need help with hiding kitten

[artyjill]

I got a British short hair3cat 3 weeks ago, was told by the breeder     she was loving and calm, she had been the smallest kitten when born so she kept her till 8 months. I paid what l had saved £350. When we got home my my friend tipped tipped her out of the carrier, from then she rang into bedroom and got into corner were all my paintings were. We couldn't find her and from then 3 weeks ago she stayed except at night she went to the kitchen to eat . She goes from hiding place in the day if she is hungry and night and uses her litter box

I was so pleased that she went to the litter box and is eating very well, so this is  why i never moved it  the breeder asked once how was.Now today l have got email telling me l can come and bring her back. Now she lives out of town and cost me a fortune in a cab fair. l am till trying to get her out of this .She hasn't  me-owed once but its like havering a ghost cat. I bought all new beds tree ect as l had lost my Persian at Xmas and wanted her to have new also fliway of the internet. I am disabled so don't get out much so have lots of time for her if she lets me. can't bend or get her  out of low places.

Is there any way l can do more to help her. Just hoping she does, would love to have her company.

 

[pumpkinandrocky]

I think she is still trying to get settled into your home with you. When I got my kittens a few months ago I would sit in the room and read to them. It doesn't matter what it is just the calm of your voice will help to calm her as well. I think.

 

[artyjill]

Its like having a ghost l haven't seen her all today then when l go to bed she shoots out to go and eat,l talk to her all the time and as l read before going to sleep l read it out loud. TheFelliway l put on doorways the red rug she has chewed and on scratching posts but she has,t noticed it yet. I ought to sleep in day like she is doing lol

Jill

 

[catpack]

Was your kitten raised under foot or was she brought up Ina cage/confinement at the breeders?

It sounds as if you need to resocialize her.

Can you confine her to a small bedroom/bathroom with all her needed belongings (food/water, litter box, bed, toys)? Ideally there shouldn't be any furniture that she can hide under that you cannot access her (ie, under a bed.)

There is also the option of crating her in a large dog crate. Best if you can elevate the crate on a coffee table or something similar. (This option may be better for you since you have mobility issues.)

Check out this thread by another user on the site. She had similar issues with a 4 mo old she adopted from a breeder.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/285414/do-cats-remember-bad-vets-trip#post_3618661

 

[artyjill]

Well i was given a link to another person having trouble the same and l won't be coming back as it was all about the kitten being crated up and only get food when he did the right thing,l was getting furious, l am keeping it light in the email. it was after a vist to the vet . Well l will try on my own as theirs no way l could do that.  if that makes a cat nice and easy to have l would think it would make him so scared and frightened.

What l  was reading this afternoon was some good help but this has put me right of.

 

[mani]

 
Well i was given a link to another person having trouble the same and l won't be coming back as it was all about the kitten being crated up and only get food when he did the right thing,l was getting furious, l am keeping it light in the email. it was after a vist to the vet . Well l will try on my own as theirs no way l could do that.  if that makes a cat nice and easy to have l would think it would make him so scared and frightened.

What l  was reading this afternoon was some good help but this has put me right of.

@artyjill   I'm really sorry you feel so annoyed and I can understand how awful it is to have a cat that is so uncommunicative.  But if you mean the thread mentioned above , that was a really long thread with a very happy ending.  Crating is an excellent, tried and tested way to make a cat feel secure.  Having such a large space to run around in is really quite distressing, especially since he seems to be a very shy kitten. And it's not a case of withholding food - more of being the one who is seen to feed him.  It certainly wasn't about only giving food when he does the right thing.

There are many dedicated people on this site who have helped kittens just like yours and have a wealth of experience, with only the well-being and happiness of the kitty in mind. 

Please do consider the advice given by @catwoman707 -  the scared little kitten in that thread became a really loving companion.  

 

 

[catwoman707]

 
Well i was given a link to another person having trouble the same and l won't be coming back as it was all about the kitten being crated up and only get food when he did the right thing,l was getting furious, l am keeping it light in the email. it was after a vist to the vet . Well l will try on my own as theirs no way l could do that.  if that makes a cat nice and easy to have l would think it would make him so scared and frightened.

What l  was reading this afternoon was some good help but this has put me right of.

This site is for true blue cat lovers. It's all about their well being and what is best for them.

If you allow yourself time to browse our site, you will understand this much better. There isn't a person here who would do anything harmful in any way to any cat.

The fact is, it will be a VERY long road for this new cat to become adapted and trusting of you as long as it has free roaming of your home.

A cat will feel so much safer and secure in a small space or a crate that is mostly covered. This is comforting to them, NOT harmful.

Your cat is most definitely overwhelmed now. Too much new space, new owner, and is clearly unsocialized. 

It is your choice to take advice or use your own techniques of course.

What would make you feel that crating a cat would scare and frighten them? What your cat is going through now is exactly that.

Crating allows her to have a safe space that she is able to quickly get comfortable and familiar with, it allows you two to get acquainted and acquire trust.

There is no way to gain trust with her simply hiding away from you.

You are getting great advice, whether you choose to use it or not is up to you.

But please understand, we are not about scaring, frightening, or anything else that is not in cat's best interest. 

We have many, many years of experience, and are here to offer our experience to anyone who comes looking for help.

Thank you @CatPack  and @Mani

 

[artyjill]

She has been confined to a room. This morning l was up early and she followed me in which she never has done and then she kept going out the room but then to come up to me 8 times. I feel as if l have turned a corner and the only thing l had done different was use FELIWAY on everywhere she went in the room she was smelling the air.

She is now asleep in her safe room.

 

[mani]

That's wonderful.  Sometimes it can be such a long process; I'm so glad you both didn't have to go through that.

 

[starbuk]

You can also try feeding her by hand to get her comfortable with you and to learn that good things come from you.  You also want to play with her much more, that will get her moving around and also more comfortable with you.  How many play sessions do you have now?  If she is chasing a wand toy around, it will be difficult for her to be frightened.

 

[catwoman707]

 
She has been confined to a room. This morning l was up early and she followed me in which she never has done and then she kept going out the room but then to come up to me 8 times. I feel as if l have turned a corner and the only thing l had done different was use FELIWAY on everywhere she went in the room she was smelling the air.

She is now asleep in her safe room.

This is great news!

Sometimes feliway helps and others it doesn't seem to. So it might be a combination of the feliway and finally realizing she is safe there and is slowly adjusting.

Regarding the comment about holding out on food unless the cat does the right thing, is not what that's about, it's actually very helpful for more feral acting cats, but for yours, I think rather than leaving her food down to eat at her leisure, that you be the one to offer her food, and hand feed her things she can't resist as well. It will help her identify you with positive things, sort of speeds along the trust/bonding between you two

 

[artyjill]

She is watching me more with the wand, l am talking to her all the time and making a story while l am talking to her. Just now she is asleep on her rug which is near me and has never happened before. Have started using feliway and there is a lot of difference, she has been awake a lot today were she has been sleeping all day. Am trying to feed her but she is not coming that close but l throw treats to her. I am playing with her a lot but with using a wheelchair l can't get on the floor next to her but doing my best.

Jill

 

[artyjill]

Problem is with the food its difficult to get down to her as l use a wheelchair, l am going to try a long spoon that will reach her. Have got a red rug in the hall that she is pulling it all out, she is rolling on it today for the fisrt time and am letting her as she might go to another one but will try felway on it, makes me laugh  as theirs red bits stuck on her white fur and on me.

Jill

 

[kitty kisser]

Sounds like a problem for Jackson Galaxy the feline behavioralist! I wonder if this kitten wasn't a feral to start with! My mother in law has a cat like this a wall flower. I would feed it canned food so it realizes food comes from you twice a day. Move it to the bathroom and buy some calming aids from jackson galaxy's website. Treats may help also like a treat trail till it will eat from your hands. Best of wishes!

 

[catwoman707]

 
Problem is with the food its difficult to get down to her as l use a wheelchair, l am going to try a long spoon that will reach her. Have got a red rug in the hall that she is pulling it all out, she is rolling on it today for the fisrt time and am letting her as she might go to another one but will try felway on it, makes me laugh  as theirs red bits stuck on her white fur and on me.

Jill

Jill, you might want to feed her up on a side table that she can easily get to. She will learn soon enough that is where the good stuff is!

Start out with canned smelly food to coax her up near you.

 

[artyjill]

Well this morning l have a carer so Daisy has kept out the way, but the noise she should have heard before l got her. But l can't understand why breeders like the one l had lets kittens being born in a cattery at bottom of garden and there she stayed till l  bought her.Socializing She was just inches born the smallest kitten anyone had seen. But there are lts of kittens being raised like this ,its just the shuveling of the money there interested in.

Back to last night as she came and sat on the floor next to my wheel chair and went to sleep then streched and rolled all over so she is relaxing. So then l spolt her again and ordered a cieling high cat tree,l am telling my self as its red it matches my room lol

 

[mani]

 
Well this morning l have a carer so Daisy has kept out the way, but the noise she should have heard before l got her. But l can't understand why breeders like the one l had lets kittens being born in a cattery at bottom of garden and there she stayed till l  bought her.Socializing She was just inches born the smallest kitten anyone had seen. But there are lts of kittens being raised like this ,its just the shuveling of the money there interested in.

Back to last night as she came and sat on the floor next to my wheel chair and went to sleep then streched and rolled all over so she is relaxing. So then l spolt her again and ordered a cieling high cat tree,l am telling my self as its red it matches my room lol

She'll love that. 

I'm really glad things are working out and yes, breeders who don't socialise their cats are quite wicked.

 

[artyjill]

.I do read to her, she had an interesting book read to her last night. The feliway is working well and yesterday she came  on leaps and bounds. Today its been noisy as my carer is noisy so she has kept in her safe room  , my bedroom she seems a bit like me gets with it late afternoon.

 

[artyjill]

Well news up to now, besides the kitten the breeder emailed me to say she desperately  wants the kitten back but can't collect her as had surgery and l  am not alowerd to drive so that's the answer to her.

Have had her a month now and have bonded with her but her way, with all the problems she is still such a sweetie. Am hoping that things work out.

She sleeps all day till about seven, cats have had in the past didn't, they slept for a few hours then woke a bit and played then back for a nap. Then she plays with her wand but from a distance rolls on her back, goes on the window sill and watches out for a while, eating well and using the litter box.Has got her hiding place in my bedroom. When i am in my bedroom and reading out to her she sits  close up to my bed and me-ows which is the only time she makes a sound. The only place l have for her is my  bedroom but l don't go in it all day

Should she be sleeping all day then eating and playing in the night.

Still haven't got close to stroke or pet her which l am longing to do

I feel that l have turned her sleeping pattern up on end.

I am using a feliway defuser and the spray, l noticed a difference when l started using it, not a big one but she was happier in herself not so much cowering and looking terrified. Can it last for ages as the bit she is improved has took a month.  Just want to pick her up or to stroke her, thing is the breeder when she was showing Daisy to me through the cattery window she was kissing her and cuddling her and put her in a carrier so easy yet l can't even catch her.

Jill

 

[catwoman707]

It's okay, she will adapt to you and bond in time. She just hasn't had enough socialization, especially from anyone but the breeder.

Curious why she suddenly wants her back though.......odd.

Sleeping is one thing, but cat napping is another.

The diff being her ears will move to sounds if catnapping, deep sleep they will not.