Need Some Advice For My Newly Adopted Adult Male Cat...Please? :)

Hi Everyone,

I literally just signed up and am not sure if this is the correct spot to post questions regarding our personal cat experiences.  Well anyway, I went to our local shelter a couple of days ago and introduced myself to a few adult cats.  I sat down in their open play room and a beautiful tabby came right up and sat on my lap but never really looked at me or identified who he was showing compassion for.  As he was on my lap, a "spooky" but handsome cat named "Shadow" came approached me shyly and let me pet him but then kind of ran off into the corner by himself.  The tabby that was on my lap got off to go play with others.  As I watched them all, the employee told me more about Shadow and how he's been there since he was four weeks old and is always overlooked because he's all black and kind of "spooky" looking...he is not almost a year and a half and has been in there all this time!  As I was getting ready to leave, I went to say goodbye to the pretty tabby and as I did so, Shadow came from across the room, jumped up on top of a cat post in front of me, reached out his paw gently to me and gave me dead-on eye contact as I pet him.  My heart broke!  The employee started tearing up as she said he seems to want to be noticed too and he never does that with just anyone.  WELL, I went home that night and couldn't stop thinking of Shadow...I wanted to rescue him and give him a chance and not be another to overlook him.  I felt a great connection with him and decided to adopt him over the pretty "lap cat". 

Last night was Shadow's first night with me here.  He is TERRIFIED! He's claimed the kitchen as his safe haven and wants nothing to really do with me at all.  He WILL watch me and blink slowly and contently when I talk to him...which, I hope, is a good sign!  I know all he knows is the inside of a shelter and this is a HUGE adjustment for him...I just hope he eventually comes around and shows that affection again like he did the other day.  It's heartbreaking to not be able to scoop him up and love him.  Any suggestions what I should or shouldn't do?? Any advice will be so helpful. 

Thank you!

Try putting him in a smaller room and confining him there until he gets used to things, and spend as much time with him if you can. get a cat wand and see if he will play with you for a few minutes so you can gain his trust. He is very overwhelmed right now and scared, just have some patience with him and I'm sure he will come around

Aww such a cute story. I'm sure you made the right choice. Poor lil guy doesn't know what has happened to him.

Like cyndersmom said put him in a smaller room with all his things. Much less overwhelming that way. When I first got Loki he stayed in the room for a few days before he was asking to leave the room. This could take a lot longer for shy kitties. All will be fine with some patience. Talk to him and spend time with him without really pushing him...like reading in the same room, laptop etc.

Keep us updated

to TCS! The above advice is very helpful. He'll come round; he's just overwhelmed right now and taking things slowly. It was so good of you to notice him and give him a chance nobody else has been willing to. You won't regret it!

Thank you all!  That is really helpful advice.  On lunch, I sat on the kitchen floor with my laptop and just talked to him occasionally as he was watching me from his perch behind my blender haha. He's definitely curious of me and after a few minutes he jumped down to go into the living room...but then came back in the kitchen.  He wasn't as rushed to hide from me and stopped briefly as if he was almost going to come up to me. 

I'll keep updating.  Thanks again.

Yes, time and patience is the key. I myself adopted a feral kitten who hissed at me for two weeks whenever I walked into his safe spot. Now he's a big snugglebutt. 

Oh, and THANK YOU   for adopting a black cat!!! Too many of them languish in shelters because of people's idiotic superstitions. 

Awww, thank you SO much for rescuing this precious baby! as a foster mom for the local shelter, i know how hard it is to rehome black cats, especially the adults. He is brand new in your home and has no idea what is going on. He just needs time to settle in and adjust but trust me, before you know it he will be your VERY best friend, and will show you everyday how appreciative he is that you gave him a chance!

Thanks SO much for picking Shadow and rescuing him from the shelter!! Lots and lots of patience :nod:. Once your new baby settles in to a routine and a regular schedule, he will start to come around and fee safe. He just has to learn to trust you and he WILL !!! Much luck :lovegrin:

You did a wonderful thing by adopting him.    It just takes time for an adjustment.   Our Tippytoes was a stray who lived in the woods behind our house.   Although she was very friendly, once she was in our house it took a while -- and Angel and Tony didn't make it any easier for her by hissing.  Anyway, she lived on a dining room chair for 2 weeks before she ventured around and explored the house.   Now she thinks she owns the house.   I don't think she remembers living outdoors (although once or twice she darted out the door, but flew right back in).

Good luck with Shadow and keep us posted.  Pretty soon  he'll forget his former life and adjust to living like a little prince.

**UPDATE ON SHADOW**

Well morning #2 poor Shadow got terrorized by the loud banging of the garbage truck that comes at 5:00 in the morning (literally sounds like a tank truck is initiating combat outside) !  He ran into my bedroom and stayed under the bed the entire day.  I came home at lunch to see if he would come out from hiding but he just blinked at me .  I came home from work that evening and he was back in the kitchen in his open crate.  No food eaten, no water drank, no potty...the poor little guy was petrified! So I went out and picked up some Whiskas tuna wet food and an amazing cat toy hoping they would coax him out.  I added some of the Whiskas to his dry food and as soon as he smelled it, he came right out and CHOWED DOWN! I backed off to let him eat in peace and thought he'd go back in his crate after but he came up to me and let me pet him! He then decided to hang out on the kitchen chair and see what other treats and toys I had for him haha  He LOVED the awesome cat toy and we both found it very entertaining for a couple of hours.  He came up to me many times letting me pet him and love him up   So then I made some dinner, talked to him, let him know it was ok to hang out while I moved around in the kitchen...he just lounged on his chair and watched and dozed.  I then went to bed and I noticed him peeping hesitantly at the door to my bedroom and I called him in letting him know it was ok but he didn't.  THEN something strange happened....I woke up this morning and, mind you, I was in different clothes and my hair was not pulled back like last night but he acted like I was a complete stranger   He ran and cried and hid despite my calm voice talking to him.  He has been under the same dresser in the living room ALL DAY since this morning and it is now 4:30 p.m.  No eating, no drinking, no potty.  He never hisses at me or growls when I look under to talk to him...he sometimes stretches out and turns his head away from me like "please, Miss, I'm trying to nap".  I'm letting him be and not trying to scare him from out of there or grab for him.  It was just such progress last night, I thought for sure he'd be out from under things today.  Maybe this is his "animal shelter schedule"?  He feels he's supposed to be cooped up and confined for the majority of the day as he was in the shelter?  Has this happened to anyone else?  Feedback would be wonderful.

Thank you!

Yay for Shadow! Sounds like he's doing well. I don't know about the shelter schedule but it was his life for quite a length of time so it'll probably take awhile to change. I know Loki has freaked at me when I look different. Once I put on my bf's sweater cause I was cold. He wouldn't come near me. Looked at me like i was going to eat him and tried to hide. This has happened in other situations too. Kinda weird. He's got lots of new noises to get used to. Only time will change his reactions.