Can someone reassure me this is normal

[Allthegoodhorses]

Morning, it’s a bit of a saga but I acquired a cat on Sunday. He’s about a year old, neutered a month ago and was living in a very chaotic situation.

We ‘rescued’ him and he’s now in my house. Currently he is in a quiet part of the house in an igloo bed inside a dog crate (dog crate was used for transportation purposes as it was easier to lift him inside the igloo into crate than put him in a cat basket). The crate is open and he has water, food, a litter tray (further from the food).

He has not moved. There looks like no sign of him using litter tray or eating or drinking.

I have googled and apparently this is normal. We have not tried to interact too much with him as advice I’ve read he’s in frozen survival mode and have to let him decide when it’s safe to come out.

But can anyone offer any more advice or reassure me this is normal. I’m starting to get concerned and not sure of next steps.

Hi All, Gandalf continues to get braver everyday. He’s now following me around the house and showing a lot of interest in the outside world. He’s really playful now and doing zoomies and playing with toys (feathers on stick type toys).

He seems to have found a comfy spot in the window so he can view the world going by. He’s still a wee bit jumpy so I won’t let him out yet but I have left the doors open for a few minutes whilst I have put the bins out. He’s not gone outside and I will take it slowly.

All in all we seem to be getting on ok. I also bought him a cat fountain as I was worried about how little he seemed to be drinking. He seems to be using it and I’ve noticed the litter tray is wetter.

thank you all for you support and advice.

Bless him he’s doing great, he’s going to love that window spot when it’s sunny

That's a lovely relaxed pose from Gandalf, he looks really at home 😻😻😻

Thanks for the update Op, it’s really great to hear he’s continuing to improve, he looks very relaxed up there ! He’s very lucky to have found you … someone with the patience to help him blossom. You’ve both done so well ! I hope we continue to get updates every now and then, I was thinking of him only the other day !

Thank you all. To go from that first slightly (hugely) worrying post to now is amazing, 🤩 I appreciate every message and word of advice, it’s been so helpful.

Gorgeous cat and purfect update 💙

I didn’t think I would be updating so early but tonight he’s decided to join me on the sofa. And he’s been purring. I’ve literally just messaged everyone I know. So happy.. and also today I left the French doors open and sat on the laptop and he put two paws out the door into the garden.

I never intended this little chap into my life.. but he’s a delight. It seems he was meant for us. We lost our Dog (aged 14 years) a year ago on the 12th March and I can’t help but think this is our new friend sent to us.

Gorgeous photo ❣️

That’s fantastic news ! I didn’t like to ask if he’s purring in case it was too soon. It sounds like he’s starting to bond emotionally with you. You’ve moved into the ‘falling in love’ phase 😁

Thats a great photo, and shows how handsome he is ❤️

He's gorgeous, lovely to see he's doing so well.
I wouldn't worry about the drinking, often cats on wet food drink practically nothing, as long as fresh water is on offer he's fine, or more likely you'll find him with his head down the toilet drinking from that!!

He’s a beauty, and looks like he is loving his new home and family.

He’s so sweet, I used to have a white male cat called Snowy.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain we had a white cat when I was a child called Snowy. It was on the list of names funnily enough

I love these landmarks: first time he appeared out of hiding, first time he allowed you to stroke him (was going to put 'first time he allowed you to touch him' but that somehow sounded wrong!), but then that moment of bliss, the first time he fully accepts you and curls up beside you... perfect!😻😻

Hello everyone, a small update from Gandalf. He’s now pretty much integrated into the home. Here he is lying next to me on the sofa. He’s still a bit shy, will run off at sudden movements but generally very relaxed and settled. I’ve not let him have the run of the house yet due to weeing on my bed a few times so that’s closely monitored.

But we absolutely adore him. He’s the sweetest wee thing. Never wanted a cat..

My husband went away for six weeks and only returned two weeks ago so they have had to get used to each other but thankfully Gandalf is accepting him.

thank you all once again for the invaluable advice.

Oh, he looks very at home! He's a beautiful boy!

hes gorgeous. just look at that lovely fluffy tummy. I bet hes glad hes got a happy home now with you.

Aw, he's showing trust! Congratulations!

That’s such good news, thanks for the update ! He’s really beautiful, and looks so happy 😁

When I had my 'hide under the sofa' rescue the vet said that even though you think he has made huge strides and settled in it can take 6 months to a year for him to trust completely and that I would see changes in his behaviour for while yet. And she was right. After about 4 months I was so pleased with how happy he was but didn't realised how much more he would relax. Then one day after about he stayed and accepted pets from friends who had come for coffee instead of disappearing.

You have done such a good job of becoming a cat mom/slave

What a lovely update, he looks so relaxed! Any chance he lets you tickle that tummy?😻

Was itching to tickle it but we are not quite there yet.. nearly though. He prefers to have my hands near his head and if I go to stroke him he gets up. I did just spend time with him on sofa and he pushes his head into my hands whilst purring. 🥰

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to do one last update on Gandalf. We've had him for 7 months now, and things have changed so much.

He was microchipped last week. I had someone come to the house to do it so it wasn't too stressful for him, and everything went really well. The lady who did it was absolutely fantastic. She spent a long time patiently gaining his trust and was eventually able to stroke him. I was so pleased I found her. He is also letting me stroke him and the other day he jumped up onto the bed and let me stroke him for about 10mins and he was purring.

He is now happily going outside and exploring the garden. He's started chasing insects and really investigating everything around him. I usually leave the back door open because if something startles him, like a car going past he comes straight back inside where he feels safe.

Now that he's microchipped, I can finally get a cat flap fitted, which will give him a lot more freedom. He hasn't used his litter tray for weeks because he much prefers going outside, although I've left it in place just in case.

Best of all, he has completely stopped peeing on my bed. I kept him out of the bedrooms for quite a while after that happened, but he now has full run of the house again and hasn't had a single accident.

The other night I was woken up by hysterical miaowing, I could not fathom where he was. It turned out he was in the garden, he had got out via a window in our bedroom (which is on the ground floor as we do not have an upstairs), and obviously couldn't get back in. He was so good to wake me up to let him back in. Clever boy!

Looking back to where we started, it's amazing how far he's come. He's still a cautious boy, but he's become so much more confident and it's been incredibly rewarding to watch him slowly realise that he's safe and loved.

Thank you to everyone who offered advice and encouragement when we first brought him home. It really did help, and I'm so grateful.

That’s all really wonderful, @Allthegoodhorses.

I’m so happy for both of you! You’ve done a really fantastic job.

Awww wonderful update 💙