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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Is this normal?!

12 replies

Prettybubblesintheair · 29/10/2022 22:49

We’ve recently rescued an absolutely gorgeous girl. She’s about 5, a friend of a friend got her from a rescue a few years ago. He then lost his housing and had to give her up, she went to one person then another within 2 weeks. The last person was keeping her in a locked room with 24 other cats 😿. She was so so afraid when we got her a week ago, we’ve been keeping her in our bedroom with lots of places to hide, she had started to come out and was sleeping on our bed with us and she was extremely affectionate. She’s started eating well, is addicted to dreamies and uses her tray beautifully. Today we took her to the vets and it’s all gone downhill! She’s eating but is has very much gone back to hiding, she’s come out for a bit of fuss and dreamies occasionally but usually this time of night she’d be curled up inbetween us whereas tonight she’s under the bed again. I just feel so sad for her! She’s been through so much and had gotten so brave but I feel like by taking her for her check up/jabs we’ve just upset her more! I’ve never really had cats, grew up with them but wasn’t in charge of their care so didn’t pay much attention to this sort of thing. She’s still very jumpy, when we open the door if she’s on the bed she runs away or if we move too quickly! It’ll be a week tomorrow since we picked her up, I’m just looking for some advice on how we can help her settle in. The plan is for her to be an outside cat eventually but at the moment that won’t happen for the forseeable. We also have a dog, he’s a soft dope but we’re keeping them completely separate for now, he’s down stairs and she’s up with a stair gate in between them. We also have teens who haven’t met her yet (on holiday with their dad) but will do in a week or so which I’m aware will just stress her out again! Sorry I know I’m rambling, if you got to the end of this please give me any tips on how to settle her in! Photo for cat tax.

Is this normal?!
OP posts:
Aroloruns · 29/10/2022 22:52

Cats unfortunately can be real bitches and you can't reason with them (obviously). She is probably upset after the vet, give her a few days and let her do her thing. She will start being less anxious soon. My cat gets really dismissive and bitchy when I go away for a weekend or holiday. Food is usually the way to lure them back but also time.

P.s. I adore my cat even if she can be so hot and cold for no apparent reason 😂

CuriousCatfish · 29/10/2022 22:52

Just leave her to come out when she's ready. She will in her own time.

KosmicBlue · 29/10/2022 23:14

My rescue girl had a rough start and, 2 years on, and having made tons of progress, I still have 1-3 days of her being terrified of me every month when I do her flea spot-on. Don't worry, she I'll be fine. Cats are excellent at making us feel like shit!

tabulahrasa · 29/10/2022 23:25

It took my cat a good 5 weeks to stop being freaked out after we moved house and it takes her about 48 hours to stop being scared after the vets... and we’ve had her since she was a kitten and she’s lived a perfectly normal spoiled cat life since, so tbh it sounds like yours is doing pretty well.

LeMoo · 29/10/2022 23:29

Oh bless her, poor thing, she's gorgeous though!

A week is no time at all, give her time - she'll get there :)

Allergictoironing · 30/10/2022 07:29

Perfectly normal on her part. Having been moved from pillar to post, she thought she'd found her forever home. The visit to the vets will have made her think she's being moved on yet again, so she's hiding so you can't catch her & send her away.

It was unfortunate that you needed to take her to the vets so soon after rehoming, but I can completely understand why you had to after her background. Just let her be, carry on as if all was normal and she will come back to being affectionate.

thelobsterquadrille · 30/10/2022 07:42

Very normal - cats can be master sulkers Grin

belimoo · 30/10/2022 08:04

She is beautiful 😻

She just needs time to gain confidence in you. Try to keep things as calm and quiet as possible. My cat loves a routine so if you can, keep meal times and bedtimes consistent for a while too.

JoanOgden · 30/10/2022 08:12

Ah, she's lovely. Yes, this is very normal. My own rescue spent a couple of weeks hiding under the bed when I first got her. I use a home vet rather than taking her to a surgery - more expensive but less stressful for all involved.

Prettybubblesintheair · 30/10/2022 20:20

Thank you so much everyone, I got woken up by her bapping my face for her breakfast this morning! So hoping it means I’m on the path to forgiveness! She’s been on my lap a couple of times and played with her toys so doing better. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Prettybubblesintheair · 30/10/2022 20:21

Ignore dh’s foot!

OP posts:
LeMoo · 30/10/2022 20:23

She really is very pretty.

Glad she's feeling better :)

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