Kitten won't come out!!?

Question

My family just got a new kitten, and he is the most adorable thing ever! The only problem is that the person who gave him to us was away from home for 1 month so the kitten wasn't used to humans. Now he's hiding under the sofa, won't come out for food or water (for 5 hours), and he's scared of us holding him. What can I do??

Answer 1

Try putting a half can of tuna or something near the couch and see if he comes out for that. (I hear sardines work too) Good luck!

Answer 2

Give the kitten time, put the food, water and litter box close to where he is hiding. He will come out and eventually he will get used to humans. He is a baby and scared, just keep working with him so that he trusts you, and don't let everyone in the family all try at the same time, overwhelming the poor little thing. I do know if cats that never want to be held, have 1 myself, but they will allow petting, this may be one of them, but give him time.....

Answer 3

Dont ever tease him to make him come out. Maybe move the couch, pick him up. Then take a cardboard box and knock it on its side. Put a blanket and some food in there. Also, maybe leave some of your dirty clothes in there so he is used to your scent? Thats what my Mom did with my sugarglider. Put a small bowl of food and water in there, and cover up the front of the box with a blanket, and leave a small opening for the kitten. Then, come in from time to time and hand feed the kitten to gain its trust. Good luck, just give him time and dont force him to come out. :)

Answer 4

Wow! Reactive attachment disorder in a kitten! Is he still in hiding?

Think soft, comforting. Try wrapping him loosely in a towel or blanket while you hold him. Speak softly. Be very gentle but firm enough for him to know you are the parent substitute. You might try kenneling him in a big enough kennel he has some room and all his needs are met, and keep his kennel close to you while you go about your normal activities so he gets used to your presence and knows you're not interested in hurting him. Make sure you talk to him and reach in to pet him fairly frequently. Good luck.

Answer 5

leave him alone in the room for about an hour.
when no one is there he will come out and look around and he'll start to feel safer.
after a while he'll get used to humans and handeling.

if you want to feed him then put the bowl in the room when u do the thing above. or put the bowl under the sofa with him.

good luck!

Answer 6

Just make sure that he has food and water available where he can locate it, and leave him alone. He will come out, he's just very scared right now. Trust me, they pretty much all do that at first.

Answer 7

i have the same problem yesterday we bought a kitty...he is hiding under our bed...he has only peed twice since yesterday after noon and thats only because i take him out and put him in the litter box...he ate a lil last nite....this is normal...they will come out when they are ready

Answer 8

Augh. I remember that same thing happened to me. My cat didn't want to be petted.Don't worry in a couple of days your cat will get used to you.

Answer 9

watch these videos online: quick and easy from petfinder.com, they'll show you how to make your cat feel more comfortable in his new home:
http://www.petvideo.com//index.cgi?category=24
just be patient, and follow the advice the trainers give in the videos, it really helps!

Answer 10

just let him be for a while! dont try to get catch him or anything! hell come out soon enough