/an/ - Animals & Nature » Thread #986500

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Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 01:09:00 No.986500 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By:

Hello, /an/. I just brought home a new kitten last night around 8pm. He is about 11 weeks old and has been expectantly terrified since then, spending the entire night through to today hiding under a recliner in a spare room.

I set all his necessities in there - litter, towel from his previous owner, food and water near his hiding spot, but he hasn't eaten or drank a thing since I brought him home. While he's in the room, he quietly mews, but as soon as I enter, he stops making sound.

Does anyone have any advice for a new kitten owner? I expected all of this to happen, but I'm also worried that he may not eat/drink enough.

I wish cats were more like dogs. Puppies just don't give a fuck when they're in a new place.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 01:25:00 No.986507 Report

Quoted By:

Cats are unpredictable, but I suggest you go someplace in the room where the kitten can't see you directly and settle down quietly to read (or do something else you can do in the room without making noise that could scare him). This will give the kitten an opportunity to figure out exactly what it's sharing the home with. In time he will approach you. Do not force the kitten into anything, he will do things at his own pace.

You shouldn't worry about it eating or drinking. A cat will not let itself starve, even if right now it means only eating when you're away. Cats don't generally drink much, nor do they need to drink if they get enough moisture from their food. Unless you are feeding him nothing but dry kibble, you probably don't need to worry about his drinking.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 01:26:00 No.986508 Report

Quoted By:

It might take a few days or a week until he settles down and feels comfortable in these new surroundings. It's nothing unusual about it at all. My recommendation is to just be patient.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 01:33:00 No.986515 Report

Quoted By: >>986528

You can try to take it away from its hiding. And just pet it gently and calmly. Try to play with it, use ropes and stuffed dolls or something. I did the same when I first introduced a kitten to my house. It was scared and hide under my couch for a bit, until I forced it out and played with it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 01:53:00 No.986528 Report

Quoted By:

>>986515
I wouldn't recommend it. It may work with some cats, but if it doesn't, it will give the kitten a bad first impression of you, and that may take a lot of time and effort to change. Generally it's better to let the kitten take the initiative. It's feeling threatened right now and approaching it before it's ready for any sort of closeness risks stressing it more.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 01:58:00 No.986531 Report

Quoted By:

I ended up putting some wet food on a paper plate and sliding it under the recliner. When I pulled the plate out just now, the food was partially eaten. So that's a relief. I just hope it's not so frightened that it won't walk across the room to use the litter pan.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 01 May 2011 02:38:00 No.986543 Report

Quoted By:

Yes.

Set all his food, water, and litter in the bathroom along with bedding and something that smells familiar to him.

You will need to keep him in the bathroom for a day or two. He will get comfortable to the smaller space than the entirety of your house.

After a day or two, leave door ajar and he will explore on his own.

Remember lots of petting, and soft talking to it will help!

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