I recently did a thread as I had various questions about a cat that my wife fell in love with.

Here's the link to the thread:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=917014

Anyway, after careful consideration we decided to get the cat and he is lovely. He's a black and white short haired cat and is really well behaved.

So far he's eating his food and is using his litter tray. I was worried about hair being everywhere but it's not and he also has not scratched any furniture or the leather sofa.

He also loves being stroked and purrs when you do and then rolls on his back and likes having his belly stroked.

However, I am really concerned about him. Why?

Well basically, he just lies in his basket (which I have to admit does look very comfortable!) or goes to sleep. He doesn't really seem interested in doing anything else. I mean he goes into the kitchen to eat his food and use the litter tray and last night he ventured into the lounge and sat on the sofa for a bit....but that's about it. I'm worried that he's depressed and he looks so sad.

The thing is he was a stray before the cat protection league took him and then he was in a pen for 6 months so i'm worried that he's become institutionalised and doesn't realise that he can wander where he wants in the house and can play with this toys etc. We have left all the doors to the rooms in the house open so he can explore but he just doesn't seem interested. He also doesn't wanna play with the toys or use the stratching post.

Maybe I'm worried about nothing but I like the cat and want him to be happy. Maybe he's still adjusting to living here ... I dunno.

Has anyone got any advice? Has your cat been depressed?

Many thanks in advance.

He's a Cat they don't really do much when they pass the kitten stage. We have a stray cat who's about 6 that we've kind of adopted cos he spends most of his days here, though he does venture off when he feels like it and once he's had his food he'll just lie on the settees and go asleep for hours. I have two younger cats who are one and two and they sleep for ages as well when they're indoors, though they can be inquistive and naughty when they want to be. It might just be that he needs more time to get settled or it might just be his personality.

He might not know how to play. Encouragement helps. I have played with my pussy every day for 18 months.

If he purrs and rolls over for tummy tickles,he is very happy. I would not say he was a depressed pussy.

Cats do sleep a lot.

Why not pick him up,carry him about and show him all the other rooms of the house. In one room leave a cardboard box in it and see what he does. My pussy loves cardboard boxes. It is something to play with,climb into,rip up and sleep in.

String is also popular and so are balls. However mine seldom plays on her own,she has to have a human to excite her senses,then she is running all over the house or in the garden after balls or string.

How old is he?

Chances are he is just adjusting to his new surroundings - make sure you leave all the doors open and he should start to have a nose around?? They sleep alot but cats are also very nosy

As long as he is eating fine, using litter tray OK and has somewhere snug to sleep and access to water he'll be fine!!!

Purring is also a good sign - they do that when they are happy!!

If you are seriously worried call a vet........ You may to do that anyway depending on his age / if he needs injections or to be neutured etc...

He is probably just a bit nervous and still settling in. He will start to explore and be more active when his confidence builds.

But, yes, cats do sleep a lot. They are blessed with the most remarkable physical attributes and abilities and then they just sleep!

Mrs Slocombe - is that you??

Give him time, patience and love. Encourage him to play, but only if he wants to. He just needs to gain trust in you and become accustomed to his new surroundings. Good Luck, I hope your views will soon be reversed and you enjoy the company of the new addition

We had two kittens together - sadly the one brother died in May, the other brother is a lot less active then he used to be but has grown used to being spoilt moggy.

Get some catnip toys and play with him, cats seem to have an irresistible compulsion to chase things on the end of a stick, my cat sleeps 18 odd hours a day, goes outside or sits looking out the window if it's miserable for 3 or so hours and spends the remaining time with me chasing stuff around the house.

Edit - I'd recommend the following toys that work on my cat and my friends cats, others tend to be ignored :

Zebedee Catnip Mouse

Willows Feather Chaser
Last edited by 5th Horseman : 30-10-2008 at 23:12

Firstly, I'm so happy that you've done a marvellous thing and have the cat that your wife fell in love with! Good for you to listen to her judgement.

It takes a time for cats to settle in. Our Treacle kept hiding behind the sofa everytime someone stepped in in the living room and she wasn't too keen about exploring at all. As long as her belly is full and she goes to the toilet then she's happy. But now she loves interacting and isn't so shy and has investigated many things e.g. Hubby's motorbike frame which is in the spare room and my pot purri all over the place!
When we had our deceased sweetie, Poppy, she was just the same!

I think some cats need to feel settled in their surroundings first, like yours obviously is and then they find their feet (paws) to investigate and become part of your family Hope this helps!

I'd say just give him a chance to settle in and let him explore his new surroundings in his own good time.

Once they get past about a year old, the above is pretty much standard cat behaviour.

Thats all most cats do, apart from their mad half-hours every day or so.

I almost spat my drink out reading that, it's so true. Our cat just randomly goes through a period every day or so when he does everything he's not supposed to and then sleeps again.

ours too!!! wakes up, weaves in and out of the blinds, scratches the sofa, leaps up on the worktops, then goes back to basket/bed and falls asleep?? All in the space of about 10-20 minutes!

It could be that his previous owner died, and was someone with whom he bonded. Quite possible he still misses them.

You need to give him time, patience and love.

He sounds like a very happy little cat, but perhaps doesn't know much about playing, and is slowly getting used to his new surroundings. Your house is totally different from the environment he's used to so he's probably just taking it all in...

I'd maybe play with him, as others suggest, and don't worry about him.. cats sleep a lot anyway, and you may find yourself looking back at this time and laughing at your fears as you watch him dance manically around the room !

I should think he just needs a bit of time to get used to his surroundings and realise he's NOT institutionalised. I've had my former stray kitten for a week and a half and she hid for most of the first week but is running round the whole flat like a loon now. Still won't really let me touch her, mind - trying to de-flea her this morning was a joy, she hid in the TV cabinet and every time I tried to grab her at the front she dived out the back and vice versa so I didn't even succeed and now she is angry with me for no reason, gah! But give her a month or so and I reckon she'll be fully rehabilitated.
You just need to be patient (easier than it sounds, I know, I've been worrying about my Missy ever since I got her!).

I feel depression or illness would more manifest in your cat NOT sleeping, having toileting problems etc. My expereince with a rescued cat was much as the post above. She HID a LOT at first - Even if people passed by in the street. She was particularly terrifed of the TV. (Lord knows what her previous "family" was like!). But she wasn't afraid of ME, and was immediately VERY affectionate, albeit guarded. I doubt she had been abused. Just that so many things were outside of her PREVIOUS experience?

Some cats just seem quiet/introverted/well-mannered/whatever, by nature. I guess e.g. being a "stray" is quite a serious business. I suspect a little "naughtiness" will creep in, with confidence and time. AND that "slightly guilty, determined to do it anyway" look.

If you were single, I'd say - Don't forget to TALK to the Cat. As someone who mostly lives alone, this was "news" to me - Until I realised that many cats appreciate this - or at least respond! An excellent excuse to talk to yourself too!

Yep.

I agree with what the 'cat people' above are saying.

He might take MONTHS to come into his own and start playing.

Cats are funny, sensitive gits. That's why I love them.

ps- You'll be worrying even more in about a year when he's dancing on your head at 3am and running round and round the house like

his tail is on fire being 'chased' by an invisible enemy.

how's he doing captinnorth ? any updates ?

Thanks for everyone' advice.
Now here's an update:
We have had Muggleton a week and he's a bit more active than he was. He still sleeps loads and loads but like I say is starting to get a bit more active.
For example, yesterday (Sunday) after sleeping virtually all day, he suddenly got lively at 11pm and wanted to play. So we've got this stick with elastic and a long feather on the end and he loved chasing it and trying to grab it.
Then he wouldn't go to bed! eventually after the missus put him in his basket in the dining room the third time, he stayed put!
This morning, he was sat on the window sill in the dining room and also on the table. No seen him do that before.
When I got home from work this evening, he was sitting on the dining room window sill and he played again with the feather. Then at half 6 tonight, he discovered the bay windows in the living room and was walking along the window sill, looking at the curtains and the cars going by. So he's quite inquisitive and thinking about it he has done a lot today.
Surprise, surpise he's having a kip now but he still is eating and loves being fuss and thankfully no poos except in litter tray.

Muggleton - what a great name! Love it!

You don't have to 'put cats to bed'! I'm surprised he did stay put. Cats like being active during the night so just go to bed yourselves and leave him to his own devices. If you end up getting a cat flap so he can come and go, he'll probably go out a lot at night anyway.

Cats dont 'go to bed' lol! they don't do as they're told normally. Mainly as they don't care what you want them to do

Fixed that for ya.