New cat owner

I live in an apartment complex and a cat was left behind when the owners moved on Tuesday. My son (8 years old) and I didn't notice until Wednesday. We took her in on Thursday and fell in love. She lets us pet her, doesn't hide and eats well. I have kept her food and litter box in separate areas of the kitchen because it is on tile. However, she is very nervous when she hears sounds, her eyes get very large when she sees us coming, she jumped at me last night when she didn't expect to see me coming. The crazy part is she is laying right next to me sleeping right now. She runs to us when we come home and brushes by us often. What can I do to make her more comfortable? How much should I feed her? I want to take her to a vet. But, when I tried to move her she scratched me. She currently has access to the kitchen and living room. Every now and then I will let her in other rooms and those eyes enlarge again. Help please!

She is afraid as she is still new to the surroundings. So you do correct by limiting her new surroundings, keeping her essentially in two of the rooms. It will be better with time, as she relaxes and dares more.  If you wish, you can use a Feliway adapter or Feliway spray.  (seek about it here on our site or Google about it).   It is not necessary, things going well, but if you wish so... 

Her scratching you when you moved on her (tried to put her in the carrier?).  Quite many cats dont like carriers transport. It is often connected with unpleasant experiences. Like car ride (some cats dont manage it well) or vet errands.   Here She was thrown out from her home. So she has a fresh memory of being taken out = dumped... 

Have her carrier standing there with open doors. She will perhaps use it as her safe sleeping place... You can even leave some treats in there sometimes...

This will learn her the carrier may be a nice place too...

Good you will do a vet check up.

What are you meaning by "I have kept her food and litter box in separate areas of the kitchen because it is on tile."  Do you think it is a problem her food and litter box arent together?

It is NOT a problem, and normally shoulnd be toghether.

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Welcome and how wonderful of you and your son to take in this lost kitty. She needs more time, more days to adjust and feel completely and utterly safe with you standing and walking around, especially towards her. Some cats always retain that wariness. My Perla is this way. When you sit or lay on the bed, they come on their own for pets and love. This is all a very good sign and you just have to be patient. I agree with Stefan, and would leave the carrier somewhere with the door propped open. Put a comfy bed inside and a couple of toys with catnip. She might just start using the carrier as her little den and bedroom. :lol3: Once she is more comfortable with you and the carrier, it will be easy to get her to the vet. If that doesn't work, then you get another carrier - good to have two anyway. and start feeding her one carrier in the kitchen. Then once she is used to eating in the carrier and going in and out, just quietly shut her in. This method is really only if you need to get her to the vet right away and don't have time to mess around with her getting used to the carrier the other way. Of course, it is best to get her to the vet and checked out as soon as you can. Bring a stool sample too. Also, agree that the litterbox and the food bowls should be kept away from each other. :nod: She might not want to use the litter box with her food so close OR eat her food being next to the litter box. If you have an old placemat, you can use that to place her dishes on. Congrats on your new family member!!!!! and best of luck!!!

Hi! I picked her up to move her from the couch. She seems to be doing better. But, tonight she started freaking out. Running through the house and hoping a bit. Out of no where she got in a stalking position with her tail whipping. I kept looking to find what she was seeing. I called her and she came to me and let me pet her. She got all worked up again. I don't see where has her going crazy. saw nothing. I got freaked out and closed my bedroom door. It sounded like she was running a marathon. Is that normal?

Lol sorry my last message got confusing. I went to check on her. She was fine, let me pet her and I let her go on the balcony. She came back in and was calm. She started meowing when I wouldn't let her back in my bedroom where the hysteria earlier happened. She then attacked my feet.and returned to her favorite table and latest down. I don't want to spray her with water but if this keeps happening I will have to. Any advice?!?

Ah, this seems to be the classical merry cat gallopades!  They can go on even half an hour.at full speed throughhout the house..

ENTIRELY normal!  A way of rushing off excessive energy and tensions, and a sure sign she is beginning to feel entirely at home now!

Myself, I think these "mad rushings" are a big part of the joy of owning young cats.

Of course, we were lucky our residents had the sense to be careful, never destroying anything while they had their long, mad rushes... Avoiding all fragile obstacles with remarkable precision

A variation of this is this look of wild animal, wide open eyes, ears back, croutching, with paws and nails out, tail whipping back and forth...

A playing postion, dont worry.

Well, she does certainly sound like she is adjusting beautifully :lol3: Yes, quite normal, playful behavior. She was just full of spice and that is why she attacked your feet. Seems to be popular thing to do for many kitties - GET FEET!!!!!!! Just make a hissing noise at the exact same time as she goes for them. Playtime in the evening with a wand toy is a great idea and will burn off this extra energy. Happy to hear that she is settling in.

Wow great news!!!! Where would I be without u guys? I will look into a wand. Anyother ways I can join in or help her burn her energy off?

NFLady said:

Wow great news!!!! Where would I be without u guys? I will look into a wand. Anyother ways I can join in or help her burn her energy off?

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How about a lazer toy!!!! :lol3: http://reviews.petsmart.com/4830/2754526/miracle-beam-miracle-beam-laser-cat-toy-reviews/reviews.htm I have one (can't find where I got it) that is a plastic yellow cat with a button on the back and the lazer is the mouth My cats go nuts for the little red dot!!!

You can pick up a laser toy at WalMart.