How to Calm a Nervous Kitty
When we adopted Agnes, it was just my husband and I in our apartment, but we did have people over frequently. It took years for her to gain the confidence to come out of hiding when guests were over. She is much braver when it's just the family at home and things are quiet, but now when folks come over she will march around and even try to get pettings from them after we've settled in to watch a movie.
Your cat is much more likely to make an appearance if she feels safe in the room, so if you want to encourage her to socialize a little, entertain in a room that is not sparsely furnished. She needs baskets and furniture to hide behind, so she feels safer exploring. You can use treats in this situation, as well. If your cat comes to the doorway to check things out, toss her a high reward treat like a small piece of chicken.
If you have certain guests who come over frequently, you may want to introduce your kitty to them in a one-on-one setting. Take her into a small bathroom, just as when you were teaching her to love you, and bring the guest. Don't push the cat too hard, but reward any relaxed behavior with high-value treats. It might take more than one introduction before your kitty acclimates, and you want to make sure that the friend is totally on board with your training plan.
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