Hi there,
We adopted/re-homed a precious blue-point 6 year old male/neutered Balinese boy a month ago. He comes from a multi-pet household and was owned by a couple who wanted to re-home him because they did not have the time and attention they felt he needed. They say Balinese are hypoallergenic, and since I married my husband 3 years ago, we were unable to have a cat due to his allergies. We dared to hope...and after meeting - hubby had no reaction at all!
Well, the first week he just hid under a bed and took several days to eat anything. He loves people, and would hide but kneed the carpet when we went in to talk to him. he finally came out and explored the house, but it took a couple of weeks. We had new cat check up, and blood work (all fine). We were given a pill to help stimulate his appetite and it worked. he was starting to come around and even started to eat wet food (yay). After deciding he wouldn't sleep with us because of hubby's allergies, he slept with us after a week and does love his people.
Week 3, we went back in for shots and he went back under the bed in our room due to visitors and maybe not feeling well. We moved everything cat into our quiet master bedroom so Jazzy could stay hidden and not meet the gregarious 23 month old child that was visiting. I tried to take him out to meet the visitors, but he was obviously TERRIFIED of every new person and I returned him to the bedroom.
It took this entire week for him to come back out of his shell and eat semi-normally again. He's a big boy (17 lbs at adoption, and 16.75 at last vet visit). He is coming out of his shell to play and attacks catnip mice. He also "asks" for his catnip plant occasionally. Sometimes he breathes fast (vet can find no issues with his lungs) and he is ready to slink away at any unknown sound. Even my grown son making noise in the next room frightens Jazzy. We give him tons of cuddles and encouragement and everything we know to do. We are a single pet /adult only household. He is a kitty-puppy in general and follows me room to room. I am luckily his "person" and I notice he stays close...maybe for protection?
Has anyone else every struggled with a sensitive kitty that takes months to settle in...any advice to help him feel at home? When do you try kitty anxiety medicine?
Oh yeah...attaching kitty pics
We adopted/re-homed a precious blue-point 6 year old male/neutered Balinese boy a month ago. He comes from a multi-pet household and was owned by a couple who wanted to re-home him because they did not have the time and attention they felt he needed. They say Balinese are hypoallergenic, and since I married my husband 3 years ago, we were unable to have a cat due to his allergies. We dared to hope...and after meeting - hubby had no reaction at all!
Well, the first week he just hid under a bed and took several days to eat anything. He loves people, and would hide but kneed the carpet when we went in to talk to him. he finally came out and explored the house, but it took a couple of weeks. We had new cat check up, and blood work (all fine). We were given a pill to help stimulate his appetite and it worked. he was starting to come around and even started to eat wet food (yay). After deciding he wouldn't sleep with us because of hubby's allergies, he slept with us after a week and does love his people.
Week 3, we went back in for shots and he went back under the bed in our room due to visitors and maybe not feeling well. We moved everything cat into our quiet master bedroom so Jazzy could stay hidden and not meet the gregarious 23 month old child that was visiting. I tried to take him out to meet the visitors, but he was obviously TERRIFIED of every new person and I returned him to the bedroom.
It took this entire week for him to come back out of his shell and eat semi-normally again. He's a big boy (17 lbs at adoption, and 16.75 at last vet visit). He is coming out of his shell to play and attacks catnip mice. He also "asks" for his catnip plant occasionally. Sometimes he breathes fast (vet can find no issues with his lungs) and he is ready to slink away at any unknown sound. Even my grown son making noise in the next room frightens Jazzy. We give him tons of cuddles and encouragement and everything we know to do. We are a single pet /adult only household. He is a kitty-puppy in general and follows me room to room. I am luckily his "person" and I notice he stays close...maybe for protection?
Has anyone else every struggled with a sensitive kitty that takes months to settle in...any advice to help him feel at home? When do you try kitty anxiety medicine?
Oh yeah...attaching kitty pics