New rescue cat, any advice?

[TheInedibleWoman]

Hi all

I have a my first cat from a rescue charity. He arrived yesterday & has been neutered, flea and worm treated & chipped. He is just hiding at the moment which i know is expected as he is in a new unfamiliar home. He has hidden under my bed all of last night and today so far.

Does anyone have any tips on how to settle him in? As it's my first cat i don't want to stress him out or ignore him!

He appeared from his hiding place to eat last night, but has not used his litter tray at all so far.

You could try Pet Remedy or Feliway which could help calm him. Reading to cats can be useful as they get used to the sound of your voice.
It's good he's been out to eat. Let him come out in his own time and share a photo of him when he does

You probably don’t need to, by the time you’ve bought it he’ll be stretched out on the sofa & sleeping on your face.

Just leave him be, go on with your day to day and let him come to you in your own time. Set a good food routine and give him space to acclimatise, it can take weeks for timid cats

Thanks both! Ive seen Feliway recommend a few times. Maybe i will give him a few days and try that if he still hiding away...

Should i be concerned about him not using the litter tray just yet?

As soon as he appears I will share a photo!

Thanks @fluffy
Im trying to, just want to see him!

@floofy.. sorry!

I assume you have left the litter tray in the same room as the cat?

You might want to try the tray in a different spot. Or even get a second tray for another area, is it in a busy spot? We ended up putting ours on the landing because the cat hated an audience

Well...

Im in a 2 bed flat, the 2nd bedroom is a tv room snug that i have put his bed, foot & litter tray in (as far from the food as possible). During the night he managed to get under my bed and has been there ever since with no water, food etc.

I guess he will come out when he is hungry again. Just dont want him pooping in my bedroom!

Cats can go for 48 hours without using the litter tray, if they are very nervous (my friend's cat did this when moving house recently).

It took my last rescue cat three days to use the litter tray and about a week to come out when I was there.

He's now (2 yrs on) a loud, chatty, cuddle-machine

Ah, thanks everyone 😊. Im gonna try and stop obsessing!

Have also sorted another litter tray so hopefully he will be happy with at least one of them!

The first time he uses the tray, it will introduce you to a unique and never-to-be-repeated experience - being pleased to see a cat poo.

I gave my pair the option of 2 different trays in the room they were in. They used one, and have ignored the other for the almost 5 years I've had them so they can be fussy about positioning.

Is your tray in a reasonably "hidden" location? Mine get a bit shy if the curtain next to their tray is open, I think they prefer sheltered areas where they feel less vulnerable.

Being pleased to see a cat poo....... what a time to be alive! 😀🤷🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

He'll probably feel much safer when the house is dark and silent and come out during the night. I've adopted two cats in the past six months and they both hid under the bed for several days. One day soon yours will suddenly appear and start investigating the house for his new favourite sleeping spots!

Our lad appears to have a bladder of steel and can hold on for some time. He has a litter tray but prefers to go outside (unless he really really needs to go).
OP, I reckon there'll be some loud litter tray activity at 2am then again at 3am

One of mine took 8 days to come out.

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

He'll probably feel much safer when the house is dark and silent and come out during the night. I've adopted two cats in the past six months and they both hid under the bed for several days. One day soon yours will suddenly appear and start investigating the house for his new favourite sleeping spots!

Oh, yes, mine did the coming out at night thing before he emerged properly - I was woken at 5am by sounds of him leaping around the room, but he hid as soon as anyone came in.

The litter tray got used.... never been so happy to clean up poop 😄
He does have a run around at night. He meows at my bedroom door and then runs away if i get up to investigate!

Thanks for all the encouraging comments. Im feeling much happier today.

Yay! It won't be long now before he wants to get to know you properly - he'll soon realise that you are not a predator, but his new servant .

I remember my rescue cat hiding behind the sofa for a long time, I can't actually remember whether it was days or weeks, he would come out at night to eat and use the litter.

Then one day he just started rubbing round my legs and that was it!

You have to let them do things at their own pace, as a cat owner you quickly realise they make the rules not us

Our rescue mog also hid behind the sofa for days. Slowly came out and sat quietly looking out of window. Would come out at night to eat and use tray then go back into hiding. Then he would sit next to us on the sofa, then on us and we never looked back. He was a fabulous cat.

@voluptua
Aaww this gives me hope, he is slowly getting there. At the moment he just looks at me from the other side of the sofa