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New cat, got updates

JSVDP
posted to The Cafe in The Cafe
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:37 PM

27 Replies
260 Total Views

My husband saw an ad on craigslist from a woman who was giving away her male cat for free to a good home. She owns a daycare and several of the kids have allergies so she had to get rid of him.
He is a good cat, declawed, box trained, loves kids(she worked in a daycare and the kids loved on him alot LOL). He is five years old.
We brought him home and he has been hiding since. I have always gotten puppies or kittens so I dont know how to help this poor cat out.
I feel bad for him that he is scared, he was with his other family for five years so i understand. But I also dont want to end up finding a mess under the kids bed or in the hall closet. I cant shut the doors to the rooms at night because we are in the rooms and as soon as he has the chance he runs under the kids beds.
I showed him his litter box several times and showed him where his food is too, he doesnt seem interested in eating right now either, we picked him up around two and he hasnt eaten anything since.
I am just wonderin how long it might be before he gets used to us, and when should I be concerned?

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Nov. 8, 2009
well last night after the kids were in bed and hubby went grocery shopping(he goes shopping n the middle of the night cause no one is at the store), Max came out for a minute. I had to sit on the floor and not move he was ok exploring a little bit of a distance away from me, he would go out a foot or so, rub himself on a shelf or the table and then come back to me and make me pet him. He did this a couple times, then I had to get up to go pee and he took off towards the bedroom again. Then I got him to come up on the bed with me and he was letting me love on him and pet him, then hubby came in made a bunch of noise with the groceries and Max was back in hiding lol.
So it seems as though he kind of trusts me enough to feel comfortable with me petting him. He seemed to want to be assured that I was there while he looked around a small area of the living room as long as I was close. Not sure if its because I put some food under the bed for him or what but at least I know he does trust me, now the kids are another matter.
He seems to study my daughter ALOT, not like he is afraid of her but like he is curious. Right now he is under my bed close to the outside watching us from under there. Hopefully he will come around soon.
He is a loveable cat though.
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Nov. 8, 2009
Ok so he has been in the kid's room all day, under my sons bed. He is very comfortable in the room only. He wont leave it. The kids and hubby and I went in and loved and pet on him, he went from person to person rubbing his face and body on all of us pretty much forcing us to pet him and he was purring so loud.
He decided he wanted to play a little too and we let the kids get the little cat toy fish poles and played with him for a bit. It was so cute he was totally showing off.
SO now he is comfortable with us and will comeout of hiding if ALL of us are in the room LOL. So we moved his food and water into the room and I put the litter box in the bathroom just outside the bedroom. He doesnt seem comfortable enough to leave the room yet, why he chose the kids room I have no clue but thats where he is. And he has rubbed his scent on EVERYTHING in there lol, its so cute seeing him marking his space. The kids think he is just kissing everything so we let them beleive it. We told them that was his way of saying this is his house now too.
I am hoping that he will start feeling comfortable enough to make it out into the living room. LOL he is so funny though.
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Nov. 9, 2009
OK you know what I love this cat, he is so funny and lovable. But the dang thing decided to run the house in the middle of the night. So that would not have been a big deal but he spent over 5 minutes burrying his poo in the littler box, he also decided he was going to jump on the bed and get love from the sleeping people. Its hard to sleep with a cat who's purr sounds like an idling truck and who sticks his face in yours just to get your attention. If that doesnt work he leans over and lightly nips your fingers so you will pet him.
I shoved him off the bed he thoughht it was a game and tried to play, finlly I ignored him. So he went into the kids room and woke up the one person he knew would give him his attention, MY DAUGHTER. so after I got BACK to sleep I hear her yelling at me, yes YELLING that her kitty had jumped on her bed and wanted to sleep with her. She gt into OUR bed because if she didnt there was no way she was goign back to sleep, cause of the cat. And who should show back up bbut mister Max the monster cat(thats my new name for him LOL).
Something tells me this is how its going to be for a little while.
This stuff is so cute and endearing now, my husband had no problem with the cat doing this all night, he thought it was funny. He is kinda funny though, he is a beautiful cat and has a great personality.
I ahve also decided I am going to write his previous owner and let ehr know how he is doing, it should make her happy to know her kitty is adjusting well.

Written by

JSVDP

on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:37 PM

Replies:

1-10 of 27 replies

12 3 next last

by
- college.mom0f2
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Show him love.
He is probably eating and drinking at night, and probably going to the bathroom too. Hang in there.

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- kjms99
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:42 PM
I think if you just give him his space and let him wander around on his own and let him put his own scent around the house ( which they do by rubbing on things) he will be ok after a few days!!!! Good luck!!!!

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- 1jarmom
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:42 PM
That is funny your cat looks almost identical to the cat I just got a few weeks ago except my cat in only two years old. I was told it usually takes a older cat 2-3 days before they want to walk around and explore. Just give the cat space and since you have already showed them where the food was and litter you can leave him. One cat we got was 4 yrs old and it took her two days before she ate and almost a week before she let us pet her but she came around in her own time.

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- KyliesMom5
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:44 PM
He just needs time. If you can put him in a room that you can shut the door and let him have some peace and quite that may help. He is probably scared and confused right now. Sometimes, adults animals need more time to adjust but they will in time. I rarely adopt the babies because their are so many adults that get over looked in shelters and i have never had a problem with them not adjusting. SOme can take longer then others but he will slowly adjust. Most come out at night when it is quite so he will probably eat and use the box then. You might get an extra litter box temporarily and place it at the oppisite end of the house just to make sure he has access and if he is hiding he will have one closer to him. I can't give yo a set time because some adjust within a few weeks and others can take a month or so but he should slowly start coming out as he gets used to you and his new home. The first day or so is usually the hardest for them but i am sure he will be fine.

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- Randi02
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Put him in a laundry room or somewhere else quiet where you CAN shut the door. Make sure he has access to food, water, bedding and his litter box and leave him alone.
Imagine being completely uprooted and moved somewhere where you don't know anyone. It's loud, smells unfamiliar etc. and it IS scary. By secluding him for a little while he is able to get more comfortable and then you can open the door and let him explore on his own. This is what we would recommend when I used to adopt out cats : )

I am a Canadian,breastfeeding (it IS best, there is nothing even close to that nutrition and bond), co sleeping, extended rear facing (if you don't rear face to the maximum of your seat, you're NOT doing all you can to protect your child), baby wearing, Non spanking (I want my kids to respect me, not fear me) ANTI- CIO, homemade baby food making, cloth diapering, organic (chemical free household!) recycling mama to TWO! My husband is my equal and best friend, not my master and I believe basic health care should be a human RIGHT, not a privilege.

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- AngelicaRenee
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:45 PM
I've gone through this many times when moving with my pets. They'll be scared for a couple days. I guaruntee he's roaming around the house after everyone goes to bed. Just make sure he knows you won't hurt him and he'll come out soon enough.

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- elly25
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:49 PM
That is perfectly normal.He has to get used to his new house,surroundings,and find out if you all are nice.He doesn't know you and your family after all and your house is scary to him.Just take your time with him and everybody will have to urn his trust.Treats work well and so does just being in the room with him and not touching him.You can watch t.v. in the room with him and act like he's not there.That way he will know that you all mean him no harm and he can get to know you by that.He'll come out of it eventually.Don't worry.You might find some little accidents though.He will have to remember where his new litter box is and no matter if he is fixed or not he's going to mark his new "turff".They all do.He'll eat when he calms down some.At night when everybody is sleeping.Give him time to august to everything.It might take him a day or two.It might take him a week or longer.It all depends on him.Just don't force him.You might get a bite or scratch.

When my cat was stolen.My mother took me to go get a new cat (a Manxs mix) about a month later.She was and still is very feisty and loving.We got her home and let her go.She ran behind the couch and hid for a month.She would come out when we were sleeping to eat and go to the bathroom.She would attack us when we walked by the couch (that was just her though.She likes to play and show you that she is a tuff cat).She did it to all of us.No I'm not saying that your new cat will do this either.It was just the kind of cat that she was at that time.After a while she learned that we meant her no harm and that this was her new home.She decided to come out one day and set on my little brother's lap.My cat then turned into his cat.

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- liz1986
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:49 PM
We just got a new kitten a couple of months ago and you just have to give them time. We did research on bringing a cat into the home and it said it can take up to two weeks of hiding and being anti-social before they can make the adjustment. Whenever Summer (our cat) came out of hiding we would pick her up and pet on her and giver her some love. She adjusted well after 2 or 3 days. Just let him do what he wants the next couple of days. He'll come arounds.

Proud Army Wife to Tim 12.31.07
Mommy to Chris 06.21.05
Mommy to Anthony 07.24.07

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- Lil_ol_me9306
on Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Ooooh, he's a Maine Coon. Those can be tough cats. I've got one, but I've had him since he was a kitten. Best thing is to give him time. Put him in a place that isn't frequented by the rest of the family that much, go in and pet him frequently if he'll let you, and make sure he can hide when he wants to. Be careful though. Those Maine Coons can be tricky and really mean when they want to be. Mine is pretty small, yet I STILL woke up to pigeon parts through my living room this morning.

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- enchantingspa
on Nov. 8, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Give him time. It may take him a few days to get use to his new surroundings and to you guys. Just let him be he will come around especially if you just take it easy around him for a day or two. More then likely he will come out and eat when everyone is asleep and prowl around more to get use to his new surroundings.