Expert: Jessica - 8/16/2009

Question
I just moved into my new apartment and my cat has been under my bed for 2 days now,and she won't come out.She let's me carry her around but as soon as I put her down she runs back under the bed.What can I do to help her adjust to our new home?

Answer
Hi Davon.  Definitely keep her in one room for now, with the door closed so she knows the no possible predators could be coming in.  Cats feel safest in small, enclosed areas, so a small room such as a den or possibly even a bathroom to start out with is plenty of room for a cat who is adjusting to a new home.  However, if she seems most comfortable with the bedroom, you can allow her to stay in there with food, water and litter.  If possible, the lighting should be somewhat dim, as this is calming to cats.  If you have overhead lighting, you might consider using a lamp at night for the time being, and using light-filtering shades during the day.  There is also evidence that classical or soft new age music can help calm cats.  In fact, there are some music CD's made especially for cats.  You may wish to leave a radio in the room for your kitty softly playing on a classical station or playing some classical CD's.

I also highly recommend a product called Feliway.  You can buy a spray bottle and spritz it on her bedding and in the areas where she spends most of her time several times a day, or you can buy a plug-in diffuser, which will probably be more effective.  I use the product at all times in my own home to reduce anxiety levels, and I feel it's really a must-have for moves, vet visits or the introductions of new pets or people into the home, etc.  You can learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com  It's available at most pet stores.  To restock, you can find it online (amazon.com seems to be the least expensive that I have found).

Try to lure her out from under the bed each day by feeding her extra special treats such as chicken breast or small bites of tuna.  Also see if she'll respond to any type of play.  Catnip-treated toy mice or pillows, ribbon or feather wands, and laser pointers can be tempting reasons for a cat to come out of hiding.

After about a week, begin leaving the door open a crack, and see if she starts peeking out.  She should start showing some healthy curiosity in about a week or two, once she has ensured that this one room is fully safe.  She will likely venture out to explore the rest of the home to make sure that it is safe as well, retreating to the bedroom when she becomes insecure.  Allow her access to this safe haven during this time.  It may take a few weeks, but once she realizes that the entire area is free of dangers, she should be well adjusted once again.

Best wishes to you both!

Jessica