To ask for your help

[discoo]

Ok so I rehomed a cat today. He's really lovely but has hid since I've brought him home and I can't for the life of me find him and now I'm starting to panic. He can't of got out, no doors or windows are open so please chuck some places at me that he could be hiding 😫

But difficult as I have no idea of the layout or what you have in your house

This happened to me. I found her curled up in the drawers under the bed. Somewhere like that?

My friend rehomed a cat, big ball of fluff he was and he stayed under her sofa for a couple of days, no idea how he squashed himself under there. He'll be under a bed, behind a chair somewhere like that. Just leave him be for a while and let him come out in his own time. Leave some biscuits out tonight and I'm sure he will gradually emerge. Don't feel disheartened, it's totally normal, he just needs to do it in his own time.

Any cubby hole, furniture to hide in or under, large vases, boxes etc

Ours liked to get between the back of the settee and the wall, but honestly, I wouldn’t worry, they always appear when they want food or a fuss.

Mine hid in an empty rucksack, only noticed when I picked it up to look behind it as a quick look inside didn't reveal the sneaky puss!

Leave food out, he'll find it soon

Relax. New cat is bound to be a bit scared and freaked out. Just leave some food/water out and let him emerge in his own time.

You rummaging through cupboards/behind furniture might stress him out even more. Just give him some time.

And congratulations!

I think I've had too much internet for today.

Ours love teeny tiny spaces under beds and between boxes in cupboards if they can get into them.

Can you open some high value treat food like tuna to lure him out when he's ready? Cats tend to be ruled by their bellies rather than by loyalty so anything delicious will have him prancing about in no time. Don't move stuff around and drag him out, though, as you'll just terrify him. Let him choose his own terms. Feliway plugins from Amazon can really help if he's anxious.

A friend of mine had her new rehomed cat hide behind the units in the kitchen! Managed to squeeze down the side of the washer then got behind the rest of the cabinets from there. She was sure he had managed to escape and made no sounds at all so was obviously frightened.

It might be worth moving this to the Litter Tray OP as I'm sure they can solve this although there is also good advice here!

Apart from you GinDaddy, you've definitely had enough internet if you're being a knob on a thread about a cat

I forgot to post my idea Have you waved an open packet of Lick e Lix in each room? Might tempt him out? It's even more crack like than Dreamies to my cat (and that's saying something!)

Don’t stress! Best thing you can do is not bother him and wait for him to emerge. Open some tuna later on today. He might not come out until you’re in bed.

When he does emerge, eventually, best is to initially limit his access to the whole house for a while e.g. set him up with food, water, litter tray in a spare bedroom or dining room or whatever.

I think you need to leave the cat to come out in his own time, which he will do. Don’t try to find him (you’ll figure out his hidey hole soon) because he’ll feel safer feeling hidden and will adjust sooner.

Just leave out plenty of food and water and soon you’ll have a new friend.

My cat once his inside the sofa - worth a try! I didn't realise it was hollow at the back, the cat crept in underneath the fabric.

Also under the kitchen cupboards, it snook in a gap in the kickboard.

Other popular hiding places include under beds, on top of wardrobes and cupboards (you'd be surprised how high they can get), in the tumble dryer (that nearly ended badly, make sure you always leave the door closed if you have one ), window ledges behind curtains so they can watch the world go by in secret, the bath (inexplicably), airing cupboard (nice and warm again).

He'll come out when he's ready

We had a rescue cat and she hid for two days under our wardrobe. I put food, water and litter tray within easy reach of her and left her to it. On the third day she crept downstairs and sat next to me for a bit, after that she didn't leave me alone ever! Try not to worry if your sure he hasn't gotten outside he'll come out when he's ready

Not what you want to hear, but I found the missing cat I'd just spent two hours trying to find hiding in the pipe boxing above the washing machine, but he was quite a small kitten (cat fosterer so used to being outwitted by the feline overlord collective).

That was after I'd up ended the sofa and prodded at the lining underneath and been inside, under and behind everything I could find.

Go out and buy some Dreamies (cat crack if you are unaware) and put a known amount of them in a few different places and see if any disappear. Maybe go out for an hour or two to tempt him out into safety.

It's quite usual for them to hide in a new place for a few days. Just keep putting food and water out and trying to maintain a calm atmosphere and he'll almost certainly come around to you very soon.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice. I located cat and he's safe and well and even managed to lure him out for some cuddles.
I just want to get this cat owner stuff right!

Where was he?

Yes where did you find him?

When we moved my cat got behind a kitchen cupboard was in with all the sink / washing machine pipping!

• piping

I just want to get this cat owner stuff right! Stop the "cat owner" stuff for a start! You're a voluntary worker on probation.

He was in between my headboard and the wall, not a clue how he managed to squeeze there!

Well someone is an owner and it's not you OP

From now on, view all cardboard boxes that enter the house as a potential cat bed. Extra points if they come with scrunchy paper packaging and are slightly smaller than your cat when he's curled up in the sleeping position.

Dreamies can give you the illusion that you can make the cat obey your command, make the most of it. However, rely on them too much and they can lose their power, so use them wisely.

Make sure you anticipate his culinary needs but never ever make the mistake of buying extra of his favourite food as that is guaranteed to make him go off it straight away.

Sign up to the Simon's cat channel on Youtube. When you start to think that Simon must be spying on you for inspiration, you're probably getting it right.

Haha thanks Barbara!