New Kitten is Lost in my Apartment

[dreamgeem]

Hi everyone!!

I just adopted my first kitten and cat that I’ve ever owned. She’s my first pet who is truly my own, and I am so excited to have her.

I knew before adopting that she takes a minute to warm up to people. She was a foster who was raised from being a neonatal.
I brought her home last night and she was definitely nervous and skittish which was to be expected. She was hiding all night and I knew where she was before I went to bed. When I woke up this morning she was no where to be found. I knew she was probably hiding but throughout the day I casually searched, but could not find her at all. I checked EVERYWHERE! I live in a small apartment there aren’t many places she could go. It seems she is no where to be found but she couldn’t have gotten outside as I have barely left the apartment myself today.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get her out and help her become more comfortable? It has been 24 hours since I’ve seen her so I just want to at least confirm she is okay and still in the apartment. I have set out lures of wet warm cat food and salmon. And I am trying to keep my apartment as quiet and calm as possible. I feel so bad that I don’t know where she is and am worried that I messed up already..

 

[tabbytom]

Hi everyone!!

I just adopted my first kitten and cat that I’ve ever owned. She’s my first pet who is truly my own, and I am so excited to have her.

I knew before adopting that she takes a minute to warm up to people. She was a foster who was raised from being a neonatal.
I brought her home last night and she was definitely nervous and skittish which was to be expected. She was hiding all night and I knew where she was before I went to bed. When I woke up this morning she was no where to be found. I knew she was probably hiding but throughout the day I casually searched, but could not find her at all. I checked EVERYWHERE! I live in a small apartment there aren’t many places she could go. It seems she is no where to be found but she couldn’t have gotten outside as I have barely left the apartment myself today.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get her out and help her become more comfortable? It has been 24 hours since I’ve seen her so I just want to at least confirm she is okay and still in the apartment. I have set out lures of wet warm cat food and salmon. And I am trying to keep my apartment as quiet and calm as possible. I feel so bad that I don’t know where she is and am worried that I messed up already..

and welcome to TCS!

Ok, first, do not panic. You mentioned that you lived in a small apartment and you barely left the apartment and from what I see, she should be still in the apartment.

I presume that your kitten is still very young and so it's likely to be pretty small and small kittens and even adult cats, can squeezed into small holes.
Did you check under the the recliner, if you have one. If you do, just check from below and do not reclone the recliner as the mechanism may try the kitten and the kitten can be hurt from it.

Also any holes that is squeezable like behind the fridge, washing machine, dryer, under the gap of a cabinet or drawers or behind a pipe or behind the toilet bowl or any boxes she could get in to hide or on top of the cabinet, behind the shoe rack, in the cupboard under pills of clothings. Many possibilities of hiding place but you have to slowly go cover them and see if she's there. Also use a torch light to shine into dark recesses and see if light form the torch will light up her eyes.

They can keep very still and not make a noise so you have to be thorough in your search but not to scare her further while searching for her as the more afraid she is, the further in she'll go where she's hiding.

Do keep us posted of the search and I hope you find her soon.

 

[epona]

It sounds like she's still in there somewhere, unless you had a window or door open it's unlikely that she got out.

I am sure she is fine, I would strongly recommend when you do find her and if she is willing to come out, to put her in your bedroom with everything she needs and keep her in there for at least 1-2 weeks or until she gets used to you and that area, don't let her have access to the whole apartment right away - it sounds odd but it really does help them to settle to just be in a smaller area at first, I like the bedroom because they also get to see you sleep which helps them feel secure and get used to seeing you relaxed, but some people use a different small room.

I am sure she is in there somewhere and will emerge at some point - it might be worth turning the lights off and using the light on your phone to look under furniture, you might be able to see her eyes reflecting light if you do that - but if she's holed up somewhere under furniture it's probably better to make sure she has litter tray and food and water bowls nearby, rather than trying to move her right away.

 

[maggie101]

When my cat was 5 weeks old,she could fit in the palm of my hand! I am also in an apartment. One place she would hide is a tiny openg between the kitchen sink and stove near the floor. Wonder what else is in there? Kittens are experts at hiding in small places,behind furniture up high, so many opportunities! How old is she?

 

[Draco]

Kittens can squeeze in tiny places. Look in unexpected places, like drawers and behind furniture.

Once you find her, I like to use the bathroom for kittens. It's much smaller and cats tend to like smaller places when scared. Just keep the toilet lid down!

Put out stinky smelly food, hopefully it'll entice her to come out. I'd also sit somewhere and read a book out loud, gently, so she can hear your voice and get used to you.

 

[di and bob]

Yes, leave food, water and a litter box out and monitor them to make sure they have been used. Leave some kibble out as well as canned food. For now, talk gently to her so she gets used to your voice. A kitten can hide almost anywhere, I have found them clear up into the springs of a couch, behind the fridge, and in places you swear they could not go. She is there.
Kittens, as are all cats, are extreme creatures of habit. Any changes completely terrify them. I've had cats hide for weeks until they feel safe enough to come out. Just make sure she is eating and using the litter box.
I am sorry you are going through this, please keep us posted! PS trail cameras are extremely cheap, may be you could buy/borrow one and set it up to see if she comes out at night.

 

[dreamgeem]

When my cat was 5 weeks old,she could fit in the palm of my hand! I am also in an apartment. One place she would hide is a tiny openg between the kitchen sink and stove near the floor. Wonder what else is in there? Kittens are experts at hiding in small places,behind furniture up high, so many opportunities! How old is she?

She’s around 6-8 months but she’s still quite a little thing! It doesn’t help that she’s a little black cat and my cabinets and floors are black hahaha. I have a theory she is hiding in my pots and pans at the moment but I’m gonna let her chill for a minute there if she is

 

[dreamgeem]

Hi everyone thank you SO much for your responses - GREAT NEWS she used the litter box in the middle of the night!!! I still don’t know exactly where she is but she is okay and within my apartment which calms me down immensely

 

[rubysmama]

Oh, that's great news! At least you know for sure she's in the apartment, and that wherever she's hiding, she can get out on her own.

To try to tow her out, try playing cat meowing videos. Maybe a mama cat calling to her kittens. Or kittens meowing.

There's also this TCS article with tips: Help! My Cat Is Lost! [Step By Step Guidance To Find Your Beloved Kitty] - TheCatSite

Keep us posted.

 

[dreamgeem]

Left for work today and came home and I didn’t see any sign that she ate or used the litter box but I think I may have figured out where she is. I found some holes underneath the boards of my cabinets so I think she is behind my cabinets. I put a can of salmon right outside of those and I think I might sit nearby and read out loud to her.
Fingers crossed - going on 48 hours now

 

[Margot Lane]

If so, obviously prep to board up those holes! The last time I read one of these threads, the kitty was behind the fridge. Other have chimed in in the past saying they found their kitty under the bed. Perhaps a cat cam would help, or, maybe at night if you have an infared or heat sensing flashlight? (For all I know these days there might even be an app for that). It really does help to call the kitty the way a momma would, even if you imitate the sound yourself.

 

[maggie101]

My cat also loved my singing,go figure. Talk quietly. Cats hearing is superb, even better than dogs! Glad you found him. My cat would pounce at any wand toy- no feathers

 

[Meowmee]

That’s great that she is still in your apartment and doing OK. Sounds like she is behind those cabinets probably. So I would focus on that area and try doing the tape recording of a cat calling her kittens like everybody said someone actually found their cat, written on a the Siamese cats site, that way when the cat escaped outside.

I would definitely keep her in your bedroom after she comes out etc., for the first week or so till she acclimates and board up those holes or wherever else she may be hiding.

When I brought Quinn home, he would only come out in the general area of the house if I was home. For the first two weeks, he would hide inside my closet. I had him set up in the bedroom, mostly but he was allowed to come out too. And I could find him in the closet… as soon as I came home, he knew and he would come out. Then after about two weeks, he started to accept everybody else in the house. I was so delighted one day to come home and see him sleeping on my father’s chest.

One thing that his breeder told me to do is to put an item of clothing that smells like me in the carrier before I came to pick him up. I think that’s a good idea to do for every cat wherever you get them from… a shelter, etc. because then the cat knows your smell and they will already feel like they are familiar with something when they get to your home.

When she does come out for longer, please post some pics of her I love black cats. My Wizard was an all black cat with a tiny white locket on his chest.

 

[dreamgeem]

That’s great that she is still in your apartment and doing OK. Sounds like she is behind those cabinets probably. So I would focus on that area and try doing the tape recording of a cat calling her kittens like everybody said someone actually found their cat, written on a the Siamese cats site, that way when the cat escaped outside.

I would definitely keep her in your bedroom after she comes out etc., for the first week or so till she acclimates and board up those holes or wherever else she may be hiding.

When I brought Quinn home, he would only come out in the general area of the house if I was home. For the first two weeks, he would hide inside my closet. I had him set up in the bedroom, mostly but he was allowed to come out too. And I could find him in the closet… as soon as I came home, he knew and he would come out. Then after about two weeks, he started to accept everybody else in the house. I was so delighted one day to come home and see him sleeping on my father’s chest.

One thing that his breeder told me to do is to put an item of clothing that smells like me in the carrier before I came to pick him up. I think that’s a good idea to do for every cat wherever you get them from… a shelter, etc. because then the cat knows your smell and they will already feel like they are familiar with something when they get to your home.

When she does come out for longer, please post some pics of her I love black cats. My Wizard was an all black cat with a tiny white locket on his chest.

I will absolutely post photos of her once she warms up and starts walking around more!!! She also is all black with a little spot on her chest!!!!

 

[dreamgeem]

Hi again everyone!!! I have some updates - so she left her hidey hole behind my cabinets in the middle of the night (I’m currently in the process of boarding those up haha) and I was able to get her into my room today as previously recommended so that she can get used to me and my scent and be around me while I sleep she is currently hiding in one of my suitcases underneath my bed lol.

I was wondering if yall think I should move all of her stuff into this room with me (little box and food and water) or should I keep my door open so she can get out if she wants and keep everything that I had in the same place in my living area? As long as I board up those holes I’m not worried about her getting lost out there I just don’t want to disrupt her if she learned her litter box and food is in a different area.
Thoughts?

 

[dreamgeem]

If so, obviously prep to board up those holes! The last time I read one of these threads, the kitty was behind the fridge. Other have chimed in in the past saying they found their kitty under the bed. Perhaps a cat cam would help, or, maybe at night if you have an infared or heat sensing flashlight? (For all I know these days there might even be an app for that). It really does help to call the kitty the way a momma would, even if you imitate the sound yourself.

That’s where she was!!! i will definitely be boarding up those holes now

 

[maggie101]

I rescued a 2 year old cat. Under my couch for 3 months,bedroom for a year. I left the door open so she could come out when ready. When she was in my bed room I gave her a scratcher,chew toys,and played with a wand. She's now in my living room

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Absolutely keep her in that one room, with all of her stuff, until she is comfortable and out and about...THEN give her some extra space! You don't want to overwhelm her anymore that she was!

 

[Meowmee]

Hi again everyone!!! I have some updates - so she left her hidey hole behind my cabinets in the middle of the night (I’m currently in the process of boarding those up haha) and I was able to get her into my room today as previously recommended so that she can get used to me and my scent and be around me while I sleep she is currently hiding in one of my suitcases underneath my bed lol.

I was wondering if yall think I should move all of her stuff into this room with me (little box and food and water) or should I keep my door open so she can get out if she wants and keep everything that I had in the same place in my living area? As long as I board up those holes I’m not worried about her getting lost out there I just don’t want to disrupt her if she learned her litter box and food is in a different area.
Thoughts?

I would keep her in one room only for a week, and put an item of your clothing or a blanket you use in the suitcase. I think she can adjust to the lb moving and you could have two, one where it is and another in the bedroom. In not too long I am sure she will be out with you and cuddling etc.

 

[tabbytom]

I was wondering if yall think I should move all of her stuff into this room with me (little box and food and water) or should I keep my door open so she can get out if she wants and keep everything that I had in the same place in my living area? As long as I board up those holes I’m not worried about her getting lost out there I just don’t want to disrupt her if she learned her litter box and food is in a different area.
Thoughts?

Yes, please keep her in the room. Let her gain more confidence. If you leave the door open, she may find other place to hide.