Picked up nan's cat today & he doesn't seem happy

[Pinkchampagne]

The poor little thing seems scared & keeps hiding. He was a rescue cat before nan got him, so is very timid & doesn't seem to like being picked up & he is also missing my nan.

I am planning on keeping him inside for now incase he runs off, but not sure how long I should keep him in, as up until now he has spent a lot of time outside.

I am very new to this pet thing, so any advice would be appreciated!

This poor little cat is still nameless too!

But you've not taken him/her to the vet yet, so it is probably just as well!

You could call him/her Champers, a bit like your mumsnet name!

I am ashamed to say that I haven't got round to that vet visit yet. He/she hated being put in that basket so much when I brought him from nan's house to mine, that I keep putting off having to do it again.
Must get the trip to the vets organised soon though.

I am letting him out in the garden now, but he seems far happier in the house!

Pink, try this.
Leave the cat carrier around for a while so that your cat can get in and out at will. Put the odd treat in, when it gets in, give lots of fuss and strokes. Do this a few days before the vet appointment. Put something that smells reassuring and familiar in the carrier, a soft cat toy or blanket, for example. You can put the carrier away when you're back from the vet, but when you need to go next, get the carrier out and leave around a few days before so the cat gets used to it again.
If still having problems, consider a different type of carrier, the 'bag' style with mesh and zip opening panels are great. As I said to another OP, I've never known a cat that wouldn't get into a bag.

It was a bag type with the mesh sides that I put the cat in, and it put up a heck of a fight & took three attempts before I got it in there!

Thanks for the tips as to how to make the basket less frightening, I would never have thought to do those things myself.

It could sense the agitation, and was confused at that time. My cat hates being picked up altogether, likes to do everything under her own steam and on her terms. Hopefully yours won't suspect that 'something is up' if the carrier is 'just another piece of the furniture' and you can grab and pop it in before it knows whats happened! The element of surprise is very effective.

This cat isn't keen on being picked up either, KS, it is happy to come & sit on my lap, but not at all happy to be picked up.
He still seems very uneasy around the boys.

Why not give the boys the reposnbility ofr feeding him? If he starts to assocaite them with sometihng nice, he might be more confortable around them.

Remind them not try to stroke him or apporach him - let it all be in his terms.

that's a good idea, PB, it may be nice for them to have some kind of involvement too as they are quiet nervous around the cat atm.

Lucky you, mine won't sit on my lap all! She would sit on DH made me very jealous. She would flirt with him, offering her bottom for inspection, you'd never think the floozy had been spayed! With me, she rushes up with her tail in the air ( friendly cat greeting) and head butts, rubs herself on me, enjoys a stroke, but will not sit on my lap.
Oh well.....

Lol @ your floozy cat!