How to get my shy feral kitten out from under bed & use litter box?

Start by coaxing Shunu out from under the bed with a bit strong smelling food - such as canned tuna or chicken. Cats are often fairly responsive to smelly foods and warming up these foods slightly may make the odor more prominent. Once she comes out, try to block off this area so that she cannot go back. Young kittens should be confined to a large crate or small, safe room when they are not directly supervised, as they tend to get into trouble. Kittens also require a lot of sleep throughout the day, so she may have been simply seeking a quiet place to rest. If Shunu seems overly lethargic or is not eating or drinking normally, she should be examined by her vet. I hope that all goes well!

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!

Poor BB! I would recommend putting his litter box, food and water bowls, etc. in the room with the bed and leaving him alone with the door closed for now. He will eventually come out to eat, drink, and use the bathroom when things are quiet and he feels comfortable - many cats wait until nighttime when everyone is asleep to do this. A Feliway pheromone diffuser in the room may also help. It may take a week or two for him to be comfortable enough to come out from under the bed for more than a moment or two, so I would be patient for now and give him time to adjust. Once he's acting normal again, you can transition his food and water bowls, litter box, etc. to wherever you would like them to be in the long term :)

Best let her settle in. Imagine going to a new place that smells different, has different sounds, without mommy aand the siblings. This is terribly scary. So best let her hide, put food and water in the bedroom where she is. She will likely come out at night to eat and drink and go to the litter box. She will get more courageous every day. If you manage to catch her outside of the hiding place after a few days, you can try to pick her up and hold her quietly and pet her provided she does not panic. But time will help...over time she will feel secure and come to you. Talk to her when you enter the room, Say her name and don't make scary noises. She will get used to you not being someone who wants to eat her.. Time and patience.

I don't know the set-up in your house but my guess is that he is scared of something which is why doesn't want to come out from under the bed. Do you have a dog or other cat that harasses him? Have you tried putting the litter box under the bed with him? You may need to get a more shallow, smaller box to do this. If there is a dog that is bothering him then you need to give him a "safe space" which sounds like all you have is your bedroom to do this in. What I mean by a safe space is to put a baby gate up so your dog cannot get in the room but leave enough room under the gate so the cat can go out of the room if he wants. In the room you need to have Scruff's food, water and litter box. Once he realizes he is safe he should start coming out more. After he seems comfortable in your room you can start slowly trying to integrate him into the rest of the house and with the rest of the pets. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If this was a semi feral cat it may take many months to years for it to come out and be social. Some cats enjoy being pet when they are eating, and some don’t like to be handled at all. She needs to be patient and not push. Gradually the cat will feel more secure and confident and Hopefully will want to be around people. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! My guess is that Claire is just very scared in her new home and needs time to get comfortable. Put a littler box and food near the bed and close the door. Go in multiple times per day to sit with her. She will get more comfortable with time. Good luck!