I just brought home a new kitten, and she was a little scared by the new surroundings, and disappeared BEHIND THE WALLS in the basement, into a crawl space I didn't know existed, through an opening I didn't know existed. (I just moved into this house a couple months ago.) I'm really worried, because she appeared to be very vocal before, and I haven't heard a sound since then. I can't see where she is, and I am wondering what else might be back in that space. I just don't want her to get hurt! I tried using food to entice her to come out, and toys (her favorite ball from her previous home, plus one of those "feather-on-a-string" thingys), Then I opened a can of tuna to see if the scent would lure her out. I don't know if she's hurt, trapped, can't find her way back through the space, or is just hiding out. Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
2006-12-23 06:29:50 · 14 answers · asked by Natalie K 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
update - good news and bad news:
Bad news is I haven't found her yet.
Good news is I ripped out some of the insulation behind the wall to get a better view... Still couldn't see the kitten, but I did discover that the space goes all the way through to a small opening in the bottom of a plywood panel at the back of another room in my basement. (another hole I didn't know about---the joys of home ownership!) So...now kitty has access to all three rooms in the basement (laundry room, my home office, & storage room). It's too late to close the rooms off from each other because I still don't know where she is, and I want her to be able to access her food, water, & litter box, which I had shown to her right before she disappeared. However, the door leading to the rest of the house is closed. IMHO, the storage room is the most likely hiding place...too bad it's so HUGE! Hopefully, she'll make herself known soon!
Thanks so much for all the answers, they were very helpful! :-)
2006-12-23 09:09:39 · update #1
I just found her!!! She had crawled up the inside of the insulation, and was at the top of the wall, clinging to the concrete, sandwiched in between the concrete and the insulation. I only found her because I started ripping off the lower panels of insulation to get a better view of the crawl space. When I ripped off the 1st one, I saw just the tip of her tail hangin down from up inside the upper panel. When I first saw her tail, I was terrified, thinkin 'how could she be able to breathe in there?' Well I guess she was breathing just fine, cuz she fought me on coming out, and she was meowing and shaking like a leaf when I pulled her out! poor thing! I hope it doesn't take her too long to understand that I just want to take care of her, and would never do anything to hurt her! Anyway, now she is just exploring my office, and even has come pretty close to me a couple of times since I found her, looking right at me and meowing like, "where the heck am I?" I have a new ? now---I'll post
2006-12-23 10:50:03 · update #2
You say she comes from a previous home, have one of her previous owners come over and try to coax her out. I think your best bet is to set up a have-a-heart trap (call your local animal shelter and ask them for one, if they don't have one, they can let you know where you can get one), with some fresh, delicious canned food and try to trap her (don't give her milk, best not to give her regular tuna either), she will come out in the middle of the night and go in there to eat and the door will shut and you can retrieve her in the morning. If in two or three days that doesn't work, then carefully start tearing down the drywall, while doing this, stop once in a while and give her a chance to come out on her own, she may be so scared of the noise from your destruction, she may come out before you finish.
One things for sure, once she's out, don't let her in that area again. You may want to keep her in one room with food, water and a litter box for a while until she gets used to the sounds and smells of her new home (usually a week or so). During that time go and spend lots of time and give her lots of love and play with her and her toys so she can bond with you. When your just watching t.v, take her with you and let her sit on your lap, do this for a while every night, eventually you can let her have the run of the house.
2006-12-23 07:03:48 · answer #1 · answered by candeekissez 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should call the fire department. How long has she been in the crawl space? If it's been longer than a week, please call the fire department. The kitten is going to dehydrate and you don't want that. Whenever you do get her out, lock her in a room with food, water and a litter box. Come in there every few hours and get her used to you. Don't try to force love on her. From what I can tell, she was really scared. Don't worry too much whenever you get out. She will get used to you and your surroundings.
Also, make sure she doesn't get near that crawl space again. It would be awful if she returned to that place and got stuck again.
2006-12-23 06:46:15 · answer #2 · answered by Lady Aqua Moon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
keep checking on her try useing a flashlight shine it in the hole most kittens will try to play with the light she could also be asleep most kittens will sleep 14hrs out of the day one thing is for sure remain calm because she will respond to the fear in your voice and it will scare her even more I know people have said to call the fire dept. but I would not do that just yet call you humane shelter tell them whats going on they might be alble to suggest a basement repair guy or a heat repair guy you also might want to call your landlord or who you bought the house from . they might be able to tell you how far the crawl space goes back . keep your phone with you when you are in the basement that way you can keep an eye on her without leaving the area . keep calling kitty kitty in a calm voice hopefully she will come back out
2006-12-23 07:37:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey gurly, when I was reading this I was thinking about the answer that I thought might help. U should call the fire departement. I kno someone already said that, though. But I love cats and it sounds like you really love you new kitten as well. I sure hope you can get her out. Plz let me know how EvErYtHiNg goes.
2006-12-23 06:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by CherishBabii 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Glad you found her! Now try closing off all places she can crawl into and get hurt. Kittens are very curious animals..Ever hear that saying ( Curiosity killed the cat?) Just be careful with her..they are small and very flexible and can fit in the tiniest spots...
2006-12-23 11:15:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find the Kitten. Then close that space off so it knows that the cat will not go there. Then leave the Kitten alone. And let it get use to its environment.
2006-12-23 07:48:14 · answer #6 · answered by Sunshine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave the food where it is and go about your business.S he is scared of you right now.The kitten will come out when it feels comfortable.If the kitten dont show up in a hour or two then check under the house.Its a good possibillity she is lost
2006-12-23 06:41:55 · answer #7 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WELL, KITTENS ARE USUALLY SMART, SO JUST LEAVE OUT SOME FOOD LIKE A CAN OF TUNA OR SOMETHING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS STRAIGHT AND GO CHECK ON IT EVER SO OFTEN TO SEE IF IT HAS BEEN ATE OUT OF ,IF IT HAS THEN THE KITTEN IS JUST SCARED OF THE NEW HOME BUT WILL EVENTUALLY COME AROUND TO THE NEW SURROUNDINGS.I HOPE THIS HELPS.
2006-12-23 06:36:37 · answer #8 · answered by pinkice430 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
call the spca and some advice when getting a new cat seal them in a "safety" room for 3 days and slowy give them more sealed space.
2006-12-23 07:35:21 · answer #9 · answered by lizzy m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
settle down he will come from behind the walls if leave him allone or else you can call someware to come get your cat out! i know how u feel my cat got stuck behind my dreeser but we left her allone and she came out lol
2006-12-23 07:08:21 · answer #10 · answered by beth s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋