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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Just adopted a cat... But no sign of her!

56 replies

Ringsming · 08/08/2015 16:25

So today we went to the shelter and fell in love with a little 1 1/2 yr old female and brought her home. Of course she immediately disappeared into the darkest corner of the house. We are beginning to get a bit concerned though because there's no sign of her at all!

Tell me this is normal....

OP posts:

GreyAndGoldInTheMeadow · 08/08/2015 16:29

As long as you've had the doors and windows shut, don't panic. She'll come out when she's ready.

Congratulations on your new cat, she'll have you as her slave in no time!

TheHobbit · 08/08/2015 16:30

Very normal. Look right on top of the highest kitchen cupboard!

fermentedvaper · 08/08/2015 16:35

She will be fine. When I first got my rescue puss she found a way to get under a built in bookcase and refused to come out for a couple of days (she sneaked out for food and other necessities when we were asleep). When she felt confident enough she showed her cobweb covered face but was still very nervous. Took her months to let me stroke her and even longer to get her to curl up with me on the sofa.

Now she screams at me for food, brings me gifts, allows me to pick her up on occasion and generally calls the shots .

msrisotto · 08/08/2015 16:35

Aww congratulations! This is all very new and scary for her so she probably needs to skulk around in the shadows getting a measure of the place before deciding to come out. Leave her to it, she'll find the food!

Original poster

Ringsming · 08/08/2015 16:43

Thanks everyone! Feeling better about it...

OP posts:

PurpleSwift · 08/08/2015 16:46

Normal :) my cats did this when we moved house. They just like to gather their bearings first

BlackNoSugar · 08/08/2015 16:51

Normal. One of my cats disappeared for three days when she first came home. I knew she was ok as she was eating, drinking, and using the litterbox - but only when I wasn't around. Then on the fourth day she strolled across the living room, gave me a death glare, and curled up on my chair to sleep. Apparently it was hers now.

Original poster

Ringsming · 08/08/2015 18:22

We've seen her :-) so she hasn't disappeared through the window or something!!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 08/08/2015 18:52

When my mother died, Seniorboy hid away for - oh it must have been 3 or 4 weeks before he decided to re-bond and join the family again. The only way we knew he was alive was because his tray was being used and morsels of ham left out in the kitchen used to disappear each night. We never discovered for certain where he'd been hiding.

Just keep the outer doors and windows closed.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 08/08/2015 18:56

The very first BastardCat lived under the sofa for three weeks when we brought her home, with occasional stays under the kitchen units and up the chimney.

The current BastardCat was having none of that and installed himself happily on the sofa and our bed within minutes.

They are all very different.

cate16 · 08/08/2015 18:59

Our's was three days under the bed, about week and half in the bedroom :)

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 08/08/2015 19:07

From what I've read on here it's completely normal and my cat is the abnormal one! When we got him home he strolled out of his basket, ambled into the kitchen and bathroom and once he'd seen his bowl and tray he settled down and went to sleep on the sofa!

ThePhoenixRising · 08/08/2015 19:11

I didn't see my rescue cat for days after we got him. He only came out at night to eat then went back to his hiding spots as soon as someone seemed to stir. He's still fairly wild but friendly enough when he wants something

Fluffycloudland77 · 08/08/2015 21:07

Ours was very confident on the first night but he still hides from certain visitors.

You know who you are.

VelmaD · 08/08/2015 23:01

My old cat did this. I couldn't find him anywhere, thought I was going mad.

He had curled upwards in the pedestal of the sink.

I honestly thought I had dreamt bringing him home!

Original poster

Ringsming · 09/08/2015 10:46

Still in the furthest corner under the sofa :-)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 09/08/2015 11:49

It's been less than a day - if she's using her tray and eating/drinking then relax. (Drinking is the most important unless she's eating wet food and getting her liquid from that.)

I'd just go about your normal business and let her come to terms with your household in her own way. She might be a sensitive type after all.

Do you know any of her history?

Original poster

Ringsming · 09/08/2015 13:41

Well we also just discovered poo on a footstool thing.. And some evidence she's investigated the litter basket.

History wise seems she was found with kittens, and is only 1 1/2. Kittens have been rehomed although one still poorly and at the shelter.

Presumably she's a bit wild but also was v friendly and attention seeking when we met her. She really seemed to choose us if that doesn't seem too ridiculous.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 09/08/2015 14:46

Not ridiculous in the least - but maybe the reality of a full home is a bit overwhelming for her at the moment. Are you a calm and ordered household or lots of noisy people rushing around? (The latter might need more acclimatisation for some cats - not all.)

By 'evidence she's investigated' I take it you can see signs of scratching on the tray you provided even though she pood elsewhere? Trouble is that you don't know which came first. (And has she peed yet as far as you know?) I was just wondering whether she liked the litter you gave her because some of them can be real fusspots. What type did you use?

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 09/08/2015 16:55

You do know it's against mm rules to not share a pic of your cat.

Hope she adjust soon.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/08/2015 17:21

We went to a cat show where a snow Bengal poked its paw through the cage to poke dh. Dh became convinced we should buy the cat! luckily it wasn't for sale.

He watched it to make sure it wasn't poking everyone.

cozietoesie · 09/08/2015 17:26

Maybe it was like the witch in Hansel and Gretel - you recall, feeling whether the children were ready for a good meal?

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 09/08/2015 18:00

My cat spent her first two days with us hiding behind the television and growling every time we went near. When we weren't looking shed sneak out to eat and use her litter tray, then scoot straight back to her hideout. On the third day we went to do some shopping, and came back to find her on the window ledge (indoors) waiting for us, she ran to greet us like we were the best friends she'd ever had, and was fine after that :)

Original poster

Ringsming · 09/08/2015 19:07

Hi cozie its catsan for the litter tray. We discovered some of the litter outside so assumed she'd been inside!

And I will of course provide pictures when she lets us take any! She is still in a very dark and inaccessible corner ;-)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 09/08/2015 20:43

How on earth could it get outside, though?

I'm assuming that she's not allowed out for a bit because she's new - but even if she had got out in some way (and returned!) she surely wouldn't have tracked it that far. Far likelier that someone in the house dropped some out there by mistake.

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