Feral Cat Won't Leave Her Hiding Space in Basement

Hello, 

I recently was given a feral cat that was found in a ski shed. She is quite young. With the previous owner, the cat was comfortable and would interact.

However, after the cat coming to our place, all she has done is hide in the basement behind an old desk. It has been about 3 weeks now. Please note that we have a Yorkshire dog, which may play into the mix. He has only growled at the cat and hasn't tried to attack her.

I don't know what to expect at this point. On the one hand, I am concerned that if I leave things as they are, the cat will just get comfortable hiding in the basement all the time and never interact with anyone. However, on the other hand, I am concerned that if I try to approach her (to pet her), she would just be more freaked out and then be afraid to ever interact with anyone. 

How long should I expect to wait before the cat is comfortable to walk around and feel comfortable in our home? I am patient and I won't give her up regardless of how she is behaving but I would like to know how long it will take before she stops hiding in the basement. 

Should I try to approach her or is it better to wait things out and eventually she will start to explore and wander around the house. 

Thanks

Do you do anything as far, to try and acclimate her better?

Is she hidden for real the whole time, or does she go visible at times, as you ask about try and pet her or not...  I mean, to try and pet her, she must be visible sometimes, no?

Anyways, a good trick is to come on regularly, steady points of time, with food.   Talking friendly and making soft noises.   So she connects your sounds with you.

You can try and sit there some periods, perhaps reading or doing a surfplate, sometimes quiet, just some nice sounds so she knows you are there, sometimes again with your croooning friendly sounds.  Or even reading aloud.  If you are good at singing, do sing.

Make also some "legal" hiding places for her.  A cozy cat igloo, or alike.   Places who are more comfortable for her, and for you.   Have perhaps even an electrical heat pad on low in there.

You can have a Feliway adapter going on there, to make her more comfortable and at ease.

The Yorki growling is a problem of course.   He wont attack her, but she doesnt know this.  With her background as homeless, she surely knows dogs may be a threat for real.   Although forcibly making the dog shut up with growling may be counter-productive - may get him to   Become an hidden enemy instead...

Anyways, you must work with this growling...

Some ideas.

Good luck!

Hi Jazzman67.

For now I'd try to keep the dog as far away from her as possible. Try not to let them see or hear each other. You can work on getting them more friendly with each other in the future, but right now you need to work on her relationship with you.

Have you got the basement set up as her room with food, litter tray and all the rest? You could try getting some Feliway for the room. The smell of it calms cats down. It comes in a spray or a diffuser. the diffuser is good to leave just plugged in all the time. I've squirted the spray over my hands when handling nervous cats and it does seem to work, Try spraying it on just one tiny spot at first, in case you have a reaction to it.

Spending as much time as possible in the room with her, reading aloud or talking to her softly. she'll get to know the sound of your voice first. You could also try getting some really tasty wet food that she only gets when you are there. Get something that smells good and put it just outside of her hiding place then sit a few meters away and talk to her, trying to encourage her to come out.

It can take weeks with really nervous cats, but persistence will win in the end.

Let us know how it goes.

Thank you for the replies. 

As for trying to pet her, because she is behind an old desk I can't really get to her. She does come up in the evening and will sit just above the radiator in a room by the basement. The room is an office that is only occupied during the day. But as soon as she hears us approaching, she runs downstairs and back to the same hiding spot. 

We do have a "cat condo" so maybe I'll put that down there and see if she takes to it. 

I will definitely try the Feliway and see if that calms her down. 

I'll keep you posted as to how long it takes before she is comfortable with coming up stairs. 

Thanks

While writing my answer to you, I got an extra idea.

About this nice comfy "legal" hiding place.   Have there a heat pad on lowest level in there, so its very nice and welcoming - a proposal she cant resist.

AND lay on it something which smells of you.  Say a t-shirt made of cotton.  Or a fleece which you layed on, or had on you...  They like the touch of fleece.

@jazzman67  

I had an experience similar to this....male feral given to me by owner who seemed to handle him like a normal cat.

I had cats all my life... and never saw this timidness, once she left him.

The cat stayed in the cabinet in bathroom ....and would hiss at me even when I fed him.

I let him stay in there...on his terms. Gave him a carrier for a bed......litter box and toys, music, and Feliway plug ins.

Shut the door at night....as he sprayed too...

He would play at night - I could hear balls rolling and bells ringing at night--he was rolling on floor...

I had another cat also..male Fixed.

I zipped him in carrier after 3 months, carried him to vet and got him fixed.

Anyway.... When he came out to be a part of the family - he came out in a BIG way.

He is such a lap kitty and plays constantly ...loving, loving, loving....

BUT IT TOOK 5 MONTHS. No kidding.

But it was SO WORTH WAITING, if you can....GIVE HIM TIME..

they are just heartbroken....that's what I gathered.

I love him to death....So happy I gave him his time.