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turtlegirl16 · Mar 24, 2009, 07:20 AM

:(:(:(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?

JudyKayTee · Mar 24, 2009, 07:46 AM

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!)

steph1216 · Mar 25, 2009, 12:36 AM

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.

JudyKayTee · Mar 25, 2009, 04:03 AM

[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 -

turtlegirl16 · Mar 25, 2009, 08:18 AM

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...

Ren6 · Mar 25, 2009, 10:20 AM

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

turtlegirl16 · Mar 25, 2009, 10:27 AM

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.

steph1216 · Mar 25, 2009, 02:57 PM

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.

steph1216 · Mar 25, 2009, 03:03 PM

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.

turtlegirl16 · Mar 25, 2009, 06:40 PM

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?

steph1216 · Mar 25, 2009, 11:03 PM

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.

shazamataz · Mar 26, 2009, 04:17 AM

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.

turtlegirl16 · Mar 26, 2009, 08:02 AM

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

JudyKayTee · Mar 26, 2009, 08:32 AM

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.

Wondergirl · Mar 26, 2009, 08:46 AM

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.

Wondergirl · Mar 26, 2009, 09:16 AM

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!)

turtlegirl16 · Mar 26, 2009, 06:48 PM

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.

Silverfoxkit · Mar 26, 2009, 07:38 PM

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.

JudyKayTee · Mar 27, 2009, 07:19 AM

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.

turtlegirl16 · Mar 28, 2009, 08:18 AM

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.