I just adopted a new cat, a 2 year old boy named Dublin. In the shelter, he was the sweetest and friendly cat that I saw. I was able to easily pick him up and put him on my lap. He was letting me rub his belly and was nearly about to fall asleep! I knew this was the cat for me. That's what makes this so frustrating that he is now the exact opposite of what he was. He was even in the free roam area of the shelter with other cats and constant human interaction.
The shelter did tell me that he took a while for him to warm up to the surroundings, and they weren't kidding. After I opened the carrier, he took a very long time before he even tried to get out of it. After he got out, he slinked around a little bit, then hid behind the washing machine. Now my washing machine is in the same pantry area that the littler box is, and is near where the food dish is. It's only a one bedroom apartment, so there isn't a huge amount of room here. That was a week ago. While he does come out to eat and use the litter, that is it. When I do peek back there just to see how things are going, he stares up at me, and will occasionally hiss if I stick around too long. For the most part I'm just leaving him alone.
I picked up some Feliway to see if that helps a little bit. There are no other cats in the house, I had to put my other cat to sleep a few weeks ago. Any suggestions to help him get out of his shell?
The shelter did tell me that he took a while for him to warm up to the surroundings, and they weren't kidding. After I opened the carrier, he took a very long time before he even tried to get out of it. After he got out, he slinked around a little bit, then hid behind the washing machine. Now my washing machine is in the same pantry area that the littler box is, and is near where the food dish is. It's only a one bedroom apartment, so there isn't a huge amount of room here. That was a week ago. While he does come out to eat and use the litter, that is it. When I do peek back there just to see how things are going, he stares up at me, and will occasionally hiss if I stick around too long. For the most part I'm just leaving him alone.
I picked up some Feliway to see if that helps a little bit. There are no other cats in the house, I had to put my other cat to sleep a few weeks ago. Any suggestions to help him get out of his shell?