My new pal!

[StarsAtElbowsAndFoot]

Hi mumsnetters. I’ve been to view this gorgeous cat today. Pending a home check, I’ve reserved him and will be bringing him home next week! I’m in love.

Oh, yes ... the taking-your-kitchen-apart-to-find-your-cat fandango ... been there! He will come out when he's ready. He's just doing a risk assessment at the moment to check your house is safe for him.

Gosh I bet was worrying!
Don't worry hopefully he will do the dusting while he is under there.
He will come out when he is famished due to the hard work of frightening the socks off you

He’d come out overnight to eat and use the litter box but had retreated back to his lair afterwards! I just hope he realises I’m actually quite nice soon and comes out to say hello and have a snuggle!

One of mine hid for a week in a tiny gap in the kitchen. Fortunately her foster carer warned me that she would. She told me to make the most of the time with her sister. As Maia would completely dominate when she reappeared. And se did. 8 days later!

Lovely to see this. Beautiful cats on this thread 😻.

I fear this might take a while 🙈

Awwww, bless him! Those paws!!

Our rescue did the same - hid behind the kitchen cupboards and we didn’t see her for 3 weeks. She would come out to eat and use the litter when we were asleep. Then gradually, gradually, she spent less time there and after about 3 months stopped going there at all.

Try to relax, he’ll warm to you soon

So what was it you said about ignoring the cat bed 🛌 as of course that looks way comfier.....poor little thing hes just a but nervous right now. All will be well soon

Just remember that a cat will never make itself uncomfortable!

How is Rodney doing now?

Still trying to coax him out. He’s still hiding in his den. He comes out when I’m in bed to eat and use his litter tray.

So far… he’s not great company!

Perhaps you could block off the hidey hole and it may encourage him out or into a better/accessible den?

That's normal - he just needs time. My little fella was like that for two weeks ... now he's the most affectionate boy in the world.

What treats have you tried? I think it’s time to break out the smoked salmon.

Please don't worry. Mine were at this stage in January- it was like having goblins, they appeared at night, ate and retreated. I followed ALL the advice of a cat psychologist on YouTube called called Galaxy Jackson on dealing with scared cats. No i'm prising kittens off my pillow at 3am and closing my bedroom door while they try to dig through the carpet to be with me. Be patient, no eye contact, be in his space. Do watch the videos!

@StarsAtElbowsAndFoot

At least he's eating'n'pooing !

When our cats arrived we knew the boy was extremely shy , he hid when we went to meet him. When he was brought to our house he threw himself under the corner table . I made my DS sleep on the sofa that night , he said MaleCat did emerge for food . (FemaleCat made herself right at home , ate supper , used tray ). When he eventually braved coming out from under the table we all watched with bated breath
He still doesn't like any change . Going to the vet , a plumber visit , a supermarket deilvery -all panic him

He sleeps on our bed in the daytime , walks over us at 5am .
Cats (indeed all animals) like routine , it makes them feel secure . Ours have meals , door unlocked /locked at set times that they know .
And they saunter in to yell at us if we're late

Mine finally came out when I'd left the kitchen lights off, one evening.

Billy still very shy, hardly any visitors, wants to go out now

How is he doing OP?

Not too good to be honest! Still no movement from under the kitchen so I actually pulled the cooker out and manually removed him tonight. He didn’t like it at all but he’s now shut in a small room with his litter tray, comfy bed and food etc, which I think is much much better for settling in. I’ve also blocked off under the kitchen so he can’t get back under again. I’m going to go in periodically to talk to him softly, put my hand out for strokes and offer treats. He’s clearly a scarred and scared kitty from past experiences. I need to be patient and gentle- but I had to get him out from under the kitchen!

Sorry to hear he’s still so nervous. I think you having moved him to a different room is a good thing, fingers crossed things slowly improve. Have you tried feliway? Expensive but may help especially if he is in a smaller room.

good luck, keep us in the loop!

Yeah I’ve got Feliway and a pet calming spray, and catnip, and various treats. Nothing seems to make much difference. But there is progress tonight. He’s eaten treats from my hand and enjoyed some strokes!

That sounds like progress is being made if he's accepting pets 😍

Sometimes you have to make it happen when their being dramatic.