New rescue cat - but back to work tomorrow.

[EleanorRugby]

Hi
We picked up our 3 year old rescue cat on New Year's Day. He has settled in fairly well, eating well, using the litter tray and is very affectionate with us (me, dh, DS aged 10 and 7). He was living with a family who left him behind them they moved. So he was straying for a bit, then a neighbour took him in and fed him, she then brought him to rescue centre to be re-homed. He had been at the rescue centre for 1 month. His previous family had children the same age as ours.

We have been at home since Monday but both back to work tomorrow. I will be out from 8:30 to 3:30 and dh would probably be able to come back home for lunch to check on him.

We are using our downstairs bathroom as his "safe room". We haven't allowed him to go upstairs at all yet. He alternates between sitting with us on the sofa purring happily and retreating to to hidey holes. This afternoon he spent 2 hours sleeping in a corner behind the TV.

My question is whether we should shut him in his "safe room " tomorrow when we are not at home. He has his litter tray, food, water, toys and bed in there (which he hasn't really gone in). If I don't leave him in the bathroom he will have free range of the rest of downstairs which is open plan and I'm concerned it will be too overwhelming for him, but on the other hand I'm worried he'll be bored stuck in one room.

Any advice gratefully received.

If he's wandering around the downstairs freely when you're there I'd be inclined to let him do that while you're out. He might like being able to explore while the house is quiet and if he's still able to access his safe hidey holes he should be okay. If anything he might get distressed being locked in one room for so long by himself. Especially if he's not using his bed as it won't smell of him or feel that safe. One thing took think about is can you close a door to him away from the front door? If your DH goes home to check on him you don't want him bolting out the door!

to think about
to keep him away from the front door

Typos

Luckily there is another internal door between the stairs and front door so he can't bolt out the front when anyone comes home! I've also read that if we leave the radio on (nice soothing station like Classical FM) it might help. Last night he was happy to sit by himself on the sofa with the TV left on whilst I was out and dh was upstairs putting youngest to bed. It seems he was engrossed in The Powerpuff Girls!

Thanks for the advice