new cat adjustments
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ccjennylee2
new cat adjustments
Hi. I just adopted a cat from a situation in which he's never seen anything other than the inside of an animal cage in his life. I brought him home yesterday, and I'm just wondering what I can do to make his adjustment easier. I let him come out of the carrier on his own because I didn't want to scare him by making him come out, which took about an hour. Now he just hides under my dining table and wants nothing to do with me being around him. He liked me just fine when he was in his cage, but now that he's at my home he's very scared of me. I'd just appreciate some input as to what to do to make him feel at home. Thanks!
Try not to fret, this is completely normal, you've only had him since yesterday, he needs time to adjust to his new surroundings and environment. The good news is that at least he has chosen to hide under a table rather than your bed or an area you can't find him!
You can help him adjust by providing a calm, quiet environment, when he is ready, he will begin to feel less isolated and will begin to explore his new surroundings. Just stay close to him and talk in a calm soothing voice and you will soon earn his trust. Ensure his food and water dishes are easily accessible (litterbox too), and make sure he's eating/drinking normally, normal litterbox habits.
Try engaging him in some playtime activity, maybe chasing a string, enticing with catnip, etc, go slowly at first, don't force him, he will come out of his shell when he's ready.
Time, love and patience are the keys, won't happen overnight, just be patient. A week from now, I'm sure you'll find him much more sociable and willing to bond with you.
Don't forget to get a vet exam, deworming, discuss vaccinations, etc.
You can help him adjust by providing a calm, quiet environment, when he is ready, he will begin to feel less isolated and will begin to explore his new surroundings. Just stay close to him and talk in a calm soothing voice and you will soon earn his trust. Ensure his food and water dishes are easily accessible (litterbox too), and make sure he's eating/drinking normally, normal litterbox habits.
Try engaging him in some playtime activity, maybe chasing a string, enticing with catnip, etc, go slowly at first, don't force him, he will come out of his shell when he's ready.
Time, love and patience are the keys, won't happen overnight, just be patient. A week from now, I'm sure you'll find him much more sociable and willing to bond with you.
Don't forget to get a vet exam, deworming, discuss vaccinations, etc.
..........Traci
If you don't have other cats, then I would just let him have part of the house for right now, until he gets used to it. He has new sounds assaulting him, new smells, vibrations on the floor, all of this is new to him. You can do him a world of good (you already have by rescuing him) but you can help him adjust to you in the following ways.
Sit on the floor with a book and read out loud to him. Read close enough so he can see you, but not close enough to be a threat. read in a soft voice, and take some kitty treats and place them around you in a circle, see if he is brave enough to come out while you are reading, and sample the treats. IF he comes up to you, do not look him in the eyes, look above him, or around him, but not directly at him.
Feed him on a routine schedule. Talk to him softly the entire time you are putting out his food. Stick to the routine timewise, and keep the bowls of food and water in the same place.
When you are housecleaning, take a long string and tie a fuzzy mouse toy on one end, and a snap clip on the other, clip it to your belt loop and just start doing your chores to see if he will play with the prey.
Classical music (harps especially) are quite soothing to a frightened animal. Play it softly all day if you can near where he is hiding.
Take an old tee shirt of yours that you don't care about and do a work out in it- mow the lawn, run the block, whatever you need to do to get it really sweaty. Once it is wet with your sweat, use it by putting it near him and feeding him wonderful tidbits on it. Dried fish, small bits of tuna, or sardines, so he associates your smell with wonderful things.
If you have a cat carrier handy, put a lot of bedding inside of it, take the door off and drape the top and sides with a dark cloth. Place it near where he hides, not under the table but off to the side, see if he goes inside of that- having that secure cave, will make him feel better about you. Make sure the opening is only half draped, so he can go in and out and still see out.
Buy a nice tall cat condo and put it up somewhere near either a window or an open doorway.
Sorry to be long-winded- I rescue ferals, and I deal with hiders and solitary cats all the time. But the fact that he is only hiding under the table is a GREAT sign!
Sit on the floor with a book and read out loud to him. Read close enough so he can see you, but not close enough to be a threat. read in a soft voice, and take some kitty treats and place them around you in a circle, see if he is brave enough to come out while you are reading, and sample the treats. IF he comes up to you, do not look him in the eyes, look above him, or around him, but not directly at him.
Feed him on a routine schedule. Talk to him softly the entire time you are putting out his food. Stick to the routine timewise, and keep the bowls of food and water in the same place.
When you are housecleaning, take a long string and tie a fuzzy mouse toy on one end, and a snap clip on the other, clip it to your belt loop and just start doing your chores to see if he will play with the prey.
Classical music (harps especially) are quite soothing to a frightened animal. Play it softly all day if you can near where he is hiding.
Take an old tee shirt of yours that you don't care about and do a work out in it- mow the lawn, run the block, whatever you need to do to get it really sweaty. Once it is wet with your sweat, use it by putting it near him and feeding him wonderful tidbits on it. Dried fish, small bits of tuna, or sardines, so he associates your smell with wonderful things.
If you have a cat carrier handy, put a lot of bedding inside of it, take the door off and drape the top and sides with a dark cloth. Place it near where he hides, not under the table but off to the side, see if he goes inside of that- having that secure cave, will make him feel better about you. Make sure the opening is only half draped, so he can go in and out and still see out.
Buy a nice tall cat condo and put it up somewhere near either a window or an open doorway.
Sorry to be long-winded- I rescue ferals, and I deal with hiders and solitary cats all the time.
But the fact that he is only hiding under the table is a GREAT sign!The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Traci and MA have given you great suggestions, the most important one is to be patient.
Ten years ago I rescued a four year old male tabby who was so scared he hid under my bed for almost two days, not coming out to eat, drink, or use the litter box. I was frantic and didn't know what to do. Fortunately on the second night he came out, ate a little, used the litter box, and drank some water, then quickly disappeared under the bed again. The next day he cautiously investigated the rest of the house, but still retreated to the safety of the bedroom when scared or frightened from unfamiliar noises or smells. I tried to reassure him as much as I could, playing and interacting with him as much as possible, and letting him know how much I loved him. It took about a week before he quit hiding under the bed, and within two weeks he became a "velcro" kitty, always at my side especially when it was time to go to bed.
After ten years he doesn’t follow me as much as he use to, but he still needs to be close in the evening and especially at bed time.
MA… where were you ten years ago when I needed your advice…
Ten years ago I rescued a four year old male tabby who was so scared he hid under my bed for almost two days, not coming out to eat, drink, or use the litter box. I was frantic and didn't know what to do. Fortunately on the second night he came out, ate a little, used the litter box, and drank some water, then quickly disappeared under the bed again. The next day he cautiously investigated the rest of the house, but still retreated to the safety of the bedroom when scared or frightened from unfamiliar noises or smells. I tried to reassure him as much as I could, playing and interacting with him as much as possible, and letting him know how much I loved him. It took about a week before he quit hiding under the bed, and within two weeks he became a "velcro" kitty, always at my side especially when it was time to go to bed.
After ten years he doesn’t follow me as much as he use to, but he still needs to be close in the evening and especially at bed time.
MA… where were you ten years ago when I needed your advice…
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ccjennylee2
Just have patience and set your kitty clock to his. In other words, don't expect him to act like a loving housebred kitty- when he has been in a cage all his life with hardly ever being handled. The best way for him to trust you is to sit on the floor and let him come to you- without asking him to. Good luck!
The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci