Two new cats (mum and daughter aged 3 and 1) joined our household yesterday. They were living with a family in a flat, in a noisy/cramped environment with no access to the outside. The family loved them but felt they were unhappy in a noisy environment so we agreed to take them as we had just lost our much-loved cat.
The new cats have never been outside the flat before - never been in a cat basket, never been in a car and of course our house is very strange to them. So we expected them to be very nervous but we didn't anticipate how terrified they would be.
As soon as they arrived (about 18 hours ago) they ran under the sofa and haven't moved since. They are shaking with fear. We left them alone as we thought after a couple of hours they might start exploring. But we got up this morning and they are still under the sofa. We left food, water and a litter tray in front of the sofa but they haven't been touched.
I'm now really worried that they will start to be dehydrated and that the stress will impact on them, but don't know what to do. I'm working at home today but don't know if I should keep going into the living room or just leave them be. They were used to a very noisy environment where the tv was on all the time - should I put the tv on for them? Would that help?
I can't move the sofa by myself and think that would completely freak them. But I don't like the thought that they are squashed under there (not a big gap).
Dh had booked to take them to the vet tomorrow for jabs and check up but we will cancel that as they have never been to a vet and I don't want to inflict more stress on them at the moment.
Any ideas as to how long I should leave them and what I should do if they are still not coming out after, say, 24 hours?
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The litter tray
New cats are terrIfield - please help
50 replies
UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 05/10/2016 08:04
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