So, I brought home my new cat on Friday from a rescue centre and things have not gone so well since!
He is a young cat who was found wandering and taken to the cat rescue centre (so no history know). He had been there just over a week when I saw him and really liked him.
When I met him he was a little hesitant but let my son and I stroke him and he seemed OK with this.
So I bring him home Friday and basically I haven't seen him since!....He is in one room with all his toys, litter box and food and he has just been hiding behind the sofa since he got here. I've generally left him alone but he seems to be absolutely terrified!.....he is wedged right in the narrowest end of the sofa facing the wall and just stays in that position all day. He comes out at night to eat (very little) and that's it!!
He has not made a sound, but seems rigid with fear and his breathing is very fast like he's panicking.
I'm wandering if he is feral and never been in a home before (he's under a year old)....I've had lots of cats in the past and never experienced this level of fear before.....any advice??
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The litter tray
Please help, new cat seems traumatised!!!
Daisycat22 · 04/05/2014 12:04
It's normal for cats to hide behind the sofa for a few days. I adopted a huge, vicious, swaggering brute of a cat from a rescue centre and even he mostly hid for a few days before taking over the house and the entire neighbourhood. Cats are territorial animals and suddenly being in a completely unfamiliar environment is very frightening for them until they get to know it.
Keep him closed in one room, try not to make loads of noise when you're in there, and take time (if you have any) to see if you can tempt him out with Dreamies or bits of ham etc. He will be fine. If you think he's not eating or drinking, put some biscuits in a saucer and post them under the sofa near where he is. Once he's had something to eat he will most likely feel more like himself. Don't worry though, if he's quite shy it might just take him a little while to settle in.
Also FWIW we now have two cats who were born feral and so can be very nervous. When we moved house we bought the Feliway room mister and sprayed it around the room they were in. It seemed to make a difference and they were racing around like they owned the place they do in no time 
Another tip we had from the Cats Protection League is that to cats, staring directly at someone is aggressive. So if / when he does come out, ignore him. Pretend nothing is going on, look away, read your book, watch the telly. He'll come and have a sniff at you eventually and will feel like you're not a threat meanwhile.
It can be the hardest thing in the world, trying not to look at the ridiculously cute cat that is prowling around your living room, but again it works. Probably because cats can't stand being ignored
If you have time, get a pack of those reconstituted chicken slices for sandwiches and see if he fancies a bit. Post some under his sofa on a saucer first, leave, see if they get eaten. Do that for a few days and then see if you can tempt him forwards a bit for some while you're there. Let him gradually get more confident approaching you until he's happy to take a bit off you. After that it's just a matter of time and association.
I found as well that just quietly being in the room, on a laptop or whatever, helped our shy kittens to get used to us. It wasn't long before they started getting curious and prowling about. But he sounds really anxious, poor little love, so the Feliway is a good idea. Perhaps he was dumped somewhere (it happens quite a lot in recessions) and now gets all upset at a sudden change of environment 
It's very encouraging to hear of success stories...it gives me hope 
The poor mite is still behind the sofa, I'm going to go to my room for the night now so he can come out and eat and use his litter tray.
I'm hoping it won't be too long before he's ruling the roost and lets me give him lots of cuddles
Well this morning seems a little more encouraging. It seems our little cat has eaten all the food left out for him (wet and dry), used the litter tray, played with one of his toys and pulled my fairy lights off the fire place!
He was still behind the sofa when I went in but it seems he's a little more relaxed judging by his antics last night
I will not bother him today, I'll just do my normal things and pray he ventures out.
Fluffycloudland77 - The trouble is the sofa is a large corner one which takes up the entire corner of the room, the only way I can see him (and him me) is by peering over the top, which makes him feel intimidated.
ThstledownandCobweb - Little cat is adorable and looks very happy....hoe my little boy looks like that soon!
Well that seems good, Daisy. Eaten, (presumably) drunk some water and used his tray? Plus playing some?
Night time behaviour was the only way we knew that Seniorboy was alive for some time - we never did find for certain where he was hiding during the day - so we just left him to it and eventually he came out in the daytime. At which point, all we did was say 'Hi Seniorboy ....Good Boy' (or something similar) and then ignored him. Once he'd learned his new household's routine and his place in it, he grew in confidence almost daily.
I'd just not pressure him as you suggested - change food/water and clean litter tray - all those good domestic things - and leave him to it.
Very encouraging, really.
Oh and the cardboard box is a good idea. Cats like to feel like they can't be snuck up on so position it against a wall, ideally under a table or something, with a good view of the room.
I remember being so pleased after we got our two shy cats when the box started purring
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Ok......So our little kitty stayed behind the sofa yesterday, I didn't look at him and just carried on my day as normal.
Late evening my son and I were quietly watching TV when he actually ventured out from behind the sofa!
.....My son and I froze and didn't make a sound but as soon as he saw us he scarpered back behind the sofa!
Last night it seems he ate very well, used his tray and was playing quite a bit.
I went to work this morning, came back and he is behind the sofa but he is a lot nearer one end of the sofa (so I can actually see his face) rather than wedged in the corner furthest from us.
So progress I think.....I'm hoping by the end of the week I can take a picture of him sitting on my lap for all you cat lovers to see
P.S I have the Feliway plug in, put a cardboard box in the corner near the sofa and his new (very tall) cat activity centre arrived today which is placed near the window
He peeped! He peeped!
Cats can't stand being ignored Keep up the ignoring and the Feliway and he'll be ruling your house with an iron paw exploring in no time.
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