where is my cat !

[frodo1]

I got a female cat that is about 7 years old three weeks ago. We have probably seen this cat all of ten minutes since then. It'll be fine one day but everything under the sun ... every noise ... every sudden movement scares it. It constantly hides and I do mean constantly. How long do cats take to adjust to new homes ?

[tltrull]

Really depends on the cat and how socialized it was before you got it. I have a cat who wont come out around strangers at all, it could take some time.

[bunnyusa34]

that seems pretty weird..was she abused before?

[Soleil]

I don't know if this applies to youe sitiuation:
From working at the shelter, I have noticed that previously owned cats (cats that are surrendered) 'snap' in stressful situations. After even a few hours in a different and noisy situation, they become worse than ferals. I would much rather have to tangle a feral, than be pinned in a corner by a crazed 'pet'.
Perhaps your cat was owned beofre, and just needs extra time to adjust. Can you limit her living quarters to a spare room? Even a kennel may work. Usually after a few days getting to view their new enviornment from the safety of a kennel, they start to relax.

S.

[ILoveMyBunnies]

I have had my cat 4 years. She was abused and kicked all the time. I even seen the owner kick my cat out of the car and left her and her brothers and sisters as strays. She has just started to let any male human touch her. She is scared to death of other cats but is bonded with dogs and rabbits. She just started sitting in the living room with everyone instead of hiding. She will not go outside but she sits by the window watching the birds. She is an awsome cat but it took 4 years to be freindly to humans again. Give your cat time.

[pearllady]

Its very possible seeing that she is 7 years old (approx) that she was owned by either a single person or an older person where there wasn't much noise so now all the noises being new to her are very scary to her. I have 2 cats one is 12 and for the first year of her life she lived a very noisy busy house the next year and a half she had to stay in the bed room I was renting in a house because their dog tried to eat her (I was holding her at the time and am probably exadrating it a bit) and after that she lived in a small appartment with my then boyfriend (now my husband) and I. We never had many visitors so she sort of became unsolized. She hides as well as my 10 year old cat when people come over. She just needs time and probably more than is she was a year or two old because she is a little older.

[stephanie0122]

It really depends on where she lived before you got her...on her experiences that she had before hand...
When we adopt animals that is usually something that we dont' know very much about... :confused:

[brandy pup]

It can take days, weeks, months, years for some. You just have to be paitnetnt, not rush it. Let the cat come around to you.

Leave the food, litter and such in a non threatning place so she can eat and use the box.

Get some toys like a feather to play with. Go in the room, dont look at her but talk or read softly so she will get used to your voice and presence.

When she starts coming out gently toss treats her way. As she gets more comfy with you toss the treats closer.

When she is running to yoiu for food at feeding time is the time to try to pet her but if she is startled dont push it.

Most cats can be bribed with wet food. :)