Yes - this is totally normal. You'll have a couple of weeks when you may even think the cat ran away because you won't be able to find her. Happens every time unless they are literally a tiny kitten (even happens then). After a few weeks she'll be hanging around more, and then after a couple of months, you'll be besties!I adopted a cat yesterday (3-5 years old). I’m getting a little worried because she hasn’t come out from under the bed since yesterday. I put her food, water, and litter box in my room and slept on the couch so she feels safe, but when I went to check on her this morning, I saw that she hasn’t touched her food or used the litter box, and she is still under the bed.
I tried leaving treats around so she has something to nibble on, but she is too terrified to eat. Should I be concerned? Will she eat and drink on her own?
EDIT: update on post #43
You are amazing! Thank you for doing what you do. All of my cats, past and present, were rescues. It does take its toll on me mentally to think of all the animal neglect etc that causes these situations but to know we saved them (or I should say, they've saved us) is the greatest blessing.Aww, thank you for adopting this precious kitty, OP! She is so pretty!
I have 3 girls in the house, and 5 additional kitties in my garage which I am fostering (four of which are my newest kitty's babies, which she managed to hide from me for like three months). And while I was trying to trap the remaining sibling to be fixed, this random white and orange girl (who I've never laid eyes on) wanders into the thing! She's actually about the size of one of the ~6 month old male kittens (so probably very young), wasn't fixed, and pretty bony.
So now I have a gaggle of crazy cats, learning to trust and play and what it's like to be petted. And with a total of 8 rescues, my misanthropy has reached a whole new level and I was starting to get bitter and angry. Can no one in this stupid area I live in actually manage to do the bare minimum in caring for their pets?! So I am just beyond happy to see someone do the right thing for a change, and to hear so many stories from other fonts who have done the same! Seriously, this thread has helped drag me out of a rough mindset, and I thank you all!
As everyone has so helpfully pointed out: yes, it's normal for cats to hide like this. Just moving to our new house had our senior cat going wild for a few days. She couldn't get comfy and was just leaping from window to window or hiding under the bed. Plus, it was really hard for her because she now cannot go outside. The road in front of our new house is too busy, and there are way too many other animals around which could either hurt her or distract her into running off. But she adjusted pretty quick, even when a mere two months later she got her first ever sister (a pitifully thin, precious, silver mackerel tabby, who is now 5 years old and still weighs only about 6 pounds, and yet is wild and fearless as can be). It really does help to talk to them, get down on their level (this seems to help with so many skittish animals), and just be patient. Before long your kitty will be exploring and playing and being her little, goofy, carefree self.
Again, I just have to thank you all for adopting and fostering these sweet things! People like you all literally make the world a better place. And I honestly believe that you're fulfilling one of our true purposes as human beings: to be a caretaker, of this huge gift of a habitable planet, and all the things that live on it. I mean, there's a reason Jesus is so often depicted holding lambs, and it isn't just symbolic! In fact, this whole thread and all the stories in it are the perfect response to the old "what would Jesus do?" question! I also truly believe with all my heart that we will see the pets we've lost again one day, if we are lucky enough to make it into the Heaven they surely live in. And I'm just going to say it: a bunch of you are already well on your way and have a spot reserved especially for you, judging by the replies here!
Awesome. Mine have happily destroyed 3 so far. LOL.funny you say that, I just finished building her tree
you got a cat because the men be running from you now the cat running from you too
You should still try and get a few slow eye contacts if you can every now and then. Just slow and gentle but not staring. Don't accidentally yawn while doing it.yup, she has her rabies shot and another one I can’t remember the name. It’s long. I have her medical documents - she saw the vet recently, she’s healthy.
Lots of progress made today! I moved her bed to the living room last night and I woke up to her behind some boxes this morning. She ate as well and drank water. She spent the day laying in her tent, sizing me up while I worked from home. She then gave in and felt safe enough to actually sleep for a few hours lol.
About an hour after she woke up, she slowly crept out of the tent... I didn’t even look at her. Even eye contact makes her jump. She learned where her litter box is (I heard her plop in there and dig), and that she can use the ottoman to climb on the sill and look out the window.
she’s currently walking around the living room
You should still try and get a few slow eye contacts if you can every now and then. Just slow and gentle but not staring. Don't accidentally yawn while doing it.
A slow blink is a bonding signal.
When they are a little older they do that bc they are scared and trying to get comfortable. They will come out when they sense they are alone and will eat on their own just keep changing the liter. My Calico did that for 30 days then all of a sudden I was kneeling down one day and the cat came to me.I adopted a cat yesterday (3-5 years old). I’m getting a little worried because she hasn’t come out from under the bed since yesterday. I put her food, water, and litter box in my room and slept on the couch so she feels safe, but when I went to check on her this morning, I saw that she hasn’t touched her food or used the litter box, and she is still under the bed.
I tried leaving treats around so she has something to nibble on, but she is too terrified to eat. Should I be concerned? Will she eat and drink on her own?
EDIT: update on post #43
She may not use that bed and may prefer to stay under the bed. After four years mine still does that. Don’t take it personally.Well this is my first pet and my concern is more about whether she will eat on her own, not really about her hiding.
yes she has her own bed that turns into a cave. She doesn’t know yet because she hasn’t left under the bed. I’ve made some progress... talked to her for a good while this morning and she ate a piece of food that I rolled under for her.
That kitten cussed you tf out
No vacuuming for a while now with a scared new kitty in the house!Lol! I try to get the vacuum up under there.
Yes! They play this on the TVs at our vet’s office to distract stressed cats and my cats love this ishtTotally normal for a cat! A lot of them are sensitive to changes in their environment (life at shelters can be stressful, or even foster homes) and chances are she was moved between a couple of facilities or locations before you adopted her. Some cats need more time to adjust than others do.
Like others have said, sit in there with her and let her know you're there but don't encroach on her space. Let her come to you. Hang out in there with your phone/tablet/laptop etc. and let her get used to your smell and the sound of your voice. Maybe put on some wildlife videos for her on YouTube on one of your devices and place it where she can see (they have 8 hour ones), cats love to watch those and it'll give her something to focus on other than where she is. You can also leave things that smell like you in there when you aren't in there. There's a product called Feliway that helps calm cats down (recommended by my vet and can attest that it works). They have a spray and a plug in diffuser that you can purchase from PetSmart, Petco and Amazon. Try playing with her with things like shoelaces, feathers attached to wands/sticks, etc. Basically anything that allows you to keep some distance from her but still interact, it'll help her build trust and confidence. Treats also don't hurt either! Good luck and keep us posted
I love this for youI have - been binge watching Jackson Galaxy since Saturday and learned how to do it. She definitely slow blinks back at me, which warms my heart.
I have - been binge watching Jackson Galaxy since Saturday and learned how to do it. She definitely slow blinks back at me, which warms my heart.
Is this a tiger kitten lol? How is it so big?I have a 11 month kitten who is 20lbs and a little over 3 feet long. He hid under the bed for the first 2 days I got him, but now he likes to follow me around and sleep on the bed.
Close! He is a "Maine **** Cat". The males can get up 25 lbs. Here is an pic of one that's a smoke.Is this a tiger kitten lol? How is it so big?
A year ago, my mother adopted a one year old cat from a rescue. They told my mother she was found outside, someone took her in but their dog nipped at her and then was brought to the rescue. Needless to say, she was traumatized when my mother brought her home. She would run anyone we would stand up and walk to another room. She hid all the time and would run away from my mother. I told her to be patient, that it would take her time to feel safe and comfortable. It took about 7 months, but now she cuddles with my mother, will sit and purr, and play with her toys. She also comes to sit with me and let me pick her up and purr when I see her. She is the sweetest cat. My biggest piece of advice is to be patient with your baby. Keep doing what your doing. It will take time, but she will eventually learn she can trust you. It will be worth it....cats really are special!Hi everyone,
Thought I’d give an update as I have had my cat for almost a month, now. Over the last few weeks, she naps intermittently all day in her bed until about 9PM when she decides to come out and eat. She is still quite jumpy, and her pupils are almost always dilated. If I decide to get up while she is eating, or even if I cough, she will run back to her bed.
I finally got around to removing the boxes that she has been hiding behind, as well as making sure she can’t get under the couch. I think she may have PTSD. I am giving her space but also spending my day in the same room as her (even though she’s napping) so she gets used to my presence.
She has been more reactive to laser and wire toys. She really likes wire toys as she raises her paws to touch them, and her eyes dart back and forth when I move them around. Just by reading her body language, she does not trust me and I know I will have to work very hard to gain her trust.
A year ago, my mother adopted a one year old cat from a rescue. They told my mother she was found outside, someone took her in but their dog nipped at her and then was brought to the rescue. Needless to say, she was traumatized when my mother brought her home. She would run anyone we would stand up and walk to another room. She hid all the time and would run away from my mother. I told her to be patient, that it would take her time to feel safe and comfortable. It took about 7 months, but now she cuddles with my mother, will sit and purr, and play with her toys. She also comes to sit with me and let me pick her up and purr when I see her. She is the sweetest cat. My biggest piece of advice is to be patient with your baby. Keep doing what your doing. It will take time, but she will eventually learn she can trust you. It will be worth it....cats really are special!
If she’s not destroying your furniture, you can wait a bit. If y’all have cuddle sessions, try to just handle her paws a bit and push her paw pads some (if she will let you) so that she gets used to you handling her paws outside of clipping them. It’ll make it easier if you’re going to do it yourself.Bumping my thread - I have a question regarding nail trimming. My cat hasn’t fully adjusted, so I’m not able to clip her nails as of yet. The last time she got her nails clipped was a month and a half ago - they’re starting to get caught in things now. Can it wait until she gets more comfortable with me, or do I need to bring her to the groomers? I would have to force her into her carrier, and I’m afraid I’ll lose her trust. She does have scratching posts.
Thank you! She’s been allowing me to pet her since last week, but she will not let me hold her yet. And I have been gently petting/pushing her paws - sometimes she allows me (especially when she’s distracted by salmon wet food), other times she jolts her head at my hand as if she wants to bite me, but she doesn’t.If she’s not destroying your furniture, you can wait a bit. If y’all have cuddle sessions, try to just handle her paws a bit and push her paw pads some (if she will let you) so that she gets used to you handling her paws outside of clipping them. It’ll make it easier if you’re going to do it yourself.