My cat lived in a shelter for 10 months. How will he adjust?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats, like people, have different personalities; some are very sociable and always want to cuddle, while others can be more reserved and independent. It may be partly personality contributing to his behavior, as well as adjusting to his new environment. A pheromone collar (they can be found on amazon, such as nurturecalm) may be a good option instead of feliway spray, as it is a continuous release for a full month. While the response is variable among cats, it is definitely something I would recommend giving a try. Additionally, if there is a type of treat that Vin really enjoys, I would recommend putting some down by you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV, etc. When he comes to eat them, don't force an interaction, but allow him to nibble on them and then decide where he wants to go. Over time, they can be moved closer and closer to you to encourage him to be more comfortable in close proximity. When he seems playful, play with him with a toy, etc and then allow him to leave when he is done. If he is on a feeding schedule, get his attention by opening a can or shaking food into his bowl, allow him to stand next to you and have a short interaction before you set it down. If he still seems uncomfortable after these suggestions, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear that Tippy is having a hard time adjusting. I would recommend a couple of things. I would try to decrease stress as much as possible. That may mean closing the door to the room that Tippy is in during the day to give her a "safe" place to be. You could also add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water. You could also consider calming music specially for cats ( http://throughadogsear.com/tace/through-a-cats-ear-1-music-for-calming/ ). But Tippy may just need more time, so don't rush things. I would leave her food in her "safe" area and just give her time. I know it seems like 6 weeks is a long time, but hopefully some additional calming techniques will help. If they do not help, you can always consider discussing an anti-anxiety medication with your veterinarian. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Congratulations on your new kitten! Sometimes it takes a while to gain their trust. Try to get him to play as this will help him to bond with you. Make sure to put the toys away after the play session so that they remain fresh in his mind and always associated with you. Sit quietly near him at mealtime and gradually work up to petting him or hand feeding him. Feliway does help and I recommend to use this product but it will not alter his behavior on its own. Make sure to provide an area for climbing such as a tall cat tree or shelves as this will help to satisfy his natural instinct and decrease stress. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend you move in first and get used to the new place before you get the cat. This will help bring everything inside before getting the cat as cats tend to get very stressed when there is a lot of movement or noise in their in new environments. Perhaps wait 1-2 months before you get a cat. Good luck and have a great day!

If it has only been a few days since moving into the new house, I would give them some time to adjust. It can take up to two weeks for animals to feel comfortable in a new home. If after another week they are not adjusting I would talk with your veterinarian about anxiety medication for them. I would also make sure both cats are getting a lot of attention, play time, have enough litter boxes and have places they feel comfortable in. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

All feral cats are going to be different and it may take weeks to months for Ghost to acclimate to her new environment and allow you to touch her. She may never be comfortable with you petting her. If it were me, I would give 3 months and if she is still apprehensive you can make the decision to let her back out in the backyard at that point. I hope this helps and hope she acclimates soon! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be glad to help you further! You can also look into the Feliway products to make her environment more appeasing / relaxing. Feliway can be found online or at your local PetCo, also known as Comfort Zone.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I would ask your Veterinarian for an oral sedative for you to give 2 hours before travel. I would use the Feliway spray in his carriage. Once you arrive at your new home, he should be kept in a room by himself away from the other animals for a week then use a baby gate at the door for the him to see and greet the other cat and dog. Do that for a week, then remove the gate. be sure he has access to this room to run away if he needs to. This room can be your bedroom. Use the Feliway diffuser in this room. If there is aggression between the cats use the Feliway Multicat I wish you the best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37240 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37242