New Kitten is Lost in my Apartment

[dreamgeem]

She is now in my bathroom and the bathroom has become the cat’s room! All of the food and water and lb is in here for her as well as some beds and boxes for her to lay in. I plan to keep things like this until she begins to open up when I’m in here thank you all for your help! I’ll continue with updates but I think having her here is now the best thing for her.

 

[maggie101]

Here's my scardy cat

 

[dreamgeem]

Updates: I was worried about her eating but she’s been using the lb consistently and today she ate some churu from the stick and right out of my hand while she was hiding in her cat cube!!! Progress!!! plus I can relax a bit as I can confirm she has eaten some now.

I’m hoping she starts exploring her area and eating independently in the next few days

 

[rubysmama]

Here's a TCS article that might have some tips for you: 9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment or House - TheCatSite

 

[tabbytom]

Updates: I was worried about her eating but she’s been using the lb consistently and today she ate some churu from the stick and right out of my hand while she was hiding in her cat cube!!! Progress!!! plus I can relax a bit as I can confirm she has eaten some now.

I’m hoping she starts exploring her area and eating independently in the next few days

Don't worry, let her study the situation around her first and let her make the first move. Once she feels that it is safe and her confidence is getting better, she'll explore more on her own.

To help her move around more either confidence, have some of the towels or objects that have her scents and place ir around the room so that there'll be familiar scents when she move around.

Remember, let her explore at her own time and do not rush her. Some cats are more bold and they explore further faster and some just like to stick to where they are. Most important thing is that she comes out of hiding.

 

[Kwik]

Hi dreamgeem ,nice to meet you and welcome to TCS

What is your kittens name?

So is she still set up in the bathroom- btw,the smaller the space the safer they feel and it is always best to let them expand their territory a little at a time if it's possible to do so- like from the bathroom with door shut to opening the door after a week or 2 with a baby gate and then continue to move the gate to add hallway,then next room etc etc ...the first 30 days a cat will begin to establish the space their in as THIER territory and then they feel safe and confident and really begin to relax and start looking more for companionship

Since this is your first pet it's good to know that cats ,unlike dogs,find security in a firmly established territory ( firstly) where as dogs find security from a companion becayse they are a pack animal....so those first weeks giving a kitten space to feel secure is a good thing,meanwhile they are watching,listening and learning your scent so being in close proximity and talking to them as much as you can helps them to familiarize themselves to you being part of their territory- feeding time is the perfect opportunity to make physical contact while they are busy eating,it's good your are offering Churu on your fingers and she's eating it- progress moves quickly with young kitties like your girlSeems your doing well,Congratulations and Blessings

 

[dreamgeem]

Hi dreamgeem ,nice to meet you and welcome to TCS

What is your kittens name?

So is she still set up in the bathroom- btw,the smaller the space the safer they feel and it is always best to let them expand their territory a little at a time if it's possible to do so- like from the bathroom with door shut to opening the door after a week or 2 with a baby gate and then continue to move the gate to add hallway,then next room etc etc ...the first 30 days a cat will begin to establish the space their in as THIER territory and then they feel safe and confident and really begin to relax and start looking more for companionship

Since this is your first pet it's good to know that cats ,unlike dogs,find security in a firmly established territory ( firstly) where as dogs find security from a companion becayse they are a pack animal....so those first weeks giving a kitten space to feel secure is a good thing,meanwhile they are watching,listening and learning your scent so being in close proximity and talking to them as much as you can helps them to familiarize themselves to you being part of their territory- feeding time is the perfect opportunity to make physical contact while they are busy eating,it's good your are offering Churu on your fingers and she's eating it- progress moves quickly with young kitties like your girlSeems your doing well,Congratulations and Blessings

Hi thanks for the response! She’s spent 3 full days in the bathroom now she’s still very much hiding and still eats churu from my hand and from the stick but doesn’t come out from her hiding spot at all when I’m in there. I think she explores the bathroom when I’m at home but I haven’t seen her do that before while I was in there.

I know this is all normal. Do you guys recommend I leave her in the bathroom for a week or should I let her start to explore my bedroom so she can see me sleeping and get more stimulation?

 

[dreamgeem]

Also I let her do her own thing and ignore her other than when feeding her or sitting and ignoring her

 

[dreamgeem]

Hi thanks for the response! She’s spent 3 full days in the bathroom now she’s still very much hiding and still eats churu from my hand and from the stick but doesn’t come out from her hiding spot at all when I’m in there. I think she explores the bathroom when I’m at home but I haven’t seen her do that before while I was in there.

I know this is all normal. Do you guys recommend I leave her in the bathroom for a week or should I let her start to explore my bedroom so she can see me sleeping and get more stimulation?

I meant to say that I think she explores the bathroom when I’m not home or asleep.

 

[tabbytom]

Hi thanks for the response! She’s spent 3 full days in the bathroom now she’s still very much hiding and still eats churu from my hand and from the stick but doesn’t come out from her hiding spot at all when I’m in there. I think she explores the bathroom when I’m at home but I haven’t seen her do that before while I was in there.

I know this is all normal. Do you guys recommend I leave her in the bathroom for a week or should I let her start to explore my bedroom so she can see me sleeping and get more stimulation?

It's ok to leave her in the bathroom even for an extended period. This will be her safe room. She needs somewhere she can retreat to when she's afraid. Let her explore the bathroom first.

You can leave some of your clean unwashed, non perfumed garments with her so that she can soak up your scents. Also leave some clean towels in the bathroom to soak up her scents. Say, after 4 - 5 days and you roughly know that she has been on the towels, you can remove two pieces and leave it one outside the bathroom and one further away. Same for your used garments.

This is to prepare her when you let her explore the bedroom so that there'll be familiar scents when age ventures out and if she's freaked out, she can always retreat back to the bathroom.

Let her do the exploration at her own time. Do not rush her. First the needs to know that you are not a threat to her and secondly the bedroom is apse for her to explore. In her own time, she'll come out.

You can get some wifi camera and place one in the bathroom and one in the bedroom to observe her while you are not at home.

I think you are doing great for now. Remember, just don't betray her trust else all things will go back to square one and other may take a longer time after that for her to gain trust in you. Love, patience and routine rules the day.


Edit : Place a cardboard box in the bathroom and also one in the bedroom with her scented towels

52-reasons-why-cats-must-get-inside-boxes

 

[Kwik]

Also I let her do her own thing and ignore her other than when feeding her or sitting and ignoring her

I don't really ever ignore them- I talk to them constantly and spend as much time as possible being close by,laying on the floor reading or online ,polishing my toes- whatever

The thing is not to try and force them out of hiding - getting down staring at them etc because it's threatening to them..... But if you ' become' a non threatening part of their new environment then that's a good thing. ..baby talk and sweet talking will comfort a kitty.... Sitting or lying down and slow steady movements in close proximity gets them used to your presence