We need help calming a terrified cat. We adopted a 6 month old kitten from a rescue shelter.?

Question

He started life feral but has resided at a shelter and was reasonably social with other cats and let workers pet him.

The same day we also adopted another 6 month old kitten who's very social and well adjusted.

We knew he'd be "skittish" at first, so we let him out of the carrier and put food, water and a litter box down for him and gave him space.

After the first night, we looked for him and couldn't find him.

The 2nd night we heard a crash in the kitchen, we approached and he went ballistic, running to and fro, jumping straight up, breaking stuff; it was sad. We left him alone and he disappeared again overnight.

We figured out that he'd found a hiding place inside kitchen cabinet behind the dishwasher. We've coaxed him out and blocked the entrance.

The other kitty interacted with him and seemed to be trying to calm and encourage him, talking and trilling.

Now he's in the closet. We'll continue to be patient and give him space.

Any suggestions on easing him into our home?

Answer 1

I think you are doing a fine job. It will take patience-- and space. I got a mangled, Persian cat, with bronchial problems and a matted closed anal cavity from the shelter and had to take him home and put him in a lukewarm bath immediately to soak you-know-what-off, and clip him a bit! They said he had been on the streets. He was traumatized for awhile, but I left him in a separate room daily, while I was at work for a week or two before I forced him to associate with the other cat in a strange surrounding. (P.S. I went to get a cuddly kitten, but felt this one wouldn't make it if I didn't rescue him quick! He's a blue ribbon, for sure, today.) Hang in there, he'll come to know your love and ease up a bit. Just keep speaking to him gently... reassuring him. Good luck.

Answer 2

Time, patience, and affection are the best things to try. It sounds like your kitty had a hard life before the shelter, and it depends largely on his personality how he adapts. I have had cats start out that way that never recovered, but most have eventually become part of the family. It helps that you have another kitty friend that is trying to help out.

A couple of suggestions, other than the above, are: contact the shelter you adopted him from and ask what techniques they used with him and what worked best; experiment with different treats and toys to see what he likes and then use them as lures to get just a few minutes' interaction with him each day; the more he sees that interaction brings rewards, the more likely he'll start initiating interactions; once you find a treat he likes, remove the food from his hidey hole in the morning (it won't hurt him, just make him more willing to venture out), and then in the afternoon or evening offer him a favored treat. If it doesn't work wait a little while then put his food back in and try it a day or two later. He needs to associate interaction with reward. If all else fails, and you have a treat you know he loves, try luring him out with a string, and as soon as he's remotely close enough put a treat down for him for coming that far. I've never known a cat that can resist the string!

Answer 3

As long as your patient.. that is the key.

He's in a new area and needs time to adjust. Make your home cat proof (kinda like baby proof) he'll come around after a few more days and talk to you. Move slow in his presence, he thinks any movement will be getting him. He'll first only come out when the house is quiet and probably at night. That's when he'll eat, drink and check out the house. Then when he feels safe some during the day he'll come out. It's ok to know where he is but I'd say don't drag him out just yet - let him think he's hiding.

No problems unless he misses the cat box or messes else where. In time, maybe a month he'll come out when it's just you (the people that live there). He'll run when other people come by, and the longer people visit then he'll come out. Remember it would be like you just moved to another state or country ~ everything is strange. Be Patient a little longer, it will pay off.

Interact with the other one, giving him treats etc, He'll get jealous and maybe compete. Consult with the shelter if still unsure.

Answer 4

I was just about to ask the same question, I'm rescuing a Siamese kitten about 6 months old and she a little timid..It usually takes a cat about 2 weeks or more to feel at home, because they got trauma from being born to staying in a shelter than someone taking them into a car, then home. he doesn't know where he is yet so give em' time. If he liked being around other cats, it was probably a good idea to get another one, but it would have been better to get one he knew and was most friendly too. I'm not saying you've made a bad choice but that would have been best.

Answer 5

I had a feral kitten, female, 5 months old, she was very skiddish and scared beyond controll, I talked to her in no threatening tones, She knew where the litter box, food and scratching post was, It took just over a week for her to realize that I wasn't going to hurt her. When I went to work and left her for the day, man did she cry, I got some complaints from people in my building. My cat was so feral that when animal controll had her, they had to keep her in a cage. She had to develope a trust, with me, I'll never forget the time, when I came home from work and I was doing dishes, I heard this really strange meow, There she was under the couch staring at me. I went as close as I dared, and knelt down, She just jumped in my lap and started to wash my hair and purred like no tomorrow. Sorry for the long answer and thanks for letting me say it, but just give your kitty some time, there's new smells and ways that he has to learn, He'll come out when he's ready, My cat now is a well adjusted over 2 year old

Answer 6

I rescued a cat with a similar background. He was terrified of everything and everyone. My answer in the end was to do nothing. At night he would eat the food that we put out, we could hear him playing with the other cats, then during the day he would hide. We made no attempt to coax him out and just left him to get on with it. As weeks went by he gradually copied the other cats and would appear in doorways only to run away again if he thought we were watching him but he eventually had enough confidence to come into rooms when we were around.

Answer 7

Start over again by confining him to one room, perhaps a bedroom where he can hide under the bed or in the closet. Leave him alone for a couple days...try to spend some time in the room if you can.
Next, try to pet him if he isn't swatting or hissing at you. Don't pick him up. Do this for a few days.
Finally, start to pick him up for a few minutes at a time.
Eventually, let the other cat into the room with him and see how they interact.
The last thing to do is to slowly introduce him to the rest of the house, possibly one room at a time.
I have fostered cats for a while, and taming a wild cat takes lots of patience and time. Don't be surprised if this doesn't take months to get him comfortable in your house, but he should come around once he feels he can trust you.

Answer 8

You might start over again by giving this cat a confined space, like a spare bedroom or den, to get used to before letting him have the run of the house. All that freedom was obviously overwhelming. Once he adapts to his room, then allow him into other parts of the house a little at a time. Six months is still very young and this cat can learn to become a social member of your family. It will just take a little more time and patience on your part.

Answer 9

Considering the ages of the cats, you should have very little problems getting them used to each other. I would be aware of the two together, but would not pay too much attention to them, and I think before you know it things will be ok. My female did the same thing (growled ) at the kitten when I brought him home, and it took about three days, and they were best friends, with the kitten trying to nurse from the older cat (and she left him do this ) I think this is a very good age to introduce them to each other, and best of luck, I'm sure they will be best friends very soon!!!

Answer 10

It is very hard to turn a feral cat tame. But it can be done and don't expect it to be sociable as the other cat. The butter is so it leaves its sent better and it knows it belongs there from the smell.