Rescue cats won't come downstairs

catkins

Hi,

Me and OH took on two 12 year old cats as due to personal problems their owners could no longer keep them. We have had them almost 7 weeks now and they still won't come downstairs.

When we got them we put them in our spare bedroom because we already have two cats and a cat flap and we wanted to give them time to settle before they met our existing two and also we did not want them to use the cat flap.

We tried to spend as much time in their room as we could and get them used to us. They are lovely cats and will let us pick them up and stroke them but they don't purr.

After 3 weeks we started leaving the bedroom door open and the two original cats (both male) have been in there quite a few times and apart from a few hisses seem to be ok. In fact one of them often sleeps in the room with them. Strangely it is our Oriental who usually hates all other cats!

One of the new girls has ventured onto the landing a few times and once halfway down the stairs but not any further and the other has not come out of the room at all.

If we try to carry them downstairs they start struggle in our arms and are just not happy.

Is there any way we can entice them down or do you think they will just come down in their own time?

To be honest it's a bit of a pain to keep sitting up in the bedroom - there's no bed so we have to sit on the floor! Also I am hoping that they go out eventually as I don't really want them to have to have litter trays indefinitely and now the Oriental is using the trays too!

I do realise that at 12 years old it has come as a big shock to them to have a new home and maybe am just expecting too much of them?

KxMx

At 12 years old they have alot of experience and as such aren't going to be like curious kittens exploring everywhere. There are also other cats in the household- although it does sound as though everyone gets along perhaps the new cats feel that the room is "their" terratory and the rest of the house isn't.

Perhaps you could move the food and litter boxes gradually out into the hall, which perhaps would give them more regular view of the rest of the house, hopefully leading to confidence?

Also if the oriental is using one of their litter trays this is more fodder for the new cats being squeezed into the room. When you have multiple cats you do need multiple resources ie litter trays so no-one feels crowded. The usual recommended number is one for each cat +1.

Have you thought of cooking a big joint of meat to see if the smells will tempt them down for a visit?

And are you certain they aren't exploring at night when you are in bed?

McKneff

Good idea to move the food further away from the bedroom.

We had one and she suddenly popped her head round the living room door, 3 months after we first got her. She was about 9 at the time.

Just time and patience, that's all you can do.

And bless you for taking them in.....

KxMx

Oh this might seem silly but did the cats come from a bungalow or flat? In which case they might not have figured out what to do yet with stairs!

moggymutt

Like people, some cats are less adaptable than others. All you can do is continue to give them time, and lots of little incentives to come out, such as especially tempting food etc.

I've never tried it myself, but some people use Feliway to help cats get less stressed, or cat nip etc.

Most cats hate being carried down stairs, so just getting them onto the bedroom landing will be a step forward.

Thank you for giving them a home.

Fire_Fox

Use a Feliway diffuser, do proper introductions with the existing cats, slowly move their food away from their safe zone, get an toy that moves like real prey, such as knock off Da Bird or the Da Sparkler attachment, and play with that on the edge of their safe zone.

catkins

KxMx wrote: »

At 12 years old they have alot of experience and as such aren't going to be like curious kittens exploring everywhere. There are also other cats in the household- although it does sound as though everyone gets along perhaps the new cats feel that the room is "their" terratory and the rest of the house isn't.

Perhaps you could move the food and litter boxes gradually out into the hall, which perhaps would give them more regular view of the rest of the house, hopefully leading to confidence?

Also if the oriental is using one of their litter trays this is more fodder for the new cats being squeezed into the room. When you have multiple cats you do need multiple resources ie litter trays so no-one feels crowded. The usual recommended number is one for each cat +1.

Have you thought of cooking a big joint of meat to see if the smells will tempt them down for a visit?

And are you certain they aren't exploring at night when you are in bed?

I will try putting their food bowls on the landing to see if that helps. I see what you are saying about the oriental using their trays. I will put one or more on the landing although the landing is not that big so it's a bit awkward. I would rather the oriental didn't use a tray and went out but he is basically lazy and will use a tray if there is one.

Not sure about cooking a joint as me and OH are vegetarian!! Suppose we could cook one for the cats to share!

I am pretty sure they are not exploring at night. I am a light sleeper and I have put collars on both the new cats which have bells on so I would probably hear them.

KxMx wrote: »

Oh this might seem silly but did the cats come from a bungalow or flat? In which case they might not have figured out what to do yet with stairs!

They came from a house. I know they both used to go out although their owners said they did not go out much.

KiKi

Time, time, time! They may not be interested, but give them time. Don't make them, they need to adjust to territory, and at such an age it really may take far longer.

Agree about the litter trays - cats do not like sharing with new cats (or even familiar cats!), and this may cause them to have an even stronger territorial pull to your bedroom. Move the litter / food out slowly, not just straight to the landing...by the doorway, then in the doorway, then just outside, over a period of a couple of weeks. Also, I'd probably put the food outside the room, whilst the litter tray stays in - don't keep them next to each other.

I think you are expecting too much - it's a ripe old age, and they may be really struggling with the lack of familiarity. Leave them be, as well, they may explore more if you aren't with them too often. It's a tough balance, though!

Well done for taking them in; I'm a huge cat lover, and if my two little girls weren't so hostile, I'd take in rescues as well. Sadly I think my two would never, ever miaow at me again if that happened...!

KiKi

catkins

Thanks for all the replies. I will try gradually moving the food bowls out of the room.

I feel sorry for them - what with the upheaval. Their owners were not around much over the last few months and a neighbour was going in and feeding them. Apparently the neighbour was taking her young child in and the cats weren't happy with that (think the child may have been pulling at the cats' fur). Then they come to us with our two existing cats.

I hate them being upstairs so much on their own. As I said, me and OH do try to spend time with them but they do spend the majority of the time on their own.

However long it takes is ok. We would never get rid of them. In all honesty if we were going to get any more cats it would have been one and a younger one at that but the owners could not find any rescue to take them (all the rescues they contacted said they would take such old cats and they contacted loads of rescues). Both me and OH could not bear to think they may have to be pts so decided we would give them a home. We didn't know the owners - I saw a post about them on Facebook as the owners were so desperate to find them a home.

There is a slight chance the owners may be able to take them back at some stage but it is a very slight chance

missindecisive

aren't you fab taking them in...wish there was more people around as kind as you x

valk_scot

Just a thought but could you pop them into their cat baskets, carry them downstairs and let them out in the lounge that way? Or is that a bit too much like catnapping....