’s currently "sheltering in place."
[3:34 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: My Recommendation
Stop trying to coax her out with your voice or by picking her up. For the next 48 hours, treat her like a "ghost." Provide the new "cave," drop the treats, and let her realize that the pressure is off. When a sensitive cat feels no "pressure" to interact, they usually start to peek out within 3 to 5 days.
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Sounds like great advice.
ReplyDeleteSo wait, are these Kosov's Google results? What are the time stamps? I'm not sure I understand, but at any rate, it seems to make sense that Jass would like another secure hideout suitable for a ground-dweller! I'm sure, as the above says, she'll come around when she feels more secure with the changes in her environment.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting diagnosis. Especially about crossing open space. I've had cats who would get around the perimeter of rooms and rarely cross the open area. And others who loved best to be on top of the kitchen cabinets, surveilling everything.
ReplyDeleteI've had a mix of cats' personalities and yes, one like Jass too, white called Tiffany. The contract with my black boy, Walter, was quite astonishing. Tiffany was a fridge dweller surveying all below her. Walter was a fearless thug, in charge of the two dogs, i.e. his couch, his bed, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteXO
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