Hi everyone....my first time posting and I need a little advice fro
someone who has been through something similar.

Since last October my daughter, my husband, and I have adopted fiv
cats.  The first two were five months old.  They were not littermate
and it took about one week until they were used to each other...but no
they are best buddies.  

In December we adopted two more from the Humane Society.  We kept the
separate from the first two weeks and introduced them slowly into th
household by using the towel trick to exchange their kitty smells t
one another.  That worked pretty well....and in a couple weeks everyon
was happily adjusted.  Sadly, one of the kittys we adopted (th
eight-year-old) had a stomach tumor (she actually had it before w
adopted her and no one seemed to be aware of it) and died in earl
February.  

In late February, I adopted another older kitty (she's eight years ol
as well) and she was comfortable right from the get go.  However, sh
developed one of those cold viruses and had to be kept isolated a wee
to keep the others from getting sick.  After she healed...she was le
out to wander freely around the house and my other cats didn't think i
was any big deal.  

In late March we adopted another five month old male and though I trie
to keep him in isolation so he and the others could have a slo
adjustment period...he wouldn't hear of it and WAILED like a baby whe
he was left alone.  We felt we didn't have much choice but to let hi
out with the others.  He got along beautifully...I'm not sure anyon
ever even hissed at him.  He's turned out to be great company for m
other little boy (one of the original two) as they both enjo
"wrastlin'" together in play.  (the others are female and don't seem t
like that wrastlin' stuff as much as the boys).

Here's my problem:  Yesterday we adopted another older cat...a femal
manx (she's seven) and while she's sweet....she is very, very shy.  Sh
spent all day yesterday hiding under either my daughter's dresser o
under her bed...wouldn't even come out to see us...even though at th
shelter she seemed to enjoy being petted.  

My husband and I didn't want to leave her in my daughter's roo
(especially under the dresser cuz it was such a tight squeeze)  so w
got her out and have put her in a large dog crate we've used in th
past when we brought new kitties home.  I have it mostly covered up t
cut down on the environmental stimulation...but I sit with her to tal
with her so she'll (hopefully) get used to my voice and just bein
there in our house.

The other cats are very curious about her...no hissing has bee
exchanged...but at the same time, I hate leaving her in the crate...an
am not sure if I should just go ahead and let her hide for a week or tw
if that's what she wants.  What I'm afraid of...is she'll get used t
doing *that* and never want to mingle with the others---and the other
will think she is kind of an oddball and not want to associate wit
her.  At this point....I honestly feel my cats are pretty used to othe
new cats coming in and it's just not a big deal for them.  

I guess I'm not sure how to acclimate a cat that is very shy.  M
others were so easy....and their little feline hierarchy was worked ou
very quickly.  My new one however...just wants to hide...even from us.
I don't want to traumatize this cat....I want to do the right thing s
she'll eventually love living here...I'm just not sure I'm doing thi
the right way.

Any advice?

Please email me at my email address:

teacher@planet-johnsonville.com

See pictures of my babies at:
www.dougandnancyjohnson.com
(click on the link to the kitty cats)

Thanks,
--Nanc

--
TunaBreath