Help!

Hi everyone, we adopted my friends cat from a house of 3 cats and 2 children because he was bullying/fighting with the two females. I have met him several times before and he is always friendly and very affectionate. Last night at 8pm we went round to her house and picked him up and we haven't been able to touch him since! He hid under the table squished up against the wall then during the night I thought he was getting better because he was laying on the windowsill but this morning he's behind the couch. As far as I can see he hasn't eaten, drank or used the litter tray since we got him home and I'm worried. Did we do something wrong? We left him in the room quietly with food, treats, water, litter tray, cat tree, beds, cocoon and a blanket from his first home? I feel so bad for putting him through this he's three years old neutered male who is usually confident and affectionate

A lot of cats prefer to lie low for a couple of days or weeks when they're in a strange environment. He needs time to observe his surroundings and make sure there aren't any threats. It's not unusual for cats in such a situation to not eat or even use the litter box the first day, and then to only do so at night for a couple of days. Just spend some time in the same room and leave him be till he feels more confident.

I agree with the above.

He needs time to adjust. Just try to act like you don't see him when you are in the same room. Play a soft music, talk in low voices. Provide him DIY cat trees and toys. Soon he will come around. He will come to you when he is ready.

Thank you for taking him in.

Thanks guys, I was worrying I had completely traumatised him abducting him from his home! He is our second cat, unfortunately we lost our first cat after a very short battle with cancer when she was only 7, I think I'm maybe just worrying too much! Any tips on making sure he's drinking? He will only drink running water so we bought the same cat fountain he had at his old house but it's difficult to see if he has actually drank from it?

Hello and welcome to TCS. As the others mentioned, it can take some time for a cat to settle into his new home.

Here's a TCS article you might find helpful:
How To Help A New Cat Adjust To Your Home

As well, an older thread on What Was Your Cat's Behavior Like In The First Day? | TheCatSite

Good luck with him. Let us know how it goes today.

You have done nothing wrong, cats take quite a while to adjust to change. Most cats aren't seen for a week. Leave food out at night, provide some water in a bowl too, just in case. Talk softly to him in the same room and when you leave, leave treats. He will come around, he is just terrified right now.

Thanks everyone, you're advice has helped us immensely, hopefully he will feel better soon, he hasn't used the litter tray since we took him home either doesn't help that there is work being done outside which is very noisy!

Poor Jim still hasn't come out, he hasn't eaten, drank or gone to the bathroom since 8pm yesterday so that's 24 hours! Is that dangerous? I've googled how long can a cat ho without food, water and using the bathroom but there isn't really any concrete advice, I just have to hope he goes during the night when we are asleep, he's a poor soul

You can try setting out some boiled chicken or pure meat chicken baby food to see if that will encourage him to eat. One of the Inaba Churro’s which is like a thick gravy in a tube squeezed onto a plate might also entice him.

Thank you everyone for the advice and reassurance, I am happy to report that Jim came out last night and is still out this morning sitting looking out the window, he has eaten, drank and used the litter tray! We are so relieved! Hopefully the worst is over! I am so grateful to you guys though, was in full panic mode yesterday!

Excellent news! Sounds like Jim's starting to make himself at home.

Is that him in your avatar pic?

Thank you! No that's our cat Matilda we unfortunately lost to a very short cancer battle last month, she was such a good natured beast we miss her terribly! Our jim is a short haired ginger tabby, he's lovely!

Oh, I'm so sorry about Matilda. RIP sweet girl. If you feel up to it, we have a Crossing the Bridge forum where you could post a tribute to her.

Awww... Jim's a ginger tabby like my Ruby girl. I hope he helps fill the emptiness in your heart and home.

Thank you, she was our first pet and it took us by surprise just how empty our home was without her, i will definitely check that out it sounds lovely! I had never appreciated just how gorgeous ginger tabby cats are! The colours on their coats are amazing! Ruby is such a cute name I love it! After having a tortie (tortitude is REAL! haha) are there any personality traits specific to ginger Tabby's in you're experience?

Ruby's a sweetie pie. She's total lap cat, and purrs and purrs, and talks/meows all the time. But she hates being picked up or restrained in any way. Since she's my first ginger cat, I don't have any others to compare her to, but I figure her purr-sonality is just her own, and not based on her fur colour. But maybe I'm wrong.

Sorry about your loss of Matilda. Jim sounds like a cutie, now that he is out, we would love to see a picture of the little guy

Thank you he is lovely, he's so little with long legs! I'm still getting to grips with this site but I'll try to attach one! Is that you're cat in you're avatar? It is a gorgeous beastie! Love the white fur on the face! So sweet!

rubysmama said:

Ruby's a sweetie pie. She's total lap cat, and purrs and purrs, and talks/meows all the time. But she hates being picked up or restrained in any way. Since she's my first ginger cat, I don't have any others to compare her to, but I figure her purr-sonality is just her own, and not based on her fur colour. But maybe I'm wrong.

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Aww bless her! There's nothing like having a cat purring on you're lap they are the best! Jim is similar, he only let his original mum pick him up (she had him from a kitten) so we're hoping that one day he will trust us just as much!

Matilda86 said:

Thank you he is lovely, he's so little with long legs! I'm still getting to grips with this site but I'll try to attach one! Is that you're cat in you're avatar? It is a gorgeous beastie! Love the white fur on the face! So sweet!

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I have 3 cat and yes the old boy Midi is in my Avatar. Here is a link to some of himMidi (Midnight) says hello

Matilda86 said:

Thank you he is lovely, he's so little with long legs! I'm still getting to grips with this site but I'll try to attach one! Is that you're cat in you're avatar? It is a gorgeous beastie! Love the white fur on the face! So sweet!

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He is adorable I have an Orange boy too