This may be a bit long-winded, but I need to let you know where I'm coming from.

About six months ago I was given a cat by a person who was essentially going to throw him out onto the street. As soon as I heard that I told him to give me the cat because I didn't want that happening to an innocent animal. Problem is, I knew NOTHING about cats. Nothing about their care, nothing about their behavior, nothing about nothing.

Everything started pretty much ok, but he had a penchant for clawing my couch and chairs despite me buying him a kitty treehouse and several posts. Now knowing nothing about the way a cat's mind works, my solution was to hop up, give a yell and chase him off the couch or chair. Now that seemed to work just fine until I realized that anytime I made an unexpected turn toward him or simply getting up quickly out of my chair sent him scampering away in fear as if I was about to hurt him (which is TOTALLY not the case).

I am wondering if there is any way to break him of this because of several reasons. First, I don't want him to be scared of me because he has no reason to be. Second, I've already received some comments from family and friends along the lines of "What's wrong with the cat? You beat him or something?" Frankly, the fact that the cat is in fear bothers me far more than what anyone says, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me at all.

Now my boy is a very loving, playful, and active cat and doesn't exhibit any fear of me outside of this one specific behavior ---when I surprise him or get up out of my chair quickly with him near.

In addition, I don't know much about how he was treated in his previous home. All I know is the person that gave him to me did not like him at all and hated having him in the house.

Please help. I have come to care about this rotten little monster (kidding) and hate to see him act in this way; especially since it might have been brought on by something I was doing due to my ignorance.

And not to sound like a jerk, but don't bother posting if you're going to chew me out. I feel bad enough already.

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