So, 5 days ago, we adopted a 3-year-old, male cat. A bit of his backstory: he was found as a stray on the streets of Huston and taken in by a foster. He spent roughly 2 months with her, and he quickly settled in. The foster told me that he is very food motivated and quickly became friends with anyone feeding him. While he wasn't super cuddly, he enjoyed head scratches, human company and even came when called.
We are living in Vancouver, Canada, so when we adopted him, the agency transported him (via truck) to Canada. It was a two-day journey with multiple animals on the truck, including dogs, and when we picked him up, I was told he was very scared during transport. When we brought him home and let him out in "his" new room (our former dining room and home office) and he immediately went into hiding behind a piano stand.
The positive signs: He is coming out of his "cave" at night and eats the food I leave for him, drinks and uses the litter box like a champ! Over the past two nights, I noticed he's coming out in the evening, even while we're still awake and he seems very comfortable in his room (but only if we're nowhere near his room!).
The negative: If we are in or near his room he goes deep into his "cave", and I have never actually seen him except in the car ride home and on a surveillance camera we put in the room. The moment I get too close to his cave, even just with my hands and to give him treats, he's hissing at me. I've tried luring him out or at least closer to the cave entrance with various treats, but he shows no interest. He does not eat during the day or when anyone is in the room.
What I'm currently doing: I (try to) feed him in the morning and evening and leave some food out during the night. He has his own room, but I do spend a good amount of time in it, because that's where my home office is. I usually sit at the desk with my back to his cave entrance, I sometimes talk to him and on the phone. I try to leave the room a few times a day to give him a break from me. I sometimes sit on the floor where he can see me from a hole in his cave. Every time I enter his room, I toss some treats towards his cave. I have a feliway diffuser and some relaxing music playing.
Given his traumatic transport experience and the fact that he was a stray for most of his life, is there any way of guessing how long it will take him to come around? Is it possible he will hate humans forever? I know it's only been a few days and I will need to give him space and time, but it's hard not to take the hissing and hiding personal, especially since I never had a cat that acted that way and he was so friendly with his foster... How do I deal with the fact that I just want him to be comfortable, relaxed and live his best life, but he just hates us and the world right now?
Is there anything I should do differently?
Any tips, tricks and suggestions are greatly appreciated!
We are living in Vancouver, Canada, so when we adopted him, the agency transported him (via truck) to Canada. It was a two-day journey with multiple animals on the truck, including dogs, and when we picked him up, I was told he was very scared during transport. When we brought him home and let him out in "his" new room (our former dining room and home office) and he immediately went into hiding behind a piano stand.
The positive signs: He is coming out of his "cave" at night and eats the food I leave for him, drinks and uses the litter box like a champ! Over the past two nights, I noticed he's coming out in the evening, even while we're still awake and he seems very comfortable in his room (but only if we're nowhere near his room!).
The negative: If we are in or near his room he goes deep into his "cave", and I have never actually seen him except in the car ride home and on a surveillance camera we put in the room. The moment I get too close to his cave, even just with my hands and to give him treats, he's hissing at me. I've tried luring him out or at least closer to the cave entrance with various treats, but he shows no interest. He does not eat during the day or when anyone is in the room.
What I'm currently doing: I (try to) feed him in the morning and evening and leave some food out during the night. He has his own room, but I do spend a good amount of time in it, because that's where my home office is. I usually sit at the desk with my back to his cave entrance, I sometimes talk to him and on the phone. I try to leave the room a few times a day to give him a break from me. I sometimes sit on the floor where he can see me from a hole in his cave. Every time I enter his room, I toss some treats towards his cave. I have a feliway diffuser and some relaxing music playing.
Given his traumatic transport experience and the fact that he was a stray for most of his life, is there any way of guessing how long it will take him to come around? Is it possible he will hate humans forever? I know it's only been a few days and I will need to give him space and time, but it's hard not to take the hissing and hiding personal, especially since I never had a cat that acted that way and he was so friendly with his foster... How do I deal with the fact that I just want him to be comfortable, relaxed and live his best life, but he just hates us and the world right now?
Is there anything I should do differently?
Any tips, tricks and suggestions are greatly appreciated!