How can I de-stress my new cat?

Question

I recently received a 4 year old cat from an owner that had allergies. She kept the cat as long as she could but her alergies got the best of her. I've had the cat for 2 days, and shes done nothing but hide under the couch and in the bathtub. Shes letting me pet her just a little, but she is still very timid. Her pupils are dialated, and she hasnt eaten or used the bathroom in 2 days. Should I try to get her to know me and interact with her or should I just leave her alone and let her come around? Thanks

Answer 1

She will come around. This is totally normal for a cat. You can try to interact but dont over do it.

Answer 2

Leave her alone, but talk to her in a soothing voice, not the high pitched kitty kitty voice everyone tends to use. She's only 4 and should still be playful, try interacting with a string dangled in front of her. It's going to take time, but she'll come around. Think about being a 12 year old child and without explanation, pulled from your home and taken to a stranger's house with new smells, new noises and so on. I hope she had a bed and toys that you brought with her, see if you can get a shirt or something with a familiar smell from her previous owner and make a bed for the cat. Have patience, don't force the change too rapidly.

Answer 3

Cats being creatures of habit don't always adapt well to change and her behaviour is normal.

Did you know the cat before she moved in with you? It's a good sign that she will let you pet her a little. Cats communicate with each other by body language. One trick you can try to gain her confidence, is when she looks at you, slowly blink your eyes and look away. Cats do this with each other when they want to signal that they are friendly and not to be considered as a threat. (This worked in getting a stray cat that I feed to let me pet him).

As long as she's drinking water, she survive a couple of days of not eating without coming to any harm. She is probably missing her previous owner and might not be eating because she's feeling a little depressed at the moment. You might be able to tempt her with chicken as most cats like it. However, if she continues to refuse to eat then take her to see a vet just to make sure there's nothing medically wrong with her.

It will take her a little while to get used to her new home and it's scents but she will settle down with time and your continued patience.

Answer 4

It is very difficult for cat's to adjust to new living situations, change of owners etc. and your cat is behaving just the way most cats do when that happens to them. They have no intellectual abilities that can help them understand what has happened so they are emotionally stressed.

You can pick up a bottle of Rescue Remedy at a health foods store today and treat the cat with that. You just shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on the cat's fur between her ears. Do it four times a day at least for the next week to ten days.
If you cannot reach her at the beginning you can put the drops on a cloth and put it under the couch near her. "Refresh" the drops four times a day. When she comes out you can put it on her fur.

This is exactly what the RR is for - to help her adjust emotionally to her new situation. Trust that the RR will help her and do not force your attentions on her in any way. Talk to her softly and encouragingly and don't let yourself be stressed by her problems. Put a drop of two on your hands when you prepare the RR for her cloth or body.

Answer 5

Put her in a small room with litter at one end and food/water at the other. Use the same brands the previous owner used. Let her adjust to the smells and sounds of your house. Go in to visit her, talk in a quiet, soothing voice. She'll come around. Give her some time.

Answer 6

Give her time. Make sure she knows where the litter box and food are. I adopted a cat from a shelter a few years ago. She hid under my bed for most of the first week. Once she got used to me and the new environment she was fine and became very loving and affectionate. Good Luck.

Answer 7

The best thing to do is keep her contained in a small room where she can't go into hiding and will have to get used to you. While in the small room I would use Feliway and Rescue Remedy which would reduce the stress. Spray the Feliway in the room when you plan to visit with her and add drops of Rescue Remedy in her water.
The first week I would feed her canned food, give her lots of treats and toys to interact with her. It takes patience but she will eventually trust you and come out of her shell.

Answer 8

it fairly is not risky to your cat to be on your mattress room, yet while she has a clutter field you will no longer decide for it in there! placed it someplace quiet and dark, and placed your cat's bedding someplace she'll experience secure. have not got travelers around for some weeks. one in each and every of my boys went lacking for 10 days as quickly as, and after he got here back he replaced into very clingy for a pair of month. it fairly is going to take your cat a mutually as to experience greater advantageous in herself, and you will in all hazard locate she is often greater fearful than she was. humorous she replaced into obese, curiously she has been saved in someplace and fed junk.

Answer 9

You should try to interact with her as much as possible. you should also let her come around when she is ready. it may take her awhile so i wouldnt be worried to much. i would contact the vet and ask if there is anything that you can do even further to try to calm her.

Answer 10

Try rat poison, it's great for vermin, I mean cats.