New Cat Hiding Under The Bed.

[NadiasDad]

I just adopted a new cat from a shelter on Sunday and she has been hiding under the bed ever since. She does come out to use the litter box and I put some food and water under the bed and hear her consuming them at night. But I want her to feel comfortable coming out and I really want to get to know her. She was really sweet at the shelter. It’s only been 3 days but I’m struggling to be patient. How can I make her feel comfortable with me?

 

[verna davies]

This behavior is quite common. Give her time and dont force her, let her get comfortable in her own time. Her new home is strange, smells are new and so are you.
Put something that smells of you, towel, worn clothes, near where she stays. Sit in the room and softly read allowed so she gets used to your voice. Your patience will pay off. Please keep us posted.

 

[FelisCatus]

Ditto to what V verna davies said. I have had cats warm up to me in 5 seconds and on the other spectrum I have had cats who have taken up to 2-3 weeks.

For most shelter cats we don’t know their history when adopting them, they could have been abused/mistreated by humans in their prior home or on the street if they were a stray.

The sheter might have had pheromone diffusers in place that keeps them calm. Also she is in a new environment with lots and lots of new smells. Cats sense of smells are much better than ours and right now she is overwhelmed.

You must be patient, show her lots of love and eventually she will bond with you !

Keep us updated and feel free to ask any questions you have!

 

[NadiasDad]

Ok I’ll just be patient. This morning I found an 8 hour video of birds on YouTube and left it playing on my iPad for her. She came out for a bit until she saw me and went back under. She should have fun watching that today.

 

[FelisCatus]

Ok I’ll just be patient. This morning I found an 8 hour video of birds on YouTube and left it playing on my iPad for her. She came out for a bit until she saw me and went back under. She should have fun watching that today.

Cat channels are great! You could also try fish swimming back and forth .

 

[FelisCatus]

My one cat absolutely loves this one:


The others don’t, it’s a hit or miss. Just need to put in the effort and love to find out what your special little kitty likes.

Some of mine love cat grass, others hate it.
One loves catnip spray, others couldn’t care less.

It’s part of the adventure of living with cats .

 

[verna davies]

You could try Yeowww Stinkies catnip toy. Amazon sell them for $5.10. My three cats love them and are really relaxed when they play with them.

 

[rubysmama]

Hello and welcome to TCS. Congrats on the new kitty.
I'm guessing her name is "Nadia", and you're her "Dad".

As others have posted, it isn't unusual for cats to hide when first brought to their new home. Here's an older TCS thread called What Was Your Cat's Behavior Like In The First Day? which you might find interesting.

Here, also, are some TCS articles you might find helpful:
First-time Cat Owner's Guide
Bringing Home A New Cat - The Complete Guide

How To Help A New Cat Adjust To Your Home
9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment

How To Get A Cat To Come Out Of Hiding?

Good luck with her. Please post pics of her, when you can.
How To Add A Picture To Your Forum Post

 

[ellaandbosie]

to all the excellent advice given already!

Also don't be discouraged if she's a little more outgoing one day and hides the next-- sometimes it's one step forward and two steps back. Just continue to be patient, don't force her out of her hiding places and show her you're available when she comes out to interact with you.
I'll also second Feliway, I used the transport spray with Bosie and he was MUCH less shaken by the car ride than I'd previously witnessed with him.

 

[NadiasDad]

There she is under the bed.

 

[NadiasDad]

There she is under the bed.

She does have a more comfortable thing to lay on under the other side of the bed.

 

[FelisCatus]

There she is under the bed.

She’s beautiful

Try our suggestions and never give up!

If you are still having issues by say.... Caturday night, come back and chat .

 

[abyeb]

Aww! She’s so pretty! Like others have said, patience is key. Cats will often be timid for the first few days when they’re in a new environment, so this is nothing unusual. I would recommend spending time in the same room with her, reading out loud, and talking to her softly, to help her get used to your voice. You can also put some of your (slightly dirty) clothes under the bed for her to become accustomed to your smell. Let her approach you; don’t force her to come out from hiding before she’s ready. Don’t worry, she’ll be fully integrated into your home before you know it.

 

[rubysmama]

There she is under the bed.

Awww.. she's a cutie pie.

 

[Maria Bayote]

Give her time. She will come to you in her own time, under her own terms. I had one before whom I rescued from the street and who I could not see when I get in the house, but I know she was lurking in there somewhere. After a couple of weeks she slowly inched her way to me. In the end, she became the sweetest cat I have ever known in my lifetime. I miss her terribly.

 

[NadiasDad]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I bought a Feliway diffuser last night and plugged it in so hopefully that will help.

 

[FelisCatus]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I bought a Feliway diffuser last night and plugged it in so hopefully that will help.

Awesome! It should help yes. Not all cats react to them I believe, but all of mine have.

 

[rubysmama]

Here's a couple more TCS articles that might be helpful:
10 Must-know Tips For Happy Living With A Shy Cat
16 Top Cat Experts Share Tips For Dealing With Timid Cats

 

[NadiasDad]

Well she let me pet her last night. I just laid on the floor and hend my hand out and she eventually started getting closer and gradually let me pet her and then got really cuddly and was walking in circles and rolling on the floor. She pretty much stayed under the bed still but came out from under it a few times and then went back. She’s a really sweet kitty.

One thing I’m wondering about is I have a vet appointment set for after work but I told them I might have to reschedule if she won’t come out. I think I can gently grab her if I lure her out like I did last night but I’m worried I would damage the trust I’m building. Her health is important though. I don’t think she has any health problems because the shelter had a vet check her and they spayed her and vaccinated her. Just wondering if I should get the vet visit over with or wait.

 

[FelisCatus]

Great progress!

Yeah... the last thing you would want now is a vet appointment lmao. She is only just starting to trust you. If she is in good health then there is no reason to rush the appointment. Get her comfy with cages first.