Very shy new kitten

[mnistooaddictive]

We have 2 british shorthair kittens that we got on Friday. We were warned that the boy was quite shy, but since bringing them home he just hides in the bed, occasionally venturing out to eat tiny quantities of food. We have moved his food to next to his bed and he has eaten quite a lot.
Am I right to just leave him to find his space in his own time?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Yes, leave him to it.

[cozietoesie]

How's he doing?

[mnistooaddictive]

He will now eat in front of us and will come within a couple of metres but won't willingly be cuddled or come any closer! At least he is making progress!

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's really slow going with some of them, one of ours took months & then decided we weren't going to kill her.

[girliefriend]

When we first got our boy cat he hid behind the fridge or under the sofa for at least a week!

He gradually got more confident and he is now very affectionate, just give it time.

[mnistooaddictive]

Thanks everyone, he is truly beautiful and fluffy so definitely worth the wait!

[Fluffycloudland77]

That's lovely, photo?



I am kitten deprived by a furry tyrant.

[cozietoesie]

Hard though it may be, perhaps try to ignore him a bit and just go about your business - although maybe holding back a little on noisy DIY or over-hoovering as best you can for the duration. (That would be physically: lots of talking and name-using would be more than fine.)

It sounds pretty promising actually given that you were warned he was a shy one.



PS - he sounds pretty 'food-motivated' so the occasional bribe treat might be productive.

[cozietoesie]

Any improvement?

[mnistooaddictive]

He still won't cone too close or let us pick him up but he now comes out to eat and will run around!

[cozietoesie]

That's fine. He may end up being a slightly standoffish cat but he sounds happy enough and who knows but that he's just going to take a real long while to come round and may end up as a cuddler once winter arrives.

(When Seniorboy came here after my mother died, he hid for many weeks if I recall: he's now snoring happily in my bed.)

You're doing well anyway.

PS - how is he getting on with the other kitten? (His sister?)

[mnistooaddictive]

To update, he is much braver! He will let us stroke him on the ground and will happily walk around our feet. The 2 of them sleep curled up together and play fight lots! He lives DH and will let him pick him up, I am occasionally honoured with cuddles but not often! He really has made progress although he is still quite thin as sister dominates at meal times! There is always food left however so he isn't starving. He has the most beautiful face.

[cozietoesie]

Great stuff. Let us know of progress. (With pictures of course.)

[Fluffycloudland77]

We used to feed our sibling pair separately , the male was a total Garfield.

It sounds like your dh is the chosen one though.