Could I ask for your shy cat tips and successes, please?

[ShyPussyCat]

I'm adopting a new 9 month old cat who is very shy. He will be joining my existing cat and dog at home - we have always been a two cat household, and sadly my elderly cat had to be PTS a few months ago - we have all been missing him, and want to fill the cat-shaped hole.

The new boy is very used to other cats, but scared of humans. The lovely lady who has been fostering him thinks he was never properly socialised; however, he has built a relationship with her and will play with her.

When we visited him, he stayed in a cat-house for most of the visit and only came out when we were filling in the adoption paperwork (i.e. when our attention was elsewhere).

I am planning to confine him to the study at first (my other animals don't go in there) as it's somewhere I can spend time e.g. working on laptop without focusing on him. I've got him an igloo to hide in, and also bought some of the same toys he'd learned to play with. Obviously, I've bought the brand of litter and food that he's currently using.

I've got some treats so I can reward him when he (hopefully) starts to approach me.

Once he has (hopefully!) gained confidence I will begin the gradual introductions to my other cat and the dog. The dog is elderly and pays no attention to cats but I am prepared for some hostility between the cats, having done cat introductions before!

Can anyone critique my plans, offer suggestions and tips for building the little chap's trust and confidence?

Thank you, reetgood. I will try to trust that his survival instincts will ensure he eats/drinks/toilets when it becomes a must. I'm spending time in his room as a presence but I haven't attempted to coax him out before he is ready; and he is also getting plenty of alone time - I think it's more likely he'll come out to eat etc. when no one is about.

It's very, very normal for even more confident cats to take a good 24-48 hours to start eating, drinking and toileting in a new environment. We see this all the time at the cat charity where I volunteer with new cats.

Totally agree with viccat. 48 hours or so without anything is very common indeed.

Ours hid behind the washing machine for 3 days when we first got them. I think they only ate or used the litter tray when no one was around

Sounds like you're doing all the right things, Ive got several ex ferals and found this website useful www.theluckyfew.org/site/feral_cats.html. Im sure that yours will be easier than this though.

Thank you for the link, that's really helpful; and it's reassuring to hear 48 hours is normal. I don't mind how long it takes him to emerge, as long as he doesn't make himself ill!

I've refreshed his food and water, so I'll leave him completely to his own devices this evening and overnight, as recommended on the feral website, and see if there are signs of his having eaten tomorrow morning.

Good news! He has used his tray overnight (wee and a big poo!) and eaten some of his food. I feel so relieved.

Hooray! Well done you!

Oh good news! My most frightened cat slept in the litter tray after he'd used it, apparently the smell reassures them. It took months for him to come round, but he's my most affectionate cat now. It's lovely to see them come round although some are always more timid naturally anyway.

He seems now to be being quite lively at night - I heard him moving about when I woke up at about 4am - and he's eating, drinking and toileting; just not when anyone is in the room with him. I don't mind if it takes him months to trust us; I just hope he gets there in the end! These positive stories are giving me lots of encouragement!

We adopted a very shy and nervy cat just over a year ago. She hid for a couple of days but then got brave. She is now super-friendly with us (a proper, loving, lap cat), but you won't see her for dust the minute anyone else is in the house. She simply will not entertain the idea of being at all sociable with anyone else. I'm not sure that will ever change (she's about 4), which is a shame as she's so lovely.

If he is spending time in an igloo, I would be tempted to start approaching him and seeing how he reacts if you try to touch him. My shy boy learnt to accept touch from the safety of his hidey hole in the base of a scratching post and would allow me to give him a fuss when he was in there.

We also use igloos with shy foster cats and kittens, you can pick up the whole igloo and put it on your lap with cat in it.

He's been out - with me in the room! Yay! He's responding well to being stroked in the safety of his igloo and was purring away happily at me this morning. He's come out, crept around and then gone back in quite quickly, but hoping it won't be long before he's spending longer in the open, once he grasps the notion that nothing terrible will happen.

What a guy! Very brave. Sounds like you are doing a fab job.

When we got our two, Ollie had to be rehomed with one of his brothers as he was the more nervous one and smaller. Luckily for him he had a confident brother and when fun was to be had, he joined in with him. Just over five months later, he's a lovable pain in the butt to be honest. He's the one that's into everything, follows me around and funnily enough it's his brother whose bothered with visitors.

My two love laces and ping pong balls which are great for playing with at a distance. It might be a bit early at the moment, but a shoe lace gently pulled along the floor might be of interest.

When you've had chance, photos please!!

That's brilliant OP. I bet you're feeling wonderful as a result!