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The litter tray

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

Original poster

Rescue cat hiding!

16 replies

Adrundel · 15/03/2025 15:13

I adopted a cat a few days ago and he’s hiding and won’t come out…that’s fine and happy for him to settle in but I’m worried he’s not eaten, drank or used his litter tray. He’s moved at night time as was behind a cabinet and now isn’t- I think he’s hiding at the back of the pantry (large open plan pantry) but wary to move things to find him as this might distress him more. I’m not too concerned I’m not sure where he is as unless he use keys in doors he’s not got out the house but feel a bit worried generally

ive left various tasty treats that have gone untouched, tried various foods etc

when do I need to worry? I’ve read online and the advice seems to be to leave the cat be but I can’t stop worrying that he’ll get unwell from not eating/ drinking. shall I empty the pantry to find him? Really not sure what to do

any advice please?

OP posts:
musicalfrog · 15/03/2025 15:16

Have you got a Feliway plug in diffuser to help him relax and settle? That will help.

Original poster
Adrundel · 15/03/2025 15:17

I do! Only just arrived though but have plugged it in

OP posts:
Fuddlefiend · 15/03/2025 15:20

It's pretty normal. It's probably better you have him in a room where you happen to be, a lounge etc, so he can see you, hear you etc but isn't intimidates as you essentially ignore him and let him do his thing. He will eventually come out

rosydreams · 15/03/2025 15:21

just make sure they know were the litter tray is and talk to them.They like the sound of your voice and it will help them settle.

Dont worry when i went to stay with my sister one Christmas and had to take my cats. They were running around like walking pancakes for a few days but were fine .They just needed time to adjust

MrsLeonFarrell · 15/03/2025 15:21

Cats shouldn't go more than 48 hours without eating. Are you sure he hasn't had anything? If he hasn't it would be worth checking on him.

Crazykefir · 15/03/2025 15:22

My new rescue cat hid behind the cupboard for weeks! I was freaking out. Called the centre twice, theyve heard it all before
she came out in the end , shes adorable. Have you left cat litter out, food, drink and toys? I bought feelaway plug in. Played classical music, dont know if it helped. I left catnip dreemies around the house to lure her out.

Faz469 · 15/03/2025 15:22

It took 5 days for my cat to come out of hiding when I got her. She's done the same every time we've moved house too. Hopefully your furbaby will come out soon now that you have the feliway

Marinel · 15/03/2025 15:22

If you are saying the cat has eaten nothing and not used his litter tray since you got him a few days ago, I'd start worrying now. Hiding is fine, not eating or using the tray is not fine. I would expect him to come and eat at night when all is quiet and dark.

I had a semi feral rescue cat and when we got her she went down the back of a kitchen cupboard, and while I didn't mind her hiding I didn't want her somewhere so 'inaccessible' so I got her out and left her in the front room which had hiding opportunities behind sofas. I would then hear her come out and play in the night (with toys I'd left) and in the morning the dishes were clean and she'd used the litter tray.

So I'd try to find him, get him out of his hidey hole so you check he is okay, and also that he hasn't got stuck somewhere. If you're able to pick him up/drop him in a carrier and move him to a room with easier hiding opportunities that would be good.

ParsnipPuree · 15/03/2025 15:28

Poor baby. I would have left him
in a small room (eg bathroom) which wasn’t being used with somewhere to hide under and easy access to water/litter/food. He may be trapped and not able to move? If he hasn’t eaten or used the litter I would really slowly and carefully move things whilst talking calmly to him.

I had the same with mine. In the end I decided it was better to find him and stroke him gently so he knew I wouldn’t harm him. Something changed after that and he was slightly less scared.

Original poster
Adrundel · 15/03/2025 15:49

Thanks all.

im going to very gently locate him and move him upstairs. I couldn’t say with absolute certainty he’s not eaten anything but if he has it’s very minimal as I’ve been keeping an eye of what I put down etc

i really regret not taking putting him in a room upstairs- I don’t know why I didn’t really as downstairs is quite open plan- it’s quite hard to describe as sounds odd but it’s more or less open. I’ve fostered cats before and not had this extreme of hiding- usually they have been under the sofa for a little bit for example. Lesson learned there though.

he has lots of treats scattered around, toys (although I don’t imagine he’ll play if he’s nervous obviously), I left little cocoon beds in kitchen and lounge to give him somewhere to hide and his carrier is in lounge but of course he’s disappeared into the abyss of the pantry cupboard

I will update when I find him as panicking now incase he’s stuck although I do think he’s unlikely to be! Going to do it really slowly as I don’t think if I was hiding someherrr someone clattering around to find me would be reassuring

OP posts:
Marinel · 15/03/2025 16:16

Well done, as you say do it gently and speak soothingly, he may bolt past you so be ready for that - make sure he can't get somewhere else you don't want him to go! Fingers crossed it isn't too difficult.

helpfulperson · 15/03/2025 16:34

I agree with moving him to a smaller room. Make sure food, water and litter are where he can see them from where he is hiding. I made the mistake with mine of putting the litter tray in a corner and I think they just couldn't see it. As soon as I moved it to line of sight it was used no problem.

And just sit in the room with him for a while. I saw the suggestion of reading out loud so he gets used to your voice.

Original poster
Adrundel · 15/03/2025 19:06

Righto found him!
he seemed pleased to see me confusingly and was purring (I know that can be a sign of anxiety though)
popped him upstairs and sat with him while he ate 2 bowls of food poor little chap and had some treats and he was a little skittish but coming up to me
i wonder if he just didn’t know where he was so stayed hidden but it seems a bit odd he didn’t venture out as clearly was hungry. He’s sat near my wardrobe, still a bit hidden but definitely not to the extreme

fingers crossed he settles

OP posts:
Marinel · 15/03/2025 19:31

What a great result, im so pleased he seems okay and is eating. Brilliant .👏

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 15/03/2025 19:37

Our boy hid in plain sight (on top of a bookcase or behind the - open - TV unit) for a few days, ate and toileted secretly in the night, and hissed at me like a little snake. By about day four he was far more confident. I bribed him with a little bit of tinned tuna in spring water, which helped!

After a few weeks he’d really found his paws, but I’d say it took a good three months or so for him to really be “our cat”.

helpfulperson · 16/03/2025 20:32

And obviously post a photo when you can get one!

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