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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Adopted Cat Will Not Associate and Explore
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Question
Hi, I am an expert here under the category of Jewelry, Gems and Minerals and know some questions are difficult to understand. I will try to be clear.
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We adopted a spayed blue female cat "off the front porch" after she had been here several days in very cold, snowy and wet wether. She is estimated close to 1 year old. We took her to the vets for exam, shots, spay, etc. The vet found out she was already spayed. Still, there was no home for her and no one advertising or searching. She has been here about 3 weeks.
We have 4 other indoor cats, all over 12 years but one.
This gentle kitty will not leave the kitchen and the food bowls. She will however move a very short distance to a sofa which she has claimed as hers. Then, she will not leave the sofa.
As far as we can tell, "not leaving" the sofa or kitchen means not going downstairs to the litter boxes. She has made at least two messes and we cannot tell if she has gone downstairs to the litter boxes by herself. We have taken her down there and she will use the litter box. Then, she will not leave downstairs to come up for food.
I fear she may fear the other cats but they do not go after her. Two will eat while she eats and that works out ok. Two will not. The new kitty is the one doing the hissing, wanting to keep the kitchen to herself at times.
I walked toward her when leaving for work and had a large paper in my hand. She reeled away and was fearful of the paper. Otherwise, she is loving and gentle but only one on one and not with any other cats around.
We have to find a way to get her accustomed to the house and to make the trip to the litter boxes and back up stairs. Any suggestions whatsoever? Any help will be appreciated.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
Thomas,
Your new baby is very pretty! What a sweet face!
First I would put up notices where people shop and get gas in the neighborhood. Someone new may have moved in and the cat may have accidently got out. Or someone moved and couldn't find the cat when they did. For my own peace of mind I would put a notice in the paper, and call the Animal Control, and SPCA too. They usually have a lost and found book. Animals that are strays usually are not friendly and/or spayed. It may be someone's child's pet. Did the vet check for a microchip? They are very common now and it would have a clue about her owners.
A new cat should be kept in one room at first to get acclimated. A whole house, with new people, new animals, new routines, etc. can be too overwhelming. She also may not know what steps and/or a basement are and going down into an unknown closed area may be frightening her. She also may have been an only cat and is intimidated by the other cats in the family. It may take her 2 weeks to a month to feel like that is her home. She may also be grieving for her family or other pets.
Temporarily, I would put a litter box and her food and water where she is most comfortable and feels the safest...which sounds like the kitchen. It may not be convenient, but it will help her feel safer and more secure. You don't want her to get used to going potty on the floor because she is scared to venture too far. When she gets brave and feels secure she will investigate the basement on her own. When she feels comfortable going down there and bounding back up, then you can move her litterbox down there too.
You also may want to think ahead about litterboxes with cats that are 12. They can get arthritis at that age and going up and down stairs can become very painful. That can cause them to start having accidents upstairs.
I hope this helps. Let me know how she is doing.
Tabbi
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Tabbi, your answer makes perfect sense and that is tough sometimes...she is a sweetie. We do have a litter box in a bathroom for the eldest cat, knowing how she has difficulty otherwise. Well, fine and excellent objective answer..very quick response. Thanks so very much. Blessings to you. Thomas. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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