Stray cat I brought inside hiding

Marvin, the stray/feral I brought into the house in late May has been doing really well.  He now coexists with our resident cat, Jake and does well with our large dog.  He is still a real scaredy cat.  He still spends alot of time in his safe room.  This is mostly his choice.  I do still put him in his safe room at night as he and Jake are just not ready for unsupervised  free time.  He loves going in his room at night.  He wants to be "put to bed" by 8pm each night.  If we are late, he will go on his own and run up and down the stairs until we come.  He is quiet and happy all night long.  During the day he is out and about as long as someone is home.  When something scares him such as a loud delivery truck, the vacuum cleaner, or any loud noise, he will often go to his room.  He has a small cat tree with two levels with hiding boxes.  This was always his choice of hiding spots until recently when a few times I couldn't find him.  His room is mostly empty as we removed some furniture and have the mattress/box springs and bed frame propped up against the closet.  I was careful to block off any areas he could crawl into.  One of the blankets I had used to stuff back in a small hole, must of fallen.  He now crawls back about 4 feet into this tiny space between the mattress and the closet door.  The only way I know he is there is if I take a flashlight and look.  It is a cozy spot, but not sure if this is a good thing for him.  I want him to have a safe space but I also want him to adjust.  I am considering blocking off the hole.  Yesterday I was vacuuming and he ran up there.  Once the vacuuming was complete it takes him hours to come out.  I usually can coax him out with food or treats, but sometimes even then he won't come out or he comes out for the treat and then goes right back to hiding.  I am trying to encourage more social behavior and wonder if this will just set him back or does he need the space to feel safe?  Any thoughts or suggestions?  I am using Spirit Essences remedy Scaredy Cat and it helped him so much with our dog and being downstairs more.  During the week, the house is pretty quiet.  I work from home, DS is at school and DH either works from home too or is traveling for work.  On the weekends everyone is home and the house is much noisier.  Marvin has a very hard time each weekend.  He will spend most of his time in his room.  The door is open so he can come and go as needed.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Any thoughts?  Should I block his "secret hiding place" or just let him be?  He didn't go in his room all day yesterday, but the house was quiet all day.  At night when he went to bed I later checked on him and he was back in the hiding spot.  It is like a cave back there and maybe reminds him on his outdoor hiding spots.  I just don't know if it's a good thing for him or not?

Hello ShadowsRescue! Thank you for saving Marvin.

I would not recommend blocking off his hiding place. It can cause him stress to not feel like he has a safe place to go and be alone when he needs it. He likely will find another secretive spot even if you do block it off, like my boy alternates between behind the washing machine and inside the closet or under the bed.

Sometimes the scared cat behavior takes a long time to go away. Vander is still very skittish and I have had him for almost three years. He doesn't resort to going to his hiding places as much as he used to though.

I wonder if he's not feeling well?  Maybe a vet check will eliminate that.

Or do you think something happened with Jake that spooked Marvin?   I've quite trying to understand "cat talk."  Half the time, I swear it's ghosts in the house that scare them because I can see NO reason for the behavior.

Other than a possible vet check, I'd just leave him alone and continue with his routine as much as possible. 

I think it's because he is very afraid of the vacuum.  He also hated the mower during the summer when he could hear it from his window.  Now that it's winter, snow blowers have replaced mowers!  He heard our last week and it really frightened him.  I just think he got very scared and found this spot and now goes there whenever he gets scared. 

He is due for a vet check in January.  He carries bartonella (Cat Scratch Fever) and was treated during the summer for 21 days.  After 6-9 months he has to be retested to see if the virus went into dormancy.  I hope so as giving him meds for 21 days was awful. 

I will just let him be as long as he doesn't choose it more frequently.  It will be interesting during the holidays as DS will be home and DH won't be traveling.  We will see if Marvin is forced to adjust to more sounds in the house.

Thanks for the help.

Ah ha!  That lousy vacuum monster!  My cats hide from it, too, which is why I don't vacuum nearly as often as I should.  I swear we don't live in houses - we live in cat sanctuaries! 

Ondine said:

 
Ah ha!  That lousy vacuum monster!  My cats hide from it, too, which is why I don't vacuum nearly as often as I should.  I swear we don't live in houses - we live in cat sanctuaries! 

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The cats definitely rule the roost.  Marvin is so messy with his litter.  I have 2 litter attract mats down as well as some old towels, but litter manages to get every where.  He hates the vacuum so much that I only sweep his room every other week.  I make sure he is downstairs and away from the room, but he then hides under the tv cabinet and won't come out for hours.  Why can't they make a quiet vacuum!!!  Our other indoor boy Jake could care less.  Also Shadow will come right up to the sliding door when the screen door is open and watch me vacuum.  It doesn't bother him either.  Hopefully he one day will adjust.

My cat Gadget loves to be vacumed. When ever I vacum I spend about 5 minutes doing her. She loves it so much. She meows, and rolls around and turns in circles. It is really cute and funny. I have never had a cat with this reaction.