How do I get aquainted with an adult cat I just adopted?

Question

She's shy and nervous, what can I do to make her more comfortable with me, do I just leave her to settle and eventually she'll make her way to me?

Answer 1

She'll be that way for a few days, maybe longer & you hope she'll warm up sooner. Put her food & water where she can find them easily. Prepare her litterbox in your bathroom if it's big enough.

My cat is a stray that a friend of mine found while out on a walk with his mom & brother. They kept her for 5 months & she wasn't fitting in with their other 2 cats. She hid from us (my son & I) for several hours, finally coming out to have a look around. We kept talking to her, telling her she's home now & allowing her to sniff our hands as she walked by. We brought her home around 2pm & it was almost 8pm that night before she let us pet her.

When she was ready, we got to pet her a few times, then she'd run off, then slink back into the room & approach us again. By 9pm, she'd hopped onto my lap & climbed onto my chest/breast area to settle down & purr. She slept on my bed that night too, claiming the left corner at the foot of the bed as her spot, still sleeping there 2 years later.

She's more my son's cat than mine, only paying attention to me when he's not home. When I don't feel good & am laying down, she'll jump onto the bed & lay with me too, even when he's home.

In time, your new cat will settle in & feel right at home. Keep her indoors for now & she won't be tempted to wander off. Indoor cats live longer too.

Answer 2

Ah, you've forgotten the most important thing: a collar with I.D. tags. :) I own five cats. 3 were strays, 1 was adopted, and 1 was given to me as a gift. When bringing a new animal into your home, don't be concerned if the cat runs for somewhere and hides for a few hours. It's a new, scary environment, and much different from the noisy shelter she lived in, so it will take some getting used to. Leave her alone if she tries to hide. Confronting her will only make her more nervous and skittish, and she'll want to get away from you. Let her get the "lay of the land" so to speak, and explore on her own. When you think she's comfortable, pick her up and lead her to the litter box. Put her down in the box if it is an open one, or stand her in front of the box if it has a top on it. This is to make sure she knows where the bathroom is when the need arises. Put food and water out in an obvious place that the cat can see as well. Thanks for adopting a cat in need, and I hope you two have fun! :)

Answer 3

My 4 cats hide under my bed at first when people come to visit. However, after a 1 minute, the friendliest one comes out. Then, after another 3 minutes, the next one. Then, after 10 min, the next one. Finally, after a good 20 mins, the least stranger-friendly one will quietly slink out to see what's going on. Basically, the answer to your question is: It depends on the cat's disposition and time.........but she'll warm up eventually. And after awhile, you'll be so familiar to her that she'll only hide for strangers. Congrats on your new family member :)

Answer 4

Lots of good advice here!

I can add one idea. Get down on the floor with her. Lay right down so you're a her level. Don't pursue her, just lie there for a little while and she'll probably come to check you out.

Remember that we're ten times a big as they are, so we're pretty intimidating to them when they don't know us yet. And getting to know us is especially scary when they're in a place they're not familiar with, that they don't yet think of as their home.

Getting down on her level will make you much less intimidating, much more approachable. And I'll bet she'll approach you pretty soon.

Answer 5

Congrats on adopting a mature cat. It will take some time for her to come around, especially if you dont know her past history. Leaving treats and toys near your feat while you are relaxed will help her relax and come around. I have two "older" cats that I got from the animal shelter, one being a gorgeous main ****. Kittens are so easily adopted, but it was a pleasure to bring home cats who were out of that goofy kitten stage.

Answer 6

I think thats best. Dont let her outside for a while, if at all, she may get lost. Cats need to do things on their own time, she will come to you after a while, and probably be good freinds, Just talk to her, to reasure her that you are around. Congrats on starting answers today, you will have fun, and dont take the mean answers you may sometimes get to heart, most folks on here are nice, if sometimes weird or goofy. I was at level 1 once, not to long ago... have fun

Answer 7

Alot of love and attention and take one day at a time and be patient. You never know what the adopted cat has been through. Try to show attention and talking and petting the cat as much as possible. Each day the cat will love you more.

Answer 8

Congrats on adopting her.

What you do is when you go into the room she is in, sit down away from the food. Let her eat and then if she wants to approach you make no move to her but call her name and reassure her that you mean her no harm.

It will take a few days if not less to have her come to you and allow you to pet her.

Don't rush it. Let her know you are there for her and soon she will be in your lap purring away content.

Answer 9

Unlike dogs cats do enjoy to look at your face into your eyes and also if you speak to them in a soft tone of voice, it does no matter what you say just say it kindly. Don't try to pet it to much, maybe just scratch its chin. Don't give him toys, he maybe is to scared to play, instead let him find his own toys, observe what he likes to play with and then get a similar toy. When you look at him do it only for a few seconds and turn to look away and then look at him again and close your eyes for a few seconds, this means kisses in cat language. Good Luck

Answer 10

It will take time. Don't push it. Get her some toys, sit on the floor with the toys close by. See if she will come closer to you. Let her come to you.