If you live with a cat who is very skittish of you to the point of hiding every time you are around how do you get him to like you?

It has been my experience that all cats get over skittishness behavior. It just takes a lot of patience and letting it decide when to make up to you. I took someone else's cat and it took 3 years for it to warm up to me and change its ways from the previous owner. The cat I took was 2 years old at the time I got it. Some cats remember things that happened to them and relate back when you force them to behave the way you would like. If it is important to you, then a dog would be a better pet. Cats are very independent creatures. I once had a cat who was totally wild and terrified of humans when I got her. I started out by going behind the couch and just sitting near her, letting her get used to seeing me, without me touching her, and I would talk softly to her as I did this. Then I progressed to laying my hand on the floor and putting it nearer to her each time she would get used to it enough to relax. Eventually I worked up to touching her once, then more and more over time. It took me two and a half months before she was climbing in my lap and purring like I was her best friend. You may not have as much time to work with your cat as I had, but if you do, this method worked for me. One thing that also may help is offering him food and/or catnip. If he learns to associate you with the food or the pleasure of catnip, he may learn to think of you as a person he wants to be around. Try to avoid making loud noises around him or sudden movements, especially while trying to get him used to you.