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

[MutteringDarkly]

...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 .

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).

Mine hid inside an armchair for a week. (There was a tear underneath that she squeezed in.)

Absolutely lost the plot wondering where she was at first!

She’s currently very happily purring away on my lap.

Take your time and talk soothingly to her regularly, she’ll come around.

Leave her in peace (it's her safe space) and when you do interact with her, avoid staring (nervous cats hate this). She'll probably want to stay in that room for about a week. When she does come out, make sure she can always bolt back there if she's scared

With the feral kittens I tamed, I spent hours just sitting on the floor of my bathroom reading a book, but not trying to force contact on them and not looking at them

[quote nearlynermal]@UsernameN0Tavailable you are clearly a very lovely cat parent [/quote]
Thank you! I was expecting it to take a lot longer than that as he arrived into the rescue centre as a 4 month old with very obviously human-inflicted injuries and was very scared of people. He still doesn't trust anyone except me and DH, and is impossible to get to the vets as we can't get him in a box, but he's turned into a lovely cuddly cat now.

Daily update - facilities all used overnight AND while we were sleeping, cat has distributed all her toys all over the living room chairs, floor and sofa. Cat remains behind sofa, at radiator end

It takes time. My little weirdo got out the carrier (my first cat so I had prepared everything for hiding etc) and looked at me and around the room, sat in my lap and fell asleep

Me "you're not following the book! You're meant to hide! WTF do I do now?!"

She's out! Wandered into the middle of the living room last night and has not stopped demanding cuddles since. As soon as I get two hands free, I will attempt a photo

@MutteringDarkly

She's out! Wandered into the middle of the living room last night and has not stopped demanding cuddles since. As soon as I get two hands free, I will attempt a photo

Oh, amazing! So pleased for you and your DCat.

Yay! It's such a marvellous feeling when they come out for the first time! She's completed her risk-assessment and correctly categorised you as her new servant!

She's out! Wandered into the middle of the living room last night and has not stopped demanding cuddles since. As soon as I get two hands free, I will attempt a photo

Yes, photo of your new overlord please!

Awwwww. ❤❤❤

Looking forward to pics.

Very cute

@WitchesSpelleas

Yay! It's such a marvellous feeling when they come out for the first time! She's completed her risk-assessment and correctly categorised you as her new servant!

Dead right

Have you managed to snap a picture yet? Glad she is settling in

Our little boy hid under a coffee table for the first night then took to under the sofa. His sister was prowling about the confines on Day One .

My DS ( 20) slept n the sofa the first night (Bless him) and said they were nosing about and ate some supper so we were relieved at that .

18 months later , they totally own the house and garden
The very shy little boy walks all over DH and I at 3am , wrapping his little paws round a limb that sticks out under the covers . Not at all shy now .

They thrive on routine , food, patience and the prospect of a whole new territory

Not so stressed any more!

Awwwww. She's gorgeous. 😍

Oh my! Ragdoll? Birman?

Gorgeous!

Ragdoll. Ball of floof with a healthy appetite

Aww, a picture of floof and contentment. Beautiful :)