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Written by Wendy Christensen
Q: Alfie and Jack arrived home yesterday after a 380-mile round trip. This is only their second day at home. The place I picked them up from was spotless - they were in a cage at the end of a room with 10 - 12 other cats of varying breeds – all neuters apart from 2 who were also caged - the others were roaming free and very, very friendly (must point out though that I had cheated and put catnip on my hands to make myself a lot more appealing).
They had lived there since their birth. I am worried about them - I was under the impression that they were around 8 months old - but in fact they are actually 5 years old. My little boy comes back tomorrow evening - I'm a little concerned that he's going to want to pick them up and play with them as he did with our last cat.
These boys are only used to the lady who used to own them - indeed they had never seen another human apart from the vet who said they were in great shape and just needed a little dental work – she was unsure whether that was a breed thing or just in their line.
I picked them up at noon and we arrived home around 2:30. After a little distressed miowing they settled quietly into their boxes. (I spoke and sang to them all the way home.) Their owner had put them inside so until we got home I had no contact with them. She mentioned that she hadn't clipped their claws because they wouldn't sit on her knee like her other cats. I'm not sure that she handled them very much at all - which is quite distressing.
I'd put some worn socks of mine and my partner into each one (to get them used to our scent), a bit of catnip and a blanket. When we arrived I placed their boxes into a corner in the living room and removed the doors - I stroked them both gently and spoke to them lovingly then left them to it while I returned to work. The room is quite large - but with loads of places to hide - I'd showed them their litter tray and made scratchy noises into it - which they responded to a little - and placed food and water (complete with a spray of rescue remedy) where they could see it.
They've eaten and drunk nothing and after an initial spraying of their boxes (which isn't too strong a smell) they haven’t relieved themselves in any way. They haven't scratched, hissed or made a noise since they got here. Alfie was out of the box and behind the TV when I arrived home – I had to gently extract him from the wires as this is a no go area (which I will have to sort out). I put a collar on him and Jack – I know some people will disagree with this but our house has two outside doors off the living room and I'm scared of them getting out with no identification. He then went and hid behind a curtain - moving low to the ground as he went. Jack ventured upstairs – its open plan in our home - no ruddy doors - and spent the rest of the evening in a hidey-hole I'd prepared. Alfie joined him later – a little squashed - sitting on him.
At bedtime I moved their litter tray into my room (I wanted to hear them in case they were distressed at all) and guided them in there. Jack sidled in and immediately found the corner next to my wardrobe - where he still is). Alfie went immediately to the wires behind my bed - I got him out gently and covered the wires with a cushion. He eventually found little brother and they stayed there all night. They seem to be quite small - although that may be because they are making themselves tiny.
They haven't a clue what to do with the toys I've given them – there were none in their run/room. Although this may be just because they are so nervous.
Alfie seems to be the more curious/adventurous one - he's sitting downstairs under the TV again now - Jack's so timid its painful. I'm so looking forward to these boys being confident enough to be mischievous - but I think that kind of behaviour is far into the future. I also wonder whether they will bond even more to each other (like security blankets) and they won't respond to us.
A: Relax – you’re doing everything just about exactly right!
Your new cats have to adjust to quite a lot of changes – new people, new territory, and new smells, sounds, and environment. The way they’re behaving is perfectly natural and understandable. They’re being wise, cautious cats. They pile up together because each other is the only “known” quantity in their lives right now – so they’re indeed acting as each others’ “security blankets.” Again, this is perfectly natural and not cause for concern. It doesn’t mean they won’t eventually bond closely with you and other members of your family – it just means they’ll continue to be bonded to each other as well, which is a GOOD thing. They’re starting off with what they know and can trust: each other.
They’re going to naturally seek out “hidey-holes” – and each other - for awhile, at least a few weeks. They’ll come out when they feel comfortable doing so. Don’t rush them. In the meantime, make sure all spaces they have access to are as safe and cat-proof as possible. The best solution to areas you don’t want them to explore is exclusion – close off the room, or make the dangers completely inaccessible. Power cords and other wires can be threaded through plastic “wire-guides” (available at computer and electronics stores) for example, or sprayed with a product like “Bitter Apple” to make them distasteful to chew. But I always prefer exclusion as a strategy for preventing accidents.
It’s quite normal for them to ignore food for a few days – but if it keeps up longer than a couple days at most, you’ll definitely want to take definitive steps to make sure they eat:
- Feed them in a small, private, quiet location, so they won’t feel they have to look over their shoulders for possible dangers. They’re going to be nervous for awhile.
- Minimize stress and distractions; sit with them and speak softly and encouragingly. Pet and praise them lavishly when they eat.
- Serve an especially tasty, oily aromatic canned liver or fish-flavored food. Or try serving cottage cheese or scrambled eggs.
- Heat up the food. This increases the aroma and may tempt them.
- Hand-feed them.
- Offer tasty treats to convince them that eating in his new environment is safe and pleasant.
Herding Cats at Home - November 2004 1
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Herding Cats at Home - November 2004 4
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