Hw to help new nervy cats?

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Yesterday I collected 2 rescue cats(sisters) from a breeder. who had had them returned to her. They were previously with 1 lady and were indoor cats. They were taken back to the breeder because the last wasn't allowed pets in her flat and had to get rid.

They are basically terrified. They haven't eaten or drunk anything since yesterday evening. They hid under cupboards and don't move, at all.

I am really concerned they will become dehydrated and unwell. I keep food and water near them, but it has been untouched.

Is there any way I can help them feel better living with us? Obviously the household set up is different, busier, more people etc.
was hoping they would be a little less stressed out than they were yesterday evening.

Is there a point at which I take them back to the breeder( she is always happy to have animals back if it doesn't work out) because they are unhappy and suffering?

My 2 rescues were invisible for a few days when I brought them home. I made sure they were in a room that had plenty of hiding places, with their food, water & litter tray all within quite close reach of the one they decided was safest. It took a day or so before they crept out at night to eat, drink & use the tray.

I live alone so it was quieter than most households, maybe try to keep the noise & bustle down a bit in the room they are in for a while (not easy I know if there's plenty going on). But it took mine a good week or more before they would emerge with anyone apart from me in the house, with any movement going on, or any loud noises nearby.

Keep going, they will eventually come out & feed themselves even if at first it's only when everyone else is in bed & the house is dark & quiet. The breeder sounds very responsible, so maybe check with them if you are worried as they will know the breed characteristics.

Thank you. I am just so worried that they will die of starvation and dehydration.
My kids are of course disappointed because they thought they would get lots of cuddles. I think it's a good thing that they will have to earn the cats' trust and affection over time rather than get a quick reward.

It's good to know that you cats took a good while before they started to feel settled enough to eat.

Play with them. It's always worked for me. Use a bit of string so you give them space. Give them somewhere quiet to hide and feed them somewhere quiet. Talk to them.

I'm 8 months in with what the shelter called an exceptionally timid cat, after my previous very timid cat died. Play was what sold me to both of them!

When you go out they will come out to eat. Mine did this for 6 weeks. As soon as the house was empty they were on the sofas! Give them space to get used to their new environment first of all.

Then play with them. I used Dreamies to get them to play, and mice on strings. I then started to lie in the floor and put Dreamies on me so they would climb on me.

The advice is to.put them in a big cage and force them into the social group whilst still allowing them to stay safe. I didn't do that though!

They need to be confined to one quiet room to start with. Leave water and litter tray and food with them.
Cats like high places to hide too.
Try Feliway plug in too.
When they have relaxed in that one space gradually let them see more of the house.

We have four and two of them spent weeks hiding. One of them in particular was so nervy that she had spent nearly 6months in rescue because no one wanted to take on a cat that just hid from people.

We put her in DD2's room because there are lots of hiding places. We placed a bowl of water, dry food and wet food out and a litter tray. We basically left her alone for a couple of days, just replacing wet food and water on a daily basis. Then we began taking it in turns to just sit in the room, not making eye contact (although she was under the bed so difficult) and talking to her quietly. Sometimes I just sat with a book.

Within a few weeks she was starting to look interested and I started throwing dreamies to her under the bed. Very gradually she started to come out but we had to be sat or laid on the floor and not move.

Now she is all over the house, loves to sit on laps, lies on me at night and is very, very affectionate.

Also try a feliway defuser. They have various different ones but there is a calming one. Also keep the door closed and that will help them feel secure. Once they are out and confident, you can open the door for them to start exploring.

Don't expect too much just now but do give them a few months to settle. The rewards will be two cats who adore you all.

Feliway has definitely made a difference to my nervous cat. I can't quite remember how it works but have a google. You can get it as a plug in or a spray. I've def had results with it.

Thank you all. It is reassuring to know that that will be ok eventually.
They are Tonkinese/ragdoll crosses.

There is no way they will play with me at the moment. They do not respond in anyway, not even a twitch of the ear when I talk gently to them. One has stopped pressing her face into the corner and although sitting in her favourite spot, in a corner, is visible and facing outwards, which is an improvement on yesterday.
Her sister though is hidden under a low cupboard, almost impossible to get at and has her backside pointing out, she is far more nervy.

Yes, it seems time is the thing. They are not even spayed, so I will have to wait until they are settled before I take them to the vets won't I? Obviously they are not going outside!

I shall try some feliway, anything that might help.

Would something like tinned tuna be a nice treat for them?

Yes try Feliway. Keep the household calm and the same every day as much as you can in terms of daytime routines, smells, your presence, sounds. They are so very sensitive- as long as they live in a calm, predictable house they will settle down.

Sounds normal. Best advice is to leave them to it. Don't tip toe around them, get on with every day things. They'll emerge in their own good time. I'd keep the kids away though as they will probably find it far the cats far too tempting to leave alone!

Give them lots of space and leave them alone is my advice. Make sure their food, water and litter tray is close to where they are each hiding and let them adjust. It is natural to want to see them out and about but for them they are scared and need time to adjust and get comfortable.

They did move last night and had taken some food and used the litter tray, so that's some progress! Thank you!