My new cat hates humans

Hi everyone my fiance and I wanted to get another cat so that our other cat Davos (4yrs) could have a friend. The cat that we just got was the shyest at the pound but we thought all she needed was a little TLC. When we brought her home (5yrs) and opened the kennel she immediately went under the couch to hid. After that my cat Davos decided to hiss at her under the couch. To help the two cats get used to each other we went to grab our new cat to put her into the cat room so she would have a safe zone. While doing that we found out that our new cat hates people or actually does not trust humans. Once in the cat room she ran to the closet and hid. It has been a few days and she sometimes plays with us (fish rod toy) but most of the time if any of us touch her she freaks out by backing away, hissing and/or growling. I know time is the best option.. But what else? Do we just let her sit in the closet? Do we just grab her until she realizes that we are not going to hurt her? Should we use a spray bottle when she hisses, so she knows that hissing is not okay? I feel like her situation is really fragile and so I am worried about doing the wrong thing.

HIDE*

I don't have time for a thorough answer right now and will be back on later to provide more (hopefully someone else will beat me to it.)

But, I wanted to address this. Please do not reprimand this new cat for hissing or hiding. Do not spray her with water, yell/raise your voice, or physically punish her in any way. Hissing is simply her way of telling you she is scared and uncomfortable.

The BEST thing you can do for her is spend time with her in her safe room. Sitting in the room and reading out loud is a great way to get her use to being around you. She needs to associate you with nothing but POSITIVE things...food and play.

You adopted her knowing she was timid/shy/skittish. With her being an adult, it will take her longer to trust you. BUT, it is certainly possible to build that relationship.

Okay thanks, that's good to hear! That is what we have been doing but I was just worried that we may be doing the wrong thing.

To start with, I would put the new cat in a room of her own.  She needs time to acclimate to you and her new surroundings.  Make sure the room is cat proofed.  If there is a bed in the room, put it directly on the floor or take it off the bed room and put it against the wall.  You do not want the cat getting under the bed to hide.  Block all other hiding places such as under dressers or book cases.  All make sure she can't squeeze behind anything and get stuck.  Do make sure she does have an appropriate hiding space.  This can be a cardboard box turned on its side with a cozy blanket or more elaborate like a hiding box in a cat tree.  She needs a place to hide and feel safe.

Make sure there is a litter box in the room that is just for her for now.  Put her food in there too, just across the room from the litter.

Try a feliway diffuser to help her calm down.  You can also try Composure feline treats or Composure liquid max.  This product helps a cat to calm down and feel less stressed.  I used it when I brought a feral/stray into my home.  It worked very well.

Visit your new cat often for short periods.  Sit on the floor so that you are not looming over her.  Speak in quiet tones and don't make direct eye contact.  Keep your gaze low or look over the top of her head. 

Give her a few toys. You can try playing with her, but keep it calm.  She needs time to adjust.

Once she is feeling more confident in her room, you can allow her supervised visits around your home.  Just be sure to put your other cat away.  You need to do proper introductions between the two cats, but the new cat needs to adjust to you and her new home first.  Wait until you feel she is more happy and secure.

As mentioned above, do not reprimand her for hissing or hiding.  She is very scared of her new home.  It also smells only like your current cat.  She needs to find her own space.

Here are some links for cat to cat introductions.  These can take anywhere from a few weeks to months and months.  It depends on the temperament of the cats.  My advice is to not rush the process or you will end up having to redo the process which takes much longer.

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

Thank you everyone! Interestingly enough right after I posted this, she turned into a new cat. She is of course still timid/shy but LOVES attention but it was a complete 180