Cat gone into hiding

dollparts

We recently bought our new pet home, she's a two year old cat. We fully expected her to go and find somewhere to hide out until she she's ready to come out but I'm now getting a little concerned.

She's camped out in a bedroom which we prepared for her and is using the litter tray. The door is ajar should she want to wander but what's worrying me is she has eaten next to nothing since she arrived last Thursday.

She has been downstairs but only when we are not at home-as soon as I came in she raced pass me and went back to the bedroom.

The previous owner did say she was very shy and I will give her all the time she needs-I'm just worried she may become ill as she's not eating and doesn't seem to be drinking her water either.

Would be keen to hear others' experiences bringing an older cat into their home and how long they took to start eating normal amounts.

She's the only pet we have since losing our puppy to complications after surgery 4 months ago.

scaredy_cat

you could sit in her room on the floor, with some tuna in a bowl. It may take some time but i'll bet she gets tempted by the smell and will eat it. Gradually bring it to you and then you can make attempts to touch her until she gains confidence.

if you google 'shy nervous cat' there are a few sites which come up with good info.

h007

scaredy_cat wrote: »

you could sit in her room on the floor, with some tuna in a bowl. It may take some time but i'll bet she gets tempted by the smell and will eat it. Gradually bring it to you and then you can make attempts to touch her until she gains confidence.

if you google 'shy nervous cat' there are a few sites which come up with good info.

Yes - sit on the floor of the room and talk softly to the cat while not looking at her (reading a book outloud will do / having food or treats will also help)
she should eventually get curious and come over to you - let her investigate you in her own time.
i know it will be hard to resist the temptation but dont try to stroke her until she looks less nervous or she will run away again.

also try leaving something with your scent on in her room. a top you have been wearing or a pillow. this should help her too

and finally get some feliway. you can get a plug in or spray and it gives out cat pheramones and will help her relax. or you can put bachs rescue remedy in her water.

madmittens

Having tamed feral cats, I've found a (very long) shoelace to be invaluable!

Depends how shy your cat it, but I've found that few cats can ignore prey (end of shoelace) bouncing around in front of their nose , but sometime they need to learn that being fussed by a human is nice too; once they're interested, gradually make the shoelace shorter until you can touch the cat (for a millisecond to start with ) when distracted by the play, and gradually increase the time you're touching them for... I can't describe the emotion when my 'now-ex-feral' then year-or-so-old cat first jumped onto my lap (briefly)

Best of luck with your pud...

Liquorice_Twirls

My Mum's rehomed cat took a full 2 weeks to come out of the cellar where she had taken refuge. She was eating though and using the litter tray, but was extremely stressed and Mum was thinking that it wasn't going to work when it suddenly did. In the end leaving the cat to come around in her own way seemed to work.

Now the cat is supremely happy and contented and was worth those days of worry.

Good luck x

butler_helen

My semi-feral (marauding Tom?) spent more than a week under our bed crying and only ate occasionally, the vet said cats can survive for weeks without food, so yours should be ok. The thing I found most odd was that he never seemed to sleep- he seemed to be constantly on guard! (that really isn't a problem for the terror now though).

We tempted him with loads of treats but eventually, just ignoring him worked the best. He seemed to know that he could come and go as he pleased and soon discovered that we won't hurt him. It's been a year now and I doubt he's been back under the bed since that first week- after all, the quickest route to the window (giant cat flap) is over the bed!

dollparts

Thanks everyone

I have noticed she has eaten more than usual today-about time too she must've have been starving! I have just taken some tuna and some fresh dried food up there so hopefully she will tuck in now.

I noticed as I looked around the room that she has been 'active' today as her bed looked disturbed and some things have toppled over (nothing harmful, just some folded laundry) In fact I can hear 4 paws on the ceiling as I type this!

Yet whenever I go in there, she is rooted to the same spot as though she hasn't moved in a week!

I do hope she will be ok

McKneff

She'll come round in her own time, bless her.

My daughter came to live with us for a while with her cat who was terriied of anyone else. Daughter slept on one of those guest beds which has anothe one under neath, the cat virtually lived in the space between the two beds (while they were tucked into one single bed.
We didnt see her for a fortnight (the cat, that is) lol, but gradually she came to get used to us and realise that we werent going to hurt her. She still runs a mile when the front doorbell rings, but its strange she is not so bad when someone comes to the back door, She is still feral, (sometimes when the mood takes her she actually looks lynx like) to a point and she hates being stroked after about 10 strokes gives you a swipe, but when food is involved you can stroke her till the cows come home. I'm sure she would eat 24/7 if we let her.
Just give her time to build up her trust in you.

dollparts

Well, we had something of a breakthrough!

She couldn't resist the tuna I put out for her last night and cleared the bowl. She has also eaten some dried food so at least the hunger strike has been broken.

I was sitting at the kitchen table last night and she ventured downstairs!!

She didn't see me at first-it was the first time I actually got to see her not curled up in a ball-she's soooooo beautiful! When she turned and saw me she stood still for a few seconds and then bolted straight up the stairs again

I feel happy that she has at least had a decent meal and I'm sure like you all have said, she will come around. When she does we have lots of cuddles to catch up on

scaredy_cat

have you put an old jumper or cardigan in her room to sleep on? that way she'll also get used to your smell.

Proc

Cat gone into hiding

Have you checked in the wheelie bin?