how can you get a new animal to feel comfortable in a new place? Do they have to sniff it out and come around on there own or is there a way to let them know its okay? a few days ago, I got a cat from a friend of my moms. Its a gorgeous black cat and hes been fixed. The guy told us to leave him in a room with food and stuff for a day or two and let him get use to everyone. The thing is though he hasn't budged. He has been sitting in that same spot. I picked him up and he hissed at me and I put him near his food and stuff and he ran away. I held him and have tried petting him. The guy told me if its not a match I can just give him back and whatnot but I really like the cat. he was living outside and I guess hes not use to people so that could have something to do with it. I wanted to take him in and care for him. I don't like seeing animals outside and not being taken care of. This guy has been taking care of them forever he just couldn't allow them in. Iono I just wanted to know and see if there was any advice anyone could give me. if not its all good. Im just hoping he comes around

It may take a while but they usually come around.. do you have other pets? Is the cat an adult?

Cats are tricky. They tend to be very stressed when taken out of familiar surroundings. For now I'd leave him in the room with his food, water, litter box, and something nice and soft to sleep on. Leave him alone most of the day, so that he can explore the room on his own. (This is relatively easy to do if you work or go to school, since you aren't home at that time anyway.) Spend some time in the room, ignoring the cat. Take a paper, book, something nice and quiet that you can do while sitting on the floor. The idea is to give the cat time to get used to the new surroundings, and then to become part of those surroundings. Bring some wet food with and set it down... not close to you at first. But you want the cat to associate you with good things.

Also, if this cat has lived outside all his life, is he feral? They are much more wary of humans than a cat that lives outside, but isn't feral.

Give him time he will come around. Just give him a few days on his own. Do not try to force your attentions on him.
Take a book or a paper and go in and sit and read in the same room he is in. Let him get used to your presence.
In a few days as long as he was eating, drinking and pottying and I knew he could find his way back to his litter box I would let him roam the house.

If you want to engage him in play get a milk ring, shower curtain ring... etc tie it on a string and drag it through the floor past him. The stores sell feathers on a stick the cats really seem to love those. I would not leave them lying around only use them for your inner action together. Cats like the little bouncy balls, little fake furry mice and toys with cat nip in them.
Get him a scratching post or a card board box to scratch on. Him being outside he is used to scratching his claws on trees and such.

Please never use laser lights with cats... with some cats they cause twitching and nervous upset for the hours, days, weeks and sometimes for the rest of their lives.

It may take him a month or so to start coming up to you but eventually he will be snuggling at your feet or head at night for a good long snooze.

I agree with everyone's comments so far,all this stuff is new to him and strange,put yourself in his place... don't try to force yourself on him and with time and patience he should eventually warm up to you.Cats are very independent...

hiscuddlebug you have received some very good advice. Do not try to force yourself onto this cat. From your description, it sounds as if he is feral. Thank you for opening up your heart and giving him a warm and safe place to live. If he has always lived outside, or he has grown accustomed to living outside, this all is very new and strange to him. Definitely keep him in that room for a while to give him a chance to acclimate. This is going to take some time and please understand, he may never be a very cuddly, friendly, or affectionate cat. Over time you will get to know his personality and he will get to know you. Do as others suggested here. Just take a book, newspaper,. and sit in the room on the floor or just find a comfy spot for yourself, and just spend time there. Let the cat get used to you being around. He will eventually get curious and start to "investigate" you. Don't make any quick and sudden movements, pick him up, or force him to interact with you. He will do that in his own time. You may want to get him a scratching post, or a small cat "condo", and create or use toys, as bushg suggested that will encourage interactive play. Anything with a string or stick that appears to move around in a jerky motion will tempt him.

I second the string toys, and also the "small" furry mice. They sell larger ones, which my cats don't seem to enjoy as much. Make sure that you remove any plastic eyes, etc. that the cat might swallow. If he has been outside, he is probably used to hunting, so these kinds of toys will help keep him active and interested.

When buying a scratching post, you want one that is stable, and taller than the cat. Personally, if you can afford it, I'd go for one like this Cat Furniture Seat and Cradle (http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cat_furniture/catfurniture.html) at a minimum. (Shop around for price, but you get the basic idea. These can get pricy, especially if you go for the fancy sculpted ones, but I have had mine for 10+ years now, so you get what you pay for.) You also want to try something like the Alpine scratcher (Cosmic Catnip (http://www.cosmicpet.com/detail.asp?col=1&id=2)) and a flat scratcher, so that you can figure out whether the cat is a vertical or horizontal scratcher.

As everyone else has said, this will take time. Be patient.

This cat is certainly not feral. If he were, he would not let you pick him up, or even come close to him. He would run and jump into walls before allowing you to touch him. I have a feral cat colony at my business, and took a feral mother and her kittens to my home when she had them in our warehouse not willing to move them outside. She jumped into the walls, cabinets, etc. and would not allow me to come within a foot of her when I tried moving her from the bathroom to a spare bedroom. This feral mother was one of our nicer cats in our colony, when outside she would take pieces of chicken right from you hand.

Anyway, your cat will come around if you follow the great suggestions above. He is just afraid. In the past, when I have moved my most loveable cat into our new home, he hid for almost two weeks. Cats are creatures of habit, so patience is going to be you best bet with this guy. Being able to pick him up, even though he hissed, is a good sign that he is on the nicer side. If he was not, he would have ripped you up when you picked him up. Good Luck, and we would all love an update. Thank you for taking this beautiful black cat into you home and heart! :)

Call your vet and ask if they carry Feliway. It is a synthetic pheromone that mimics what cats leave behind when they whisker mark. Cats only whisker mark (rub their faces against surfaces) when they are calm and unafraid. This stuff doesn't always work but sometimes is a godsend. It comes as a spray or a "glade-plug-in" sort of thing that probably would work well in the cat's room. Everybody else's advice is great, and this might just lighten the mood enough to bring him around.