Tips for settling a nervous cat in a new home

[hazeydays14]

Hi all

I am hoping to rehome a lovely 5yr old boy tomorrow or Sunday. He is being rehomed because his owner has had a baby and the cat has been incredibly stressed since they brought baby home.

She has said he is quite timid and has obviously been stressed for the past few weeks so I’m just looking for tips on the best way to settle him in.

My downstairs is all open plan so there aren’t many hiding places for him. Should I attempt to create one for him (I.e) blanket over the dining table? Or is that a bad idea?

He will have a litter tray bowl and blanket from his last home which will hopefully help him feel somewhat settled.

I’ve always had cats from kittens before but he stole my heart when I saw him, just want to make sure I’m doing what is best for him.

Thanks!

Feliway diffuser. I got 2 cats who were very shy and it helped them settle in and again helped when we had to move a few months later and there were other cats already in the home. Be friendly and firm, but don't push yourself on him too much in the first few days.

Thank you for the diffuser tip!
I know it will be a process for the poor chap having lived with his previously family from a few weeks old so I just want to do right by him and will refrain from letting all my cat-love loose all at once

The hiding place isn't a bad idea, but if there's any way you can limit him to a relatively small physical space (maybe an upstairs room if downstairs is fully open plan) with hiding space, litter tray and quiet, for the first week that would help. Once he's beginning to settle, keep the other doors upstairs closed and leave his slightly ajar so he can come out and back at his own pace.

Also, if you can find out what previous owners fed him and use that too, it should help.

As Little says, let him come to you too. Good luck and sounds as though he's been lucky to end up in another caring home!

Giving him the option of a hideaway is a very good idea - just be prepared for him to ignore it and find his own, possibly bizarre-seeming safe-place. I second the Feliway advice.

Leaving him to his own devices will probably be the best approach for the initial settling-in period. Once he's comfortable in your house, encouraging interaction by playing with him will help him start to feel relaxed in your company. If he responds to catnip, putting catnip on the toys you use with him is a great way to create positive associations with his new human.

I have warned DP that his man cave will likely become the cat cave from now on! Happy to keep him upstairs in that room for whilst he’s settling in, we can remove most of DPs stuff for the first few weeks just in case if any accidents. It would keep him away from the windows downstairs which previous home owners cat tends to sit on, wouldn’t want her to startle him when he’s getting used to his new home. (Previous home owners cat was a frequent visitor but hasn’t been around for a few months until this week, it’s as if she knew a new cat was going to be moving in!)

Diffuser is definitely on the shopping list for tomorrow and have written a list of questions to ask, including preferred food/treats etc so I don’t forget anything (sad I know! )

Thank you for all the advice!

He'll probably hide for a few days and possibly refuse to eat

Leave something nice like cooked chicken near him and retreat so he eats in peace

I'd have him downstairs so he can get used to noises in the house - make a gap near the sofa he can squeeze behind and let him sulk