New cat, first night worries

[Millys Mum]

Any news on Max?

[Pooky]

What a wonderful story Pooky and Alfie is a dreamboat 

Thanks 

He plays on that to be honest! 

[Rosella moggy]

What a wonderful story Pooky and Alfie is a dreamboat 

[Pooky]

Alfie is my first cat and I too was very anxious about his behaviour when I first got him.

He wouldn't come out of his carry-case for the first 6 hours or so (though he did accept a treat).

When he finally came out he accepted some food and water and seemed happy enough to be stroked, but at the slightest noise he disappeared behind the curtain and had to be gently coaxed out.

My major worry was that he did not go to the toilet for over 24 hours. I was beside myself with worry and ended up phoning an emergency line for a local vet. On the Vet's advice I brought him in, knowing that it was going to cost £100 just for them to see him (this was a Sunday).  To my horror she basically told me that she reckoned he probably suffered from blocked bladder syndrome and whoever had handed him in to the rescue centre had "pulled a fast one - and she'd seen it so many times before". She asked it I was "terribly attached to him?" and suggested that I take him back to the rescue centre in the morning. Also suggested that I would be better off with a female cat!

I was devastated! I'd only had him a day and yet I was hurting like the vet had told me my cat of 20 years had to be put to sleep.

Anyway,  on returning to my house, he hopped into the litterbox and 'let it all out' so to speak and hasn't looked back since!

That scared little scrawny cat is now the most chilled, relaxed moggy you could meet. You could set off a bomb next to him and he'd barely blink!

 

[alisonandarchie]

Hope all went well during the night and he is getting used to his new surroundings

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Yes I would take the cover off cos that maybe stopping from using the tray.

My Misa spent about 4 weeks under the recliner, he would pop out to eat etc and then go back underneath. He loved being stroked but his safe place was under that recliner.

He is enormous but managed to squeeze through about a 3 inch gap.....sigh

I am sure that Buttons will be fine, just give him time 

[Button]

I can't get pics of Max because he's still under the sofa 

It's a covered litter box I have, so I was thinking that I would take the lid off later incase he comes out tonight to eat etc. 

Thanks for the advice 

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

It wont be long before hes running around playing,

Too true! When mine moved in, it took just days before they thought they ruled the house! Let us know the progress though

[Millys Mum]

It wont be long before hes running around playing, its very stressful for them when they lose their home, get fostered and then in their minds dumped again in another strange place.
Whats his name? And have you any pics?

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

The cardboard box is definately a good idea. When people take cats from us we sually advise to keep them in their 'safe room' for the first couple of days and let them explore the rest of the house when they feel confident enough. It certainly isn't cruel to limit him to the lower floor- if anything, it's sensible until he's feeling more at home.

We don't have our cats in the bedroom with us because we wouldn't get any sleep at all as they like to play at night but they have each other to wrestle with and are quite hapy with that. Mine all have cat beds ut much prefer the sofa and if your new baby has selected a sofa then that's likely to be where he keeps returning to so don't feel bad, it will take time for him to settle. Very early days.

As far as the nighttime goes, noone can tell you what to do but I will tell you that I, along with Cats protection would advise keeping your cat in at night. The majority of RTAs happen at night and so do the majority of thefts. Thefts can be for a variety of reasons, eg. someone likes the look of your cat or thinks they can sell it but also for even more sinister reasons, eg. fur and experiments- sadly, it does happen. You may find kitty takes a while to adjust but with lots of stimulation and an established routine, he will cope!

[Mark]

A cardboard box is a good one so they have somewhere to hide. If you can spend some time with him in the room without bothering him, he will eventually come to you. I did this with my Kylie. She kept going back to her box but by the second night, she was purring next to me on the bed  

I have never restricted cats from bedrooms so can't advise there. Most cats settle down and sleep. Caroline, one of our fosterers often lets them sleep on her little boy's bed and no problems there. The cats love it and so does he  

I remember having the cardboard box at the far end of the living room with me sitting on the sofa. Every now and then, her little head would pop up 

[Dawn F]

you need to give him a bit of time, he will come out when he's ready, they often don't go to the loo for a while in a new home because they are scared, one of mine didn't use the tray for 24 hours when I got her home - a lot of people wouldn't recommend him going out at night anyway as that is when most accidents seem to happen but keeping him downstairs doesn't sound cruel at all

[Button]

Hi, just got delivery of a beautiful 10 month old boy cat from the cat protection.

He's been here for about 3 hours and hasn't moved from under the sofa in the conservatory.  I've put food out for him, one of those little treat things and water.  I haven't been able to show him the cat litter box because he won't come out.

Is there something I should do?

Also, he's used to being out all night.  But obviously I can't do that just now.  So what should I expect.  I was planning to close the kitchen door so he is confined to three rooms and can't get upstairs.  Is that cruel?  I just don't want him waking the kids with noise etc.

Any tips gratefully received