There is a terrified cat in my utility room...

MutteringDarkly · 2020-11-02T16:23:42+00:00

...she's supposed to be there, she's a rescue I collected today from the centre and she's the newest member of our family [smile]. At the moment she won't come out of the carrier, so I've just removed the door flap so she can get out when she's ready, and made sure water, food and litter tray are within her sight if she wants them. Other than leaving her in peace, is there anything else I should be doing? It's decades since I had a cat and this one is particularly timid (this was known beforehand, but naturally today has completely upset her).

CaraDuneRedux · 02/11/2020 16:25

Leave in peace!

Our timid rescue cat hid behind the sofa for 3 days!

Let her come out in her own time. Maybe make yourself comfy with a cushion and a book, sitting in the doorway, and wait for her to come to you.

minou123 · 02/11/2020 16:28

Can we have a picture? (if it doesn't scare her)

I think you are doing everything right. I cant think of any thing else. As long as she has food, water and somewhere to hide, she is fine.
She will gain confidence over the next few days and soon she will be your master.

Watto1 · 02/11/2020 16:29

Yes , leave her be. Maybe a Feliway diffuser will help.

LST · 02/11/2020 16:30

Awh! How old is she OP?

Didntgetmydiamondring · 02/11/2020 16:30

My adoptee was like that. She actually spent 2 days hiding under the kitchen units. (Plinths were off for new flooring) We just left her alone and pretty much ignored her. By the end of the first week she was tiptoeing round nervously, darting back to her safe place if anyone so much as turned to look at her. She eventually came to us when she was ready and, within a couple of months, was coming to sit on my knee. She still spent the best part of a year darting off in terror as soon as anyone moved but she is now very settled, sleeps on me during the night, walks over me to get from one side of the sofa to the other. Still darts when startled but she is a very happy cat.

Congratulations on your new ball of fur. Do come back and post a photo when you manage to capture one.

WitchesSpelleas · 02/11/2020 16:31

You're right to leave her in peace, but do go quietly in and out from time to time so she grows accustomed to your harmless presence.

Put a bed/cushion in sight as well.

Don't worry if she takes her time coming out - it took my shy rescue three days to leave the igloo where he'd hidden, and then, at first, he only went out at night to eat and use his tray.

Once I knew mine was coming out at night, I started offering treats by hand and stroking him. Eventually he came out properly - he's now a loving, chatty cat who enjoys tummy tickles, although still hides from strangers.

Original poster

MutteringDarkly · 02/11/2020 16:37

All very encouraging - thank you!! No chance of getting near yet for a photo but I will come back and update, and of course post a pic once she's happy to pose. She's 6 months.

OP posts:

HaHaVeryBunny · 02/11/2020 16:53

Aww, so happy for you and your new pussycat.
Seconding the poster who mentioned the Feliway plug-in, it's great for nervous cats.

Hope you have many happy years together

Toddlerteaplease · 02/11/2020 19:28

One of mine hid for a week. She eventually came out after dark one day, and that was that. She was absolutely the boss.

nearlynermal · 02/11/2020 19:31

Oh, poor little scrap. Lucky girl to have a nice safe new home. Do you have a wand toy and a nicely rolled up ball of tinfoil ready for when she's ready to play?

RuudGullitOnAShed · 02/11/2020 19:36

One of our scardy-cats hid in the spare bedroom for weeks.
We fed her up there and left a litter tray.

She used to sneak into our bedroom in the dead of night and sit on the bedside cabinet and stare at us - very disconcerting if you woke. During the day time she would stay in the book case in the spare room and hide if you went in.

We used to joke that it was more like having a house ghost than a new cat.

She's now the most loving, friendly lap cat.

I'm sure given time yours will relax and start ruling the house

stella1know · 02/11/2020 19:59

My boy cat used to come out at night only - for 6 months, and dare to join me and the other cat on my bed. If i moved or coughed or put a light on, he would scuttle back Eventually became the sweetest cuddliest hunter ever, now dearly departed. But i Am glad i ignored the advice of the rescue lady to force him to cuddle thrice daily. I let him do him thing and all was well

Original poster

MutteringDarkly · 02/11/2020 20:32

These are such sweet stories! Love the cupboard-starer and the house ghost. Considering calling this one Willow after willow-the-wisp - elusive

OP posts:

WitchesSpelleas · 03/11/2020 12:38

Think of it as your new cat conducting a risk-assessment. She's assessing whether it's safe to come out, whether you are a nurturer or a predator. It's a sign of your cat's instinctive intelligence.

Original poster

MutteringDarkly · 03/11/2020 12:52

Overnight update: biscuit eaten, litter tray used, box vacated (slight heart attack as couldn't find her anywhere...) in favour of behind the sofa.

OP posts:

KiriAndLou · 03/11/2020 12:55

All good signs.

WitchesSpelleas · 03/11/2020 12:57

Yes, she's well on the route to settling in if she's eaten and used her tray.

Mumdiva99 · 03/11/2020 13:27

Aah. How lovely for you. I hope she settles soon.

UsernameN0Tavailable · 03/11/2020 13:33

With my extremely terrified rescue I left him alone for 24 hours or so, then went and sat on the floor in the room with him, reading bbc news articles out loud in a soothing voice. Did this for an hour or so a day and left alone the rest of the time. On day 3 he emerged from his hiding place and regarded me suspiciously from afar. On day 4 he let me stroke him and purred at me and on day 5 he clambered into my lap purring as soon as I sat on the floor near him.

Remember that standing over her will be scary. If you can get down to her level and stay still she's more likely to come and investigate you.

WitchesSpelleas · 03/11/2020 14:14

reading bbc news articles out loud in a soothing voice. Did this for an hour or so a day and left alone the rest of the time. On day 3 he emerged from his hiding place and regarded me suspiciously from afar. On day 4 he let me stroke him and purred at me and on day 5 he clambered into my lap purring as soon as I sat on the floor near him

... on day 6, did he guest on 'Have I Got News For You'?

MissScarletInTheSnug · 03/11/2020 14:19

Happy new cat.

When ours arrived they squeezed their way behind the washing machine and hid there all day, coming out at night for food and to use their litter tray. Day by day we opened up more doors to the house for them and a week later they were sleeping on beds and acting like they own the place.

nearlynermal · 03/11/2020 14:39

@UsernameN0Tavailable you are clearly a very lovely cat parent

UsernameN0Tavailable · 03/11/2020 15:08

@WitchesSpelleas

reading bbc news articles out loud in a soothing voice. Did this for an hour or so a day and left alone the rest of the time. On day 3 he emerged from his hiding place and regarded me suspiciously from afar. On day 4 he let me stroke him and purred at me and on day 5 he clambered into my lap purring as soon as I sat on the floor near him

... on day 6, did he guest on 'Have I Got News For You'?

😂 I would love to say it improved his intelligence, but thinking isn't one of boycat's superpowers!

Sparklfairy · 03/11/2020 15:13

reading bbc news articles out loud in a soothing voice. Did this for an hour or so a day and left alone the rest of the time. On day 3 he emerged from his hiding place and regarded me suspiciously from afar. On day 4 he let me stroke him and purred at me and on day 5 he clambered into my lap purring as soon as I sat on the floor near him

This is like something out of a Disney movie

NoMoreFlowers · 03/11/2020 15:33

Aah. Don't worry, she'll be fine. Mine hid behind the washing machine for ages and looked terrified. She was a rescue and was also recovering from an injury. She's now completely settled and happy. Just be gentle around her, she'll come round 🐾