Ask Me Help Desk - I am worried about my new cat.

I am worried about my new cat.

:(:(:(I just got a new cat yesterday, (March 23, 2009) from my aunt who is moving and they cannot take their cats. But this cat is very shy and when I took her up to my room, she immediently hid under my bed. She hasint come out for water or eaten or has she come out to use the litter box. I am worried that she may never come out, threfore, leaving poop under my hugemungous bed or dying of starvation and thirst. I have tried frightening her out from under my bed but it didn't work:(:(:( I really like this cat and I hope she will come to like her new home in time if she doesn't die first under my bed. What should I do?

You give her time - I once had a very frightened dog and the Vet told me that "they've" never found a dog skeleton under a bed. Eventually they get comfortable or less nervous and come out.

Scaring her is probably a bad idea - just let her be and she'll come to terms with her new surroundings.

(By the way, good for you for taking her in!)

She will come out from under th bed. Just be really sweet to her. Are you feeding her hard food? Try inticing her with some wet food or treats. Eventually, she will trust u enough to come out. Just don't scare her anymore.

[QUOTE=turtlegirl16 agrees: Thanks. But she lays under my bed and I don't stay in one position at night so my bed shakes and makes squeaking noises as I move at night... QUOTE]

I was referring to your statement that you've tried frightening her out -

Oh OK then. But that still would scare her. And I gave her some wet food yesterday and put it under my bed but she didn't go near it (which is pretty strange because no cat I have had in my life has ever resisted wet food.) I don't know what to do with her...

Just leave her be. She'll come out eventually. Does she know where the litter box is?

No. I don't think she does know where the litter box is because I haven't seen any sign of her come out. If she would come out for even a second, I could show her where it is. I am worried that she will "go" under my bed. I am hoping by the other cat who has found out where the food is will convice the other one to come out considering they grew up together... I don't know but I hope she comes out.

I would suggest you take your other cat out of your room and close the door. Its been a few days and the cat must at least drink water. Crawl under the bed and get her. First put her in the litter box. Stay with her. Make sure there is fresh food and water. Next take her to the food dish. Then walk slowly away. Talk to her sweetly the whole time. Watch her. See if she eats or drinks anything. Additional stress is being put on her by your other cat. Its hard to adjust to a new home... But add a strange cat 2 and she must be terrified. If she doesn't drink anything you are probably going to have to force her to drink by filling a syringe (The kind with no needle) with water and dripping it into her mouth. Don't gush it in. I would just put the tip in through the side of her mouth. Don't force her mouth open. And pet her the whole time. Hope this helps.

If they grew up together, did they spend any time apart? Because cats don't remember other cats they haven't seen in a long time. So even if they grew up together they wouldn't remember each other and it would still seem like a strange new cat to her. The whole point is be very sweet. Pet her a lot even if you have to crawl under the bed to get her. She needs to bond with you so she will start acting normally. She misses her other home.Show her how much you love her and all will be well.

Slight problem with crawling under the bed... There is only about a 4 inch clearence from the floor to the bottom of the bed and me being a fairly large person, I can't squeaze under there. Yes it has been a while since they have seen each other... We got the first cat last Thanksgiving, is that enough time to have forgotten?

She sounds very tramatized... Hmmm... Maybe you can find someone smaller to help you get the kitty out. She needs to at least drink something. You need to get her to do that. Maybe you can stick the food and water under the bed close to her & keep the other cat out for the night. Then check the food in the am. That gives her 7-8 hours alone under there to find the food. Make sure it's the wet kind. And put it as close as you can get to her& the water 2. Lets see if this works. She will eat it unless she is sick. Ultimately you will have to get her out from under the bed. If this goes on much longer I would say she needs a vet. Because she is going to be dehydrated & in need of fluids. But hopefully she will eat the wet food. At least it has water in it. You can add some water to it and make it like a soup to trick her into drinking 2. But don't add 2 much water. Let me know if it works.

Was going to suggest the same thing steph :) Just push a shallow dish of water under the bed, maybe add a little milk to it. And a shallow dish or plate of wet food.

I wouldn't try to get her out because she under there for a reason and forcing her out will make her not trust you even more.

I couldn't get her out anyway. But I have tried putting food and water under there and I left it there over night and she didn't even touch it... I don't know if anyone smaller could get her out... The only way to get her out would be to lift the mattress AND box spring

Why aren't you just leaving her alone until she comes out on her own, leaving food and water in the room. Certainly you aren't in the room all the time and the cat will be alone and will come out.

Please leave the cat alone! Stop trying to get her out from under the bed! Don't have other animals in the same room. Put out water and a little bit of food, like something fishy or maybe Fancy Feast Minced Beef (even I like that flavor!). It may take her a few days (AFTER you leave her alone), but she will get used to her surroundings soon. She will not starve unless you continue to hassle her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlegirl16

I really like this cat and i hope she will come to like her new home in time if she doesnt die first under my bed. What should I do?

Another point -- when she finally does come out, IGNORE HER!! Don't talk to her or make a fuss over her or chase after her. She will immediately go back under the bed. Just be calm and continue doing whatever you're doing in there. TOTALLY IGNORE THE CAT!! She will begin to eat and drink and use the litter only if you IGNORE her.

Once she's been coming out regularly, start talking softly to her but do not touch her or try to pet her. Sit on the floor or even lie down on the floor (at cat level) and IGNORE HER if she comes out. Don't look at her but start talking about what a beautiful cat she is. DO NOT SUDDENLY LUNGE AT HER! Cats are extremely curious but want to get to know people on their own terms. (I've rescued stray and feral cats for years. PATIENCE is extremely important!)

Why do I get the feeling I am getting two COMPLETLEY different answers?I have tried the food thing, she didn't go near it. And YES I amin that room alot, its my room, why shouldnt i be in there?i am sorry if this strikes an aditude to you but i am VERY confused.

I agree compeletly with wondergirl (have to spread the rep). The best couse of action is to supply the cat with its basic needs and leave it alone. Its scared and attempting to scare it out will only make matters much worse. Right now you are the enemy, whether you like it or not. You need to become neutral before you can befriend the cat. It will take a lot of time and patience. There is no miracle solution that will have this cat cuddling in your lap tomorrow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlegirl16

Why do i get the feeling I am getting two COMPLETLEY different answers?I have tried the food thing, she didnt go near it. And YES I amin that room alot, its my room, why shouldnt i be in there?i am sorry if this strikes an aditude to you but i am VERY confused.

You are in the room 24/7? I doubt that.

Leave food out. Leave water out. She will eventually come out and eat. No cats starve to death under beds. If the cat is this disturbed about being in your house then it is time to find a new home for her - you are doing her no favors. I'm sure once you tried scaring her out (your words which you later said you didn't sat) you frightened her half to death.

I don't know what you are confused about unless you are being deliberately dense.

She is coming out now, but only in the SHORTtime that I am not there. There were some duds in the litter box so I think she is going to be fine.

Dense, yes but not deliberately, thank you.

Good to hear, I know it's your room but you could try just grabbing a few things you need and staying out for a while (not overnight or anything, just a few hours at a time), just until she gets a bit more comfortable :)

Excellent news, excellent. She's making little baby steps and starting to adjust.

Please come back and let us know how it works out.

Yes I will keep posting on her progress.

She seems to be getting better, she has found the litter box and food so I think she is going to be OK now. Thank you all for the advice. ;)

I'm happy for you - you took some advice I'm sure you didn't want to hear (including from me) with grace and dignity, worked things out - and undoubtedly saved this cat's life.

Good for you - sometimes the good guys win.

Keep us informed!

Ok, this morning she woke me up at about 6:30ish scratching away in her litter box. When I sat up, she came over and let me pet her, and she even spoke a little bit. She seems to be much more happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlegirl16

Ok, this morning she woke me up at about 6:30ish scratching away in her litter box. When i sat up, she came over and let me pet her, and she even spoke a little bit. she seems to be much more happy.

Seeeeeee?? A little patience and not getting into her face and there you go!! YYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYY!!

You should put the water and food under the bed if it fits and put something like your clothes there so she knows what you smell like

Quote:

Originally Posted by wenhua9

you should put the water and food under the bed if it fits and put something like your clothes there so she knows what you smell like

She has already done that. She has made great progress simply by leaving the cat alone and allowing her to get used to her new home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wenhua9

you should put the water and food under the bed if it fits and put something like your clothes there so she knows what you smell like

Did you actually read the question and answers before you posted?

Lol

She hasn't come out in a while.. why could this be?

What does "a while" mean? I think you've been expecting too much and don't understand that cats are just like this.

And yes, you can make some progress and then they can do a 180 on you. Something may have scared her again, who knows. Don't ever push it. If she wants to run under the bed again, let her.

I have a cat I got a bit over a year ago, who immediately ran from my other cat and dove under my bed. That's what they do. I just put some food and water under the bed, and put an extra litter box in my room. (No, I don't like it in my room either, but I know cats, and I know that's what I have to do. I just deal with it.) She really didn't eat very well for the first week, but she ate enough to keep from starving and getting sick.

She came out from under the bed within a couple of days, but she didn't leave my room at all for like an entire week. I knew she wasn't comfortable about the other cat, so I left my door shut until she seemed more secure. So she'd come out, but then see the other cat and go diving under the bed again. She also found a "safe" haven in the linen closet in the hall, which is right next to my bedroom door. She would dive into the linen closet off and on for several weeks or so.

Even a couple of months later she would sometimes go running back under the bed and stay there a while. You've only had yours a couple of weeks. That's nothing.

So it's not a surprise to me that she would do this again. She might do it off and on until she's more comfortable. She'll probably continually do better each time. You just have to accept this and be patient. Cats don't always adjust quickly. Whoever said patience was key was SO right.

Cats are also extremely independent. It's something you have to like about them. Those of us who adore cats usually like their independence. Just appreciate their uniqueness.

A whil as in I haven't seen her in a week and a half. There aren't any signs that she has gone "you know what" and eaten but I know she's not dead...

Could she have gotten out of the house? An open window?
Has she eaten any food or drank any water/milk?
If she is not drinking then you need to take some sort of action immediately.

She has never been outside before in her life. She lives under my bed. This morning she came out and every thing is good.

Awww! I had a cat that did this. Only he hid under the couch. He came from a crazy woman with like 50 cats. My dad bought her and as soon as he came out he went straight under the couch. He eventually came out when he saw it was all right. But I've also had a cat that as soon as she came out, she was exploring and playing with us. Cats are all different.

Yeah they are!