Cowardly lion?

[MissGrim]

I have had a *very* skittish rescue cat for over a year now.  I have detailed his situation in the regular cat forum here:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/322761

and don't want to completely repeat myself, but to be brief he was beaten or otherwise abused before I was able to catch him and take him in.  FIV positive, back joints fused together from improper healing, 100% deaf, broken teeth, and terrified of humans.  He is not at all cat aggressive and gets along fine with my other cats (all are indoor-only) so I am not concerned about FIV transmittal.  My concern is that he lives almost all the time under my bed (he has a heating pad there and comes out only briefly to eat or use the litter box or when he thinks I'm not home).  I don't mind that he's shy (he will happily let me pet him if I reach under the bed) but I should really be monitoring his health condition more closely than I am on account of his FIV.

From a veterinary standpoint can you suggest anything I might do to make him feel safer and more secure outside of his below-the-bed hideout?

[MissGrim]

I had pondered the Feliway plug in but was concerned that it might adversely affect my other cats, which are already about as content and calm as you'd want a cat to be, heh.  Of course, they only go in the bedroom to visit Apple (the cat in question) or to sleep with me, so it would probably be all right?  Bach's rescue remedy cream is excellent, so perhaps I will look into their oral homeopathic remedy, but unless I can hide it in a treat I don't think it will work. =P

Thank you for the advice. =D

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

This is a tough one.  You could try Feliway wall plug in.  Feliway destributes a feline hormone into the air and can give cat's a feeling of well-being.  You could also try Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy, oral homeopathic remedy,  but you would have to place this in his mouth three times per day.  There are also other holistic products such as: Shen Calmer available from Jing Tang Herbal by prescription from your veterinarian but this is also oral.  Other products available from your veterinarian include anti-depressants, and tranquilizers.  Behavioral modification is also possible but it may take several years, and may not be effective due to his long ferral history.