New cat

[PumpkinPantz]

We have a new cat and thought he had settled well. But recently he’s swinging between super friendly one day and being all cuddles and the next day is scared of us and hiding under the bed.
He’s hiding just now after being my best friend yesterday and won’t come out. It’s hard to know what to do with him.
Do I just ignore until he fully settles.

It could be something totally daft like a noise or smell he isn't used to. I have a creaky floorboard and the cat was terrified of the creak until he got used to it.

Could also be he feels safer when sleeping when he's hiding away.

I wouldn't be concerned while he still getting used to his new home.

(You do know the rules BTW - new pet means we need a photo😀)

Age, sex, where homed from? Cat tax photo when dc next makes an appearance.

So many factors affecting the settling in period. Giving time, space and Dreamies seems to be pretty effective.

He’s about a year old and came from a rescue centre, he seemed to be homeless but they don’t know for how long.
It’s just hard when you don’t know if you’ll get a happy or scared day with him. I’m just sad because he’s lovely when he does come out.

Aww he’s lovely. I’ve got a little rescue panther too. I’ve had him two years this month and he can still have his scared hidey days although not many. Give him time and he’ll come round it’s still early days. X

What beautiful eyes!
Seconding what other posters have said: steady application of treats and sitting talking to him when he’s under the bed. He might be a very sensitive soul.
How long has he been with you?

2 weeks. He’s still coming out to eat his dinner of course!
Last week he was being friendly with our friends and today he won’t come near us.

He’s gorgeous. Rescue panthers are the best, just give him some time and gentle attention.

I want him to come sit on my lap again, he’s so silky!

He's absolutely gorgeous.

Yep. He needs time. You just don’t know what his experience has been prior to coming to you. This might be his first experience of stability and safety.

At 9.30 he decided to stop hiding and ran around the house 20 times, came into bed with me and tried to attack my feet and now seems in a very good mood.

2 weeks is still early. He’s doing pretty well.
https://companionanimalcommunitycenter.org/your-cat-settling-into-your-home-with-the-3-3-3-rule/
He must be an all or nothing type boy.

I’m just updating that things have improved. I made the decision I didn’t want him to hide anymore, so if he was under the bed for more than an hour we gave dreamies and a fuss and he would stay out longer and longer. So he’s just stopped going under at all really now.
He woke up in a great mood on Sunday and didn’t hide all day.
He’s still scared of DH and me sometimes. But DD has gone to school and he’s asleep on her bed and he slept on my lap last night!
Huge progress.

we have the vets this week so I expect he won’t be happy after that.

That’s fantastic!

And they do forgive you for the vets. Eventually.

When I first got two rescue cats with a hard background my vet said I would see their personality change for a long time before settling and that's been true. One would only speak to me for over a year then suddenly decided other people were OK and started going to various people such as neighbours for pets with great confidence.