my cat doesn't move!!

I just got a cat from the shelter last weekend. he was really shy at the shelter - he had made a tent out of the paper liner of his cage and was hiding. At first I thought he had maybe been abused, but he doesn't flinch or shy away when you try to touch him. He has been in the same spot on the floor of my closet for almost a week. He comes out to use his litter box (I leave it about 5 ft from his hiding spot in the closet). He had been eating a lot (I didn't really know how much a cat was supposed to eat at first) and now I am giving him less food but he always eats the whole bowl. He had a vet check-up before he left the shelter... but is it possible the cat is really sick or something?

You didn't say how old he is. Is he a kitten? Some cats are very shy or scared, as one of mine was and took awhile before he trusted us. Will he play with you? Can you hold him?

Sorry, he is a year old. He is not playful at all. And he is not that opposed to you touching him, but I tried to hold him once and he didn't really like that.

OK to elaborate - I tihnk that my main concern is that the cat doesn't seem really that shy or scared of me. From talking to people, it seems like this is normal behavoir for a new cat that is not used to you. He just SITS there in the same spot all day. When I come toward him he does not run away or anything, he just keeps sitting here. But he won't come out of the closet. And he is not playful at all.

so this has been happening for about a week? have you tried interactive toys? do you have feliway? how do you feed him?

Yes almost a week. He hid under the bed for a day and then moved to the closet and he has been there since. First I fed him both dry food and wet food but then I realized I was giving him too much food (he ate it all and would have eaten more if I gave it to him) so I switched and now I just give him dry food twice a day. Since he has been at my home I know that he has not eaten anything with wheat gluten or corn so I am pretty sure that this is not related to the pet food scare.

Some cats are just slow to trust, IMO. I would try a laser pointer on the floor to see if he will play - or a string or feather. Start just sitting near him calmly, and try & play with him, and then when you are done don't scoop him up and squeeze him, but maybe a gentle chin scritch. I'd like to hear if you try it!

Try giving him half 'n half dry and canned food. It's better for him nutritionally and most cats like it (try a couple of kinds for variety, or to see which ones he likes or not). I'd get him out of the closet if I were you, because he's never going to do it on his own at this rate, but put him somewhere there's no 'under' for a while, with you in the room just doing your thing, walking around, talking to him, etc., getting him used to a more normal scene for a few hours at a time, but then let him back in the closet afterward so he knows his 'safe' place is still available to him. Do it for at least a few days (back and forth) and see what happens.

Originally Posted by Larke

I'd get him out of the closet if I were you, because he's never going to do it on his own at this rate, but put him somewhere there's no 'under' for a while, with you in the room just doing your thing, walking around, talking to him, etc., getting him used to a more normal scene for a few hours at a time, but then let him back in the closet afterward so he knows his 'safe' place is still available to him. Do it for at least a few days (back and forth) and see what happens.

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That's great advice! Larke has the right of it.

Agree with LArke partially, although I would NOT force him out of or keep him from being able to go into closet. It sounds as if he is very shy, definitely needs a lot of talking to and encouragement. When you feed him, sit with him, not touching him, but just talking to him, let him trust you and your voice. It is excellent that he comes out and eats, especially uses litter box, you don't want to put any negative vibes his way, just try to encourage him to come out in his time, talking and maybe hold and pet him in his comfort zone also.

We adopted Chai from an animal rescue in 2001, he was a year old. At the adoption center he was very shy, stayed in the corner of the cage but we were able to reach in and pet him. When we brought him home, he lived under the recliner in our bedroom for about a week and a half. He would come out and use his litter box and eat when we were not home. I would lay on the floor and talk to him under the chair. After about a week and a half he would come out but stay in the bedroom. When we could enter the room, he would go hide. Eventually he started venturing out to the living areas and we would see him but ignore him. If he saw that we noticed him, he would go back under the chair. We were just very patient and finally he would start coming to us and letting us pet him. He still does not let us pick him up. He would always run and hide when someone would come over and ring the bell. Funny thing,,, when a commercial would come on tv and the doorbell would ring, he would go hide. He is much better now with people. If you want him to like you, all you have to do is get his brush out! So, don't give up on your kittie.

I don't think it's a sign of illness. My cat did the same thing after I got him from the shelter. For two or three whole months, he was either hiding under the bed or sitting in one spot. It can take a long time for cats to adjust to a new home. He never played, either... I wasn't sure he even knew what toys were.

But he came around little by little and now acts like a normal cat, plays, is very content. I'd recommend giving the cat space and not pushing it. Sit next to him now and then, pet him if he appears to like it (though don't force it), leave him alone if that appears to make him comfortable. You might also make sure the water and food bowls are close to him, so that he's getting enough.

Natasha did the same thing. I sat in the room and read aloud to her. It gets that used to your voice. When she/he? ventures out don't try to touch him ignore him he'll come to you. Now Natasha is always sitting on my lap. It just take a while.

I think everyone has given good advice for you. I personally would just sit in front of the closet and read a book maybe keep some treats right by me-- but far enough away from him where he actually has to come out of the closet to get them. I would also keep his food out a little ways that way he has to explore a little bit. But don't keep his food and litter too far away that he can't find it. I wouldn't try picking him up at all.. maybe a couple of pets so he sees that your friendly. When he does finally come out- I would ignore him so he can explore- unless he comes right up to you. Just give him some time.. wouldn't you be scared if you kept being moved from 1 scary place to the next??? He'll get comfortable, it'll just take some time! Keep us posted!

Thanks for all the good advice. I really felt that my cat and I were making some progress. However, he was having discharge from his eyes due to an upper-respritory infection that he got at the shelter (it was fine for the first week or so, he was just sneezy). Anyway, the vet said its not a big deal health wise, but not I have to try to chase him down twice a day to put this goo in his eyes. The cat, which was scared of me to start out with, now hides even further away. I know that I have to give him this to keep him healthy, but now I am scared that he will never trust me! It's terrible trying to get this goo in his eyes. First I tried to pick him up, but he was not having any of that. Now I just wait until he is in a hiding spot where he can't really run away that quickly and I go over and pet him and then try to just gently secure his head so I can try to get the stuff in. Poor cat! And now I think he just won't like me ever I know that he will associate me and my touching him with this yucky stuff he does not like.

Elsa (formerly feral) was very sick for a while, and had to take all sorts of pills. I got some deli ham and turkey (of course there's a lot of sodium, but this is only for once a day or so for a few days) and I would give her a treat before the medicine AND after. She liked it enough that she forgave me the pills!

Originally Posted by elizabeth81

Thanks for all the good advice. I really felt that my cat and I were making some progress. However, he was having discharge from his eyes due to an upper-respritory infection that he got at the shelter (it was fine for the first week or so, he was just sneezy). Anyway, the vet said its not a big deal health wise, but not I have to try to chase him down twice a day to put this goo in his eyes. The cat, which was scared of me to start out with, now hides even further away. I know that I have to give him this to keep him healthy, but now I am scared that he will never trust me! It's terrible trying to get this goo in his eyes. First I tried to pick him up, but he was not having any of that. Now I just wait until he is in a hiding spot where he can't really run away that quickly and I go over and pet him and then try to just gently secure his head so I can try to get the stuff in. Poor cat! And now I think he just won't like me ever

I know that he will associate me and my touching him with this yucky stuff he does not like.

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