How long for my cats to get used to a new home

blueybug

Been in the new home for a week, both of my pair are still hiding under their bed

Both are now eating and using the litter tray ok and crack me up by coming out at 1am -4am every morning to look around the house but not during day time.

They are very stressed cats to start with (brother & sister 18months)

Any time scale on when they will be back to normal?
Albus is the better one, he is much more friendly but Ethel is still real nervous.

I leave the radio on during the day/night in the bedroom and so far its working on de stressing the noise

rising_from_the_ashes

When I got Smudge he hid under my bed for over 3 weeks and I never saw him once during that whole time!

I knew he was OK as food/water was being eaten & the litter tray being used .... but still!

They will come around in their own time - sorry, that's probably not helpful but each cat will be different depending on their previous history.

Leaving the radio on is great as it will get them used to noises (and part hide any big noises where you are) and it's just really a case of letting them come to you.

When Smudge eventually came out, he would sit in the lounge doorway and watch me but if I even looked at him - he scurried off again! It got to the point where he would sneak onto the sofa (but I still couldn't look at him) and I'd put my hand down on it and he'd have a sniff .... then rubbed his face against it etc.

It was worth it in the end tho'!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It took two of mine over a week to come downstairs when I moved home, and they had the advantage of knowing us all already.

Don't panic yet. But I would possibly consider introducing an element of bribery, say a toy spiked with catnip left by the bedroom door during daylight.

blueybug

They are getting better today.
Ethel let me sing to her last night while she was under the bed and she came over purring to me. And Albus was a lot better by sleeping in my bedroom last night, I placed there radiator beds on the floor next to the window so they can lay and look out and this morning both were lookin out at the dicky birds.

Fingers crossed both will be fine very soon

GlynD

When they do come round and you decide to let them out for the first time, make sure you stay with them and keep taslking to them so they have your voice as a point of reference to return to.

blueybug

GlynD wrote: »

When they do come round and you decide to let them out for the first time, make sure you stay with them and keep taslking to them so they have your voice as a point of reference to return to.

Indoor cats only

GlynD

blueybug wrote: »

Indoor cats only

Ahh - the simple life. Only the mad half hour to distract you

bathgatebuyer

Would a Feliway help? Certainly it seemed to have help my cat settle. They're not cheap, but you can buy from ebay cheaper than most of the pet shops so it might be worth a try?

MollyCat_2

And i thought Molly was bad she and Maggie huddled up together for the moving in day in 1 cat carrier and didn't budge for about 5 hours.
Then she sleep under the duvet that night, next day fine.

They both keep running to any open door but it's only been a week since we moved.
Might let them have a few minutes supervised at the weekend, taking it in turns

lisajane8482

We moved 19 days ago and it took around 2 weeks for Salem to completly settle. As soon as he was let out of his carrier he was runing around rubbing his head on anything and everything and also pretending to spray stuff but the slightest noise and he would jump and end up with bushy tail and everything. He now struts around the place like he's been there all his life.

HTH

blueybug

Its 3rd week now and both are fine, Albus has really come around and is much better here than the old house, Ethel is still nervous but a lot better!. Both now eating me out of house and home and every morning the little !!!!!!s open my curtains for me so they can view the dickies in the tree outside