New Cat Questions

[richtea78]

I asked a while ago about cat flaps and am having one fitted shortly

I collected the cat I'm adopting today and thought I would start a thread for questions I will have and also to document him

Loki is a lilac and blue colourpoint British Shorthair. He is 4 years old and I brought him home at lunch time today.

He has hidden all day unfortunately and appears to be very shy. I have settled him into a spare bedroom and he has a couple of different beds and hiding places. He also has a scratching post and several toys

At the moment he has eaten a little bit of food and has used his litter tray but he hides when I go to check on him. I look in on him every hour or so. I crouch down and move slowly so not to startle him. He watches me but doesn't seem to want to come close. He makes a short meowing type sound

I was wondering how long it would take to settle in. My parents cats have always settled straight in but they always got them as kittens. They have never adopted an adult cat so I don't really have any frame of what to expect

Any suggestions? As long as he is eating and using his littler tray is it just a case of leaving him till he wants? How will I know when he wants to come out of the spare room? I'm keeping him there in one room as that was what I was advised to do but I don't want to keep him penned up too long?

[Mastodon2]

I got my Sphynx cat as a kitten, it took him all of a day to get to used to our house. He would play happily in his room with us, but if we opened the door he would not venture out. As long as your cat is not excessively stressed by the door in his room being open, perhaps just leaving the door slighty ajar and letting him come out in his own time would do the trick? I wouldn't have thought it would take him too long to start coming out and exploring.

[bexVN]

Simple answer is work at his speed, he'll come round, give home few days in his room but go in a sit quietly read a book ignore him and he'll investigate. There's no rush he's with you a long time so couple weeks of shyness is fine .

Might be an idea to use a Feliway in his room.

The great thing he's eaten and used his tray. Good starts.

[richtea78]

Thanks both,

I've got a feliway in his room and overnight he has eaten nearly all the dry food I left for him and used the litter box again.

He is under the bed this morning and when I was cleaning his litter tray I can hear him making noises but he didn't come out. I am working from home today so will go and sit in there and do some work later and see if he comes out. The adoption centre said he had been given to them because he didn't get on well with children and he became stressed so I don't want to rush him as he might be a bit nervous.

[Jasandjules]

Our rescue kittens took about 4 days to come out from hiding for us then about two weeks before they would leave the utility room (they were afraid of our dogs as had not lived with dogs before).

I used Ham. Get some cheap ham and just throw some near where he is hiding. Let him eat it and just sit in the room quietly. Ideally go in there and read a book so he gets used to just being in there. Don't look at him nor talk to him the first few times he comes out for his ham.

[Zelda Pinwheel]

What the others said - slowely & quietly.

We adopted an adult Savannah/Abyssinan cross 18 months ago, from an awful background, and he was the scaredy-est cat you ever met. Spend as much time in the room with him as you can, just reading quietly, not really making any effort to interact with him. You have to get him used to you, but on his terms, if you see what I mean.

We left Radio 4 on during the day if we were out, to get him used to human voices. You'll know when he's ready to move out of the room, he'll start wanting to explore eventually but you do need to make sure he's settled and comfortable with your presence before encouraging him further. Give him a safe to hide, if it all gets a bit much and he needs to retreat.

Good luck, and well done for taking on an adult. You will be rewarded, I'm sure!

[richtea78]

I've been doing some work in the room he is in

Despite the fact he has 4 different beds in various places I found him asleep on a shelf on top of some stuff!


IMAG0017 by richtea78, on Flickr

When I went back into the room with a drink he woke up and watched me for a bit then went back to sleep. I'm thinking that is probably a good sign as well as if he was scared he wouldn't go to sleep in such an exposed place?

[bexVN]

Yes it is. Esp as just yesterday he was hiding under a bed.

[omgus]

That is a great start, when i got my first rescue she lived in the bottom of the wardrobe for quite a while. I would sit on the floor reading a book and let her see me, then as she got more confident she would watch me from closer and closer until the first time she came and slept against my leg.

Taking it slow and letting them come to you makes it all worth while the first time they are genuinely affectionate.

[richtea78]

This afternoon he has been eating and cleaning himself.


Untitled by richtea78, on Flickr

I put an old towel down as thought it might be better to sit on than the wood. He seems quite content at the moment. He doesn't seem to mind what he eats as he ate some wet food and some biscuits. I'm not sure how much he has drunk but he has a couple of bowls in there so it's there if he needs it.

[edc]

I carry my new cats like a baby over my shoulder and walk them round the house a few times then back to their room. In also just lie down and read magazines there for a couple of hours a time, throw some toys around the room and let them do their own thing around me.

[richtea78]

That's a good idea but he doesn't like being picked up. Even the lady at the cattery struggled! I've tried a few toys and he looks at me with contempt. I gave him a ball with a bell in and each time he just flicked it away.

[riosyd]

We got our cat last year (4 years old) and he spent two days under the sofa, Dreamies seemed to work well in enticing him out. Good luck - he looks like a lovely cat.

[omgus]

[quote=riosydDreamies
[/quote]

Or cat crack as they are known by my neighbour. If she shakes a packet of dreamies out of her front room window my cats will join hers in her living room.

[Mobile Chicane]

Cats may go for 'Dreamies', but it's the equivalent of giving your children Maccy D chicken nuggets.

Lily's Kitchen cat treats all the way. Every day,not just at Christmas:

http://www.viovet.co.uk/Lilys_Kitchen_Merry_Little...

[bexVN]

Maybe so but as an occasional treat or to gain a cat's confidence they can't be beaten (not even by Lily's kitchen, which I buy)

[Swervin_Mervin]

Never bothered with any faffing with new cats. Leave them to it and they'll start to come round. Just don't startle them when they do put in an appearance. Always worked for me.

[ali_kat]

Awwww Loki is beautiful, congratulations

Seems to me like you are doing everything right I can't add anything to the advice already given

[richtea78]

Last night I went to make a fuss over him before I went to bed and he was rolling around on his back and seemed very happy. He doesnt miaow but he chirrups and purrs. The chirrup is an odd sound, almost like a guinea pig.

He also managed to run out of the spare room and went for a walk all around the house. I followed him but didnt want to chase him as I didnt want him to get scared. He had a quick look round the other rooms that were open then went back to his spare room.

Sadly I had to go into the office today so he will be on his own till I get home tonight. I fed him this morning and have left him toys and some biscuits.

I also set up a water fountain thing for him this morning as it arrived before I went to work. Its something my parents cats love so thought I would see how he went.

[ehasler]

Loki looks lovely

The only thing I'd add is that if you look directly at him, he'll think you're being aggressive, so if he's nervous then try to avoid that.

Also if all other toys fail, then try a feather teaser toy called Da-Bird - I don't think any cat will be able to resist that!