Our new 6 month old kitten won't come out from under the bed!

[PestoSwimissimos]

Our beautiful cat was run over & killed this week and so we went to the RSPCA and got a new rescue kitty yesterday. He's very timid though and has been under the bed all day.

I am concerned as he hasn't eaten or drunk today. Now last night he ate a full dish of wet food plus biscuits and had been in his litter tray. So I thought all's good. But today has been another story.

Do you think he will come out and eat/drink/function when we go to bed tonight?

[thecatneuterer]

Really sorry about your previous cat.

It can take weeks for cats to become confident in a new home. And with all but the most laid back or confident of cats it usually takes a good few days to a couple of weeks.

Just give him time. Leave the food and water there. Try not to worry and just let him hide if he wants to. Yes he will almost certainly eat later on.

[bonzo77]

Does he know where his bowls and tray are? If so leave him alone. If not put them between the bed and the door and he'll sort it out. No point dragging him out, it'll make it take even longer for him to calm down. My current cat spent a couple of days under the piano when she was new (12 weeks). She's still flighty but super affectionate too.

He won't starve or dehydrate himself. He might sneak out in the night though and return the moment he hears you move.

[PestoSwimissimos]

Thank you. Yes he knows where the bowls are and his litter tray is. He used all of them yesterday, so will try not to panic. I think he will do another 'explore' tonight and hopefully in time will get more confident.

If we lie on the floor beside the bed he will come to our hands and rub his head all round them and purrs like mad. So I think he is quite accepting of us, but he definitely feels insecure in open spaces.

[cozietoesie]

Firstcat ensconced himself behind our piano when he first came to the house those many moons ago. It was a space of inches.

Just let him be, Pesto. He'll get used to the sounds and gradually become more confident. And as long as he's eating and drinking/using his tray at night, he'll be fine.

[cozietoesie]

Oh well you've won half the battle then if he'll come to you when you're lying down - after all you must be huge to him when standing up. He'll get it after a bit though.

[Mabelface]

When we adopted Brian, a rather portly and big black and white cat, he spent his first week living under our sofa. The sofa that only had about 3 clear inches underneath it. We've had him for 5 years now, and the bugger doesn't leave me along.

[Mabelface]

*Alone

[PestoSwimissimos]

Aw thank you for giving me hope that he will come out gradually in his own time. Today we have alternated between leavng him alone and laying down with him chatting and stroking him & trying to encourage him to come out. He half came out for Dreamies but refused to fall for the trail that DD2 had laid for him!

[cozietoesie]

While your DDs aren't that young, they'll likely be wanting those good kitten-cuddles and antics.

He'll be best left though. If you want to help him, encourage the DDs to maintain a calm atmosphere (lots of reading, watching movies on lowish volume etc) rather than noisy and shrieks. Ignoring him at the beginning is also likely to be a winner.

[Fluffycloudland77]

He's deciding if your all kitten murderers or not

Reading a newspaper on the floor is irresistible to a lot of cats.

[PestoSwimissimos]

Ooh I'll do the newspaper on the floor thing tomorrow!

[JerseySpud]

Leave him be. Its alot to get used to

[PestoSwimissimos]

Thank you all, lots of good advice. It's much appreciated

[Nate7227]

Hey there. Came across your thread from a google search. I also have a 6 month kitten and he’s been hiding since I brought him home. So far everything I read in your thread is the same as what he’s doing. I’m just curious how long he ended up taking to come out when you were awake? I know it’s been awhile for this thread but I hope you respond!! Thanks.