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RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

ScarletDreams489 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:34:32 GMT

It sounds like both of those cats have had very little contact with people. Either that or they were at the shelter for a very long time. My mother adopted a cat over a month ago at a no kill shelter in our area. She had been there for a year (since she was only a few months old). She still has her own little room with food, water and a litter box, as well as a baby gate raised up enough so she can get under it but the dogs can't get over it. She was around people all the time at the shelter and was even in their community cat room with over 10 other cats. She gets along well with one of the other cats, but Pedro, Mom's older male cat (who used to be the biggest cat until the new one came in) does not want anything to do with her. She is just now starting to come out of that room. She only comes out when the dogs aren't in the house or at night when they're sleeping. She wont really let my parents touch her when she's out exploring, but she will cuddle when they visit her in her room. This all has to do with her being at the shelter for so long. Did you ask how long these cats were at that shelter? I don't expect my mothers cat to fully adjust and become part of the family for another couple of months. Your cat may take just as long. Just be patient.

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

bigpoppa — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:38:05 GMT

Update on Minerva: She started to come out and tolerates our presence now. She still isnt comfortable around us, but she isnt afraid to explore while we are around. It happened shortly after we decided it was time to move her litterbox from the small room she was adjusting to our house in. We felt it was time to try to move the litterbox to its preferred final location (we had a second one set up there, and we knew it was being used). We thought it might be risky but wanted to try. No puddles or other surprises anywere to be seen, and she started to come out more, essentially the next day. I don't know if her coming out and the litterbox move were correlated but this cat took 5-6 weeks to emerge, while the other only a couple days.
Interestingly, Nora the cat that came out earlier, actually seems more afraid of us than Minerva does. At least Minerva has had moments where she will approach us. Nora, though she had had several more weeks around us, still never approaches us and runs away from contact although she spends most of the the time around us.
Cats are just as weird as people.

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

SuperCat — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:53:13 GMT

We found Xena under a dumpster where I work when she was almost 4 weeks old. Xena is now a year old and because she was never socialized with her mother and siblings she doesn't understand that when my other cats want to play with her that it is all in fun. She is a hider to this day and is always watching out for big bad Rusty-Cat. Xena does come and jump on our laps and visit with us when she knows Rusty is outside or in another room. We are still trying to get those two together. It's a long process.

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

whbos — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:45:59 GMT

I adopted a cat from an alley and it took me 18 months to get her out from under the bed. She was so badly abused by previous owners that she hated everyone including the other cats in the household.

I'm not an expert on this, but probably know better than some of the vets I've been to that your cat was either improperly handled or abused. She/he could be just a shy one that doesn't like either someone or other animals in the household.

My Amber still doesn't trust many people, but at least makes a good effort of coming out and being social now. Sometimes you just have to give a little extra attention to the one that seems hopeless. One thing I did for her to bring her out was to comb her each and every night. Now she expects and demands it.

Edited to Add: Forgot to mention that you can't always believe anything from a shelter about an animal. People will put down anything that removes their guilt of giving up a pet. I used to volunteer at a local shelter and one cat had on it's page that it urinated outside of its box. The cat was there for several months and we never noticed it. I had them change the dialogue on the page and the cat was finally adopted. It was the sweetest cat too.

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

evendozen — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:37:09 GMT

Make yourself irresistable and try Feliway/ Comfort Zone.

When you're sitting and being calm (watching TV, reading, etc.) put some treats at your feet and then place the treats next to you, etc. - basically bribe the cat. use a string toy to lure the cat to you.

Feliway/ Comfort Zone is a pheromone product that makes cats relax it's a little expensive but well worth it.

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

Ocimom — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:26:19 GMT

Not saying the cat was unadoptable, just that without knowing the background (from the shelter) there is no way of telling what the cat went thru as a kitten. There may or may not be abuse involved it her past.

Ling is our last barn kitten and she's very independent and doesn't like to be picked up. She will check people out, but if you reach for her, she's gone. She's been an inside cat since 5 weeks old, no abuse, just kinda "anti-social"

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

bigpoppa — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:39:00 GMT

We got our cats from a reputable animal adoption group on Long Island. They are each about 1 yearish old and spayed. The adoption group has no idea about history, but thought she would be suitable for adoption. She is not aggressive in any way, gets along well with our other cat (the few time when we see her out and about). My wife and I will be patient, but the contrast between the two is astounding.

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

Kenogirl — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:45:33 GMT

Ocimom's right. The cat may have come from a reclusive home, where she had little or no exposure to anyone or anything, or she may have been physically abused. In either case, the adjustment period will be longer, and will require more work, patience and understanding on your part.

There is a thread under Cat Chat called "A New Room-Mate" that you should check out. It's the ongoing story of Greycloud, who was adopted by Reno, one of our members. He got the cat in February, and she is just now beginning to come out of her shell.

Good luck, and keep us updated!

RE: After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

Ocimom — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:00:21 GMT

Where did you adopt them from? Are they kittens or cats? The one that is not adjusting as fast may have been abused in the past and could take months to adjust. Just keep encouraging her to come and play.

Try feathers, string toys, etc. I'm assuming they both are neutered/spayed.

After 5 weeks, new cat still in hiding

bigpoppa — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:00:25 GMT

I adpoted 2 cats, one came out within a couple days the other after 5 weeks still in hiding. When she comes out you can tell she is very cautious around my wife and I. From posts it seems that several days to a couple weeks is normal for a cat o be comfortable in a new home, but minerva seems to be making no real progress. Any advice?