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Post by mrsteriyaki on Jan 18, 2015 18:34:19 GMT
This is our gorgeous new cat Zizou (named after the great Zinadine Zidane, footballer of France). We picked him up last Wednesday (11 days ago) from a lady who couldn't look after him anymore. He has come from a loving home and is nearly six years old. He has spent the last 6 months with two kittens. We set everything up for him in our kitchen/dinner and he took to his food/water and litter tray right away which was great to see. For the next three days after he spent most of his time behind the sofa and started to come out a bit for cuddles. On the Saturday night a few friends came over to which he spent the evening upstairs - things got rather loud and he hasn't liked to come out of our bedroom since. For a few days after that he stayed under the bed, only coming out at night or when we were out to eat and do his business. Gradually he's started to come out more when being stroked - seems to give him confidence. Now he spends more time behind our curtain on the window sill but again, if you stroke him he will jump down and a few times a day come downstairs. That doesn't last long though, he will eat or go to the loo then head backup stairs again. The frustrating thing is that as soon as we go to bed he comes out and joins us for plenty of snuggles - he is a lovely boy! He'll then wander up and down stairs during the night. My guess is that the loud Saturday night put him off coming down unless it's empty. I plugged a Feliway in the bedroom a few days ago and can't say I've seen much of a difference. He is making progress it's just slow and I hoped to get some advice or reassurance we are doing everything right. Thank you.
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Post by scallywag on Jan 19, 2015 0:54:21 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Im from the other side, sorry not a lot of help but i'm sure @gillykat will be along to have a chat, shes just done wonders with a little ferel kitten then theres tonib spider lotsofcats dutchkitties chantel cazypops oh and I bound to have missed others off but these are all tagged now EDIT Oooooo what a lovely photo, it wasn't there when I first read your post
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Post by spider on Jan 19, 2015 1:07:33 GMT
i agree with ur thinking cats scare at the drop of a hat and it takes time for them to settle i think u have everything set up ok its going to be strange for him for a while sitting in the window watching the world going by is something a cat will do our fellow will sleep in the window he might miss something if he leaves there this little man has had a lady minding him for 6 years and prob not to many nights of loud music so i guess he got scared keep doing what ur at he will come round in HIS time it not that ur party nights are over forever just he needs to be the boss of HIS house needs to know whats going on everywhere as well o ya welcome to our gathering there will be other people here to help u a well i hope i have been some help
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Post by lotsofcats on Jan 19, 2015 10:41:53 GMT
Zizou's obviously not used to a lot of noise - I think he will come round slowly. Keep spoiling him with lots of attention and treats and he'll soon realise that you don't have visitors all the time. He's probably missing his kitten friends too.
He's a very handsome tabby.
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Post by cazypops on Jan 19, 2015 11:15:58 GMT
Oh he's such a handsome man, but I'm a bit biased as he looks just like my Bandit. I agree with the others. Your doing all the right things, keep this up and he'll soon come round. The most important thing is not to try and rush him. My two tend to spend most of their time asleep upstairs, only coming down for something to eat when they hear one of us in the kitchen. Just remember that cat can be quite elusive creatures, but he must trust you to come for cuddles at bedtime. Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Oh! Welcome to the forum too.
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Post by spider on Jan 19, 2015 11:49:07 GMT
he is lovely i didn't see the picture there last night
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Post by mrsteriyaki on Jan 19, 2015 12:27:06 GMT
He is lovely i didn't see the picture there last night .
I added the photo this morning as the attachment didn't work last night on the iPad app. Thank you for your comments and reassurance I found him using his new cat bed yesterday, which all cat owners will know is a victory!
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Post by spider on Jan 19, 2015 13:45:59 GMT
was just thinking that poor lady must be heart broken having to re home he old friend after 6 years that has to be a very hard thing to do
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Post by mrsteriyaki on Jan 19, 2015 22:15:09 GMT
was just thinking that poor lady must be heart broken having to re home he old friend after 6 years that has to be a very hard thing to do Yes she was very upset, I'm not 100% convinced she had to re home him, but we'd rather he come to a loving home than not.
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Post by spider on Jan 19, 2015 22:52:30 GMT
that is also a good point i am just back home from feeding a few cat in our town that people seem to have dumped they are well and seem in good health but its not proper that they should have to live on what people put out for them these are like my cat they need a warm place to sleep someone to mind them but they not that lucky yet but they are well fed i can tell that
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 12:11:29 GMT
Whoops just seen this! Agree with lotsofcats - he's probably used to a quiet house so was spooked a little by that party My own girl Chilli is very easily spooked by new things or too much noise and it's taken a few months for her to completely relax but now she's like a completely changed cat It just takes time, patience (and a few treats ) with some cats but your boy sounds like he won't take TOO long, seeing as he does come to you for cuddles. Perhaps he's just taking his time getting the lie of the land in his new house too and once he's sussed it out his confidence will build. After 6 years in his previous home it WILL be a huge shock to him but cats ARE amazingly adaptable and he will, I am sure, soon come to realise that his new Mum & Dad are really rather ok actually The main thing is to just give him his space and let him suss everything out at HIS pace. I've had over 12 oldie fosters in the past six years and when I bring them home I show them where the litter tray is, the food & water and just leave them to it! Cats like to sit and watch and work things out for themselves and if you just give them the space to do that the rewards are AMAZING....the first time Chilli climbed into my lap...or even now whenever she purrs and head rubs me....well, it's just priceless And don't worry about his age - he's still a baby compared to some I've had who have been 16+ yet have settled in within weeks I've had Hattie since October and now she follows us everywhere and chatters constantly to us Bet you six months from now Zizou (love that name!) will be all settled in as though he'd been with you from birth! Oh....and feliway? I've used it in the past but, like you, am not really convinced it makes much difference I prefer to give space, time and catnip toys! There's a pet shop close to where I live who sell the most basic catnip mice for £1.79 but every cat I've had has gone nuts for them....yet ignored more expensive ones! And another toy I swear by is one found on ebay - I'm currently onto my third one (1st one lasted years, 2nd was thrown away after my leukaemic boy George passed away) and Lily & Chilli love it! Only paid £3.50 as well!!! Bargain!!! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PROBABLY-THE-BEST-CATNIP-CAT-TOY-IN-THE-WORLD-WIGGLY-WAGGLER-handmade-/380437968543
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Post by tonib on Jan 21, 2015 19:19:10 GMT
Welcome to the forum mrsteriyaki what a lovely looking cat you now have I'm Toni with 4 rescue cats aged between 5 & 15. As the others have said its still early days & Zizou was probably startled/scared by the loud noise. I'm sure he'll soon settle inn his own time - don't force it. We don't get many visitors & when we do (including the window cleaner) 2 of our cats tend to vacate the premises (they're allowed out whenever they want) & our eldest tends to vanish but may reappear. The youngest is friendly with most people! The one we've had the longest (Roman aged 10) was a friendly cat with people (especially outside) when we first got him in 2007 but the lack of human company (other than us) has made him more wary. However they will all socialise with us but tend to have their own places they spend their time - partly I think due to our latest addition (2012) who isn't their favourite member of the family (a long story). We use Feliway & Pet Remedy diffusers around the house - different cats react better to one or the other. However I note that you have only tried Feliway upstairs, I would be inclined to try one (or Pet Remedy) downstairs in the room you'd like him to be relaxed in (living-room? ). Also having places that he hide in or get high up on - a cat climber and/or boxes might be an idea. Toys are a good idea, we swear by the Yeowww catnip toys. madaboutcatsthepetextraordinariumpetplanetamazonor try your local petshop. Although some cats don't react to catnip & valerain based ones can work. Those toys look good @gillykat - thanks for the link. Hope all goes well, please let us know how you get on & of course more photos are always enjoyed here Don't hesitate to ask for more info/help.
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Post by mrsteriyaki on Jan 22, 2015 19:45:34 GMT
Thank you everyone, He is coming round slowly and spends more time in his bed rather than under our bed. He also comes out in the morning before work. Last night he came downstairs and sat with my husband and his parents so that's good! Z's new favourite nap spot!
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Post by tonib on Jan 23, 2015 2:14:57 GMT
That is good news & what a lovely photo - he's definitely found himself a comfortable warm spot
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Post by lotsofcats on Jan 23, 2015 9:29:48 GMT
Brilliant news that Zizou is coming round. What a lovely photo of him.
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