My Cat Hides and Is Scared

endobert · Mar 11, 2014

I'm in a similar situation. We adopted a cat a about 2 1/2 weeks ago (1 1/2 yrs old, Siberian male) from a cattery/busy house with lots of animals and people, but he's been hiding since we brought him home. He was a breeder but they put him up for adoption because he had was apparently too aggressive with the ladies, but supposed to be very sweet, friendly and loving. I believe that he is personable, but have yet to see that in our house.

Background: It's just two two people and no pets in our house. We initially put him in a spare bedroom and let him acclimate, and he hid almost exclusively either under the bed or in a closet for the first few days (after spending the first few hours in the carrier). fter the first few days one night he started stratching at the door, so we let him out, and he started exploring the house, and has been ever since, but keeps returning to the first room.

He's been eating, drinking and using the litter box just fine, but he seems VERY afraid of us. We've been leaving food out, but he just won't come out and eat if we're in the room, so not sure if we should only bring the food out when we're there and take it away when we leave. We've spent time in the room (maybe 30 minutes to 2 hours a day), but he won't come out, even if we try to bribe him with treats. He will come to the edge of the bed for a treat, but he will take it and go back under. We have a camera so we can see him moving around the house and sleeping on top of the bed when we're gone, but when we're home he stays well under the bed.

Two or three times, with us in the room he's in, he's crawled out from under the bed, looked at us for 2 seconds, and ran behind the bed and got back under. Also at night, some times we can hear him come into our room and he gets on our dresser and watches us sleep (with a cute pile of fur where he was sitting).

We've had a feliway plugged in since about day 3, but not sure if that's helping. Any advice on what we can do? Or just be more patient??

lamiatron · Mar 11, 2014

endobert said:
I'm in a similar situation. We adopted a cat a about 2 1/2 weeks ago (1 1/2 yrs old, Siberian male) from a cattery/busy house with lots of animals and people, but he's been hiding since we brought him home. He was a breeder but they put him up for adoption because he had was apparently too aggressive with the ladies, but supposed to be very sweet, friendly and loving. I believe that he is personable, but have yet to see that in our house.

Background: It's just two two people and no pets in our house. We initially put him in a spare bedroom and let him acclimate, and he hid almost exclusively either under the bed or in a closet for the first few days (after spending the first few hours in the carrier). fter the first few days one night he started stratching at the door, so we let him out, and he started exploring the house, and has been ever since, but keeps returning to the first room.

He's been eating, drinking and using the litter box just fine, but he seems VERY afraid of us. We've been leaving food out, but he just won't come out and eat if we're in the room, so not sure if we should only bring the food out when we're there and take it away when we leave. We've spent time in the room (maybe 30 minutes to 2 hours a day), but he won't come out, even if we try to bribe him with treats. He will come to the edge of the bed for a treat, but he will take it and go back under. We have a camera so we can see him moving around the house and sleeping on top of the bed when we're gone, but when we're home he stays well under the bed.

Two or three times, with us in the room he's in, he's crawled out from under the bed, looked at us for 2 seconds, and ran behind the bed and got back under. Also at night, some times we can hear him come into our room and he gets on our dresser and watches us sleep (with a cute pile of fur where he was sitting).

We've had a feliway plugged in since about day 3, but not sure if that's helping. Any advice on what we can do? Or just be more patiec

cats just need a lot of time and patience.

you should try and keep kitty in one room at all times, with the feliway plug in, that might help it to work better, and it will also let kitty get acclimated to his new home.

sometimes free reign of the house can scare cats, because its soo big.

1) keep kitty with food, water, and litter box in one room

2) when you feed him, try to stick around while he eats. sit or lay in the floor and just talk to him, or read to him. read a book, a magazine, an email. whatever. even if he goes into hiding, just stay there and finish reading whatever you started. he will slowly get used to your voice

3) leave a cardoard box in the room so kitty can play and hide in it. lease some articles of clothing that belong to you/your family that have been worn, and has a good load of your scents on it! he needs to get used to your scent

4) leave the door open to his room during at night so he can venture out if he should feel like it.

keep him in the first room. with the feliway plugged in and door closed. keep some toys around. he seems like he doesn't know you guys well or doesn't trust you yet that's why he only comes close to you while you're asleep and not moving.

just be patient

i'm going to flag your post so that a moderator can make it it's own thread, that way your post gets more attention from people that can help with your particular cause.

mservant · Mar 11, 2014

@Lamiatron has given you some nice ideas for how to build up trust with your new boy, although if you feel that he is confident in his exploring and is finding his way around quite well I would tend to let him out to see what's there. It is fine that he goes back to where he feels safest - Mouse has been in my apartment for almost 3 years, it isn't big and it isn't noisy but if he's spooked by anything of feels unwell he always goes back to my bedroom as that is his chosen safe space, and where he hid out when he first arrived.

At 1 1/2 this was a big move for your guy and it is quite normal that he should want time to settle and feel safe with his new territory. I do believe Feliway helps but it is not a really obvious thing, more subtle, gentle reassurance and I would notice more if it ran out that Mouse would be a bit more skittish in his first 6 or 7 months than I would say I could see it working day to day. It was when I couldn't see a change in him when it ran out that I knew it was OK to do without. I use it now when I think he is under the weather as he has herpes, and I'd use it too if I was introducing some other change in to his life like another cat.

Keeping an association between you and food is a good thing so try to bring food to your cat and then sit quietly somewhere not too close but still in the room if you can, and try reading or something until he is settled enough to eat with you there. If he is too nervous to play with you try fiddling about with toys like feather wands and fishing rods near to where he hides but not directly at him and hopefully he will start to venture towards you.

Lamiatron is spot on with things like boxes, cats love places they can hide and watch you while feeling they are invisible, esp if these places are up high. Boxes seem to be pretty irresistible to all cats. :-D I very much hope you see him settle over the coming days and weeks and you can all start to get to know each other.

endobert · Mar 12, 2014

Thanks both for your replies! I've been trying to lure him out with food, like raw tuna. He won't come out for it but he'll take it if I put it near him under the bed. If it's close to the edge of the bed he'll swipe at it to get it under the bed where he feels safe. I've tried laying out a 'breadcrumb' from under the bed to the bowl nearby, but he won't come out to get it. He did once, about a week ago, and ran off after a few seconds, but he won't come out any more.

Any thoughts on if this is a good or a bad idea?

Also, what about bringing food in with me, and leaving with it, so the food is only there when I am. Good or bad idea?

I've also tried with cat toys and a laser - he'll watch them but won't budget for them. But I'll keep trying!

Thanks!

sfsusa · Mar 12, 2014

I agree with everything they say and I sing to my cats when it's feeding time...so they associate my voice with when it's time to eat. High pitched "Whoooooooooo wantsssssss tooooooooo eatttttttttttttt"...LOL They come from every direction and look forward to it. You can stay and talk sweet to your cat. Yes, older cats take a while longer to adjust but they do. Playing with different toys until you find the right one. It makes them forget they are scared and builds trust. Talk to him a lot...make soft humming sounds...squint your eyes when he looks at you...it's the way they tell you they love you <3 Keeping a routing helps so he begins to understand that things repeat and he can learn to expect that. Add a touch of catnip to his favorite play area (preferrably a cat tree so he can stretch and scratch and enjoy his new environment) and helps him to relax a little too. All these things bring GOOD FEELINGS into his environment and trust will come sooner because of it. Once you bond, it will be amazing!

Good Luck and Hang in there

mservant · Mar 12, 2014

Do keep trying, patience is key, and being relaxed and calm as cats will pick up on any anxiety or tension. As for taking food out when you're not there, if your cat has eaten enough in the time you have been there you could try that but you do not want him to loose weight or feel unsafe in any way. That he sees that you bring the food in and that it is regular and he does not go without should be enough. Try to stay in the room with him at times when you are not interacting directly with him too, so he gets used to the sound of your voice, how you smell, and how you move. More than 2 hours if you can. Just sitting reading, or chatting, on your phone or computer, listening to calming music, anything to calmly share space. It is very frustrating when a cat takes time to settle and feel safe but it is worth allowing them the time they need.

stephiedoodle · Mar 14, 2014

Set up a little spot in the eoom where you will sit keep it far enoigh away from his hiding place that hes not thretaned but close enough that he can see atleast part of you and smell you read sing and talk tell him about your day read booms and magazines to him dont give him raw tuna often as its very high in mucurey which is bad for kitties it sounds like hes just a bit scared he sees you both as predators for now as you are bigger than him and could quite easily hurt him. Leave clothes about that have your scent is also a good touch we got lillg at 12 weeks and my golly was she skitish she his behind the curtaines in living room and she still goes there now when scared or hurt or when our toddler is over hyper treats worked with lilly but she was much younger

lisa73 · Mar 14, 2014

endobert said:
I'm in a similar situation. We adopted a cat a about 2 1/2 weeks ago (1 1/2 yrs old, Siberian male) from a cattery/busy house with lots of animals and people, but he's been hiding since we brought him home. He was a breeder but they put him up for adoption because he had was apparently too aggressive with the ladies, but supposed to be very sweet, friendly and loving. I believe that he is personable, but have yet to see that in our house.

Background: It's just two two people and no pets in our house. We initially put him in a spare bedroom and let him acclimate, and he hid almost exclusively either under the bed or in a closet for the first few days (after spending the first few hours in the carrier). fter the first few days one night he started stratching at the door, so we let him out, and he started exploring the house, and has been ever since, but keeps returning to the first room.

He's been eating, drinking and using the litter box just fine, but he seems VERY afraid of us. We've been leaving food out, but he just won't come out and eat if we're in the room, so not sure if we should only bring the food out when we're there and take it away when we leave. We've spent time in the room (maybe 30 minutes to 2 hours a day), but he won't come out, even if we try to bribe him with treats. He will come to the edge of the bed for a treat, but he will take it and go back under. We have a camera so we can see him moving around the house and sleeping on top of the bed when we're gone, but when we're home he stays well under the bed.

Two or three times, with us in the room he's in, he's crawled out from under the bed, looked at us for 2 seconds, and ran behind the bed and got back under. Also at night, some times we can hear him come into our room and he gets on our dresser and watches us sleep (with

lisa73 · Mar 14, 2014

Hi can i just ask as new today and wanted to post my question but don't no how. Please help. Thanks

mservant · Mar 14, 2014

lisa73 said:
Hi can i just ask as new today and wanted to post my question but don't no how. Please help. Thanks

lisa73, I have sent you a PM

endobert · Mar 14, 2014

The cat will never eat when we're in the room, no matter how long we stay in there with food. He'll maybe eat something if we put it under his nose under the bed, and if it's within reach, he'll swipe at it to get it closer to him, but otherwise, he won't budge for treats, tuna, anything. Coming up on three weeks now and he has yet to approach us! He must know our scent by now - he's had plenty of our clothes around him and he's ruffled around our bedroom quite a bit, so that can't be it. Quite frustrating...

Right now, my biggest concern is that we are scheduled to take him to the vet in a week for his first wellness visit (maybe something else is going on?) and I'm not looking forward to trying to get him into the carrier. I don't think we'll be able to lure him out at all, so it may not be pretty. Oh well.

mservant · Mar 14, 2014

If he is not relaxing at all and you were told he was sociable before you adopted you could be right, and although you said he was eating and toileting without problems it would be good to get a vet examination to make sure. I would share your anxieties about getting him out in to his carrier, and also that such an experience could set him back in terms of settling in but it will be more important to check he is alright.

Do you keep his crate in the room he is in? If not I would put it in there now, with the door fixed open so it can't close on him by accident on the (very unlikely) offchance he goes in to check it out. Put a soft cover in there that you can leave in with him when you go to the vet, and maybe spray it with Feliway spray daily so that is familiar as well. I'd say put food in there but it doesn't sound like he would approach that at all. Then continue with your current plan, trying to spend time in his space but not in a threatening way. If he only takes his food and water under the bed then let him take it there, he will come out when he's ready.

If he is still hiding out the day before you are scheduled to take him to the vet try to have him in his familiar room but block off as many of the hiding spaces as you can. Lastly, if necessary move the bed he is hiding under or slide larger items under there so he can not get under the bed. He is likely to be stressed out and very unhappy about this but if you do it the day before the vet trip you have time to do what's needed and he has a little time to calm down before you try to get him in to the carrier. I also suggest you have a carrier that has a top that opens fully and can be closed and fastened quickly as this will also help - and it will help the vet too!

Having lived with and cared for a vet phobic cat I remeber the experience of trying to get a petrified cat in to a carrier all too well, and it is stressful for the human too. Do what you can to try and relax, as if you are anxious and afraid then he will sense this and it will make the situation even harder. Give your self plenty time, and go in to his space as calmly and slowly as you can, with everything you think you might need, including a blanket or something suitable to cover and wrap him with if you have to for lifting him. Remember that if he's been hiding out for a couple of weeks the chances are his claws will be pretty sharp.

I am sorry you are not seeing the changes you would like with your cat, but stay hopeful things will improve. I hope he is not unwell or hurt in some way but it would be an explanation of why he is continuing to hide.

endobert · Mar 17, 2014

Thanks for the thoughtful reply - again! - @Mservant. Still no change in behavior, and our vet visit in three days... I'll hope the crating goes well and I'll report back! In the meantime, if anybody has any thoughts or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

lamiatron · Mar 17, 2014

endobert said:
Thanks for the thoughtful reply - again! - @Mservant. Still no change in behavior, and our vet visit in three days... I'll hope the crating goes well and I'll report back! In the meantime, if anybody has any thoughts or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

that is definitely a bind...

i suggest investing in some calming treats or remedies. they even have cat treats with melatonin to help kitty sleep...

i would chop some up and put it in his food the morning of the vet visit, so that he's calm...and you guys can easily get him into the crate/carrier, and he won't fight you much on it.

i hope that works out.

for the time being try to leave a crate or carrier in his room, sprayed with catnip solution, and leave treats hidden in there. it might help him get used to his carrier and actually help him to associate the carrier with positive things , cat nip, treats, and not negative stuff like, being in a carrier. lol

i hope that helps yoU!

endobert · Apr 2, 2014

So thought I'd check in with the cat world - he's making progress, slowly! We ended not taking him to the vet yet (as to not force him through that trauma) but he is showing signs of improvement. He's coming out a lot more often when we're around but still spends a lot, if less, of time under the bed when we're around. He's enthusiastically playing with the string-on-a-stick toy, even when we're sitting right there, which is great. That toy now never fails to get him to come out from under the bed and play, though sometimes it seems like fear suddenly rushes over him and he retreats back under the bed. He's come up to us a few times to smell us before running away, but that's an improvement too! And right after playing with him, I went to another room to type this up, and saw him walk up to the threshold of the door and watched me, but he ran away. All signs of progress! Only wish it were happening more quickly, but I'm encouraged that he seems to be coming around, albeit slowly.

stephiedoodle · Apr 2, 2014

Thats great that he is starting to come around just keep doing what you are doing when he comes up to sniff you hold as still as you can this way he will learn that when he comes near you he isn't automatically going to get picked up.

mservant · Apr 3, 2014

Thank you for the update, it is always lovely to hear when some progress is being made. Your patience WILL pay off! Remind yourself of that time not so long ago where you could not even imagine him coming out from hiding to play with you. I have a very sweet image in my head of him peeping at you from that doorway to watch you posting this. Perhaps one day he will be brave enough that you will be able to risk taking photographs and we will see this little cat of yours.

Keep going, it sounds like you are doing the right things for him, and let him come round at his own speed. Once he builds up his trust with you you will feel so amazing it will be worth everything.

Keep posting with your progress if you can, it would be great to hear how things go.

My Cat Hides and Is Scared

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