Today, I welcomed a new addition to the household - Olive (pic attached, I know the rules!)
She's from a local rescue charity, and has been in foster care for about 3 months. They think she's about 7 years old, but she has no teeth, so it's hard to tell. It's also likely that she was mistreated at some point in her history as she's taken a long while to gain confidence with her foster carer.
Of course she's now back to a strange situation for her, so I appreciate that it will take some time for her to get that confidence back. And that's absolutely fine. I just want to make her feel safe and secure, and reassured that she'll never be mistreated again.
At the moment she's in my attic on her own, hiding under the bed. She has access to wet food and some (small kibble) dried food, plus water and a litter tray. She can be up there as long as she needs, to find her feet and get used to her new situation.
So my questions - while she's up there, how is best to visit her?
I'm working nights for 4 nights now, so can pop up frequently (all being well at work), to make sure she's ok. But is that too much?
Should I let her have an undisturbed long stretch (as she would normally get overnight) and see if she ventures out for food/water/toilet?
I'm planning to spend a couple of hours up there just sitting quietly, reading, and talking gentle nonsense to her tomorrow, just to try to get her used to me. But I'll leave her under the bed to come out in her own time. Does that sound ok?
At some point I will then need to get her used to her housemate, Henry. My gut reaction is that she needs time alone first to settle into the house, then start introducing his scent etc, before eventually trying a face to face meeting (with him in his harness possibly to calm him down). But is this wrong? Should I start with his scent now, to get all the new things out of the way at once?
Final question - should I use a Feliway in the attic for her now?
Apologies for the essay - I want to get this right and make her a happy puss!
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The litter tray
Advice needed - new rescue cat (pic included)
OliveHenry · 28/08/2020 21:53
I really think you are doing all the right things! I find Feliway great for my two, who are very settled but hate any changes.
Just don't expect too much too soon or get disheartened. She's fallen in her feet with you, I'm sure 
.
I've just popped upstairs to say goodnight. She's still under the bed, but I managed to put my hand out to her to let her have a sniff. She didn't react much, but didn't hiss or growl, or move away. So I'm taking that as a win!
I've put her to bed for the night - had to resist the temptation to leave a light on for her. Feliway plugged in and pumping out its magic.
More baby steps tomorrow
Ohh she is lovely and YY to the CatCam . My malecat hid under the sofa for the forst week , his sister was prowling round the room.
The did eat and pooh /pee .
the CatCam was very re assuring in that we knew he wasn't perma-bonded to the sofa .And it is interesting to see what the little ratbags get up to 
Did her fostercarer give you any tips on what they tried when Olive was first with them? For your cat it's like going through it all over , new people, new smells , new house layout .. Did they have other cats there ?
Most animals thrive on Routine (and food)
Thought I'd do a quick update. Olive has been here 3 weeks now, and is gaining confidence each day. She still hasn't come down from the attic, but I think it's just a matter of time.
Henry went up to have a look and they were nose to nose for a while (he did hiss a bit) and then he backed off. He's been up a couple of times since, and on Thursday came down in a tearing hurry, scattering food on his way. When I went up there was a little patch of ginger fur on the floor.....
So it seems as though Olive is more than capable of standing up for herself, which I find reassuring (as my previous cat used to back off, which only made Henry worse). I think it's doing him good to be challenged
We're at the stage now where I leave the attic door open whenever we're in the house during the day, so there is chance for them to mingle. Might try leaving it open overnight tonight, to see if she's a bit braver at exploring in the dark!
Thanks all. Sounds as though naughty torties really exist!
Had them sharing a lick-e-lix today, with only a bit of hissing. Photo shows the totally ignored cat bed
After this Henry departed, and I had Olive beside me on the bed, for the first time!
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