I will be collecting a 2yr old shy cat from a foster family tomorrow, this cat lives under their bed. So this video will help me change the way the cat does her caving and be more social. Thank you for providing this video for us.
my cat is very shy but sooo sweet. the shelter described her “She’s a doll. she’s really shy but she is so sweet and loving.” and she IS. when i first went to meet her she was tucked away in a hiding hole and i gently put my hand in and she immedietely began head butting my hand and after a few minutes she crept out of the hole. when we stood up and ran back in the hole😂 at home she stays under the bed most of the time but i’m only on day 3 of having her. on day 1 she did hide most of the day but she slowly explored the whole house - once she did she walked up and down to every room like 30 times. i think she was looking for other animals. day 2 she jumped on the bed multiple times and always gives us a lot of head butts and slept in the bed too♥️ were on day 3 and she eats next to us no problem and if she’s under the bed we just have to put our hand to her and she crawls out and starts head butting. ♥️ she’s shy but sooo cuddly and loving and she is gradually becoming comfortable in her new home♥️♥️
day two of new shy cat in my house I am starting over today. Kitty now has my bedroom, the room with a door. I am hoping I will not have to sleep on the couch for four months, but I am feeling more confident now, after a rough start for both of us. thank you.
Thanks, this is a great video. We have had cats in the past, but we just got our first really shy, hidey guy from a rescue org. We had some idea of how to introduce him, but this video provided a great level of detail.
We will be adopting a shy five year old cat with some history of moving place to place. Our home will be it's permanent home. The tips you've provided are extremely helpful. Thank you so much!
Thank you for this video. I brought a cat to my house that was abandoned at McDonald's. I was told he and his siblings had been there on their own for almost a year. A few people were bringing them food and water. I fed them every day until I could pet a couple of them. (Still working on 2 others.) The first one, has adjusted to my home really fast. He runs around the house fearless. He snuggles in my lap. He is really funny, too. I caught his brother 2 days ago and he is going to be more difficult. I can hardly get him to eat. He's in my spare bedroom and hiding in the closet. I'm going to make more hiding places now and put these tips into action. He's really scared and my heart goes out to him. I just want him to be safe and happy. I need to get him to the vet soon for blood work, vaccinations, neutered, etc. I did get topical flea and worm meds from my vet in advance. His brother has a clean bill of health and has been fully treated and neutered. I'm going to have to go a bit slower with this guy. Thanks again. Great video!
Best video on RUclips on the subject! I just adopted a 4 year old girl. She’s hiding now abs used the litter. Your video really helps with everything. I’ll setup the tree tomorrow in her room and setup some more hiding places
I have watched so many videos but this is the BEST tips introducing a shy cat to your home. Very practical and coming from experience. Thank you so much!! I wish you could make more videos about socializing shy cats. Hopefully our two bonded extremely shy cats eventually come out of their shells. Second day to our home! 😸
Thanks so much! We have a few videos on socializing shy cats but I still need to make a step by step one regarding Liam. His progress was remarkable!! But we do have a few videos on shy cats. Will work on the new one =) Thanks again!
So many helpful tips! We have just taken in 2 very anxious sibling cats from a hoarding situation and don't know where to start so this has been great. Thanks so much for making
Really helpful tips, I'm about to take a 15 year old rescue cat. Luckily she hasn't been in the shelter very long, I put in the application the very day they advertised her. But she had to be rehomed due to stress peeing on children's beds so I am trying to do everything I can to make her feel secure enough that this doesn't reoccur ( I am a single adult with a large ground floor flat and a decent sized private garden) and I've put a washable soft waterproof mattress protector on my bed just in case she has an accident. I am a state foster care leaver so I feel I really understand the upheaval and abandonment feelings they have. This is my second geriatric (15 years +) cat adoption. But I haven't been able to meet the cat beforehand due to covid restrictions.
Thank you so much for this video, it is so in-depth and really helped me learn what I can be doing better! Patience is the key! We brought in a 2yr old outdoor kitty over the winter and she has come so far. Using a lot of your tips, I think we can help her be comfortable even more. Thank you thank you thank you! I'll be saving this for future reference for sure.
My new 4 mo old cat is very affectionate but anxious. I think she trusts me because when I introduced her to the house she was following me around. She is getting comfortable climbing the furniture after the 2nd day here, but she does not eat or drink water. She has bowls, and she also has a fountain (which she is not comfortable with yet). She also doesn't sit still for more than a few seconds.
If she is still super nervous in the whole house maybe reduce the space by putting her in a bedroom for a bit or closing some doors? If you see she is making progress every day in the whole house, leave her & continue to make her feel safe. For water, make sure she is eating mainly wet food. You can add a little water to the wet food but wet food is 70% water on its own. So technically she can get her water intake from just wet food. But of course we want her drinking water. Maybe the fountain is too loud? Eventually maybe she will love it =)
I've had my rescue for three days and she's warmed up quickly. She does not greet me on her own but when she hears me speak and just talk to her and she can see me for 3 minutes, she usually gets up to see me. I felt so bad keeping her in the bathroom with the door closed so I leave it open and she doesn't go out to explore when we are home but she did explore while I was at work yesterday and I saw little paw prints on the tv stand. I am doing my best to make sure she is comfortable and not overwhelmed. Should I be keeping the door closed? Since she left is she gaining some confidence? Thank you!
Sounds like you are doing everything right! I would test to see if she feels more comfortable with the door open or closed while you are in there. And determine if the door should always be open or closed for certain periods of time. But it's also great to give them a chance to explore while you are not home. Thats some good progress is 3 days =)
and here i am with my cat. She is 1 year old, i have had her since July. She will climb up on me to eat Churu's and will allow some petting while this is happening. After that she is off to the other side of the room. She at least walks around the house while i am around now but i still can't just walk up and pet her. I am also trying to get her adjusted to a male cat (2 yrs old) that i picked up to be her friend. He is 2 and is the total opposite of her. At my feet all day licking my hands and wanting to play nonstop. He was a 2 yr old stray (TNR fail) and she was in a foster home from a kitten.
My cat has been hiding for almost two weeks now. He comes out to eat and use the litterbox and I can pet him and play with him while he is under the bed. Should I just give him more time or push him to come out more? He used to be a stray and then he spent months caged in a shelter. I am afraid he will get used to hiding and won´t be fully happy.
No he sounds like he is doing ok. Its okay for him to hide- we actually want cats to know they can hide & feel safe. My only suggestion would be to have a more appropriate hide place if you can't really reach him under the bed. But never force him out just offer alternatives. He will come around in time- the fact that you can pet him & play with him is great. Keep doing that for sure & he will make more progress.
My shelter adopted 4 year old cat is hiding under the couch. I got her 3 days ago. She hasn’t made any messes and used her litter box day 2. I hear her playing with toys and exploring when I’m in my bedroom. She eats good and drinks water. I try not to bother her privacy. But I do use a flash light to make sure she’s there a couple times per day. I hope she doesn’t hide for several weeks.
@@88marig my rescue cat came out to eat her dinner yesterday at 7 pm then she walked around the house. I stayed in my recliner and ignored her. After drinking water she was standing near my chair. I tapped my leg and said jump up here. She did and we’re good friends now. She’s a very Affectionate cat and has short little meows. She purrs a lot. I’m grateful she decided to trust me. Only God knows what she’s been through. She even spent the night in my bedroom. I didn’t get much sleep. She was exploring and wanted more petting frequently. This morning she followed me around.
All too late for me. I am the primary care giver for my 91 year old mother. Her 15 year old (raised from a kitten) cat recently died of cancer. I adopted a new 6 year old cat for her from the shelter. It seemed friendly at the shelter 3 days ago but has done nothing but hide since we got her on Wednesday (it's Fri evening). It slipped out at night to eat and use litter box but never makes an appearance during the day. Again, my mom is 91. I can't wait a month for it to adapt. Should I return it to the shelter?
I think it's worth to wait at least a month for the cat to adjust - it's very normal for cats to hide in the beginning. Especially since they were friendly in the shelter. Animals need time to adjust to sudden changes, especially a new home.
@@carseye1219 how'd it go. i think we get pets and think they're like getting a new handbag or pair of shoes. as if their purpose is to serve us exactly in the way WE want. we forget they have their own feelings and fears. i got my first pet, a cat, 2 weeks ago. she seems to hate me in that she runs from me. but she's a re-home from a deceased elderly woman, her first re-home failed due to the owner's cat disliking her. i admit I took her in looking for love and cuddles, but i now know i should have NO expectations of how she is "supposed" to be. she's an individual and owes me nothing, she did not ask me to feed and home her.
Hi, I just rescued mom n three kittens. We have a spare bedroom in the attic, when I enter the room they go in hiding, mom would sometimes sit inside of the play tunnel hiss once n look at me or on top make shift cart board box hiding place that I make. The kitten n mom would come out and eat after I sit quietly or play cat relaxing music from you for ten to fifteen minutes, but I wouldn’t be able to move when I do they all scattered and go in hidings, my question is can I get them to a point when I move n they wouldn’t be scare. I get the kitten to play last night with a wand toy, and mom play with her kitten but I have to be laying down and not move just one of my hand moving the wand and cover my face. I waiting for them to be comfortable before I take them to a vet for their wellness check and spay n neuter. Any advice would be greatly appreciate it.
I would watch our counter conditioning & desensitization video for some guidance. It really depends on the mom- where did she come from? Why was she brought inside? Have you been able to pet her? How old are the kittens?
Today, I adopted an adult cat from a shelter. I set up a bedroom for the cat but when I opened the carrier door the cat ran out of the room. I don't want to frighten the cat by bring her back to the room. She is hiding in the closet under the stairs. Do I just leave her only until she comes out? Please help, Thank you
I think you should just leave it alone. Because if you try to pick it and change it's spot then it will think your separating it. So after the cat lets you touch it play with it and everything you can take the cat and place her somewhere. But don't let you any other grnd family to go near yhemn
I only have a studio apartment with one bathroom for two people. I have two kittens that have been with me out in the apartment for three months but they’re still pretty scared a lot of the time but sometimes they show confidence. I’m wondering if it would be cruel to lock them back up in the bathroom at this point? They’re six months old. One is much more scared than the other.
Hello Thank you for your video, I adopted a cat 2 months ago and while she has grown accustomed to the house, whenever I come into the room she runs into hiding. Sometimes she comes out to play, to use the litter box or to eat even if I am in the room but if I move even an inch she just runs back into hiding. Also she gives out very long meows all night long and sometimes even trough the day. I tried to slowly reach to hear with my finger but she hisses or slaps me. Interestingly she eats from my hand but no touching is allowed. Also she plays like crazy even if I am in the room, but if I move even just a little she runs back under the bed. All I know about her history is that she is about 9 months old and was a rescue cat from the street, but it's impossible to know if she was abused. I live in a single room apartment so I could not give her a room, but on the first few days I stayed mostly in the kitchen just to give her space. Now she is comfortable with the environment, humans however cause great stress. Any advice?
Continue to hand feed her without reaching out for any petting or contact beyond that. You are teaching her that your hands provide good, positive things she likes, i.e. food without something she is not used to, i.e. petting. You are also being predictable - cats need to trust their humans & to do that, we need to be very predictable with our movements. She may need more time to adjust to your movements. You could try, if motivated by treats, to give treats BEFORE you get up & move; verbally tell her, "hey, I'm gonna get up now- you are safe" & then get up. She may recognize that verbal cue & be more prepared for that sudden movement. Cats who are born & have lived outside can sometimes struggle with small spaces in the beginning. They are used to vast open spaces- she is spayed yes?
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona Thank you for your reply. Yes she is spayed, she was brought to my house 2 days after the procedure, guess it was not easy for her.
Note: Kitten + Shower Curtain = Shower Curtain Poke and Shred! + Kitten with lopsided halo! :D -- voice of experience. Note: An adult cat may do this also if confined and bored. :D This is not a bad cat/kitten, just playful, energetic, and bored. Give the cat/kitten some more appropriate play options, and he/whe will (probably) quit trying to climb and tackle the exciting wavy shower curtain. Don't get mad at the cat, just wait until they outgrow the urge and then replace your shower curtain. :D
this is great! I guess you won't see my comment.. But I'm really wondering how to do with the kitten I adopted. She has been in a foster-home for a month; after she and her siblings were trapped in the city here. In the foster home she made a lot of progress, and sought human companionship, and even let her self be petted. And I understand she needs time to adjust.. I have her in a bedroom, where she has some hidingplaces; but all of them I can "control" (so I can get her if it would be needed and a dangerous situation). And I have been sitting in the room, on/off today; for some time. Reading etc. And talking softly to her. But she has also have some hours on/off on her own. But I don't know if I should leave her alone more, or stay here the whole night. She has never been alone before; or without her siblings. So it feels wrong leaving her alone.. But she's not eating or drinking (not at all for the whole day) and now she's "crying" a lot.. :-( I just wonder if I should leave her alone more or not. I have been trying to find an answer to this everywhere, but it's not easy to find clear instructions on this. IF she would have been older I would have left her alone more. But she's only 15 weeks or so. .
Thank you so much for the video, my first cat was confident from the get go, so suddenly I’m feeling quite inexperienced now… after 2 years we welcomed a new 4m old kitten 2 days ago, he is social, loves being petted, rub against legs and purrs very loud. However, he takes any opportunity to hide, especially if we move too fast or there is some loud noises. I could feel his heart racing so I feel bad 😞 After this video I moved him to a quieter room (the bathroom he was in, is used by 3 people) and made more accessible hiding spots. Do you have any further tips on what I can do? I’m worried he’ll be a skittish cat forever, and on top of this I’ll have to introduce him to our resident cat.
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona thank you for your reply, I have watched it. The kitten made great improvement in his base room, feels more confident to explore & play now. I’ve been letting the 2 cats eat between the door, my old cat is still hissing though. After how many days should I let them have visual contact, like your ‘introducing 2 cats’ video?
When you get a new kitten when should you go up to them and start socializing them. We got a kitten yesterday, my dad is saying wait 2 days and then let him roam the house. But he hasn't trusted us yet.
Hi there- follow the tips in this video. Keep them in a room & socialize them at least twice a day. For kittens I would use playtime- string/wand toys. Also feed them wet food while you are in there. I would not let them into the whole house until they are confident in that room. Too much space too soon can overwhelm them.
What if it's a bedroom that is used, my mum is having to sleep downstairs on a blowup matrix, how do we go about getting my mum to sleep in her own bed again?
Almost 2 months ago I adopted a 10 yr. old kitty. The progress has been very slow; he still very shy and still hisses at me. What else can I do? He is not food motivated and he has no desire to play. :(
Do you know anything about his background? Where is he hanging out mostly? What is the set up like for him? Are you able to pet him? Are there other animals, kids, etc in the home?
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona Hi thank you for your reply! There are no kids or any other animals; He is the only baby in the house. It is just my boyfriend and me. He is staying in my office/bedroom. He hides behind the bed, so I have easy access to him. I do pet him everyday for a minute or so because he doesn't acknowledges me when I do, so I don't want to overwhelm him. He hisses when I come over but not the super aggressive way. He does blink at me or turns away and I always make sure to blink at him when we are looking at each other. He eats and uses the litter when I am not in the room, so I make sure to leave the room everyday at the same time twice a day for his breakfast and lunch for a minimum of 2 hrs. He runs back to his hiding spot when I come back. I have left a dirty shirt of mine where he hides and before I pet him, I show him my hand and let him smell my fingers. I only pet his head. His History - he has always been stray/outside cat. My friend started feeding him about four yrs. ago and he was friendly towards her. He would rub against her leg sometimes, but she never petted him. She had to move to another state in 2019 and asked me to keep an eye on him. I asked her neighbor to feed him, which she did. In Jan 2021 the neighbor felt confident that she could now get him in the carrier. Again, this whole time he's been an outside kitty, but due to his age, the 3 of us felt that it was best for him to be an indoor cat because their neighborhood has a lot of dogs that chases cats, and he was chased many times. He also has fleas and they have started to bite me when I am in the room, which is for hours because this is also my office. I don't like the flea pills and I don't want to put Advantage on him yet because if has a skin reaction to it, it will stressful for me and him to put him in the carrier and take him to the vet. This is my first time taking care of a shy cat and I really don't know what else to do. thank you.
@@jessicap.125 Its hard to determine without actually seeing the behaviors. Does he enjoy being pet? Does he lean in, purr or change positions for better access to petting? Have you tried allowing him more access to the home? Does he have cat trees? If behind the bed is a hard place for you to get to him I would probably block that access & provide a more appropriate hide place for him & to gradually push his comfort to different levels. If he lived outside his whole life he may feel really unsafe in a home. But also, I have seen a cat take months to adjust to such a change like that. Some consistent socialization would be good. At least 20 minutes, twice a day of either trying to play, treats, talking to him, petting, etc. I would try to feed him during these times, to pair yourself with food. Wait at least 20 minutes- hopefully he eats in front of you, if he doesn't leave food for him. Eventually he should start eating with you present. You can email me too: scampbell@humanesocietyofsedona.org
I have a question, I just adopted my 5 year old cat. She’s been hiding under my bed, there’s a lot of space under my bed (it’s high and I can get in and pet her no problem) is this okay? Or would I need to block off the bed and find another space for her? She’s very loving and loves getting pet I’m just afraid she’ll never leave the space under the bed
As long as you have access to her its ok. Once she is more comfortable & if it becomes well over a month where she is still hiding you can start to slowly make that space a little smaller. But just give her some time for now to adjust. If she loves pets thats a great sign =)
I just adopted a 7 year old cat. They said he was a street cat, then he was in temporary homes until he arrived to the shelter, after 3 months I was the first one to go see him, we arrived home, he didn’t want come out, so I put some anti stress cat music and leave the room, he hid under the bed even tho I tried to block it cause I cannot reach as you suggested. I guess I just have to wait. He was very carrying in the shelter, lots of pets. I wanted him to be with me in my room, I have an extra room of my grandparents buy has lots of meds , I don’t know if I should leave him in there plus the weather is so hot nowadays . Am I doing the right thing? Update: He started sleeping with me on day 6, he’s very sweet and loves to cuddle, he is still nervous and hate the carrier so I haven’t take it to the vet. I open the door but he still doesn’t care about going outside my room
If he was friendly in the shelter then you know he has it in him. Feed him some tasty food & stay there while he eats. It is important to hide those inappropriate hide places. If you can get him out on his own & then plug them that is best. But I would not force him out. Try engaging him in play, pair yourself with things he really likes. Food, treats, playing? Give him some time- socialize or be in the room with him several times a day if possible. Just being there without any expectations. If he likes to be pet & you can reach him, just gentle petting could be nice too.
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I will be collecting a 2yr old shy cat from a foster family tomorrow, this cat lives under their bed. So this video will help me change the way the cat does her caving and be more social. Thank you for providing this video for us.
Great information. Thank you!!! Just got a shy cat and this will help a lot!
my cat is very shy but sooo sweet. the shelter described her “She’s a doll. she’s really shy but she is so sweet and loving.” and she IS. when i first went to meet her she was tucked away in a hiding hole and i gently put my hand in and she immedietely began head butting my hand and after a few minutes she crept out of the hole. when we stood up and ran back in the hole😂 at home she stays under the bed most of the time but i’m only on day 3 of having her. on day 1 she did hide most of the day but she slowly explored the whole house - once she did she walked up and down to every room like 30 times. i think she was looking for other animals. day 2 she jumped on the bed multiple times and always gives us a lot of head butts and slept in the bed too♥️ were on day 3 and she eats next to us no problem and if she’s under the bed we just have to put our hand to her and she crawls out and starts head butting. ♥️ she’s shy but sooo cuddly and loving and she is gradually becoming comfortable in her new home♥️♥️
day two of new shy cat in my house I am starting over today. Kitty now has my bedroom, the room with a door. I am hoping I will not have to sleep on the couch for four months, but I am feeling more confident now, after a rough start for both of us. thank you.
Thanks, this is a great video. We have had cats in the past, but we just got our first really shy, hidey guy from a rescue org. We had some idea of how to introduce him, but this video provided a great level of detail.
We will be adopting a shy five year old cat with some history of moving place to place. Our home will be it's permanent home. The tips you've provided are extremely helpful. Thank you so much!
Thats so great - thanks for taking in a shy kitty =)
Thank you for this video. I brought a cat to my house that was abandoned at McDonald's. I was told he and his siblings had been there on their own for almost a year. A few people were bringing them food and water. I fed them every day until I could pet a couple of them. (Still working on 2 others.) The first one, has adjusted to my home really fast. He runs around the house fearless. He snuggles in my lap. He is really funny, too. I caught his brother 2 days ago and he is going to be more difficult. I can hardly get him to eat. He's in my spare bedroom and hiding in the closet. I'm going to make more hiding places now and put these tips into action. He's really scared and my heart goes out to him. I just want him to be safe and happy. I need to get him to the vet soon for blood work, vaccinations, neutered, etc. I did get topical flea and worm meds from my vet in advance. His brother has a clean bill of health and has been fully treated and neutered. I'm going to have to go a bit slower with this guy. Thanks again. Great video!
How'd it go?
This is so much more helpful than most of the dumb google search results I’ve found. Thank you
Awe thanks- thats so good to hear.
This was so thorough and yet very encouraging. I feel very ready to bring my cat home from the shelter. Thanks!
Aw wonderful!
Best video on RUclips on the subject! I just adopted a 4 year old girl. She’s hiding now abs used the litter. Your video really helps with everything. I’ll setup the tree tomorrow in her room and setup some more hiding places
Awesome- thanks so much!!
I have watched so many videos but this is the BEST tips introducing a shy cat to your home. Very practical and coming from experience. Thank you so much!! I wish you could make more videos about socializing shy cats. Hopefully our two bonded extremely shy cats eventually come out of their shells. Second day to our home! 😸
Thanks so much! We have a few videos on socializing shy cats but I still need to make a step by step one regarding Liam. His progress was remarkable!! But we do have a few videos on shy cats. Will work on the new one =) Thanks again!
So many helpful tips! We have just taken in 2 very anxious sibling cats from a hoarding situation and don't know where to start so this has been great. Thanks so much for making
Thanks so much & good luck with socializing them!
Tons of useful info. Thank you!
Thank you!
Wow great video, patience with these cats is key.
Really helpful tips, I'm about to take a 15 year old rescue cat. Luckily she hasn't been in the shelter very long, I put in the application the very day they advertised her. But she had to be rehomed due to stress peeing on children's beds so I am trying to do everything I can to make her feel secure enough that this doesn't reoccur ( I am a single adult with a large ground floor flat and a decent sized private garden) and I've put a washable soft waterproof mattress protector on my bed just in case she has an accident. I am a state foster care leaver so I feel I really understand the upheaval and abandonment feelings they have. This is my second geriatric (15 years +) cat adoption. But I haven't been able to meet the cat beforehand due to covid restrictions.
How is it going?
Thank you. I have had my Cat for three years now but we are moving soon, so this is a great help.
Very well done. Full of tiny detail and tips. 😻
Thank you so much for this video, it is so in-depth and really helped me learn what I can be doing better! Patience is the key! We brought in a 2yr old outdoor kitty over the winter and she has come so far. Using a lot of your tips, I think we can help her be comfortable even more. Thank you thank you thank you! I'll be saving this for future reference for sure.
Thank you so much for this message- this is why we make these videos. Our hearts are full!
This the best video. Straight to the point. Answered every question 🙏🏿
You had me at "HYPHY" lol
😂
My new 4 mo old cat is very affectionate but anxious. I think she trusts me because when I introduced her to the house she was following me around. She is getting comfortable climbing the furniture after the 2nd day here, but she does not eat or drink water. She has bowls, and she also has a fountain (which she is not comfortable with yet). She also doesn't sit still for more than a few seconds.
If she is still super nervous in the whole house maybe reduce the space by putting her in a bedroom for a bit or closing some doors? If you see she is making progress every day in the whole house, leave her & continue to make her feel safe. For water, make sure she is eating mainly wet food. You can add a little water to the wet food but wet food is 70% water on its own. So technically she can get her water intake from just wet food. But of course we want her drinking water. Maybe the fountain is too loud? Eventually maybe she will love it =)
That was really helpful. Thank you very much!
So glad!
I've had my rescue for three days and she's warmed up quickly. She does not greet me on her own but when she hears me speak and just talk to her and she can see me for 3 minutes, she usually gets up to see me. I felt so bad keeping her in the bathroom with the door closed so I leave it open and she doesn't go out to explore when we are home but she did explore while I was at work yesterday and I saw little paw prints on the tv stand. I am doing my best to make sure she is comfortable and not overwhelmed. Should I be keeping the door closed? Since she left is she gaining some confidence?
Thank you!
Sounds like you are doing everything right! I would test to see if she feels more comfortable with the door open or closed while you are in there. And determine if the door should always be open or closed for certain periods of time. But it's also great to give them a chance to explore while you are not home. Thats some good progress is 3 days =)
excellent video!
and here i am with my cat. She is 1 year old, i have had her since July. She will climb up on me to eat Churu's and will allow some petting while this is happening. After that she is off to the other side of the room. She at least walks around the house while i am around now but i still can't just walk up and pet her. I am also trying to get her adjusted to a male cat (2 yrs old) that i picked up to be her friend. He is 2 and is the total opposite of her. At my feet all day licking my hands and wanting to play nonstop. He was a 2 yr old stray (TNR fail) and she was in a foster home from a kitten.
Thanks you
My cat has been hiding for almost two weeks now. He comes out to eat and use the litterbox and I can pet him and play with him while he is under the bed. Should I just give him more time or push him to come out more? He used to be a stray and then he spent months caged in a shelter. I am afraid he will get used to hiding and won´t be fully happy.
No he sounds like he is doing ok. Its okay for him to hide- we actually want cats to know they can hide & feel safe. My only suggestion would be to have a more appropriate hide place if you can't really reach him under the bed. But never force him out just offer alternatives. He will come around in time- the fact that you can pet him & play with him is great. Keep doing that for sure & he will make more progress.
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona Thank you!
My shelter adopted 4 year old cat is hiding under the couch. I got her 3 days ago. She hasn’t made any messes and used her litter box day 2. I hear her playing with toys and exploring when I’m in my bedroom.
She eats good and drinks water. I try not to bother her privacy. But I do use a flash light to make sure she’s there a couple times per day. I hope she doesn’t hide for several weeks.
@@Kelly-st7bu mne ended up taking almost 3 weeks to feel comfortable but now he owns the whole house.
@@88marig my rescue cat came out to eat her dinner yesterday at 7 pm then she walked around the house. I stayed in my recliner and ignored her. After drinking water she was standing near my chair. I tapped my leg and said jump up here. She did and we’re good friends now. She’s a very Affectionate cat and has short little meows. She purrs a lot. I’m grateful she decided to trust me. Only God knows what she’s been through.
She even spent the night in my bedroom. I didn’t get much sleep. She was exploring and wanted more petting frequently.
This morning she followed me around.
I’m bringing home my new cat tomorrow, but I live in a one bedroom apartment and don’t have the option to give it it’s own room
Your room is fine- just make it very calm & quiet for them & they get the bonus of being close to their new guardian =)
All too late for me. I am the primary care giver for my 91 year old mother. Her 15 year old (raised from a kitten) cat recently died of cancer. I adopted a new 6 year old cat for her from the shelter. It seemed friendly at the shelter 3 days ago but has done nothing but hide since we got her on Wednesday (it's Fri evening). It slipped out at night to eat and use litter box but never makes an appearance during the day. Again, my mom is 91. I can't wait a month for it to adapt. Should I return it to the shelter?
I think it's worth to wait at least a month for the cat to adjust - it's very normal for cats to hide in the beginning. Especially since they were friendly in the shelter. Animals need time to adjust to sudden changes, especially a new home.
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona Thank you.
@@carseye1219 how'd it go. i think we get pets and think they're like getting a new handbag or pair of shoes. as if their purpose is to serve us exactly in the way WE want. we forget they have their own feelings and fears. i got my first pet, a cat, 2 weeks ago. she seems to hate me in that she runs from me. but she's a re-home from a deceased elderly woman, her first re-home failed due to the owner's cat disliking her. i admit I took her in looking for love and cuddles, but i now know i should have NO expectations of how she is "supposed" to be. she's an individual and owes me nothing, she did not ask me to feed and home her.
Hi, I just rescued mom n three kittens. We have a spare bedroom in the attic, when I enter the room they go in hiding, mom would sometimes sit inside of the play tunnel hiss once n look at me or on top make shift cart board box hiding place that I make. The kitten n mom would come out and eat after I sit quietly or play cat relaxing music from you for ten to fifteen minutes, but I wouldn’t be able to move when I do they all scattered and go in hidings, my question is can I get them to a point when I move n they wouldn’t be scare. I get the kitten to play last night with a wand toy, and mom play with her kitten but I have to be laying down and not move just one of my hand moving the wand and cover my face. I waiting for them to be comfortable before I take them to a vet for their wellness check and spay n neuter. Any advice would be greatly appreciate it.
I would watch our counter conditioning & desensitization video for some guidance. It really depends on the mom- where did she come from? Why was she brought inside? Have you been able to pet her? How old are the kittens?
Today, I adopted an adult cat from a shelter. I set up a bedroom for the cat but when I opened the carrier door the cat ran out of the room. I don't want to frighten the cat by bring her back to the room. She is hiding in the closet under the stairs. Do I just leave her only until she comes out? Please help, Thank you
I think you should just leave it alone. Because if you try to pick it and change it's spot then it will think your separating it. So after the cat lets you touch it play with it and everything you can take the cat and place her somewhere. But don't let you any other grnd family to go near yhemn
I only have a studio apartment with one bathroom for two people. I have two kittens that have been with me out in the apartment for three months but they’re still pretty scared a lot of the time but sometimes they show confidence. I’m wondering if it would be cruel to lock them back up in the bathroom at this point? They’re six months old. One is much more scared than the other.
Hello
Thank you for your video, I adopted a cat 2 months ago and while she has grown accustomed to the house, whenever I come into the room she runs into hiding. Sometimes she comes out to play, to use the litter box or to eat even if I am in the room but if I move even an inch she just runs back into hiding. Also she gives out very long meows all night long and sometimes even trough the day.
I tried to slowly reach to hear with my finger but she hisses or slaps me. Interestingly she eats from my hand but no touching is allowed. Also she plays like crazy even if I am in the room, but if I move even just a little she runs back under the bed.
All I know about her history is that she is about 9 months old and was a rescue cat from the street, but it's impossible to know if she was abused.
I live in a single room apartment so I could not give her a room, but on the first few days I stayed mostly in the kitchen just to give her space. Now she is comfortable with the environment, humans however cause great stress. Any advice?
Continue to hand feed her without reaching out for any petting or contact beyond that. You are teaching her that your hands provide good, positive things she likes, i.e. food without something she is not used to, i.e. petting. You are also being predictable - cats need to trust their humans & to do that, we need to be very predictable with our movements. She may need more time to adjust to your movements. You could try, if motivated by treats, to give treats BEFORE you get up & move; verbally tell her, "hey, I'm gonna get up now- you are safe" & then get up. She may recognize that verbal cue & be more prepared for that sudden movement. Cats who are born & have lived outside can sometimes struggle with small spaces in the beginning. They are used to vast open spaces- she is spayed yes?
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona Thank you for your reply. Yes she is spayed, she was brought to my house 2 days after the procedure, guess it was not easy for her.
Note: Kitten + Shower Curtain = Shower Curtain Poke and Shred! + Kitten with lopsided halo! :D -- voice of experience. Note: An adult cat may do this also if confined and bored. :D This is not a bad cat/kitten, just playful, energetic, and bored. Give the cat/kitten some more appropriate play options, and he/whe will (probably) quit trying to climb and tackle the exciting wavy shower curtain. Don't get mad at the cat, just wait until they outgrow the urge and then replace your shower curtain. :D
this is great! I guess you won't see my comment.. But I'm really wondering how to do with the kitten I adopted. She has been in a foster-home for a month; after she and her siblings were trapped in the city here. In the foster home she made a lot of progress, and sought human companionship, and even let her self be petted. And I understand she needs time to adjust.. I have her in a bedroom, where she has some hidingplaces; but all of them I can "control" (so I can get her if it would be needed and a dangerous situation). And I have been sitting in the room, on/off today; for some time. Reading etc. And talking softly to her. But she has also have some hours on/off on her own. But I don't know if I should leave her alone more, or stay here the whole night. She has never been alone before; or without her siblings. So it feels wrong leaving her alone.. But she's not eating or drinking (not at all for the whole day) and now she's "crying" a lot.. :-( I just wonder if I should leave her alone more or not. I have been trying to find an answer to this everywhere, but it's not easy to find clear instructions on this. IF she would have been older I would have left her alone more. But she's only 15 weeks or so. .
Hi- head over to my business account as I have a lot go videos on working with shy cats & kittens =)
Get a second cat
Thank you so much for the video, my first cat was confident from the get go, so suddenly I’m feeling quite inexperienced now… after 2 years we welcomed a new 4m old kitten 2 days ago, he is social, loves being petted, rub against legs and purrs very loud. However, he takes any opportunity to hide, especially if we move too fast or there is some loud noises. I could feel his heart racing so I feel bad 😞
After this video I moved him to a quieter room (the bathroom he was in, is used by 3 people) and made more accessible hiding spots. Do you have any further tips on what I can do? I’m worried he’ll be a skittish cat forever, and on top of this I’ll have to introduce him to our resident cat.
Hi! Glad you found it helpful. Try this video: ruclips.net/video/y9gMX9zVOLA/видео.html
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona thank you for your reply, I have watched it. The kitten made great improvement in his base room, feels more confident to explore & play now. I’ve been letting the 2 cats eat between the door, my old cat is still hissing though. After how many days should I let them have visual contact, like your ‘introducing 2 cats’ video?
@@atran6306 I would follow this more in depth video: ruclips.net/video/tsYT7yIOdqQ/видео.html
When you get a new kitten when should you go up to them and start socializing them. We got a kitten yesterday, my dad is saying wait 2 days and then let him roam the house. But he hasn't trusted us yet.
Hi there- follow the tips in this video. Keep them in a room & socialize them at least twice a day. For kittens I would use playtime- string/wand toys. Also feed them wet food while you are in there. I would not let them into the whole house until they are confident in that room. Too much space too soon can overwhelm them.
What if it's a bedroom that is used, my mum is having to sleep downstairs on a blowup matrix, how do we go about getting my mum to sleep in her own bed again?
We just want the cat to feel safe & comfortable. If the cat is coming out & interacting, have mom try sleeping in there.
Almost 2 months ago I adopted a 10 yr. old kitty. The progress has been very slow; he still very shy and still hisses at me. What else can I do? He is not food motivated and he has no desire to play. :(
Do you know anything about his background? Where is he hanging out mostly? What is the set up like for him? Are you able to pet him? Are there other animals, kids, etc in the home?
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona Hi thank you for your reply! There are no kids or any other animals; He is the only baby in the house. It is just my boyfriend and me. He is staying in my office/bedroom. He hides behind the bed, so I have easy access to him. I do pet him everyday for a minute or so because he doesn't acknowledges me when I do, so I don't want to overwhelm him. He hisses when I come over but not the super aggressive way. He does blink at me or turns away and I always make sure to blink at him when we are looking at each other. He eats and uses the litter when I am not in the room, so I make sure to leave the room everyday at the same time twice a day for his breakfast and lunch for a minimum of 2 hrs. He runs back to his hiding spot when I come back. I have left a dirty shirt of mine where he hides and before I pet him, I show him my hand and let him smell my fingers. I only pet his head.
His History - he has always been stray/outside cat. My friend started feeding him about four yrs. ago and he was friendly towards her. He would rub against her leg sometimes, but she never petted him. She had to move to another state in 2019 and asked me to keep an eye on him. I asked her neighbor to feed him, which she did. In Jan 2021 the neighbor felt confident that she could now get him in the carrier. Again, this whole time he's been an outside kitty, but due to his age, the 3 of us felt that it was best for him to be an indoor cat because their neighborhood has a lot of dogs that chases cats, and he was chased many times.
He also has fleas and they have started to bite me when I am in the room, which is for hours because this is also my office. I don't like the flea pills and I don't want to put Advantage on him yet because if has a skin reaction to it, it will stressful for me and him to put him in the carrier and take him to the vet. This is my first time taking care of a shy cat and I really don't know what else to do. thank you.
@@jessicap.125 Its hard to determine without actually seeing the behaviors. Does he enjoy being pet? Does he lean in, purr or change positions for better access to petting? Have you tried allowing him more access to the home? Does he have cat trees? If behind the bed is a hard place for you to get to him I would probably block that access & provide a more appropriate hide place for him & to gradually push his comfort to different levels. If he lived outside his whole life he may feel really unsafe in a home. But also, I have seen a cat take months to adjust to such a change like that. Some consistent socialization would be good. At least 20 minutes, twice a day of either trying to play, treats, talking to him, petting, etc. I would try to feed him during these times, to pair yourself with food. Wait at least 20 minutes- hopefully he eats in front of you, if he doesn't leave food for him. Eventually he should start eating with you present. You can email me too: scampbell@humanesocietyofsedona.org
I have a question, I just adopted my 5 year old cat. She’s been hiding under my bed, there’s a lot of space under my bed (it’s high and I can get in and pet her no problem) is this okay? Or would I need to block off the bed and find another space for her? She’s very loving and loves getting pet I’m just afraid she’ll never leave the space under the bed
As long as you have access to her its ok. Once she is more comfortable & if it becomes well over a month where she is still hiding you can start to slowly make that space a little smaller. But just give her some time for now to adjust. If she loves pets thats a great sign =)
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona thank you!!
I brought home a rescue and the 3 rd day she pooped on my bed, she is about 6 months old and is litter trained please help
Is she still having issues?
While these are great ideas … I live in an open house … so this cannot apply to everyone.
hard to receive info from someone with danglies coming out of their nose.
I just adopted a 7 year old cat. They said he was a street cat, then he was in temporary homes until he arrived to the shelter, after 3 months I was the first one to go see him, we arrived home, he didn’t want come out, so I put some anti stress cat music and leave the room, he hid under the bed even tho I tried to block it cause I cannot reach as you suggested. I guess I just have to wait. He was very carrying in the shelter, lots of pets. I wanted him to be with me in my room, I have an extra room of my grandparents buy has lots of meds , I don’t know if I should leave him in there plus the weather is so hot nowadays . Am I doing the right thing?
Update:
He started sleeping with me on day 6, he’s very sweet and loves to cuddle, he is still nervous and hate the carrier so I haven’t take it to the vet. I open the door but he still doesn’t care about going outside my room
If he was friendly in the shelter then you know he has it in him. Feed him some tasty food & stay there while he eats. It is important to hide those inappropriate hide places. If you can get him out on his own & then plug them that is best. But I would not force him out. Try engaging him in play, pair yourself with things he really likes. Food, treats, playing? Give him some time- socialize or be in the room with him several times a day if possible. Just being there without any expectations. If he likes to be pet & you can reach him, just gentle petting could be nice too.
@@HumaneSocietyofSedona thank you for the tips , they really help, this is my first time adopting an old cat , thank you