Community Chat

[Demitra1]

Thank you so much Jeremiah! I'm getting ready to let the kitty out of his crate, but he has seemed very content in there....in other words, I think he feels safe. There really isn't a good room to shut him up in. Our bedrooms have carpet so I don't want the litter box there. The laundry room has no windows. So, that leaves our open kitchen, living room, and dining room...which is a pretty large area. You all have given me hope. I have just been too eager!

[TaxyLady]

Give the cat time. Don't force yourself on him. Let him come to you for food and treats. It takes awhile for cats to acclimate to a new environment. Let his play time come from you also. He will come around. Don't give up.

[GCR18]

He will come around in time. I got 2 litter mates from cat rescue 17+ years ago. They were three months old. I felt so bad that my kittens hated me. They wouldn't come near me. They hid under everything. After a couple weeks, we bonded. I would sit on the floor with cat toys. My girl passed away four years ago and my boy will be 18 in July.

[LucyGoose]

I didn't read any responses yet. I think it will just take time. I'm a cat lover and I always form a bond with my cats, usually I end up having a favorite and our bond together is the strongest.

I notice my cats kind of have a routine; when they like to go outside, when they like to come in, where they like to sleep.... Oh, and if your cat likes tuna, he'll get to learn the sound of the clinking saucers and the electric can opener and come running when he hears them.

[mstyrion 1]

Much good advice here.

One other thing to keep in mind is that even when your new kitty becomes comfortable in your home, you may still find him disappearing for a few hours a day. Both of mine go to their "hidey holes" at some point in the afternoon for a cat nap. One vanishes for a short time and then comes back to keep me company. The other one doesn't surface until about 2:30.

I never go look for them or try to urge them out. They just need a little alone time.

[Libbylady]

Whenever we have brought a new kitten into our home ( 9 times ) we put him/her in an enclosed room and keep her there at least 2 weeks before getting the run of the house. As much as possible I introduce one room at a time until I know she knows where the litter boxes are.

I also strengthen the bonding time by putting things with our scent around her space. A used pillowcase, DH's undershirt, a used night gown, sock, etc. If I see that she is using a provided kitty bed, something goes into the bed.

One kitten was afraid of everything and wouldn't come to me for a week. I put a matteress on the floor and slept with him. I just acted as if he wasn't there when I went to bed. I peeked at him as long as I could stay awake. He would creep up and watch me and sniff. By the third night I woke to find him curled up next to me. He was a bed-partner the rest of his life.

[ID2]

You've had your new kitten 1 day and wonder why its still acting timid?? Really? Come on now give the kitty a chance! Don't be so impatient with the little guy! He'll come around but please don't form a negative opinion of him based on only one day in his new home!!!

[pattypeep]

On 3/29/2015 Plaid Pants said:

Give the cat time to get acclimated to his new surroundings!

He just went through something stressful, and now he has strangers "yanking" him from his safety spots.

Once he feels comfortable, he'll come out of hiding.

But he'll do it on HIS time, not yours.

Yes~what plaid said. We adopted a six year old cat and he stayed away from us for about a week. Now, he is the most loving cat in the world. Can't leave me alone. The one we adopted was at a no kill center in a crate for about three months. He is the love of our life.

[Madisson]

Poor baby. He is probably just stressed in a new environment. Give him a few weeks. When cats are stressed in a new environment, they usually like to be covered up. You might just toss a little lightweight blanket over him. Then he can peek out and watch you as he adapts.

Who knows what he has been through in the past? Buy some interactive toys that you can use to play with him...maybe one of those laser toys or even just a string with something tied to the end of it.

[Luv2Decorate]

When we went to adopt our first kitten, I noticed a little kitten that was scared to death of her surroundings. The lady said she was worried about the little girl because she was so scared all of the time and didn't engage with any of the other kittens in the room. After she said that, I told her that was the kitten I wanted. She was hesitant because she didn't know us, but I knew with our 3 teenagers that kitty would be fine. My daughter put a kitty litter in her bedroom and kept her in there until she was ready to come out on her own. The kitten would sleep with my daughter and became very comfortable with her after a few weeks. Now we have 2 more adopted cats they are all great and the little shy kitten is fine, however she is more apprehensive than the other 2. And she still sleeps with our daughter. I don't know what the cat will do when our daughter goes to college in the fall... Ugh..