When your new cat arrives he will most likely be afraid of his new surroundings. The smells are unfamiliar and he doesn’t know whether you are a friend or a foe. Rarely have I fostered a cat and they have made themselves at home from day one.
Usually they find a hiding place and take cover hidden away from whatever predators they think may be lurking.
If hiding is your new cat’s reaction it’s perfectly natural and the best thing you can do is leave him alone in his little place of sanctuary until he figures things out.
If hiding is your new cat’s reaction it’s perfectly natural and the best thing you can do is leave him alone in his little place of sanctuary until he figures things out.
In the meantime what can you do to help him settle in?
Spend time in the room where his hiding place and talk aloud, this is so he gets familiar with your smell and the sound of your voice.
Spend time in the room where his hiding place and talk aloud, this is so he gets familiar with your smell and the sound of your voice.
Leave strong smelling food like tuna outside of his hole to make him venture out a little. When he does venture out leave him to his little act of bravery as if nothing has happened. Resist your well meaning urge to rush to pick him up or make a big fuss of him. This will only startle him and send him back to his hole without eating his food.
Don’t try and force him out of his hole in anyway unless of
course he is in genuine danger. To you,
life in a cupboard does not look fun but to him the cupboard or place under the
sink is his safe place away from danger.
Don’t stare into his hole trying to make eye contact, he
will feel threatened. Instead lower your
eyes whenever you need to check in on him.
Eventually he will make his first tentative steps into the
wider world of your home. Again when he
does this leave him to find his way a little at a time. You may want to give him a congratulatory hug
but he won’t see it that way and your sudden movement will frighten him back
into his hole.
He may dart back in but his first steps outside his hole are
a good sign he’s coming round. Don’t
worry before long scared kitty will be bouncing round your house, jumping on
your knee, washing himself in front of the TV while you’re trying to watch your
favourite programme and staring at your food while you eat. He is a cat after all.
