[KittyChick]

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with adopting a cat from a rescue centre?

Yesterday we adopted a gorgeous cat called Marty who was found as a kitten, dumped in a shed. He is now two years old and had been living with a foster carer for the last 18 months.

Marty isn't used to much human contact and is spending all of his time hiding under the sofa. He did eat some food over night and has used his litter tray.

I've tried to tempt him out from under the sofa with pilchards, cat nip toys, string etc, but nothing has worked.

I just really wondered if anyone had any advice? Should we just leave him and wait for him to come to us? Or should we try to touch him?

I should add that I have put him in the living room in the annexe and I visit him every hour or so.

[ejm]

Congratulations!!.............and welcome to the forum

I would just leave him at the moment. He will come round in his own time. It is a major upheaval for him and he is bound to be a little strange.

As long as he is eating and toileting, I would say you have nothing to be worried about and I am sure that he will be on your lap getting stroked in no time.

[Flossychick]

I got an adopted cat a couple of years ago. He was quiet for the first few days then he settled into life with us. It took me a fair while to get him to play with any toys. His history was he was found wandering into a restaurant as a kitten and lived at the rescue centre for 8 months. He didn´t know what play was, being a feral cat. However, within a few months he was playing and hanging off our jumpers in no time. Just give the cat some time, you are doing a great job.

[Lippincote]

I've adopted a few rescues, one of whom was semi-feral and very timid (she was 6 months old). She hid behind the sofa in the lounge, and for a few days would not come out at all when we were around. But at night she came out and ate the food we left and used the litter tray, and we could hear her running around squealing happily with her toys

It took several days before she would accept our company and approach us.

OP I know you're doing this for the best reasons - but please stop trying to coax him out by poking toys and food at him! He is hiding to keep away from you, and if you pursue him in his hiding place he will feel threatened. Just completely ignore him (aside from leaving him food and litter obviously)

When he does come out, avoid looking him straight in the eye as he will interpret that as a threat - look to the side of him. Also avoid looming over him, get down on the floor so you're the same level.

While he is hiding you could try sitting on the floor in the room totally ignoring him, reading a book or watching the tv, and you may find that in time he comes out to investigate. If he doesn't, leave him be - and if he does, just talk to him gently, hold out your hand for him to sniff, and let him approach you.

I know it's frustrating but best to take it at HIS speed, so he feels comfortable.

As he is not used to human company you may find he is always nervous of humans and does not enjoy much handling. My cat is now 15 and is still a bit phobic, she likes to be stroked and brushed but hates to be picked up and will never sit on a lap. She is fine with me as I know how to approach her in a non-scary way, but my OH has never learned

[lightonmyfeet]

Hello

I can only agree with all previous helpful comments. Give him time, don't worry and he will soon realise how lucky he is and start to trust you and his environment. Create some hidey-holes for him so that he can come out from under the sofa and still run for cover somewhere.

I adopted 2 adults, a boy and a girl, both 6. He was fine, settled in almost straight away, but the girl took much longer (a month). During this time I gave her what she needed, tried not to stress out or force the pace. I did get upset though and said things like "I am not getting much from this", but she did come round, felt comfortable, and now won't leave me alone.

Good luck I am sure this is the start of a great friendship, it just doesn't feel like that now.

[KittyChick]

Thank you so much for all you advice. I spent an hour just sitting in the room with the TV on low. I totally ignored him and poured some cat milk in a saucer as I left the room. I peeked through the window about 10 minutes later and saw him enjoying his milk

I guess I just have to be patient. It's so hard though as he is so cute I just want to cuddle him

I'll keep you updated on his progress. Thank you all again x

[radioman2]

Originally Posted by KittyChick

Thank you so much for all you advice. I spent an hour just sitting in the room with the TV on low. I totally ignored him and poured some cat milk in a saucer as I left the room. I peeked through the window about 10 minutes later and saw him enjoying his milk

I guess I just have to be patient. It's so hard though as he is so cute I just want to cuddle him

I'll keep you updated on his progress. Thank you all again x

I work in a large rehoming centre that deals with hundreds of cats and dogs.The large majority of cats that are nervous and hide simply need time to get used you.You let them come to you and don't force yourself on them and they soon become curious about the mysterious visitor(you)and often they'll approach you and start sniffing you and before you know it you'll be stroking them and they'll be getting used to you and your life long relationship has begun.

[hurrikane313]

Its going to take some time for him to settle usually 3 days to a week. And he will be a little shy for a while after that but will soon be coming to you for love and wanting to play. Just remember to keep him inside for a month or so.

[Lippincote]

Originally Posted by KittyChick

Thank you so much for all you advice. I spent an hour just sitting in the room with the TV on low. I totally ignored him and poured some cat milk in a saucer as I left the room. I peeked through the window about 10 minutes later and saw him enjoying his milk

I guess I just have to be patient. It's so hard though as he is so cute I just want to cuddle him

I'll keep you updated on his progress. Thank you all again x

I know exactly what you mean - I felt the same, as soon as my cat arrived I wanted to cuddle her and generally get to know her. But you've got years ahead of you to do that It sounds as if he is already becoming a bit braver, and in time he will come to trust you. Look forward to some updates

[charliesugar]

I would recommend buying a Feliway plug in for the room the cat is in.
http://www.vet-medic.com/pd_Feliway+...FdFX4Qod2QEnHQ

[KittyChick]

I thought I'd give a quick update. Marty is definitely getting braver. We all sat in the room with him yesterday, had our dinner in there and watched TV for a little while. He hid under the sofa the whole time, but as soon as we left the room he came out and was looking at us through the window.

Thanks for all the advice, I'll get him a feliway plug in diffuser today.

When he has settled in a bit more I'll take some photos of him and post them on here.

[Roooty]

Sounds like it's all going swimmingly. You've always got to work at the cat's pace, even it it's tempting to push things.

Although my rescue cat settled in immediately, it took a long time for him to become a complete and utter cuddle cat. He came from a "broken home" as the saying goes, so there's no telling what traumas he'd been privy to.

We are now inseparable.