Shy cat whispering

[RedRider]

Hiya,

Yesterday we picked up a beautiful cat from the Battersea Cats and Dogs home. He's a lovely-looking young fella but very shy and timid. I can't post a picture of him yet as he's still hiding under the sofa!

We've taken the advice of the Cats' Home and given him some safe spots to hide whilst he's getting used to us and his new place and we're trying not to peer at him in his safe place.

Last night he crept out a couple of times whilst we were in the room, staying close to the skirting board and squeezing behind the telly and newspaper rack as he went for a little explore (probably looking for escape routes). This morning we see he's eaten some food and used his litter tray which is good.

This is also a new experience for us. Previous cats have been an outgoing stray and an old and grizzled feral boy who did all his getting used to us in the garden, looking for food and hissing as we presented it, before daring to come inside and eventually becoming a house cat in his dotage.

So I start this thread seeking tips and hopefully to record his/our progress as he becomes socialised.

He doesn't have a name yet.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Leave him to it, don't try to impose yourself on him.

 

[Snapper88]

Young cat needs time to adjust to new surroundings. At least he's eating & using the litter tray. Provide some toys for him & he will get used to you

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Take a pic of it hiding! I want to seeeeee

 

[Pat "5mph"]

He will sleep in your bed in no time!

 

[asterix]

He doesn't have a name yet.

He could be the Cycle Chat.

 

[ASC1951]

....So I start this thread seeking tips and hopefully to record his/our progress as he becomes socialised....

I give it six months before he is stalking around the place as if he owns it and you are the ones squeezing along the edges of the room

Did you watch this, btw? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22821639.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

I give it six months before he is stalking around the place as if he owns it and you are the ones squeezing along the edges of the room

Did you watch this, btw? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22821639.

Its good that

 

[Globalti]

We had this with our own rescue cat, but by day 3 she was fairly well settled and now she's just a fat slob. Last year we got a kitten, which really upset her but they've settled down now to a sort of working relationship.

 

[DCLane]

We've had 2 from the RSPCA after my eldest took care of a stray. They both were timid and it took a couple of weeks for the younger one and about 3 months for the older (abused) one to settle down.

When we put the 2 together we got Feliway, which helped a bit, although it meant they behaved like kittens. That was OK with us, but when the younger one pounced from the top of the bookcase onto the Yorkshire Water man's head he didn't appreciate it for some reason

 

[TVC]

It helps not to make too much eye contact, if you catch the cat looking at you then look away and yawn, that's about as unthreatening as you can get.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Always two there are, no more no less. A master and an apprentice.

Out of the closet with you: you're a secret cat lover, innit?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Not secret.

 

[Blue]

I hope you and your cat have many happy years together.

 

[Globalti]

Our older cat:

Our new cat: