Timid/shy rescue cat help

[Emmajane88]

Hello

You may have seen that I posted a few days back about semi-feral cats. Well, I've come to the conclusion that the cat I adopted just after Christmas is not so much semi-feral as very shy/timid. Any advice and positive stories very welcome to anyone who hasn't seen my previous post.

He is over 6 months old but under a year old and is currently based in the spare bedroom. First two nights in a large dog crate and since out in the room. He tends to stay under the sofa in there. He meows when he thinks he's getting food (and sometimes when its attention) which I have come to understand means there has been some human contact previously (he's from a farm).

The first few days/nights he didn't eat/drink/litter.
Day three onwards he did and has since eaten out in the open while we're in the room, although very nervous.
A couple of days ago he allowed himself to come closer for treats (under the sofa) then let us touch him on the head (which he defiantly likes) and rolls around under the sofa. He has occasionally really purred too.

He has over the past few days started to sleep in different parts of the room - near the radiator under a desk or in the original crate. But as soon as we enter he goes back into hiding and stays there. Sometimes is up for attention sometimes not at all and it seems like a backwards step.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and advice and of course any tips!! We visited more yesterday than we ever did before and today he seems more timid than previous days...

Thank you

Hmm... Maybe leave it in the room so he gets used to it. He'll still be upset when you put him in it though! Don't worry OP - it'll be fine and over quickly.

Sh1t!! That couldn’t have gone worse. Eventually got him in and it was a STRUGGLE.

On the way to the vet now but I can’t believe that - he’s never going to forgive!!! Best to leave alone for a good few hours or day I’m guessing… someone give me hope!

I would honestly get a top opening carrier and give the other one to charity. It makes such a huge difference. Only takes 2 seconds to get them in. Don't worry - he'll be relieved to get home and will soon forget about this.

They forgive, animals are very forgiving. You’ll need a lot of treats though.

Too late, but I was going to say, leave the carrier in the room with the door open and Dreamies inside.
Try also spending time in the room where he is without interacting with him. Just read or look at your phone but be somewhere he can see and smell you.

So this morning we have what seems to be sulking under the sofa. He ate some treats out of my hand but retreated back under. Was very drowsy last night after some shots. Any tips for regaining trust after that visit

More Dreamies.
Cats do sometimes sulk for a little while. He will get over it 😂

As an updated we were finally forgiven for the vets trip (took a whole week).

Since then we've been opening the door to the safe room (last three days) during the day. However, he's yet to venture out... he looks at it quite often and has gotten close to stepping over the threshold but won't - there's a few treats out there in the hallway and a toy but not convincing enough it seems! Any advice on this? Should we leave it when we're in bed rather than closing it?

How might we make him more comfortable with the idea of exploring the wider hallway? He also is still a little suspicious around the DH - I'm desperate for him to be accepted (no history of dodgy men in her life...)

As long as you're sure he can't get into any hidey places about the house, I'd let him out of the room overnight. He will feel safer to explore when everybody is asleep in bed, then he can check out that the rest of the house is OK and safe.

Possibly (if the house is set up for it) leave his room door open, but at first close doors to other rooms like the kitchen & living room so he just has the hallways to roam. Then slowly let him in the other rooms at night over the next few weeks.

The first time I had to my scaredy cat Lucy to the vets she was so scared she peed all over herself :( We ended up with quite a few vets visits unfortunately. Chicken chunks and luck a lix was the way to earn forgiveness.