My new cat is hiding after adoption. How to help her adjust?

Moving into a new home can be very stressful for kittens - since she has only been with you for 4-5 days, it's likely that she's still adjusting and getting settled. It will take time for her to feel safe and comfortable in your home, so I would be patient for now and give her plenty of time to adjust. You can try using Feliway pheromone diffusers around the house to help make her feel more at-ease, as well as a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure if she seems anxious.

Poor Pepper. She's had a lot of changes in her short life. It is a very good sign that she is comfortable being held and that she coming out to eat and use the litter box. I would be patient and allow her some safe places that are quiet without other cats. Spending a full 2 months with their mom and siblings is ideas for puppies and kittens, but they can still be well socialized if they were taken away earlier than that. I suspect that she will just need more time to adjust if she is comfortable being held on a lap. One thing that may help is a Feliway Diffuser (https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected). Put it in the place that Pepper likes to hide and hopefully it will help her calm down faster and give her a little more confidence. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Offer her a carboard box or a cat condo with a hiding place in it. It may entice her from under the bed. That she is coming out to sit with you is a good sign and I think, as she settles in to her new home, she will come out more and more. If you can entice her from under the bed and then limit her access to that room it may force her to seek a new hiding place of your choosing, but don't make a big deal out of it or it may make her want to hide more. Take your time and be patient, it may take some time for her to acclimate and get braver. She may be timid by nature. Move her food out of that room if it is practical to do so so that she needs to come out to eat. Even if no one is awake when she comes out to eat, it will still give her a chance to explore while everything is calm. Provide her with plenty of toys and see if she likes treats, you can use these to entice her out and reward her for getting braver. Make sure she has plenty of places to hide around the house, places to scratch and perch to look out the window. I had a very timid cat that hide for weeks when we moved but she eventually came out of her shell and ended up being even more playful and social that she had ever been before so it can be done. Good luck with your new friend!

I'm sorry to hear that Nala is having a hard time with the introduction of a new kitten. It certainly sounds like she is experiencing some anxiety as a result of having a new kitten added to her household. Since it sounds like you have done a good job of introducing Simba gradually and Nala is still not tolerating him, you might need to find some ways to decrease her stress. One option for decreasing stress is to add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month and may be beneficial for both cats. 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 specifically for cats ( http://throughadogsear.com/tace/through-a-cats-ear-1-music-for-calming/ ). If Nala continues to hide in your bedroom, it may be time to take her to your veterinarian for a physical exam and discussion about possible anti-anxiety medication short-term. Hopefully if you can get her more comfortable around Simba, they can have a good relationship, but it commonly takes some time. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Yes, it may take a day or two for her to relax. I recommend confining her to a room or two that is quiet with her food water and litter. Leave her alone overnight so she can have privacy and minimal stress. Giving some wet food may encourage her to eat. You can spend some time in her place several times during the day but I’d keep her in there until she’s eating and using the litter box. Then you can gradually introduce her to the rest of the house and people. Be patient and she should settle in soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Puma.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Sheeba has been unwell since arriving home. It is possible her behaviour is related to stress and anxiety. However, it could also be related to a medical problem. Whatever the cause, when a cat does not eat or drink for several days, this can lead to dehydration, weakness, and secondary liver problems, especially for a kitten. Because of this, I would recommend taking Sheeba to the vet within the next 24 hours. They can perform a full physical exam and run some tests to rule out a medical issue. They can also provide supportive medications to improve her hydration, appetite, and comfort. If the vet confirms she is in good physical health, you can try using Feliway, a feline pheromone spray designed to reduce stress in cats. Also ensure she has easy access to food and water in the place where she is hiding. You can gradually try interacting with her more and more, through offering treats, and speaking to her softly and gently. With time, she should start to open up and learn to trust you and be comfortable in her environment. I hope this helps, and that Sheeba feels better soon!

Congrats on your new kitten! Moving to a new home is very stressful, and adding on flying to this new home, and Adelaide will be very stressed. It will take her a couple of days to get used to her new home. She may be coming out at night when you are asleep, and I would make sure to leave out food and water at all times for her to have when she decides to come out. I would leave her be for now, don't try to get her to come out to you, she will come out in her own time. Leave out some boiled white meat chicken (no bones) or you can soak her kitten food in tuna juice to tempt her to eat. When you do see her moving around, don't make sudden movements towards her, or make a big deal of it. Ignore her until she comes to you, and gently give her pets and praise. Be patient, it will take time for her to adjust, but she will get used to her new home :-)