Sad Kitten

Yesterday, I got a free kitten. When we went to pick it up, it was very scared and was clawing me. I put it in my dad's car and it started running around and freaking out. We calmed it a little and took it to his apartment, where it promptly ran into the kitten palace we had gotten for it and stayed there. It eventually came out and hid in multiple spots, always running around, as if looking for its mother. It hid under a bed and stayed there all night, crying. It won't eat, hasn't gone to the bathroom (that I know of), and won't stop crying. I've offered it blankets (which it took) and a teddy bear (which it didn't). I'm starting to get worried about little Noli, who is currently underneath my bedroom dresser. What could help Noli adjust?

Give your new addition some time to adjust..everything is new to it. Hang in there..

He stopped mewing like he was earlier, but he is still under my dresser. We are about to go to church, and when we get back I hope he will be hiding somewhere else. If hes not... well I guess we will just have to wait for him to come out on his own.

The poor thing is probably very confused, putting him in a quiet room with tray, food and toys is a good idea, and sitting with him as much as possible. he has been taken from his mum and siblings, and put in a big house by himself, so it may take a few days for him to adjust. Making him a bed and putting a clock wrapped in a towel may help him, and putting a cuddly toy in there. You also need to book an appointment at the vets for him to be registered, and look at getting vaccinations etc.

Aw, poor thing! I definitely think it needs to go into a quiet room for now, not have the run of the house.

I would pick a low traffic room that you won't mind the kitten always calling 'home base', because he/she will consider it their territory (especially if you have other pets). If you use a bedroom, I would set up a private nest (bedding) where the kitten can get away from you (under the bed would work, as long as you could move the bed to get to the kitten in emergency). The ticking clock idea is a good one, it reminds the kitten of mama cats heartbeat. Then the food, water and litter need to be near enough that the kitten can run back to the nest quickly if startled. I know it seems like a backwards idea, giving the kitten a place to escape you...when your goal is to get it to not be afraid of you. But, the truth is that the kitten will only trust when it feels secure. You need to give it some security, so that it feels comfortable to explore new things...like you.

And then, just give the kitten time. Whatever you do, don't try to force interaction with you or other animals. Wait for it to come to you, it eventually will.

Good luck to you, some are just born more timid than others, sometimes there is a reason (bad experiences). Please keep us updated!

I came back from church and extracted Noli from under the dresser and let him run back under my sister's bed. He's mewling a little, and when I picked him up he was shaking so bad it made me want to hug him. But I just set him down and he tore back to the bed. Limiting space is going to be difficult, we live in a flat, but he's running around. We closed off my dad's room, so he's in the small livingroom/kitchen area. He seems to like beds and chairs, but not people very much. When he's running around he mewls alot. He just jumped into the office chair and is sitting at my right hip, making it a little tough to type. Still shaking, but a little less. I think he likes the sound of the keyboard. That's my kitty!

Originally Posted by littlefuzzynoli

I came back from church and extracted Noli from under the dresser and let him run back under my sister's bed. He's mewling a little, and when I picked him up he was shaking so bad it made me want to hug him. But I just set him down and he tore back to the bed. Limiting space is going to be difficult, we live in a flat, but he's running around. We closed off my dad's room, so he's in the small livingroom/kitchen area. He seems to like beds and chairs, but not people very much. When he's running around he mewls alot. He just jumped into the office chair and is sitting at my right hip, making it a little tough to type. Still shaking, but a little less. I think he likes the sound of the keyboard. That's my kitty!

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AWWW!!! the poor baby. Just give him some time, sounds like he'll come around, especially since he just came and sat right next to you. My baby cried and howled for almost a week when she came to live with me! It was horrible, but she's adjusting...

Poor thing. Do you know how old she is? She may not really be old enough to leave her mama.
Cats like quiet. You and your sister will have to be very quiet and gentle so she learns that you are not scary. If people come to the flat she will want to be in your room safe, and not around any other people.

If this kitten is not eating, she needs to see a vet. He will be able to tell you if the kitten is healthy or not, plus how old she is. It may be that she is to young and needs to still be supplemented with the bottle? It is hard to say, but she sounds terrified and also ill in my opinion.

He's probably about 10-12 weeks old. Noli is starting to look like an adult kitty. He slept with his teddy bear under the bed for about an hour or two and just woke up. His crying is different, he's probably getting pretty hungry. His food bowl is under the bed, so he should find it. He's quite comfortable and should come out from under the bed in the next hour. If he doesn't eat soon, my dad and I will take him to the vet. He seems healthy though, Noli definately has energy.

If he does not eat in 24 hours you will need to force feed him. The vet can give you insturctions how to do this or you can go to kittenrescue.org. Try to feed him some wet food he might be more willing to go to it.

I'm keeping Noli in a blanket in my lap as I type. He ate a piece of food, so he knows what he's supposed to eat. Silly kitty won't eat anymore though. He loves watching me type. 24 hours since we brought him home!

He is such a cutie! Noli was curled up in my lap and I got a happy purr! Yay!

Aww he is sooo cutye, I have a thing for black cats! I love them!
You might want to take him to the vet anyway cuz even if he is healthy, he will need his vaccinations and to be neutered, which can be done right now.

I hope you little kitty gets adjusted and happy. Give it some time. But keep a close eye to make sure there aren't any problems.

He needs to see a vet whether he is ill or not - just to make sure he is healthy and you need to know his background and whether he has his vaccinations - I am guessing not if you were given him. It is critical he have those vaccinations asap if he has not already. A first vet visit also lets you and the vet and the kitty establish rapport and set up a neutering appt and for future reference.

He will take time. Put yourself in his position and think like a kitty. Cats hate change (in fact, it stresses them out immensely!) and this little guy has been taken from the only world he knows and thrust into a place he has never been. He is scared to death. Let him come to you - don't pick him up if he does not want it. He will figure out who you are soon enough and it's better to start off right.

Make sure he does eat. A bowl under the bed is NOT good since you cannot see what he has eaten. Just b /c the food is not in his dish does not mean it is in his stomach. Watch him eat. Kittens are often traumatized on theior first night in a new home. Give him time, lots of care and make that vet appt now!

Ok Good. He sounds like he is settling in better now. He's cute.

awww, I love black cats so much, I'm glad he's starting to adjust, sometimes they just take a while... still get him checked up on soon to be safe.

Oh he's so cute! But I agree with what a couple of others here have said in that you do need to take him to a vet.

Anytime you get a new animal a visit to the vet is one of the first things you should do - it just gives them a once-over, checks for any problems and allows you to establish a rapport with your vet, ask questions and get advice about the best way to handle a kitten/puppy, whatever it is you have.

He sounds VERY young and timid, to me as though perhaps he was taken too early from his mother, although 11-12 weeks isn't too young to be in your home with you.

I'm sure he'll be fine, but please do take him to the vet (and don't forget to make an appointment for his neuter!) and then make sure things are nice and quiet for him, his bowl is out from under the bed so you can watch him eat, and that he has a consistent routine where NOTHING changes. That will really help to calm him down.

He is darling! I`m glad he is settling in....but I too would get him to the vet for a check up, shots and "FIX" when the vet thinks he`s ready.
Have fun with your new baby.....you`re going to have to type your fingers to a nub on TCS to keep him happy!
Linda