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Original poster

Cat we have rehomed hissing at us

89 replies

why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:22

She must be scared - she is 6 years old and has lived all her life so far with her previous owners.

Now she is in a completely different environment with strangers - it must be terrifying.

Is this why she is hissing at us repeatedly, or is it because she is underlyingly aggressive?

She has a whole room to herself at the moment, with everything she needs in it, and we go in every so often to visit. When she feels more confident we will give her the run of the house.

What can we do? It’s a bit scary to be honest as the other cat who has spent a lot of time at our house (that we looked after for a friend) never hissed once, and was pretty good natured.

We need to take her to the vet to get her registered, but tbh I am scared to try and pick her up.

Have we made a mistake if I can’t even cope with hissing Sad.

Any advice welcome. She is half tabby, half siamese and looks really switched on.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 05/01/2019 11:26

She’s scared. She’s telling you to back off.

All this is very scary for her.

Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:28

Yes - what should we do - to make her less scared but also to help her get used to us?

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Costacoffeeplease · 05/01/2019 11:28

How long have you had her. Hissing is very normal when she’s scared or feels threatened. Just give her space and time and don’t try to pick her up before she’s ready. If you must take her to the vet then leave a cat box with food inside and hope she goes in herself

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Cats
Catalicious · 05/01/2019 11:29

Just give her time, and perhaps try a feliway plug in. Even my super sweet and needy cat hides and hisses at me when we’ve moved house - took him a good while to come out. It’ll be okay.

Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:29

Only since yesterday. I wanted to try and take her to the vet this weekend but it isn’t imperative.

I thought we knew about cats but clearly we don’t that much.

Will she really go from hissing at us to be totally comfortable here?

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Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:30

Sorry Catalicious - I missed your post - that’s reassuring.

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Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:31

She is confidant enough to roam around the room (and wants to leave it actually), but hisses at us, I guess because we are big and standing around.

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Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:32

confident

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Crocky · 05/01/2019 11:32

What are you doing when you go visit? Try spending time just sitting and ignoring her. Take a book. Let her get used to you just being there.

Celebelly · 05/01/2019 11:34

Let her come to you. Just ignore her for now. You can open door and let her roam - just sit down on sofa and don't approach her or try to stroke her. Maybe arm yourself with some treats too (Dreamies are like kitty crack) and drop them on floor when she's near you.

Lavender00 · 05/01/2019 11:34

Try a feliway plug in they really do work. That'll help her feel more comfortable. I'm sure she'll come round once she feels settled it must be all very strange for her

MrsBobBlackadder · 05/01/2019 11:36

^^what @Crocky said

It's only been a day - she will be terrified, poor thing. Just leave her to get used to her room quietly - when you do go in there, completely ignore her. Eventually curiosity will get the better of her and she'll start to come over and investigate you Smile

We had the exact same thing with a rescue cat - it took a couple of weeks but she did eventually stop hissing. It is just fright, honestly. DCat is sitting cuddled up alongside me as I type this Smile

Frangipane · 05/01/2019 11:37

You haven't had her long, no need to worry yet, I don't think.

If I were you, I would spend this weekend getting to know each other. Go in the room, but don't pay her too much attention. Just sit there (low, on the floor, your height is intimidating for her) maybe reading a book or something. Give her time to get used to you. Let her come to you, don't impose yourself on her. You could try offering a toy if she is interested (is she reactive to catnip?) And certainly offer a treat. If she isn't tempted to come to you, leave the things you brought as they will help her to associate you with good things. Try to leave her to make the first move towards you.

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 05/01/2019 11:37

go sit in the room one at a time, read out loud, drink coffee, make little cat kissy faces to her if she is not being hissy, maybe eat something smelly that she might like to share, although that may not be habit you wish to start :o Basically ignore her, prove you are not a threat and that you are something worth investigating.

no touching, picking up, or other contact unless she makes the first move, if she comes over for a fuss then tickle under her chin...hands coming over to stroke can seem daunting and scary

once some progress has been made then start playing with her at a distance...flicky traily toys, maybe throw a mousey toy for her

then step up the meet and greet with another person...just chatter and essentially ignore her and carry on from there

MrsBobBlackadder · 05/01/2019 11:38

Also, just noticed that you said you're standing around in the room - sit on the floor so you're on her level. It'll be less intimidating for her

bengalcat · 05/01/2019 11:38

She’ll settle - the hissing will stop - it’s just a warning while she adjusts to her new environment .

Villanellesproudmum · 05/01/2019 11:38

A day, a cat needs around two weeks to familiarise themselves and become confident, does have to go to the vet just now or can it wait? As someone said let her come to you.

Frangipane · 05/01/2019 11:39

Sorry, took too long to post, everyone has said what I wanted to say already!

Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:39

Saying hi to her and standing in the room somewhat lemon like! She wants to explore the room but wants to tell us not to come close.

We have a guinea pig in a (large) cage in the living room - the cat is tiny but is she likely to scare him?

We are going to move him to another room which will be permanently out of bounds for the cat, but it isn’t heated yet - must sort that straight away.

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hellswelshy · 05/01/2019 11:40

It will get better I promise! We rescued two semi feral cats from CPL & the mum cat hissed for about two weeks on and off if we got too close!! We made light of it for our dd's and called her the python, and found it funny in the end. It is alarming if you're not used to it but as pp said just their way of expressing how scared they off - they are telling you to back off! Rest assured though it won't last forever, our former hissing python cat is now very soppy and loving, give it time, potter about normally and ignore Wink

Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:41

Sorry - missed all the really helpful posts - thank you.

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Zoflorabore · 05/01/2019 11:42

Op give it time it's early days and she is adjusting and will be for some time.

We've had several cats like this and they need to mark their territory, get a sense of their surroundings and most importantly feel safe. It will come in time.

I echo a pp over the dreamies, ours love them. Also have you got her new bowls/blankets etc? That will all be new to her if so.
One of the strays we look after still hisses but it's part of his personality!

Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:42

Would it be okay to let her roam around the room that has the guinea pig in?

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Original poster
why100000 · 05/01/2019 11:43

All the stuff she has came with her, so at least she has that familiarity.

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2019Dancerz · 05/01/2019 11:44

Only if you don’t much like your guinea pig.