We just adopted a 3.5 year old Maine Coon. The first evening went very well and I was feeling very secure about how this would go.
In the middle of the night we heard him meowing, and my husband got up to check on him. He apparently spooked the cat and he has been hiding ever since - to the point I can't find him!
My question is, how long to do I give him to adjust to his new surroundings? Like I said, it started so well, I didn't think we would have any problems.
I certainly want to give him time to come around, but I also don't want a cat that feels it needs to hide at all times.
Thanks for any help!
Advice needed on transitioning a cat to a new home...
Re: Advice needed on transitioning a cat to a new home...
Most important thing, have you found him yet?
We just had a post recently with a similar problem, the cat actually escaped outside.
So first things first, have you found him?
We just had a post recently with a similar problem, the cat actually escaped outside.
So first things first, have you found him?
..........Traci
Re: Advice needed on transitioning a cat to a new home...
Yes! We have found him...under my bed. I am hoping he will come out on his own.
That being said, I don't think it is fair to him to feel he needs to spend his life hiding, but how long is long enough to make the adjustment?
That being said, I don't think it is fair to him to feel he needs to spend his life hiding, but how long is long enough to make the adjustment?
Ok, don't fret, this will take a little time, it is normal for ALL newly adopted cats to want to hide, please understand this is a totally new environment for him, with lots of strange sights, sounds, scents, even the structure of your home and its furniture!
Depending on just how your husband startled him last night will sort of depend on how quickly he gets over it (the startling part). If your husband is tall, has a deep voice, he might have appeared menacing in the dark! (think like a cat).
Do you know any history on your new kitty? Was he adopted from a shelter? Or bought from a breeder? Is he a purebred Maine Coon?
Has he been to YOUR vet since you adopted him? This is really important, because if you happened to aquire him from a friend, neighbor or stranger, you cannot depend on the legitimacy of his prior health records unless they were physically produced and given to you. All newly adopted kittens and adult cats should always get a new health check at least the day of, or the second day after adoption. This way, you can establish a new health record for your newly adopted, and, you can rule out health problems sometimes aquired by cats in a shelter environment.
So, please make that vet appointment tomorrow, first thing, you want to know kitty is completely safe and healthy.
Please make sure you have a cat carrier (I prefer the hard plastic ones, they're sturdier, and as your kitty continues to grow (and he will, he's a Maine Coon), you'll need a very sturdy carrier. Put it out in a room right now so he gets familiar with it, leave the carrier door open, put a treat or toy inside so he can determine it's not an evil thing.
Do NOT take your kitty to the vet without securing him in a carrier before you leave your house! Likewise, do NOT open the carrier until you are behind closed doors of the vet's exam room, and don't leave the vet's without securing him again in the carrier, etc on the way back and inside your home again. This is how some newly adopted kitties escape - the owners wrongfully assume they can just carry the cat, or put in a cardboard box, (NO NO NO).
If by chance you already have a legitimate health record, make a vet appointment for next week. This will give you extra time at home to help kitty get adjusted to his new environment, you, etc.
The good news is, as long as he's a purebred or at least partial Maine Coon, he will warm up to you pretty quickly, it's in their nature to be friendly and bonding (as well as playful and curious, and loyal).
On average, it will take from 4 days to two weeks or more for most cats to acclimate to their new home. They cannot handle stress like humans can, and relocation, new home etc are very high stressors for cats.
What to do in the meantime: Provide one room (like your bedroom or a spare bedroom) as his "safe haven". This room will be his to hide in, retreat to when feeling overwhelmed or stressed, to sleep in, to eat in and use the litterbox in. Place food and water dishes in one side of the room, and the litterbox on the other side of the room. Provide toys, preferrably a safe cat tree or scratching post, keep drapes or blinds up on a sunny (but closed and secured) window, and a nice kitty bed to sleep in.
Whatever room you choose should NOT be a room with heavy foot traffic, no large heavy appliances, not dark or damp/musty (like the basement), and should have sunlight (a nightlight on at night time), and NOT directly by the front or back door.
At night, keep a nightlight on in the main living area or a hallway so he can make his way through the house when he's exploring.
He WILL come out to explore when he is ready and feeling safe and secure enough. He is already curious where he is, and about his new environment. He will eventually come out from under the bed and investigate slowly, one room at a time - don't be surprised if slight noises in the household send him back under the bed, this is normal. Remain patient, calm and quiet as possible.
In the immediate sense, place a food and water dish nearby the bed where he can smell the food and see it. When he is hungry, he'll come out to eat. Likewise, place a litterbox far enough away from the food and water dishes so he can see it. (cats do not like their litterboxes near their food, but they do need them easily accessible when they are newly acclimating).
When the household is quiet, go into the room, lay on the floor, make eye contact with him, remain patient and still, and calmly and softly speak to him. Just a few words like "hi sweetie", and "it's okay" is all that's necessary. You can have an entire conversation with him if you want, just keep your voice soft and make eye contact. Occasionally, slowly blink both of your eyes, this is what a calm and secure cat will do when feeling safe.
Keep visiting him in the room every chance you get, and give him breaks (about a half hour to hour at a time) between your visits. Walk softly, talk softly, and instruct hubby to do the same. Be at his level (on the floor) as much as possible so he can study your face, your body movements, your hands. Don't automatically reach out for him, you'll scare him. Keep your hands as still as possible because cats tend to watch our hands first, everything else later.
Make sure the room doesn't have obstacles, like furniture that could tip over if he jumps on it, or nothing about that is breakable. Keep plants out of reach, and of course, make sure all your human meds and household cleaners are completely locked up and out of reach to him.
Either late tonite or tomorrow, use a toy to entice him. He'll be interested in a fun toy even though he'll play hard to get. Be consistent with your routine. Talk softly, move softly (no sudden noises or jerky movements), offer a treat or a toy/play. Keep doing this, it is how he will learn to trust you.
Remember, you have to EARN his trust, not the other way around.
Try to keep the household calm and quiet these next several days. Don't keep the tv on loud, close doors softly, talk softly amongst yourselves, etc. Be sure to provide the nightlight in the main living area at night. He may choose nighttime when you're asleep to investigate his new home.
Make sure all windows and doors are securely shut, because he'll look for them. ALWAYS inspect windows and screens and make sure windows are never open more than an inch or two. Cats don't have collarbones, so they can easily configure themselves into the smallest spaces.
If he is a high percentage of Maine Coon, even at his age, he may still be developing and growing. Most Maine Coons are not technically considered adults or fully grown until the end of their second or third year or even longer. That said, he will be a curious kitty, and eventually, anxious to bond with you, and will love playing and exercise. He will be a loyal cat, and will definitely bond with you.
Again, this isn't going to happen overnight. You have to give him time to adjust to you and his new environment. Cats aren't human, they stress easily, and we have to accommodate them. Don't be discouraged, he will be the kitty you fell in love with when you adopted him, he just needs you to be patient. What you do and how you act NOW will be the deciding factor, just be patient, calm and forgiving and he'll be feeling more secure each day.
Do you have other pets or children in the home?
Depending on just how your husband startled him last night will sort of depend on how quickly he gets over it (the startling part). If your husband is tall, has a deep voice, he might have appeared menacing in the dark! (think like a cat).
Do you know any history on your new kitty? Was he adopted from a shelter? Or bought from a breeder? Is he a purebred Maine Coon?
Has he been to YOUR vet since you adopted him? This is really important, because if you happened to aquire him from a friend, neighbor or stranger, you cannot depend on the legitimacy of his prior health records unless they were physically produced and given to you. All newly adopted kittens and adult cats should always get a new health check at least the day of, or the second day after adoption. This way, you can establish a new health record for your newly adopted, and, you can rule out health problems sometimes aquired by cats in a shelter environment.
So, please make that vet appointment tomorrow, first thing, you want to know kitty is completely safe and healthy.
Please make sure you have a cat carrier (I prefer the hard plastic ones, they're sturdier, and as your kitty continues to grow (and he will, he's a Maine Coon), you'll need a very sturdy carrier. Put it out in a room right now so he gets familiar with it, leave the carrier door open, put a treat or toy inside so he can determine it's not an evil thing.
Do NOT take your kitty to the vet without securing him in a carrier before you leave your house! Likewise, do NOT open the carrier until you are behind closed doors of the vet's exam room, and don't leave the vet's without securing him again in the carrier, etc on the way back and inside your home again. This is how some newly adopted kitties escape - the owners wrongfully assume they can just carry the cat, or put in a cardboard box, (NO NO NO).
If by chance you already have a legitimate health record, make a vet appointment for next week. This will give you extra time at home to help kitty get adjusted to his new environment, you, etc.
The good news is, as long as he's a purebred or at least partial Maine Coon, he will warm up to you pretty quickly, it's in their nature to be friendly and bonding (as well as playful and curious, and loyal).
On average, it will take from 4 days to two weeks or more for most cats to acclimate to their new home. They cannot handle stress like humans can, and relocation, new home etc are very high stressors for cats.
What to do in the meantime: Provide one room (like your bedroom or a spare bedroom) as his "safe haven". This room will be his to hide in, retreat to when feeling overwhelmed or stressed, to sleep in, to eat in and use the litterbox in. Place food and water dishes in one side of the room, and the litterbox on the other side of the room. Provide toys, preferrably a safe cat tree or scratching post, keep drapes or blinds up on a sunny (but closed and secured) window, and a nice kitty bed to sleep in.
Whatever room you choose should NOT be a room with heavy foot traffic, no large heavy appliances, not dark or damp/musty (like the basement), and should have sunlight (a nightlight on at night time), and NOT directly by the front or back door.
At night, keep a nightlight on in the main living area or a hallway so he can make his way through the house when he's exploring.
He WILL come out to explore when he is ready and feeling safe and secure enough. He is already curious where he is, and about his new environment. He will eventually come out from under the bed and investigate slowly, one room at a time - don't be surprised if slight noises in the household send him back under the bed, this is normal. Remain patient, calm and quiet as possible.
In the immediate sense, place a food and water dish nearby the bed where he can smell the food and see it. When he is hungry, he'll come out to eat. Likewise, place a litterbox far enough away from the food and water dishes so he can see it. (cats do not like their litterboxes near their food, but they do need them easily accessible when they are newly acclimating).
When the household is quiet, go into the room, lay on the floor, make eye contact with him, remain patient and still, and calmly and softly speak to him. Just a few words like "hi sweetie", and "it's okay" is all that's necessary. You can have an entire conversation with him if you want, just keep your voice soft and make eye contact. Occasionally, slowly blink both of your eyes, this is what a calm and secure cat will do when feeling safe.
Keep visiting him in the room every chance you get, and give him breaks (about a half hour to hour at a time) between your visits. Walk softly, talk softly, and instruct hubby to do the same. Be at his level (on the floor) as much as possible so he can study your face, your body movements, your hands. Don't automatically reach out for him, you'll scare him. Keep your hands as still as possible because cats tend to watch our hands first, everything else later.
Make sure the room doesn't have obstacles, like furniture that could tip over if he jumps on it, or nothing about that is breakable. Keep plants out of reach, and of course, make sure all your human meds and household cleaners are completely locked up and out of reach to him.
Either late tonite or tomorrow, use a toy to entice him. He'll be interested in a fun toy even though he'll play hard to get. Be consistent with your routine. Talk softly, move softly (no sudden noises or jerky movements), offer a treat or a toy/play. Keep doing this, it is how he will learn to trust you.
Remember, you have to EARN his trust, not the other way around.
Try to keep the household calm and quiet these next several days. Don't keep the tv on loud, close doors softly, talk softly amongst yourselves, etc. Be sure to provide the nightlight in the main living area at night. He may choose nighttime when you're asleep to investigate his new home.
Make sure all windows and doors are securely shut, because he'll look for them. ALWAYS inspect windows and screens and make sure windows are never open more than an inch or two. Cats don't have collarbones, so they can easily configure themselves into the smallest spaces.
If he is a high percentage of Maine Coon, even at his age, he may still be developing and growing. Most Maine Coons are not technically considered adults or fully grown until the end of their second or third year or even longer. That said, he will be a curious kitty, and eventually, anxious to bond with you, and will love playing and exercise. He will be a loyal cat, and will definitely bond with you.
Again, this isn't going to happen overnight. You have to give him time to adjust to you and his new environment. Cats aren't human, they stress easily, and we have to accommodate them. Don't be discouraged, he will be the kitty you fell in love with when you adopted him, he just needs you to be patient. What you do and how you act NOW will be the deciding factor, just be patient, calm and forgiving and he'll be feeling more secure each day.
Do you have other pets or children in the home?
..........Traci