2006-08-14 04:54:32 · 10 answers · asked by Rick and Bethann F 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Don't wait for your kitten to warm up to you, warm up to your kitten first. pick him up, lay with him, and talk to hi softly. But don't force it too much, he'll get skiddish.
2006-08-14 05:00:34 · answer #1 · answered by Erin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat is new to your home, and may feel overwhelmed by the total change in his environment. It will just take time.
Please don't force yourself on the cat. If he's a year old, you don't know what has happened to him in his past. He could have been on his own his entire life. He could have been abused by someone, so trusting an human will take time.
Provide for him, food, water, clean litter box, something soft for him to pad on and sleep on. Be close by, talk to him softly, scratch him behind his ears or pet him gently when you have a chance. Don't pick him up until he's more used to you, and comes to you willingly.
Be patient, a cat is who he is.
I have 5 cats, raised from kittens, and 2 of them DO NOT like to be picked up to this day. (They are 6 and 9 years old) but they will come to me to be petted and will roll over so I can scratch their tummies. Exposing their tummies is a sign of trust in a cat.
Good luck with your little man. Love him as he allows - and Please have him neutered, and keep him indoors where he is the safest.
And, thank you for adopting an older cat, too many people only want cute, cuddly kittens, and there are SO many wonderful adult cats out there.
2006-08-14 12:23:59 · answer #2 · answered by kids and cats 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try not to pressure him too much. I brought a kitten home almost three years ago that I had found abused and thrown in a dumpster, so of course she had her own issues, but it has been just this past year that she doesn't spend most of her time in the kitchen cabinet. And she is still super skittish and will hide in the cabinet when people come to visit.
Just love your new kitty the best you can within his limits, and he will warm up to you.
2006-08-14 12:27:12 · answer #3 · answered by DontPanic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on how long you have had him and if you have any other animals, it won't take long. If you have only had him a week...give it another week, and then he'll be attacking your toes in bed before you know it. If there are other animals in the house, it may take longer. Also, small children may cause him to run and hide until he figures out that they won't harm him, or he figures out that he can just stay out of their way. Good luck with him:)
2006-08-14 12:01:28 · answer #4 · answered by Motochic 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried introducing him to your other family members? I always hold a new family member and take him around to all other members of the family. Let them sniff each other out while in your safe hands and hopefully they will get along with each other. Jealously can be an issue that time will usually take care of. Patience and Good Luck.
2006-08-14 12:10:46 · answer #5 · answered by pat j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i foster kittens, therefor i see and get to work with many kinds of cats; playful skittish whatever.
what i do when i have a scardy cat is take a tiny piece of turkey or chicken or a soft treat and lay it right by where they're hiding and let them eat that. then i hold another piece in my hand outside of they're hiding spot to show that my hand won't hurt them, keep moving your hand farther and farther until your kitty comes out, then try picking him up and feeding him little pieces on your lap. I usually put a piece on my nose, a piece on my foot just to get them use to those places and hopefully have them associate my face, my hand, and my foot with good things.
be careful and don't let him have to many treats, or he will leave you quite a few of his own treats. Break whatever your giving to him in tiny pieces, enough that he can tast and smell them but not to much that he should have to take more then one bite!
doing this about everynight on my lap helped my kitty get over her phobia of people, and now she even sleeps with me at night!
also at feeding time, i put her on my lap and feed her a little bit of canned food on a plastic spoon so she gets use to being on my lap.
when im on the couch she now jumps up and sits with me!
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
2006-08-14 13:48:04 · answer #6 · answered by allaysownx3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats have to be tame it takes 1 hour to tame a cat go to the store get some cat treats to get him out and them pet him and scratch his belly, under his chin, and behind the ears and give him a couple more pets and cuddle up with him and he shouldn't be scared!!!
2006-08-14 12:19:19 · answer #7 · answered by Hottie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would just give him time. Don't make him come out. I would ignore him till he feels ready. Also move the litter and food across the room so he has to come out to use it. By keeping it close you are encouraging the behavior.
2006-08-14 12:01:40 · answer #8 · answered by Sarah H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How long have you had him?
Take a little tuna fish in a bowl and put near him.
The smell will bring him out.
everynow and then refresh the bowl but move it further away from his hiding place.
2006-08-14 12:01:10 · answer #9 · answered by deltaxray7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catnip toys and catnip itself will help kittie relax!
2006-08-17 16:42:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋