Encouraging Cat To Explore The Rest Of The House?

My cat, Friday, has been living with me in my house for about three weeks now. Previously he was my parents' farm cat, so he spent most of his time sleeping either in the shade or in the barn. He seems to be doing a decent job of adjusting, especially to living with one of my dogs in particular who can just be...a lot (he's playful, energetic, insecure, anxious, reactive, etc.). Dog isn't mean to the kitty but he does bark sometimes which Friday doesn't like, and he tries to play sometimes, which Friday doesn't like - the dog's play style must be really off because no one really ever wants to play with him.

Anyway, my house is small - two bedrooms. I've set up the second bedroom, my office, as a Friday zone. His litter box is in there, his food is in there, and he has several beds in there he likes to frequent: two chairs, a pillow behind a chair for when he wants to hide, and a mat on a bookcase that allows him to look out the window into the backyard.

My concern is that he never really wants to leave that room, but he does seem to get lonely in there. I've convinced him a few times to come into my bedroom (he always ends up under the bed though) and rarely to go into the living room (where he ends up under the couch). I don't think he's at all afraid of my dogs, but maybe he's still adjusting because he does seem a bit timid to go out there?

Anyway, I bought a window ledge to put in my living room that is high above the dogs. I figured it would give him an 'escape' from them while still letting him be part of the action and he can look out a different window that faces the street where more interesting things happen. I've put him up there several times and he likes to sit and watch things but he always ends up just crying and leaving to go back to his room.

I want to give him some more stimulation and things to look at, I just hope I'm doing enough. There are birds in the backyard and he can get sunshine on that bookcase. But a lot of my house windows have window frosting on them because of my dog's reactivity, so I have to be selective as to what windows poor Friday can actually see out of.

Do you think I'm doing okay? Is there a way to encourage him to lay/explore more frequently?

Three weeks doesn't seem so long when you have dogs in the mix. Give it more time, don't pressure Friday to go where he doesn't want too. If you are able to lure (not carry) him to a different room, try closing the door so he knows that he is dog-safe and giving treats and pets. He might get upset with the door closed, or he might be more comfortable, don't know until you try. I've had cats appreciate the door being closed if they have an enemy cat they are concerned about anyway; never had a dog sadly.

Also, sounds like he was inactive outside, so not much reason to expect him to be following you around acting kittenish inside. You might see some of that eventually, cats can change behaviors, but from what you have described, the cat likes to just chill. Some do.

Thank you. I didn't really expect much of a difference in energy level, but he's super social so I thought he'd want locations to hang out whee he can be where the people are. But he might get braver in time, you're right. I just hate the idea of him being unhappy.

I think if he likes that window looking into the backyard in the spare room (your office), is happier in that room, and if one dog in particular has just too much energy to make this cat feel groovy and calm, then that office is a great thing for him to have! It's just like a man cave, only it's a Cat Cave. Maybe you could spend more time in your office with him.

A lot of cats prefer to expore when it's quiet and everybody is out or asleep. It hasn't been long, just be patient. He might just be enjoying the luxury of indoor living and taking a nice long rest.

KittyFriday said:

Do you think I'm doing okay? Is there a way to encourage him to lay/explore more frequently?

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I agree with the above posters.
Some cats are more comfortable where they are as it is their safe room. Let your cat explore the house at his own time. Reason for his crying when brought to another room is that he feels uncomfortable being there and wanting to go back to his own room which he feels safe and secure.

Just leave the safe room door open so that if he ventures out and anything freaks him, he'll have a place to retreat to. It may take awhile before he comes out and own the house and as for now, he'll be observing all movements and studying what is a threat to him.

You can build shelves in the hall that leads to the window and places high enough that the dog can't get to and the cat have places to go up high to have a safe overview of the house.

Here's an article on 'expanding your house' for the cats :-

how-to-make-your-home-bigger-at-least-for-your-cats.33678

Thank you! We had a bit of a breakthrough last night as I was folding clothes in the living room and he came out and sat next to me for pets and belly rubs. He then went over to the table and jumped up (next to the ledge I put up) and stood on his hind legs to look out the window....and looked in horror at the cars driving by outside and retreated back to his room.

So I don't really think it's the dogs bothering him so much as a new area + he's super nervous about all the activity outside. Which I guess makes sense considering he lived on a farm and as an outdoor cat you don't make it to 10 years old without a healthy fear of cars. So he probably much prefers the view of the peaceful backyard. So does my dog - hence all the window film.

I'll keep letting him explore at his own pace. Everyone seems to have adjusted to one another and we'll just keep the peace and see how he does. If he just wants to live in his room, that's fine too as long as he's happy!

KittyFriday said:

We had a bit of a breakthrough last night as I was folding clothes in the living room and he came out and sat next to me for pets and belly rubs. He then went over to the table and jumped up (next to the ledge I put up) and stood on his hind legs to look out the window....and looked in horror at the cars driving by outside and retreated back to his room.

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That's great to hear! Once he feels comfortable and safe, he'll explore further. Good that he went up the ledge and look out and cars and sounds may freak him out a little as cats are weary about strange sounds and sights and he knows he has a safe room to retreat to. Keep it this way and soon he'll have more confidence and will stay out of the room longer but still keep that room as his safe room.

My cat is skittish and it took her a very long time after I brought her home (at about 1 year old, had already had a litter) to even come out from behind furniture except to eat and use the litterbox. The first thing she would do is join me on the bed. I suspect that she was also exploring the house at night. It seemed like FOREVER until she would go out of the room during the day, probably at least 2 months. I've had her almost three years and she is definitely more comfortable in the room when people are around. She still isn't crazy about downstairs when people are around. I do know that the minute she thinks everybody is gone she goes downstairs.