Scared semi feral stray cat hiding for a month

tabbytom

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Yup it's a pair of home shorts so they're soft and cottony. Any other tips to make him feel more at home? Patience isnt my virtue and I feel the universe is training me to be patience haha
I think he’s pretty much made himself comfortable at this moment. Let him open up himself at his own timing. Please don’t rush in.
Just observe him and watch his body language and work from there.

Yes, patience is key. This is very important. It’s baking a cake. You need the right ingredients and timing. You cannot open the oven half way and take the cake out to eat.
 
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charbby

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Alrighty. He seems more comfortable when nobody's at home cause it's quieter. It makes me very guilty to come home and make normal home noises. I'll give him time and be as patient as I can. He still hides at any sound, especially when I open the room door to clean the litterbox or feed him. Hope he gets comfortable with the sounds and me soon.

I think he’s pretty much made himself comfortable at this moment. Let him open up himself at his own timing. Please don’t rush in.
Just observe him and watch his body language and work from there.

Yes, patience is key. This is very important. It’s baking a cake. You need the right ingredients and timing. You cannot open the oven half way and take the cake out to eat.
 

Kwik

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Alrighty. He seems more comfortable when nobody's at home cause it's quieter. It makes me very guilty to come home and make normal home noises. I'll give him time and be as patient as I can. He still hides at any sound, especially when I open the room door to clean the litterbox or feed him. Hope he gets comfortable with the sounds and me soon.
A small part of the big picture is going about your business without worrying and looking to see how kitty is responding to your activities and daily house sounds-you'll quickly come to realize the less you "seem" to pay attention to your cat the more attention you'll get from him.....it's just CAT world,lol

It's like first time parents with a newborn-whispering and tiptoeing around the house trying not to wake the baby- all it does it train a baby to wake up from any little sound,like a beep from the microwave!

Then there's the mother of 5 kids,by thst time she's playing her radio while vacuuming the carpet and the new-born is snoring away... desensitize and get him used to the sounds humans make all day long-

Of course with a newly transitioned outdoor to indoor kitty you have to use your common sense and be considerate not to scare the daylights out of him (eg: barging through the door and vacuuming his safe room!) That can wait until he knows tye environment well and has his safe places to hide if he's frightened

My Timmy was TERRIFIED of the big screen TV---- imagine seeing giant size birds ,squirrels and goliath humans running to and fro - and all the sounds to go with it - I didn't turn the TV on for 30 days,now he lies down in front of it while bombs are exploding and there are shoot outs with people screaming etc..... gradual desensitization.... but for normal daily things he will easily adjust if you simply go about your business ,letting him move at his own pace❤
 
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charbby

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Unfortunately I do vacuum and mop in his safe room cause the litter I use tracks everywhere. (I use world's best and thinking of transitioning to tofu to avoid the mess). But this has been going on for a while so hopefully he is used to it. He hides ofc when I enter. I am now sitting in the room playing calming music and reading. The hope is that he'll get used to me and be curious to peek out one day.

A small part of the big picture is going about your business without worrying and looking to see how kitty is responding to your activities and daily house sounds-you'll quickly come to realize the less you "seem" to pay attention to your cat the more attention you'll get from him.....it's just CAT world,lol

It's like first time parents with a newborn-whispering and tiptoeing around the house trying not to wake the baby- all it does it train a baby to wake up from any little sound,like a beep from the microwave!

Then there's the mother of 5 kids,by thst time she's playing her radio while vacuuming the carpet and the new-born is snoring away... desensitize and get him used to the sounds humans make all day long-

Of course with a newly transitioned outdoor to indoor kitty you have to use your common sense and be considerate not to scare the daylights out of him (eg: barging through the door and vacuuming his safe room!) That can wait until he knows tye environment well and has his safe places to hide if he's frightened

My Timmy was TERRIFIED of the big screen TV---- imagine seeing giant size birds ,squirrels and goliath humans running to and fro - and all the sounds to go with it - I didn't turn the TV on for 30 days,now he lies down in front of it while bombs are exploding and there are shoot outs with people screaming etc..... gradual desensitization.... but for normal daily things he will easily adjust if you simply go about your business ,letting him move at his own pace❤
 

Kwik

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Unfortunately I do vacuum and mop in his safe room cause the litter I use tracks everywhere. (I use world's best and thinking of transitioning to tofu to avoid the mess). But this has been going on for a while so hopefully he is used to it. He hides ofc when I enter. I am now sitting in the room playing calming music and reading. The hope is that he'll get used to me and be curious to peek out one day.
I certainly understand wanting to keep the house clean but you can do the old fashioned get on your hands & knees with a wisk ,,dust pan and sweep it up for a couple of weeks( just sayin) I did thst for the first 30days not to terrify my boy--- oh they'll certainly survive but sometimes a little sacrifice goes a very long way

If your on the floor sweeping up everyday they get very curious and it's very gratifying seeing their little head peeking to see what your up to- I actually spent days & days searching for the quietest vacuum I could afford and that was good with cat litter-found a Fabuletta stick vacuum & I'm so happy I did thst to get Timmy used to me vacuuming as my Bissel is very loud and powerful,it'll suck tye paint off the wall but it's not great with litter( fur yes but not litter) the Fabuletta is excellent

Anyway ,thats my 2cents ,that & 2 dollars might get you on a bus :flail: I
 

tabbytom

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Alrighty. He seems more comfortable when nobody's at home cause it's quieter. It makes me very guilty to come home and make normal home noises. I'll give him time and be as patient as I can. He still hides at any sound, especially when I open the room door to clean the litterbox or feed him. Hope he gets comfortable with the sounds and me soon.
He definitely feels more comfortable when one one's home at this moment. It's normal that you make normal home noises, he'll get use to it and he'll learn by the sound you make and he'll know it's nit a threat to him although it's better to keep loud noise down.

You can continue your normal chores and before you do that say vacuuming the floor, do not just enter the room and turn on the vacuum cleaner. You may want to leave the vacuum cleaner in his room for 1/2 hour or so and let him check it out even though it's from a distance. Talk to him softly and tell him that you are about to vacuum the room. Go through the action of vacuuming without turning on the vacuum cleaner. Let him get use to the motion.

Then plug in the vacuum cleaner if the cord is long enough, start outside the room where he cannot see the vacuum cleaner but can only hear the sound. If the cord his not long enough, plug it in another room and start the sound.

Before entering the room, vacuum outside his room and let him peek at the vacuum cleaner and at the same time you try to peek at him and see what's his reaction to the sound of the vacuum cleaner. After awhile, slowly enter the room and vacuum slowly and at the same time talk to him. If you can, you don't have to do the whole room at one go. Do the other part the next day and slowly move closer to him or to the litter box.

Cats will be ok with certain sounds and other sounds and action will also send the hiding. For example, my boy is afraid of loud sounds and also certain loud sounds and actions. Whenever he sees me or hears me doing something with that kind of sound even though how quietly I do it, once he sees and hears it, he'll run for cover. He'll only come out after all is quiet. Mind you, my boy has been staying here for almost 8 years already. so please don't be despair if your cat is afraid. It's normal.

Unfortunately I do vacuum and mop in his safe room cause the litter I use tracks everywhere. (I use world's best and thinking of transitioning to tofu to avoid the mess). But this has been going on for a while so hopefully he is used to it. He hides ofc when I enter. I am now sitting in the room playing calming music and reading. The hope is that he'll get used to me and be curious to peek out one day.
If you intent to change his litter over to Tofu Cat Litter, here's a transition over to Tofu Cat Litter for my boy :- A Documentation on the Transition from Clay Litter to Tofu Cat Litter for my boy You may want to give it a read.

Always announce your arrival. Call out his name in a sweet voice and tell him that you are coming into the room and don't just barge in. Once you call out his name and announce your arrival, squat or kneel at the door and see where he is and blink eyes with him and slowly crawl in on your fours and stay at a safe distance and talk to him and ask him how is his day and try to play with him with a cat wand or ball or try to give him treats.

Once he gets used to all these non threatening action, his trust in you will deepen. Remember, love, patience and routine rules the day.
 
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charbby

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Thanks all. I've placed the vacuum stick on the floor tonight for him to see it. To be honest, he hides in a way that he can't see anything and I've decided not to actively seek him out to look at him. I do knock when I enter the room and talk to him to tell him what I'm going to do.
 

tabbytom

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Thanks all. I've placed the vacuum stick on the floor tonight for him to see it. To be honest, he hides in a way that he can't see anything and I've decided not to actively seek him out to look at him. I do knock when I enter the room and talk to him to tell him what I'm going to do.
Yea, let him get use to things around. After some time, he'll kind of know your schedules and you can slowly work your way up.
 

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Oh no I just went in to the room after deciding to add some tofu litter to the litter. He was out of his hiding hole and immediately freaked. Will he be okay? I knocked but maybe he didn't hear it
You might want to try speaking by the door instead of knocking- he only hears a noise and doesn't really know what a knocking sound means.... You can say his name and talk to him before opening the door- a much gentler approach to tell him your on your way in❤
 
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charbby

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Yeah I did all that. I always knock and say whiskers I'm coming in but maybe he didn't hear this time idk. He really freaked out and immediately scampered back into his hiding hole.
Will he be okay? I feel so guilty.

You might want to try speaking by the door instead of knocking- he only hears a noise and doesn't really know what a knocking sound means.... You can say his name and talk to him before opening the door- a much gentler approach to tell him your on your way in❤
 

tabbytom

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Oh no I just went in to the room after deciding to add some tofu litter to the litter. He was out of his hiding hole and immediately freaked. Will he be okay? I knocked but maybe he didn't hear it
He should be ok. As long as you are the one or it’s your husband as the two of you he’ll have to get used to. Both of you should take turns entering the room so that he gets used to you guys faster.

Once he knows it’s both of you, even if he freaks out and run to hide, it’s not as bad as say a delivery guy whom he has not met before enters the room.
 
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charbby

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So I was asking around for advice and someone said to force whiskers out of his shell by being firm about meals so that he'll eat when I'm in the room. That means putting food down, sitting in the room for some time, and taking the food away even if he doesn't eat. Eventually he'll come around.

It's tough love but it's like blocking off hiding spots. Ofc the intention is not to harm but sometimes we've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette.

Thoughts?
 

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So I was asking around for advice and someone said to force whiskers out of his shell by being firm about meals so that he'll eat when I'm in the room. That means putting food down, sitting in the room for some time, and taking the food away even if he doesn't eat. Eventually he'll come around.

It's tough love but it's like blocking off hiding spots. Ofc the intention is not to harm but sometimes we've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette.

Thoughts?
I can't agree with that method at all- what's the hurry? Whiskers has found his forever home,why rush him forceably? That's almost like saying " starve him out of hiding"- don't you agree?

In that way he'll surely eventually come out to eat and he'll eat nervously ,not as he should- peacefully. .. help him to be confident,relaxed,unafraid and he will trust you as you pose no threat .... I believe in moving at their rate of comfort,a month hiding is not that long- do things in his room where he can hear you and get used to your presence,he doesn't have to see you to get to know you and trust you- it begins with scent and sound.... You can put articles of your clothing with your scent on it neat his den so he begins to familiarize ....
 
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charbby

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Yeah there's already a set of both my clothing and my husband's in the room and he does sit on it cause we place it where he hangs out.

Yeah I guess I'm just really demoralized and maybe grasping at straws here.

I can't agree with that method at all- what's the hurry? Whiskers has found his forever home,why rush him forceably? That's almost like saying " starve him out of hiding"- don't you agree?

In that way he'll surely eventually come out to eat and he'll eat nervously ,not as he should- peacefully. .. help him to be confident,relaxed,unafraid and he will trust you as you pose no threat .... I believe in moving at their rate of comfort,a month hiding is not that long- do things in his room where he can hear you and get used to your presence,he doesn't have to see you to get to know you and trust you- it begins with scent and sound.... You can put articles of your clothing with your scent on it neat his den so he begins to familiarize ....
 

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but sometimes we've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette.
I can't say this with enough emphasis, but absolutely not where cats are concerned.

Don't rush him. There's no need. I've said that time and time again here and in other threads, and Kwik and others have as well.

So I was asking around for advice
Please, please help both yourself and this cat because he can pick up on your emotions, and relax about the whole situation.
 
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charbby

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Oh I feel like we're not progressing and I often doubt myself if I'm doing the right thing. Also I wonder if whiskers hates me and the place.

How is it demoralizing?
 
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