This is so annoying!

Ok, so Shadow had a really tough kittenhood.I found him at the aspca in very rough shape. The story goes...cat got taken from mother @ 4 weeks, dropped at aspca.Cat wont eat (well what did they expect?). Cat gets intravenus fluids, Cat gets antbiotics, cat hates people...Torri fell in love brought cat home.Cat bonds with other cats, cat is terrifed of humans.Ok thats the back story but thats not the problem.Last week shadow had an upper respitory infection,so after a huge ordeal to get him to the vet, she tells us to quarinteen him for a couple days, no problem.We kep him in the office where we got to actually pet him,but since we let him out Kaya my alpha cat is FREAKING OUT! Hissing, spitting and getting the other two to follow his lead.So now he has taken to hidding up in my boxspring and wont come out because he is not only scared of us but of the other cats.HELP...I have tryed Feilaway w/o any result.I feel like he's totally regressed.Is it going to take him another 6 months to come near us again?( Sorry this is so long you guys) Thanks Torri

He has scent on him they do not recognize, therefore, they are treating him as hostile. Use vanilla extract, take a small amount several times a day and place a small dab under each cat's chin on their shoulder and on the base of their tails.

Well I used the vanilla.Shadow finally came out when he knew we were settled down to bed,I found him in the living room this morning,then he ran up into the boxspring again,I haven't seen him all day, he wont even come out to eat.I dont even think he's used the litter box yet today.This poor cat is so scared!

With an older cat that has been there for some time, other cats in the house to boot, I don't know how well this will work, but...

When we brought Mika home (he had to be shipped, a twelve hour ordeal, but we had no choice if we wanted a Siamese), he ran straight under our bed and would'nt come out. We had set up his box, food & water, and bed in our room and had already intended that he relax there to get attached to our scent and personal space instead of a "place or room" like the breeder suggested. In your case it might work to get him attached to you instead of the other cats.

That was a Friday night. During the next two days, I spent several hours in there, getting him comfortable with the sound of my voice very soothingly calling him out. After a few hours Sat. morning he would come to my voice. He then hung out on the bed with me, still skittish and running under the bed at the slightest sound but craving the comfort in a strange place. I stuck it out, staying in there for hours through Sat & Sun, actively working with him until he was craving our attention and finally got the courage to venture out a bit into the rest of the house.

I call it "Intense Togetherness Camp". Granted, he was a kitten in a new place with new people, hundreds of miles away from "home" with a different climate even. But, within days he was comfortable with us and the house, so I can't see how it wouldn't work for a cat who's just plain scared of humans in general. Of course it might take more than a few days for a cat that's been there for a while, but I can't see how it would hurt if you kept him in there, making sure to spend at least an hour or two interacting with him, just to see if you can gain his trust.

What does everyone else think? I would think that narrowing him down to his own space instead of the whole house with other cats (poor thing must feel as if let loose in a jail with hostile inmates and no one to protect him), and making a pointed effort to spend as much time with him in his space as you could, would help bring him around in general. I would also think that necessity will pull him out from under the bed enough until he's comfortable going back to life as usual... but if you want more than just that...

opinions?

I think you're right, Sooz. I'd attach Shadow to YOU first--giving him his own space away from the other cats. Let him sleep in your hamper! Once he's settled and happy, I'd slowly introduce him to the other cats--maybe starting with Alpha. I've had good success with vanilla and cat introductions. If they all smell the same, they don't freak out. Plus, letting him in the hamper (or just with an old shirt of yours) will not only let him get used to your smell, but will let the other cats smell you on him.

Patience and persistence! Wishing you well...

Well he came out last night and was crying excessively,he was letting my b/f pet him a little but is terrifed of me,probably thinks i'll give him more medicine.He runs everytime I go to pet him.He did come out tonight for food though.

Originally Posted by misstorri

Well he came out last night and was crying excessively,he was letting my b/f pet him a little but is terrifed of me,probably thinks i'll give him more medicine.He runs everytime I go to pet him.He did come out tonight for food though.

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Well, that's good at least. Did you isolate him only to one room away from the other cats? It's my experience it's best to let them do it on their own terms, let them come to you and try as best as you can to only interact when he initiates it first... just have to make sure you make yourself available to him to do so as much as you possibly can.

Good Luck!


I think Mika fotted. Shew.

He was isolated the whole time he was sick.The vet had him on a light sedative so I could give him his antibiotic.He was fine until I let him out...I wish I could dope him up more often.

Originally Posted by misstorri

He was isolated the whole time he was sick.The vet had him on a light sedative so I could give him his antibiotic.He was fine until I let him out...I wish I could dope him up more often.

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That's what I'm thinking, is isolate him for behavioral reform instead of just medical reasons for an indefinite amount of time until he starts to trust you. I hated doing it to Mika but it made him trust and bond to us quickly. It would have to be in your personal space though, like your own bedroom so he has your scent all around him, and keep the door closed at all times. Just have to set him up his kitty station in the corner and he'll be fine. He should actually be a happier kiddo since he'll feel more secure in "his" own space (not shared by other cats, and not as overwhelming/intimidating as the whole house).

Originally Posted by HopeHacker

I've heard about Feliway, and I want to get some. Can you get it at Petco? Also, what else can I get? I've read here about putting Vanilla on their tails, right? I am going to try to seperate them for a few days, unless she howls being locked up, or unless Simba has a complete fit, since he CAN'T STAND IT WHEN A DOOR IS CLOSED TO HIM, if you know what I mean. Could I get some help on what I need to get to prepare for Evie's arrival. I want so much for it to work out.

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We only had two days, too... and off to work we went. But, we had no choice but to keep Mika locked in the bedroom while we were gone (and still have to) because we weren't sure how he'd act around our birds. We continue to have to because although we expected it, he's constantly trying to "play" with them and could pull a cage over.

Anyway, the kitten should have no trouble being locked up. Mika wanted nothing to do with the rest of the house even when the door was open for the first day and a half. He was scared stiff and your kitty probably will be, too. Get Her bonded to you first (stay in the room with her as much as you can that first day but don't force her to play, let her do it on her own terms), then provided she's loving all over you by Sunday like Mika was, let her test out the rest of the house and other cats on her own terms.

Do you think the other boys will spaz again when I finally let him out?

Originally Posted by misstorri

Do you think the other boys will spaz again when I finally let him out?

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You'll have to take it one step at a time. First get him good and trusting of you, so that if they do at that point, he knows he has a protector he can trust and won't regress. I think a good point was made earlier, that if he's in your personal space, he'll smell like you so they might be less inclined to harrass him.

If they do, perhaps a thing to try would be to carry him out with you and sit with him on your lap on the sofa, carefully monitoring what the other cats are doing and giving them firm "No"s if they're mean to him at first. You'll have to build a strong bond with him first so he'll be less inclined to freak out and run away. I've not dealt alot with cats that are hostile to one another, but it would seem the most important thing to do first is get that bond back.

Ms. Stanley...ha ha! I've never heard of cats being so breed specific,I think they either like each other or they don't.I've always kept a new cat away for at least a week, the others will get used to not being allowed to go in that room.I don't know if Feilaway is sold at petco ,I've always gotten it from the vet.Try that or rescue remedy in everyones food to help keep them calm.There's always problems in the begining but the three of them will work it out,since she's a female and the other 2 are males you should'nt have too much of a problem,she'll automatically become alpha female.If you introduce her slowly and bring in toys or blankets that smell like the boys she should be fine.

Unfortunally we never had the bond in the first place,b/c he's always been so afraid.But I think your right he needs to stay put until he learns to trust me again.Maybe he can come and live with you!!(just kidding) Thank You sooooo much. I'll let you know how it works out!