Getting my new shy cat acclimated

[dreamgeem]

Hi all! I already had a post on here about my new kitty but the topic I want to chat about has changes since she is no longer lost in my house.



So she is quite nervous and hesitant of me.



So I messed up this morning. I tried to challenge her a bit cause the last few days had been going good as she was getting more comfortable with seeing me and eating from my hand.



Context her safe spot is the bathroom which has been working well, but I only have one bathroom so this has been a challenge for me. I need to use the bathroom to get ready and the morning and shower and stuff. I’ve been taking baths cause I don’t want to scare her with me standing up for the shower but this isn’t sustainable for me.

So today I tried getting ready standing up in the bathroom instead of sitting down. I brought in stinky wet food for her that I warmed up and sat in front of her hiding place. But I got too confident and moved the blanket too much for her to see it and me and she hissed at me and ran from her hiding place. She is now in another hiding place and hissed at me when I came closer to it to leave the bathroom.

Later I sat in there with her far away and she did stick her head out of her hole to have some treats I set in there when I was in there with her. So I don’t think I messed up too bad if she’s comfy to do that.

She’s been in this bathroom for 5 days now. I know that is not a lot of time at all for a cat to adjust. I just wanted to start slightly challenging her a little since she has showed progress but I’m afraid I did too much.


Any advice? I need to be able to use my bathroom the way I need to but I also don’t want to scare her at all. Again this is my first cat so I’m trying to be extra cautious to move slowly and do everything at her pace. But I could use any advice you have.

Also, I meant to say - as soon as she hissed at me each time I backed off really quickly.

 

[tabbytom]

So I messed up this morning. I tried to challenge her a bit cause the last few days had been going good as she was getting more comfortable with seeing me and eating from my hand.

Do you have another room for her as a safe room or you just have one room and one bathroom to yourself?

Don't worry so much about her hissing as yet. She is still not feeling too safe and what is done is done. Continue to coax her and give her time to gain confidence.

Is your room ok for her to be her safe room? Like, do you have a corner to place her stuffs and a box for her to hide. If you have, move her out of the bathroom so that you can use it without disturbing her. Just keep the litterbox in the bathroom.

Sometimes the hissing is not an aggressive hiss. It's just telling you that she does not like certain things. If she hisses at you, tell her lovingly it's ok and do the slow eye blinks with her. For the advancement, let her do it at her own pace.

Continue the treats and hand feeding so that she knows the food is coming from you. I think you did not upset her totally.

If the bathroom is the only choice, then continue your routines on a more gentle note so that she gets use to it. Keep talking to her when you need to use the bathroom like, ok, I need to take a bath, it's ok. You just stay where you are. Also keep talking to her throughout. She has to get use to the sounds and movements and once she sees that everyday, she'll kind of ignore when you are in the bathroom.

Always praise her when she is behaving but di not scold her when she do something wrong. I think that your hopes are not dashed and so don't worry that much.

 

[game misconduct]

patience dont try to challenge/force the issue earn her trust your still just a suspicious creature to her hence the hiss of warning. just go about your morning routine/ bathroom feeding litter box cleaning etc. like its no big deal chat with her and then leave once done. so then she begins to get comfy with you etc. and you gradually lose the suspect title in her eyes. good luck

 

[Kris107]

Third vote for going about your business. When you start doing something it's always going to be scary, but the more you do it - especially if there's a routine to it - it becomes less scary. So she'll adjust. Keep up the gentle presence and engage with her with things she likes and she should come around.

 

[Alldara]

Go about your business but praise and reward.
Our cats need to be used to things that happen daily.

Heres an example from our home: We have allergies so we vacuum daily. Each cat has come to us scared and before we could sweep but then our older cat needed carpet to ease movement and prevent slipping.

We started with a smaller vacuum that we bought and left it off in the main room where we play etc with them. Then, when it was on wed give vacuum treats (like your shower food you gave). Now, Cal doesn't even move for the small vacuum. We have to vacuum around him and Magnus just play fights it. Ghost goes to the kitchen but is calm. We also praise them a lot and tell them they are brave and safe.

Talk to her a lot and tell her she is safe in her new home. You can try playing some cat purring too.