|
|
Post by tracyb1960 on Feb 22, 2014 16:12:41 GMT
Hi everyone my name is tracy and i am the proud lady that lives with a 4 year old moggy called Misty. I have had her for about 6 weeks and she is very timid. I would like a bit of advice please, Misty will only come out from under the bed at night, this alone is good progress as when i first had her she didn't come out at for a week hardly ate or drank. But with patience, talking to her and reading to her she now comes out and loves being fussed petted she has even started to let me groom her for a few minutes. However she will only explore my large flat if i am in bed in the bedroom as soon as i make a sound to see what she is doing, she bolts back under the bed, am i doing anything wrong or is there anything else i can do except persevere and continue to be patient.
|
|
|
|
Post by scallywag on Feb 22, 2014 16:22:35 GMT
Hi tracyb1960 welcome to the forum. Sorry only here to welcome you, no experience with cats but someone will be along with lots of advice soon, they usually do Hope you enjoy it on here reading all the antics our pets get up to along with all the usual pet related topics. Whats her background before you got her, do you know ?  |
|
|
|
Post by tonib on Feb 22, 2014 22:27:37 GMT
Welcome to the forum tracyb1960, hope you enjoy it here. I'm Toni with 4 rescue cats aged between 4 & 14 Well done in rehoming Misty. What's her background do you know? I've not had too much experience of timid cats but I would let her take things at her own rate. Make sure everything is safe in your flat & let her explore on her own. She obviously feels safe when hidden away. Under your bed is an obvious place but are there any other places in your flat that she might like or can you make some, especially at different heights as some cats feel safe up high others hidden at ground level, that might tempt her to feel safe elsewhere. You're doing the right thing by basically letting her get used to you at her own pace, its basically a case of patience. I've only been a cat owner for around 10 years & the first 3 years we were adopted by a local cat so have only really brought cats into our home since October 2007 so not a lot of experience. However I've learnt a lot from members of this forum & its predecessor since I joined in September 2011 & I'm still learning I'm sure there will be others who may well be able to give you more help |
|
|
|
Post by smilesbetter on Feb 22, 2014 23:37:51 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I adopted two adult cats (one temporarily) last year so I know exactly what it is like!
The first one, Carlotta, was extremely timid and spent most of her first week under the couch. I didn't disturb her hiding place and sat with her regularly every day so that she began to trust me and eventually, with the living room door closed and me sitting on the ground next to the couch, she would slowly begin to sniff around the room as long as I stayed put. Eventually I could shuffle across the floor, still sitting, to the middle of the room, and she'd look around the whole room often coming to check in with me as she did.
I think it's important to stay on the ground when you're encouraging her out with you in the room, remember how huge humans are compared to cats. It's scary for them to have a human reaching down at them. Better if you're lying down at first and then change to a sitting position as she gets used to you.
Eventually she'll start coming our while you're sitting on the couch or chair or something and not focusing on her. When she does, offer your hand slowly for her to sniff and if she rubs her face on your hand you can gently stroke her, if not just let her sniff and go about her own business.
It took Carlotta a few months to settle in what seemed like properly, although every month since she gets a little braver and only in the last two months (I've got her last May so it's been less than a year) has her full personality truly come out. It's different with each cat, but if you spend time with her every day and are quiet and respectful when she comes out and you're in the room then eventually she'll start coming out of her shell.
Also, when you feed her you should sit with her for each meal (unless she's a grazer and you leave the food out all day), that way she'll begin to trust you and associate you with very positive things. Don't reach out to her or touch her, just let her eat in peace. As she gets more confident you could try standing up slowly as she eats, she might run off and hide at first, but with each attempt she'll get a bit better, until you're fully standing and she's happily eating at your feet. Then you can start walking around as she eats so she can see that when you get up and move, you aren't going to grab her or anything.
It will take a while but it's totally worth it! Adopting adult cats is so rewarding so long as you put in the time at the beginning and remember that to her, you are a huge terrifying thing that wants to grab her and touch her and stand on her all the time (even if you give her no reason to think so), she needs time to get used to you and also her new territory.
Also, she'll be a lot more comfortable with you in a room once she's got used to a room and scouted out plenty of hiding places and how best to get to them (and believe me, they practice!). If there isn't much places to hide in a room, she'll feel quite vulnerable.
|
|
|
|
Post by smilesbetter on Feb 22, 2014 23:47:45 GMT
Also (sorry, writing loads here!), you might wanna try regularly lying on your stomach or side and reaching your hand out to her for her to sniff. If you are able to actually reach her, don't, give her some distance so she can choose to come sniff you as you don't want to make her hiding place feel unsafe. Just hold out your hand at a small distance from her and talk to her reassuringly in a soft voice. Over time she'll come out with you still lying on the ground and sniff around you. You can try offering her small pieces of food in the same way, first by chucking it between you and her, then putting it nearer your hand until it's on your flat hand.
Slowly but surely, things like this can help a cat to really bond with and trust you. Timid cats are a lot slower, the cat we're looking after for a while LOVES people so she came for attention on the first day and was out exploring with me in the room on the next. It depends on the cat haha.
Looking forward to hearing how this progresses and about her personality as she slowly begins to let you get to know her. My previously very timid cat is now a totally bossy boots who always runs to meet me when I come to the door, she's gotten even more confident than the cat that only took a few days to settle in!
|
|
|
|
Post by smilesbetter on Feb 22, 2014 23:50:54 GMT
Oh, and you might wanna confine her to one or two rooms till she gets used to them and you. A whole open house is quite intimidating in itself and that way, if she's confined to your bedroom and you are obviously sleeping there, she'll be more interested in you and what you're doing as she'll quickly get used to the room.
Sorry, on the app so I can't see your message as I type and keep going off on a tangent and forgetting what I was going to say haha!
|
|
