Advice on Next Steps with Timid Cat

[bfls]

I'm fostering a very timid cat and would like some advice on what to do next as I gradually socialise him.

Some background. He was taken from the house of a hoarder at the end of September. He is about 3 years old. He was then desexed and had to have some of his teeth removed. He was first placed another foster carer for about 2 months. He was the only cat she had and she eventually got him to let her pet him. I took over his care about 3 1/2 weeks ago. I have two other cats, which he has not met but can hear and smell.

I have my foster cat set up in my spare room with food, water, litter tray and toys. I sit with him at mealtimes and also spend time with him during the day, just sitting quietly. He spends a lot of time under the bed. By the second week he started coming out from under the bed to play with his toys when he was alone - both in the daytime as well as at night. By the third week he started coming out when I was in the room and would briefly wander around. He even approached me and sniffed me twice. Once he got up on the bed to have a wash and then play with a toy while I was there.

I am now well into the 4th week of looking after him and he doesn't seem any more interested in approaching me than he was last week. We seemed to have settled into a routine that he finds comfortable, if rather boring. My question is what should I do next. Should I try and push him out of his comfort zone a little or not? My options seem to be the following.

1. Just continue as I am and wait until he is more comfortable with me and approaches me on his own.
2. Try to tempt him out from under the bed with treats? He is very food oriented.
3. Try to pet him when he is eating? He lets me sit quite close to him now when he is eating.

Which one do you think I should try?

 

[ArtNJ]

Trying treats and toys are harmless to try at worst, and may help to encourage him to be more out and about. Just don't be to vigorous or in his face with the toys of course. If treats will get him onto the bed, try linking it with a noise, like a coo or something. The idea would be that maybe you'll be able to get him on the bed with just the noise in a bit, and that once he responds to the noise on the bed, maybe he'll respond to it elsewhere eventually. Gradual expansion is the idea.

I've not known cats to enjoy being petted while eating at the food dish, but maybe once you have him eating treats on the bed he might be ready. A good time to try would be if you can get him to where he will nap on the bed besides you. When sleepy is the first time a lot of skittish cats will allow petting.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I agree with A ArtNJ . Also, 4 weeks isn't a real long time, given his background. I am sure he is apprehensive about what might happen to him next. Below are links to TCS articles - one for dealing with timid cats, and another about cat introductions, if you are planning to have them meet.
16 Top Cat Experts Share Tips For Dealing With Timid Cats – TheCatSite Articles
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles

Let us know how things go!

 

[felinelover2]

I agree 4 weeks is not too long and it sounds like there is progress. As long as there is continued progress I would let the kitty set the pace. Though if kitty is food-oriented I would take the opportunity to try different kinds of foods/treats (always offer them when you are in the room) to encourage kitty to come out and enjoy the treat (and make a positive association with you being around). It will also help you know what foods kitty is really motivated by, and which ones are just average.

Good luck and it sounds like kitty is doing well overall!

 

[bfls]

Thanks for all your advice. I'll keep going at his pace. I was just worried that he must be so lonely and bored in cooped up in that room for all this time. I would just like things to progress a little faster.

We had some success last night. After his dinner he was zooming around the room playing with his toys. Unfortunately, shortly after this picture was taken he managed to knock over the bedside lamp and smash it. He was frightened, but I was pleased. I've never liked
that lamp but it was a gift from a relative who visits often. I felt obliged to keep in on display.

What a good kitty he is. I'll have to give him extra treats today.

 

[TardisDance]

He sounds very much like my cat who was also from a hoarding situation. I’ve had her for 9 months and one thing that I found is that she quite apprehensive about large open rooms like my kitchen/dining area when my spouse or I are in the room. Unfortunately, our house is open concept so I was never able to block off rooms one at time to introduce her. I’m trying to lead her into the room with wand toys currently. This could help if you find issues like this. It also may help that you have other cats in the house too (I do not but would like to adopt another cat once she’s more confident in all the house).

 

[minish]

What a lucky cat. On the bed instead of under, posing for a picture. And the smashing of lamp with exciting games... I think he's doing really ally good, he will come to you soon. Treats will definitely help

 

[MonaLyssa33]

Do you have plans to have him meet your cats? I adopted Maisie and Remy together because Remy was socialized and Maisie was not (and she'd been at the shelter for 2 years when I adopted her). Remy sort of helped her learn how to be a cat. I was living in a 400 sq ft studio apartment when I got them though and I would have to hide in the bathroom with Remy and hold my phone under the door to see if she was coming out to eat. It took about 8 months before she would reluctantly let me touch her. She still doesn't like to be touched, but she doesn't run away when someone new is in the house (and I think living in an actual house now has helped her a lot).

I'm trying to remember some of the later steps I took to get Maisie to trust me. I do remember lying on the floor by her bowl so I was at her level when she would eat and I'd get closer to the bowl as the days went by. I'd eventually start putting my arm close to the bowl. She'd sniff my hand sometimes and then run but she'd come back. I'd have her sniff me for about a week and then I'd try to touch her and she freaked out so I went back to the sniffing thing for a while longer and tried petting her again. Eventually, she felt okay with me touching her while she ate. I've had her for almost 3 years now and she sits on me in the morning while I'm sleeping because she wants me to wake up and feed her. I can sometimes pet her if I approach her cautiously, but if I see she doesn't want to be touched, I back off.

 

[bfls]

He sounds very much like my cat who was also from a hoarding situation. I’ve had her for 9 months and one thing that I found is that she quite apprehensive about large open rooms like my kitchen/dining area when my spouse or I are in the room. Unfortunately, our house is open concept so I was never able to block off rooms one at time to introduce her. I’m trying to lead her into the room with wand toys currently. This could help if you find issues like this. It also may help that you have other cats in the house too (I do not but would like to adopt another cat once she’s more confident in all the house).

He's shown no interest in wand toys or even a shoelace (which is my go-to toy) unfortunately. He does love pouncing on and flinging his toy mice around, which is how the lamp got smashed.

I hope he isn't too scared of open plan areas as most of my house is open plan.

 

[bfls]

Do you have plans to have him meet your cats? I adopted Maisie and Remy together because Remy was socialized and Maisie was not (and she'd been at the shelter for 2 years when I adopted her). Remy sort of helped her learn how to be a cat. I was living in a 400 sq ft studio apartment when I got them though and I would have to hide in the bathroom with Remy and hold my phone under the door to see if she was coming out to eat. It took about 8 months before she would reluctantly let me touch her. She still doesn't like to be touched, but she doesn't run away when someone new is in the house (and I think living in an actual house now has helped her a lot).

I'm trying to remember some of the later steps I took to get Maisie to trust me. I do remember lying on the floor by her bowl so I was at her level when she would eat and I'd get closer to the bowl as the days went by. I'd eventually start putting my arm close to the bowl. She'd sniff my hand sometimes and then run but she'd come back. I'd have her sniff me for about a week and then I'd try to touch her and she freaked out so I went back to the sniffing thing for a while longer and tried petting her again. Eventually, she felt okay with me touching her while she ate. I've had her for almost 3 years now and she sits on me in the morning while I'm sleeping because she wants me to wake up and feed her. I can sometimes pet her if I approach her cautiously, but if I see she doesn't want to be touched, I back off.

Thanks for info on the steps you took to get Maisie to trust you. I have been sitting on the floor and gradually getting closer and closer to his food bowl. I guess I'll just continue with that. His previous foster carer was able to pet him. She has video to prove it, so I'm hoping he'll let me do it too.

I am planning on introducing him to my cats. I suspect he will get on better with them than me. He has had so much more experience with other cats than with humans. So far, they have sniffed each other under the door (there is about a 1 inch gap). Caillou (the foster) has been curious but calm. Of my two, Jack, was curious but not fussed but the other, Emily, hissed at him and got quite agitated. She then rushed off, before rushing back, boxing Jack's ears (!) and then rushing off again. Jack was completely unconcerned about the whole affair. He is a very laid back cat.

Introductions are going to be another slow process I can see.

 

[Phicats]

Trying treats and toys are harmless to try at worst, and may help to encourage him to be more out and about. Just don't be to vigorous or in his face with the toys of course. If treats will get him onto the bed, try linking it with a noise, like a coo or something. The idea would be that maybe you'll be able to get him on the bed with just the noise in a bit, and that once he responds to the noise on the bed, maybe he'll respond to it elsewhere eventually. Gradual expansion is the idea.

I've not known cats to enjoy being petted while eating at the food dish, but maybe once you have him eating treats on the bed he might be ready. A good time to try would be if you can get him to where he will nap on the bed besides you. When sleepy is the first time a lot of skittish cats will allow petting.

I agree, some cats just don't want to be rushed.