Kitten Help

1fortheisland

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
15
Purraise
11
I adopted two four month old kittens (they are sisters) yesterday and brought them home. I'm trying very hard to help them adjust. Yesterday, they were hiding under the kitchen table, so I sat near them and talked to them for at least two hours. I held out my hand and let them sniff me, and they let me pet them. As the evening wore on, they ventured out from under the table, ate some of their food, and used the litter box. 

This morning when I got up, it feels like everything I accomplished yesterday has been undone. The kittens run away from me and are now hiding under my bed. I've attempted to coax them out, but to no avail (although they will eat kitty treats from my hand). 

Here's what I am wondering, should I go about my business and hope that they come out on their own, or should I sit there and coax them?

I've wanted to get a kitten my entire life, but they seem terrified of me, and I wonder if I've done something wrong. About how long does it take for kittens to adjust to a new home? 

Thank you so much.
 

tulosai

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
2,018
Purraise
330
Location
Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Hi! 
 Welcome to the forums and congratulations on your new additions!

The first thing that jumps out at me is that you already seem to have given them free reign of your house/apartment.  It is better when you first bring kittens (or, actually, cats) home to start them in one small room (usually a bathroom or bedroom, occasionally a kitchen or (in a total pinch) a walk in closet  with just their food, litterbox, and maybe a scratching post and some toys.  Cats are SUPER territorial and this helps them get comfortable with their new territory, and therefore helps them get comfortable more quickly with you.

If they came to you yesterday and let you pet them and loved on you a bit, I think they are at least decently socialized and are probably just overwhelmed by the GIANT UNIVERSE that is your apartment (especially if they were in a cage before, but even if not).  If you can, I'd get them into one room with just the essentials and go from there.  Otherwise you seem to be doing well- talking to them is wonderful, and it's wonderful that they have eaten and used the litterbox.

Please keep us updated and come back if you need more help!!
 

catpack

TCS Veteran
Kitten
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
3,271
Purraise
646
Location
Southeastern USA
You need to confine them to a room with all of their necessities (food/water bowls, litter box, toys, bed/blankets.) It's best if there are not places for them to hide that you cannot get to. If they came from a rescue or shelter, they probably are use to smaller spaces and may be overwhelmed by having a whole house to explore.

Go in often and visit, talk to them, read out loud to them. Get a wand toy or two and play with them.

What is their background? Did they come from a shelter, rescue or breeder? The fact that they are eating, using their litter box is good. I would say that, unless they have experienced some trauma or have not been socialized well, that you should see some improvement over the next week and even more so in 2 weeks.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

1fortheisland

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
15
Purraise
11
Thanks so much for the advice!

The way my apartment is set up is that the kitchen/living room is one giant area. I left the bedroom door open last night so I could hear the kittens and take care of them if they needed it (they knocked over a plant at around 1 am and were meowing at around 4 am). I'd like to get them out of the bedroom and back into the kitchen/living room area; I'd rather not move the food and litterbox into the bedroom because of how the food smells. But I'll give it a shot.

Basically, I'm just wondering if I should sit in the bedroom with them or leave the bedroom and wait for them to come out on their own.
 

shunra

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 19, 2013
Messages
213
Purraise
26
Location
UK
Spend time with them ignoring them.  Read, talk on the phone, watch the TV, listen to music, have a friend in, do the dusting, anything to avoid looking at them which a cat thinks is a threat.

Combine that with a bit of bribery - always call them the same way when you put their food down, and if there is anything they are especially fond of put it down, and day by day put it a little closer to you.  Playing with toys on the end of a wand & string might help as well.

And take everything they could knock over out of their bedroom, so you can sleep with it's door shut without worrying.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

1fortheisland

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
15
Purraise
11
There's nothing breakable in the bedroom. I spent at least the last 2 hours in there with cat treats, but to no avail. And now one of them is under my nightstand. I've been doing the slow blink, but neither kitten responds to it. They stare at me but don't return the blink. They aren't hissing or trying to scratch me, and they do let me pet them, but they refuse to come out from under the bed, and that is frustrating.
 

shunra

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 19, 2013
Messages
213
Purraise
26
Location
UK
Ignore them totally.  Don't look at them, don't try to call them, total ignoring.  It's hard but they will come round.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

1fortheisland

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
15
Purraise
11
UPDATE:

The kittens came out from under the bed, so I shut the bedroom door. I don't want them under the bed because the slats holding the mattress up don't always stay in; I didn't want the kittens to be injured by falling slats. We're all in the living room now. They don't come over to me, but they do let me feed them treats and sometimes let me pet them. I'm just going to go about my day and let them explore and get comfortable in the living room/kitchen area. They know where their food is and where the litter box is. Hopefully, they'll come over to me at some point.
 

diegojames

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 4, 2013
Messages
67
Purraise
11
Location
South Dakota
Hi 
I understand it seems hard for you to not be able to play with them or anything but, it's going to take about a week for them to warm up to you so don't get you hopes up to high right now. Just think of it this way what if you where one of those little guys and just came to some one randoms house and have to live there the rest of you life. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! But, there soon going to get use to the idea!
Trust me!!!

#DiegoJames
 
Top