new kitty questions

Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

First of all, congratulations on your new kitty. What your kitty is doing
is completely normal. He's just trying to get use to his new home and
surroundings. This may take a few days but I'm sure he will come out from
under the bed to use his box and eat. Just be patient. I'm sure things
will be fine.

S.

"Tiger Girl" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

First of all, congratulations on your new kitty. What your kitty is doing
is completely normal. He's just trying to get use to his new home and
surroundings. This may take a few days but I'm sure he will come out from
under the bed to use his box and eat. Just be patient. I'm sure things
will be fine.

S.

"Tiger Girl" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

One thing you could try is whiping down the cat with a dry towel and then
wiping it around the lower corners of the walls (even door frames, etc) and
other objects in your house. This lets the cat know it is his home.


"Tiger Girl" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

One thing you could try is whiping down the cat with a dry towel and then
wiping it around the lower corners of the walls (even door frames, etc) and
other objects in your house. This lets the cat know it is his home.


"Tiger Girl" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

OK. Consider your hand held. It's OK. He will not starve to death. He
will most assuredly eat and use the box while you are sleeping or out
of the house. Sit in the room when he's hiding and speak to him in a
friendly tone of voice. hove an occaisional treat under the bed. He'll
come out when he's ready...

Tiger Girl wrote in message ...
Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

OK. Consider your hand held. It's OK. He will not starve to death. He
will most assuredly eat and use the box while you are sleeping or out
of the house. Sit in the room when he's hiding and speak to him in a
friendly tone of voice. hove an occaisional treat under the bed. He'll
come out when he's ready...

Tiger Girl wrote in message ...
Hi,

I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
- so no flames, please).

I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
(you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
instantly.

I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

Thanks!

TG

Thanks for the hand-holding! Cats being cats, all it took to get him
out from under the bed was to publicly proclaim that I was worried he
never would. He spent the evening following me (not closely) from
room to room. When I went to bed, he went under it, but starting
making a chirruping noise. I replied with similar noise. I guess he
was dissatisfied with the over/under bed solution because he jumped up
on the bed and lay down on it. Not cuddly, but there.

He was there most of the night, too, although when I woke up this
morning he was back under there. He came out to eat, but I had to
show him the bowl of food and work a bit to lead him to the Mess Hall.
So he's eaten twice, but there's no sign of litter box use. Either
he's a champion at holding it in, or I'm in for some unpleasant kitty
surprises.

I don't think he's ever had this much space. Lord only knows what
happened to him _before_ he got hit by the car, but the people at the
shelter said he was clearly a stray at that time. Since then, it's
been Kennel City and lots of other cats. When I started thinking
about what it would be like for me to get plopped down in a palace
that had no other humans in it, the whole Under The Bed thing made a
lot of sense...

TG

Thanks for the hand-holding! Cats being cats, all it took to get him
out from under the bed was to publicly proclaim that I was worried he
never would. He spent the evening following me (not closely) from
room to room. When I went to bed, he went under it, but starting
making a chirruping noise. I replied with similar noise. I guess he
was dissatisfied with the over/under bed solution because he jumped up
on the bed and lay down on it. Not cuddly, but there.

He was there most of the night, too, although when I woke up this
morning he was back under there. He came out to eat, but I had to
show him the bowl of food and work a bit to lead him to the Mess Hall.
So he's eaten twice, but there's no sign of litter box use. Either
he's a champion at holding it in, or I'm in for some unpleasant kitty
surprises.

I don't think he's ever had this much space. Lord only knows what
happened to him _before_ he got hit by the car, but the people at the
shelter said he was clearly a stray at that time. Since then, it's
been Kennel City and lots of other cats. When I started thinking
about what it would be like for me to get plopped down in a palace
that had no other humans in it, the whole Under The Bed thing made a
lot of sense...

TG

I wouldn't worry about it to much. Keep a bowl of food and water along with a
litter box in the bedroom. He'll come out to eat and drink when he gets hungry.

Earlier in the summer I was given a kitten that was rescued from a fright yard.
The mother and rest of the liter had been killed. When I got him home the first
thing he did was hide and then didn't come back out. For a week the only sign
that he was there and even alive was that he was eating, drinking and using the
liter box. It took better then a week before I saw him again.


Tiger Girl wrote:
: Hi,

: I just got a new kitty from the shelter. It's the first new kitty I've
: had in nearly 20 years. I have a venerable old kitty who found me as a
: kitten. He's gone to live with my S.O. 1,000 miles away (for very good
: reasons all having to do with him, not with us, and I miss him horribly
: - so no flames, please).

: I hated living without a cat, so off to the shelter I went. This brave
: boy I took home was a stray at about a year old and was hit by a car and
: pretty severely damaged. The awesome vets at the shelter patched him up
: (you can't even tell by looking at him that he was injured). He was
: definitely Mr. Tough with the other shelter cats (rambunctious, not
: mean) and reasonably friendly for a cat who was on his Pouncing Rounds.

: So I brought him home, let him out of the carrier, and put down some
: food for him. He inhaled that, crept around for an hour, and found the
: bedroom a couple of hours ago. He's been under the bed ever since. Now
: I'm worried that he's going to starve under there, or that he will be
: too scared to come out and use his box (which formerly belonged to Old
: Cat, I cleaned it, but I'm sure there's only so much one can do, and I
: figured he was probably pretty used to other cat smells from the
: shelter). I'm sure that these fears are irrational, mainly because
: every time I've checked up on him he's been curled up with his paws
: tucked in and not looking particularly freaked out. I know the best
: thing to do is to let him be, and I have been (other than checking to
: see if he's still there) but I'm worried he won't ever come out.

: I think that some of what's driving this is that he's been through so
: much horrible stuff that I really wish he could know how great things
: are going to be from now on, and that he has a bed to sleep in, etc.
: Like I said, it's been 20 years since I had a new cat and if memory
: serves (and who knows...) Old Cat showed up at the door as a 6 week old
: kitten, rolled into my life, and staked out the entire joint as his
: instantly.

: I think I just need some hand-holding, here...my friends all have cats,
: but they aren't cats who had been damaged before.

: Thanks!

: TG


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