Jumpy Cat

Ruth and Ann, you both have wonderful insight about this jumpy little fella. I would add that your husband whisper sweet nothings to him and give him little kisses where-ever he will allow. Consider the little fellas feelings and give him protective loves. Your little jumper will want to be called “Tender” after a few weeks of love he can understand.
Please, may I also say, that you consider carefully when deciding on a name for your furry friends. My sense is you were looking for a loving sensitive kitty. Please, give them names that match this desire … as they do understand your “emotional meaning” given to words.

Here’s what my remedy is (and it always worked before).
It is known that in the Russian Circus the trainers of big cats, like lions and tigers, have to sleep next to the cage of their animals to form a bond and develop trust.
When our furry cat Lyova first arrived (please read my story “Lyova the little lioness”) from a former evidently abusive household, she wouldn’t let anyone touch her, attempted to bite (the poor thing was declawed) and hated all men specifically.
After a few days of laying next to her for about 30 min at a time -and it didn’t matter where: on the couch, the carpet, her blanket or even the floor (yea, you can laugh, many folks did), where ever she decided to snooze a little, Lyova accepted me as a part of her “pride” and stopped being defensive and nervous.
Please let me know if this works.
Good luck to you and your jumpy hairball!

Corina tell your husband not to be hurt by Taz’s nervousness, just to ignore him at those times, especially not to look directly at him.
With insecure, nervous or jumpy cats, looking at them feels to them that you are challenging them.
It’s possible that before he came to you someone abused him in some way, because cats never forget that.
Michael is right, always keep calm around Taz.
If your husband will get down on the floor and look at the world from a cat’s view it might help him understand. I know how hurtful it is because we had a cat who cringed from my late brother in law every time he came and he was the gentlest man on earth, who wouldn’t harm a fly. We could only think a man hurt him before he came to us.
Playing on the floor with Taz and giving him little treats might help him calm down.
But most of all I think you just have to accept him as he is, with his own personality, just as we humans have to accept each other as being different.