Helping cat adjust

[Sd13]

Hi I got a new cat last night and unfortunately I wasn't aware that I needed to make a quiet room for her so the cat was in her bed in th living room where she slept and today morning I found her hiding under a table. I've kept her food, water and litter box nearby but this isn't a quiet environment for her and she won't leave her spot. What should I do?

[Lilith]

Hi and welcome

I'd just let her do what she wants to do - perhaps, as she gets bolder, she'll find a quieter spot for herself and put herself to bed there and you can move her belongings and food nearer to her. Just give her time.

I've got one myself, just come home from treatment for hyperthyroidism, has to be isolated in her own room for a week - and the little devil has squeezed herself into a TINY space behind a desk and is NOT feeding ... she LIKES that room, she KNOWS that room - but oh no, it's strange now. AND she's 15 and has known me and this house nearly all her life.

Sometimes you just have to love them and leave them alone

[Sd13]

Thank you for the reply. I'm just really worried that this environment is causing her a lot of stress. She is not eating either. I'm definitely not gonna force her into another room though. I hope your cat recovers soon <3

[Lilith]

Thanks - Mouse (my cat) is over the worst.

Like your girl she's hiding, as some do with any change and stress - but a lot of them do, they don't eat (Mousey hasn't and she's got TUNA - her very favourite) they often don't even wee or mess. Perhaps when everyone's gone to bed your girl will come out and eat and use her tray. It isn't unusual, it's just an instinctive closing down until the cat feels confident, but it is worrying and I don't know about you but I feel terribly guilty but honestly there's no need.

You COULD get her a quieter room ready and plonk her bodily in there, but I'd be inclined to keep things as quiet as possible in the room where she is now and just let her do her own thing and come out when she's ready; she needs time to absorb the newness of everything, and she will - all the very best

[Ruth B]

I have to agree with Lilith, just let her be and she will start to explore in her own time. You say it isn't a quiet room, but I would expect it is quiet at night, so that is when she is likely to start to come out to eat and use the litter tray. Don't try and coax her out or keep staring at her in her hidey hole just leave her be. Try and develop a routine with feeding, cleaning her tray etc and talk quietly to the room in general rather than to her to get her use to the sound of your voice. Given time she will be fine.