Cat Hiding please help
 

Back in October 2003 we adopted a torishel cat, Female, 3 years old.
From Oct until Jan 2005 she hid in our recroom in the cubby hole
underneath our mainfloor bathroom. (basically where the ceiling and
wall meet) By a fluke we managed to get her out of there. She came
upstairs to eat and we closed the door to the furnace room where she
had been hiding.

its been 2 weeks and now she constantly hides underneath our spare room
bed. She doesnt come out on her own except to eat and use the litter.
If we try to make contact with her she will run underneath our spare
room dresser. She clearly doesnt want to have any affection or
socialization. We have 1 other cat and he doesnt bug her and the 2 of
them never fight. She just sits underneath the bed all day.

There was an ad in the paper for her and we adopted her. I know it
takes some time for cats to adjust to thier new environment cause I
have adopted many before this, but I have never known a cat to take
almost 4 months to come out from hiding. I am just frusterated that
she wants to be left alone. Any ideas on what I can do?

in article ,
at wrote on 1/31/05 10:28 PM:

Back in October 2003 we adopted a torishel cat, Female, 3 years old.
From Oct until Jan 2005 she hid in our recroom in the cubby hole
underneath our mainfloor bathroom. (basically where the ceiling and
wall meet) By a fluke we managed to get her out of there. She came
upstairs to eat and we closed the door to the furnace room where she
had been hiding.

its been 2 weeks and now she constantly hides underneath our spare room
bed. She doesnt come out on her own except to eat and use the litter.
If we try to make contact with her she will run underneath our spare
room dresser. She clearly doesnt want to have any affection or
socialization. We have 1 other cat and he doesnt bug her and the 2 of
them never fight. She just sits underneath the bed all day.

There was an ad in the paper for her and we adopted her. I know it
takes some time for cats to adjust to thier new environment cause I
have adopted many before this, but I have never known a cat to take
almost 4 months to come out from hiding. I am just frusterated that
she wants to be left alone. Any ideas on what I can do?


Well, I would definitely purchase a Feliway diffuser. I know I sound like a
broken record but I think it helps. Then, I would sit in the room reading
doing any quiet things you can think of. We adopted a silver tipped persian
who only came out late at night. She was like a ghost. She only started to
come out late (like 1 or 2 a.m.) when my Dad and I stayed up late playing
nitendo quietly. The rest of the house was really quiet. She slowly started
coming out more and more. But I would say it took several months. What is
the room she is in like? Is there a comfy chair? A window? Hopefully others
will have some suggestions.

Hi karen

The room that she is hiding in has a spare bed and dresser. She sits
underneath the bed all day and night. When she was in the cubby hole
in the basement my hubby would play quietly on his xbox down stairs and
wait for her but she never would come out.

I just wish she was more social and wanting affection. I some times
wonder if her previous owners abused her.


Karen Chuplis wrote:
in article ,
at wrote on 1/31/05 10:28 PM:

Back in October 2003 we adopted a torishel cat, Female, 3 years
old.
From Oct until Jan 2005 she hid in our recroom in the cubby hole
underneath our mainfloor bathroom. (basically where the ceiling
and
wall meet) By a fluke we managed to get her out of there. She
came
upstairs to eat and we closed the door to the furnace room where
she
had been hiding.

its been 2 weeks and now she constantly hides underneath our spare
room
bed. She doesnt come out on her own except to eat and use the
litter.
If we try to make contact with her she will run underneath our
spare
room dresser. She clearly doesnt want to have any affection or
socialization. We have 1 other cat and he doesnt bug her and the 2
of
them never fight. She just sits underneath the bed all day.

There was an ad in the paper for her and we adopted her. I know it
takes some time for cats to adjust to thier new environment cause I
have adopted many before this, but I have never known a cat to take
almost 4 months to come out from hiding. I am just frusterated
that
she wants to be left alone. Any ideas on what I can do?


Well, I would definitely purchase a Feliway diffuser. I know I sound
like a
broken record but I think it helps. Then, I would sit in the room
reading
doing any quiet things you can think of. We adopted a silver tipped
persian
who only came out late at night. She was like a ghost. She only
started to
come out late (like 1 or 2 a.m.) when my Dad and I stayed up late
playing
nitendo quietly. The rest of the house was really quiet. She slowly
started
coming out more and more. But I would say it took several months.
What is
the room she is in like? Is there a comfy chair? A window? Hopefully
others
will have some suggestions.

On 2005-02-01, penned:
Hi karen

The room that she is hiding in has a spare bed and dresser. She sits
underneath the bed all day and night. When she was in the cubby hole in the
basement my hubby would play quietly on his xbox down stairs and wait for
her but she never would come out.

I just wish she was more social and wanting affection. I some times wonder
if her previous owners abused her.


Is it possible somehow that the previous owner trapped her as a feral and, not
knowing the difference, gave her to you without warning?

When I got Oscar, I had no idea that getting a cat born in the wild would
probably have some temperament implications. She was still young, though, and
we get along well, although she's still quite skittish.

--
monique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!*

wrote in message
oups.com...


The room that she is hiding in has a spare bed and dresser. She sits
underneath the bed all day and night. When she was in the cubby hole
in the basement my hubby would play quietly on his xbox down stairs and
wait for her but she never would come out.

I just wish she was more social and wanting affection. I some times
wonder if her previous owners abused her.



You are sweet to care for her, as this kitty needs you more than
others might. Give her the gift of your patience and she will
reward you tenfold. She needs love and affection and play,
too. She's just afraid. She can learn to trust you.

in article ,
at wrote on 2/1/05 8:09AM:

Hi karen

The room that she is hiding in has a spare bed and dresser. She sits
underneath the bed all day and night. When she was in the cubby hole
in the basement my hubby would play quietly on his xbox down stairs and
wait for her but she never would come out.

I just wish she was more social and wanting affection. I some times
wonder if her previous owners abused her.


You might try a cubby hole out from under the bed. Petco and stores like
that have a little cave thing that has a bed on top and a cave underneath.

http://tinyurl.com/3uwqj

I highly recommend the Feliway to help her relax too. And lots of patience.
I know she will come around if you just be patient.

How do I get her to trust me?

in article ,
at wrote on 2/1/05 4:54 PM:

How do I get her to trust me?

Honestly, the best thing is to let her come to you on her own terms. Don't
push anything. Sit and read, maybe even read out loud quietly to her to
become used to you. As with any cat, routine is a very, very good way to
establish comfort. They like routine. Maybe set up a schedule of when you
bring in food an put it down, sit on the floor and read out loud or talk to
her softly. Patience is the thing.

wrote in message
ups.com...
How do I get her to trust me?


So you speak softly to her almost like you're cooing or purring? I know that
sounds dumb but they love it. Also, loud noises or fast moves will make her
more fearful. Just find some patience, keep the goodies and treats coming,
and let her get used to you.

The woman who lives in the house where many of the cats are housed for my
local shelter often puts very hard to socialize cats (meaning shy, not
aggressive) in her bathroom with their box and everything they need. (One
cat at a time, needless to say.) She says it is the best way for the cats to
get used to being around a human and see that the human will not hurt them.
She said that the fact that there is no place to hide is a good thing. I am
not sure what I think of this, but thought I would throw it out there.

wrote in message
ups.com...
How do I get her to trust me?

Feed her on a regular schedule twice a day. First, put the food in the room
where she hides. Call her name when you enter the room and talk to her.
Tell her it's O.K. Tell her she can eat. Then, leave her alone so she will
come out and eat. Shut the door so she will feel more secure.
After a while, go in and get the food dish and take away any remaining food.
When it is time for the next meal, repeat the previous steps.
Eventually, she will expect to be fed at that time and will be looking for
you because she will associate you with the food.
If she shows her face or answers you when you enter the room, put the food
down and sit very still across the room from her. Talk softly to her.
Encourage her to eat while you are there. Do not move.
When she comes out to eat while you are there, move a little closer to the
dish each time you feed her. Always sit perfectly still so you will not
spook her, until she warms up to you a little. Just keep pushing a tiny bit
at a time.
Between feeding time, go into the room with some treats. Sit and read and
pretty much ignore her, except for talking to her. When you go, leave a
couple of treats behind where you were.
If there is a bed or a place to sleep, even on the floor, sleep in there
some nights. She probably will come out and check you out. You might find
her walking on you or on the bed with you, just watching you. Let her get
used to you.
The Feliway suggestion to make her feel more comfortable is very good.
Also, be sure she has a sturdy scratching post, because she will need to
scratch something.
She will come around. Really. Some take longer than others, but she will
come around.
Annie