Rescue problems.

[pinkhousesarebest]

So probably against all sane advice, we adopte a rescue two days ago after our beloved boy was killed on the road last week. This little fellow is really friendly but he has been abandonned twice already, once as a two year old and then returned after adoption as the woman changed her mind. He is three. He has adopted my dd's bed as home and is reluctant to come downstairs. He never grooms himself; our previous cat groomed himself all the time. Any advice on how to give him back his lust for life? I feel a bit sorry for him as he has big boots to fill and I think everyone though he might ease the pain and what has happened is that he underlines how much we miss our gorgeous boy. But of course, he will never know that.

You have only had him for two days so I would assume he feels safe on your DD's bed. Let him become accustomed to his new home and when he feels safe he will, I am sure, start to leave your DD's room. Bearing in mind he has been rehomed previously I assume he's probably one scared and confused kitty.

When you say he doesn't groom himself, do you mean you haven't seen him groom himself since you have had him? I think a cat would have to feel pretty secure in his new surroundings before it would start grooming itself.

Two days??

Goodness. Give him some time to fit in. He sounds as if he's actually doing pretty well already.

Thank you both for your reassurance. I know that I am clueless. Our previous cat barged in as a kitten and he basically told us what to do. I thought maybe he wasn't relaxed enough to groom too. Also wasn't very sure if I should bring him downstairs every now and again so will leave it until he decides. He hadn't eaten anything but this morning he ate some biscuits out of my hand. He is very affectionate and he squeaks. He has been fostered by an elderly lady an has only ever lived inside so I am so looking forward to Spring and seeing him in the garden.

I have had two rescues and iirc they told me it can take up to 4 weeks for a cat to feel at home. That’s when they can be allowed out. I would say it’s pretty good he’s made himself at home on a bed. Instead of hiding behind a sofa or a bed.

He spent all day yestedray under the sofa and then discovered the bed which is on a mezzanine, so he can see out the window too. He didn't sleep much before today but he has slept much of today. We are all tiptoeing around the house trying not to wake him.

He sounds as if he's doing OK. And be yourselves.

PS- I have a rescue cat known here as PBoy. (P being the family name. ) He's been with us for 7 months. Now I'm entitled to worry about him.

Took my darlings literally months before they properly roamed the house, Boycat especially (they were very shy ex-Ferals, nobody else wanted them ). Today i've had Girlcat standing up & patting me on the knee for attention, and Boycat sulks if he doesn't get major cuddle sessions at least 4-5 times a day.

Give him time, two days is nothing especially if he's been abandoned twice already poor thing.

He just came downstairs, had a bite to eat, realised ds was in the downstairs loo and waited for him to come out and then padded back upstairs. Which is huge compared to yesterday. Thank you kind feline friendly people.

Agree with everyone else. Two days is very early days. It is often advised to leave them in a "safe room" for a week. Leave him be and let him come around in his own time; as long as he knows where his tray, food and water are that's fine.
Don't pick him up just let him work his way around, he may take a while but he might not. We adopted quite a confident young lad 5 weeks ago-he hardly ate the first week we had him but now he's constantly pestering us for food and is ruling the roost!

One of mine hid for a week and I ever even saw her

.....he may take a while.......

Follow his lead, don’t force things. It sounds as though he is doing fine. I say this as someone with a foster cat who has barely moved off the stairs for 5 weeks. Today, for the very first time, he walked up to me to be stroked, we’ve had him since before Christmas. Some fosters leap out of the carrier and take over the house, others take time to settle, so far they have all got there in the end.

You've had him roughly 48 hours, give him a chance. We have two rescue cats, from the same previous owner and same litter. Girl cat came first a couple of years ago and hid for a couple of months, then boy cat 18 months ago. He has taken ages to settle and hiding was and is very normal for him. Give your new boy a chance and plenty of privacy.

Feel free to post a pic! My little cat's still a nervous wreck after 7 years with me and I've had her since she was 4 weeks old when I found her in the middle of the road. My other girl's a real take over bid and has called the shots since the day she wondered in a couple of years ago and became the boss. They're all so different. She'll let you know what it's all about

Give the poor little guy a chance!
Mine his for two months, only emerging at night to destroy the house.
Two years later, he's the best cat I have other had and the only one that has ever been trained! He's so eager to please, friendly and easy going. He follows me everywhere, sits on command and waits for permission to jump on to furniture ( other than beds, beds are fair game apparently).
Take it at his pace, he'll get there

Hid, not his!

I know that PBoy likes me fine when I'm .........merry. (At Xmas, he curled up on the bed next to me and went to sleep.) Trouble is that I don't think my liver would survive.

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