Help! Newly adopted cat hiding somewhere in basement for over a week.

Help!  

I just adopted my 4 year old ragdoll last week.  She seemed to really like me and we bonded well.  She even followed my 6 year old son around when he was getting ready for bed.  She was totally fine until hubby and I went to bed the first night she was here.  Then she ran and hid and we have no idea where she is.  She must be somewhere in the basement, but that's our most specific guess.  We have scoured this house top to bottom multiple times and haven't found a trace of her. She eats, drinks, and uses her litter box (all upstairs) but only at night.  My husband has glimpsed her once in the morning but she disappeared in a flash.  

We bought a Feliway diffuser maybe 4 days ago?  I'm not sure if it's helping at all or not.  I set up a comfy place under a table in our breakfast nook (we don't use it for eating) with blankets, a pillow, toys, treats and her hide-y hole tower.  I even moved her food in there but she hasn't deigned to spend any additional time there that I can tell.  

I've had one person suggest sitting downstairs and meowing until she comes out.  Another suggested not putting out food at night so she'll have to come up during the day.  I'm just feeling rather disheartened and would love to see my new baby and give her the love and attention (not to mention the grooming!) she needs!  

Thanks in advance!

As long as she is eating, drinking and using her box regularly (even if she's being all ninja about it), just give her time.

If you know for sure that she's somewhere in the basement, go down there a few times a day and just sit there and read a book aloud. Let her get used to your voice. Put on some soft classical music on a radio, leave it on most of the time. If you can, bring some work down there. Let her know you're not a threat and that you're just sitting there and she can come out when she feels safe. Don't try to force her out. She needs a hiding place now.

She will need time, and only she knows how much time. Just be patient with her and keep an eye on her eating and using the box. If she stops either of those, then she needs to see a vet.

I've found that meowing at a cat can really help. I've been working to trap a semi feral who gets really jumpy. Often I'd be visible but out of her direct line of vision. Every time she froze I'd meow (mimicking a cat meow as closely as I could...yes everyone now thinks I'm crazy, but never mind ). Every time I meowed she'd unfreeze and cary on eating. If I couldn't locate her I meowed as I walked round her haunts. She'd start calling back and come to find me if she was in earshot. Meowing works because, like the soft blink, you're telling her in cat language that you're not a threat.

If she's in the basement, go down there with her food, meow at her and back off. Stay in the room but give her space. Meow and talk softly to her. It'll take time, but she will come round. Learn to be really still with her. Make all movements gentle and slow. Sit on the floor and relax. Breathe. If you're too desperate and anxious to make contact all she'll pick up on is your anxiety. You have all the time in the world.

She's really stunning. Good luck with her and stay patient

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

I'm often downstairs for laundry and wasn't sure if that was making things worse (not that I can just stop doing laundry!).

I'll do what I can and let you know how it goes!

You could try taking treats for her to eat when you go into the basement. Especially smelly food like tuna and prawns and chicken, she will start to associate you with nice food. You may just have to just leave it there for her to eat at first, but after a while she will come out whilst you are there!

You didn't mention where you got the cat from? She followed your son, disappeared when you and hubby went to bed? Maybe something happened regarding a man, or never was around men. When you brought her to your home, did she just have free reign? Apparently she feels that the basement is her sanctuary - maybe she lived in previous owners basement? You might leave an unwashed shirt of yours, husband's by her bed or maybe food area so she gets used to your sent and associates you with good things - like food the great motivator!  It takes time, and is hard when you don't know her history.

She lived with a little old lady in her assisted living apartment before now. I doubt she's had much interaction with men so that could certainly be a trigger. It was only after my hubby came home from work that she got freaked out again and had to be calmed.

She lived a very quiet life in a very small space so I expected her to have trouble adjusting to our two story house with all its busyness. I just didn't expect to not see her at all or know where she was.

Is okay to use regular old canned tuna? She hasn't responded much to the store bought treats that came with her.

Oh and yes we let her have free reign. I hadn't heard about keeping a cat in a room in order to slowly adjust until after we already had her home. We don't really have any place that we could have done so anyway.

i would put a litter box on every floor of the house. you don't want her holding it in or going elsewhere. 

use the canned tuna in water, not oil. 

She is using her litter box regularly and appropriately right now, is there any reason we'd need to make a change?

My cats go wild for Sardines! I got a bunch of smaller cans Chicken of the Sea, in water. I like the Sardines because it is a smaller fish in the food chain ( less mercury, etc.)Also, I never thought about all of the introduction stuff before either. Kind of a free for all, but mostly had small kittens and friendly other cats. I used to just bring them in my bedroom, and let them go from there. I would think that there had to have been some activity at the lady's home. Staff, visitors, etc. kitty is most likely overwhelmed with all of this new space! She will come out eventually. I agree with many people on this site about just sitting in the room, reading, talking to the cat. Maybe read a book to your son in kitty's little basement world!

Celestina said:

She is using her litter box regularly and appropriately right now, is there any reason we'd need to make a change?

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i suppose not. i just think it's a good idea to have a litter box on every floor. if your cat ever gets diarrhea, you will be glad you did. 

We found her!!
She loves me - nonstop purring and cuddles - but is so jumpy and terrified of everyone else. And every noise.

What do I do now? Try to keep her in my room with her food, water and litter tonight? Bring her in my room tonight but leave her food and litter where they are and the bedroom door open? Or let her roam free tonight and risk her disappearing again?

Celestina said:

 Try to keep her in my room with her food, water and litter tonight? 

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I would go with this, for a few days, or weeks until she feels comfortable enough. A bedroom is small enough for her to get used to her new home. Opening up the whole house is scary because it's very big to her. Do the same as the basement -- soft classical music, occasional visits during the day.

Once she is comfortable (remember, this can be weeks), then slowly move her box and food dish out gradually to where you want them to be. You will know she's ready when she starts showing lots of interest in the bedroom door.

: Great news that you found her. Set her up in a quiet room without too many hiding places. Make sure she has a bed, an accessible to you hiding place, litter box, water, scratching post and an item of your (worn and unwashed ) clothing to help her feel secure. Put her in there and let her chill. Spend lots of time with her, take food every time you go in to see her, give her lots of love, affection and playtime. A regular routine will help her settle as she'll come to know what to expect.

If she's scared of your partner your room isn't a great idea, but you could put her in there while you set up her sanctuary room. At least you'll know where to look when it's ready for her. Sort out her room asap.

She's stunning btw Give her a cuddle for me. Hope she settles soon. Keep us posted

Well...your room is great if you want to send your husband to sleep elsewhere for a while. Your call

Problem is she seems to be scared to death of my husband and my room is obviously his room too. Maybe it'll help her get used to him eventually but she's bound to freak out when he comes in at bed time.

Columbine said:

Well...your room is great if you want to send your husband to sleep elsewhere for a while. Your call

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This actually have some truth.

   She was totally fine until hubby and I went to bed the first night she was here.  Then she ran and hid and we have no idea where she is. 

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Your bedroom might not be the best place then. Do you have another small room you could use?

We do not have any options other than our bedroom.  

But!  Last night actually went really well!  She spent most of the night in bed with us and already seems more comfortable with my husband!

She seems happy to be in there and will come out to greet me when I come in to get something or visit her.  

So, I think we're good with this set up for now at least!  

P.S.  Thank you SO much for all the excellent advice!  

That's great news Stick with what you're doing - it's clearly working

Be patient and take it slow. She will settle, I'm sure of it. Keep posting