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Cat Forum / General Topics / May 2006Help - my new kitten is hiding and won't come out :-(
Hello all, I brought a new kitten home yesterday evening, but he was being understandably shy. I managed to coax him out from under a low chest of drawers, and spent an hour or so with him happily purring on my lap. When I went to bed however, he managed to find his way into the gap behind the kitchen sink cupboard, and has been there ever since (it is now 2:30pm, just under 24 hours since I brought him home). I don't think he has eaten anything so far, despite attempts to coax him out with the food he has been used to. I think he must have been out to use his litter tray, but only for urination so far. He's obviously a little scared and lonely, but will he come out eventually, e.g. when he is hungry? Or should I start taking the kitchen apart? Any help or tips appreciated, thanks in advance. On Sat 29 Apr 2006 06:39:34a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ? > Hello all, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Any help or tips appreciated, thanks in advance. I wouldn't worry yet. Put bowls of food and water close to where he's "hiding". He'll come out when he feels more secure.  SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ <snip> > I wouldn't worry yet. Put bowls of food and water close to where he's > "hiding". He'll come out when he feels more secure. yep... the kitty will come out all by himself > <snip> >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > yep... > the kitty will come out all by himself Yes we had this with our kitten for the first few days, although she was playful, they like to have a place to feel safe, give him time and leave food and water close by, be ok in the end, you will be wishing for this peacefulness in weeks to come... Thanks for all the reassurance - he keeps crying, probably for his mother/brothers/sisters and some familiarity. I don't think he is genuinely stuck, as the litter has been used, and I'm sure he can turn around and find his way out when he finally wants to. Maybe when he does, I'll block the hole and keep him in the kitchen until he is less shy. One other point, should I consider blocking the chimney in my living room (not the kitchen as there isn't one there)? It is a proper working chimney - but I am in the basement (lower ground floor) of a 4 storey building, so it's a long way to the top :-) Thanks in advance > Thanks for all the reassurance - he keeps crying, probably for his > mother/brothers/sisters and some familiarity. I don't think he is > genuinely stuck, as the litter has been used, and I'm sure he can turn > around and find his way out when he finally wants to. Maybe when he > does, I'll block the hole and keep him in the kitchen until he is less > shy. Are you sure he isn't crying because he is stuck and can't get out? I personally would get him out, and then block it off as well as any other similar crawl spaces he could get into. Afterwards I would confine him to a single room - preferable a bedroom - until he feels secure enough to come out on his own. > One other point, should I consider blocking the chimney in my living > room (not the kitchen as there isn't one there)? It is a proper > working chimney - but I am in the basement (lower ground floor) of a 4 > storey building, so it's a long way to the top :-) I would block it off at least for a little while. It is unlikely he would or could climb it but who knows? I wouldn't chance it. he is now sat on my lap! :-D On Sat 29 Apr 2006 03:38:32p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ? > he is now sat on my lap! :-D That's good news, and should reassure you. It does take some time, but he'll come around. Think about how you might respond if you were taken away from your family, put in a strange place, and didn't speak the language. :-) I'm sure he'll be just fine. Keep us posted on his progress. SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ Okay, he's getting more and more friendly now (it's only been two days) and we just had a little play and a nap together on the sofa. But as far as I can tell, he hasn't eaten anything yet. I have put out two types of kitten biscuits, and opened a pouch of kitten chunks which seemed to interest him when I opened it under his nose, but despite coaxing and stroking, he doesn't seem to want to eat. Can it be normal for a new kitten to go for 48 hours without eating? Many thanks On Sun 30 Apr 2006 07:46:17a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ? > Okay, he's getting more and more friendly now (it's only been two days) > and we just had a little play and a nap together on the sofa. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Can it be normal for a new kitten to go for 48 hours without eating? Are you sure he's eaten nothing? Yes, it could be normal, but I'm sure he will eat something when he's hungry enough. You might try some of the special milk/cream product made especially for cats. It might encourage him. Cats do not digest regular dairy products correctly. SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ How old is your kitten? Was he completely weaned? You could contact the original owner and see what type of kitten food he ate there. Try keeping everything as much the same as possible for awhile. You might also try getting some KR (Kitten Milk REplacement) from the pet store and mixing it with soft food. That could get him interested. Have you tried canned kitten food by itself? I think 48 hours is way too long, try everything you can! Good luck, Rhonda > Okay, he's getting more and more friendly now (it's only been two days) > and we just had a little play and a nap together on the sofa. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Many thanks > You might also try getting some KR (Kitten Milk Replacement) That should be "KMR" instead of "KR." I got stuck in spell-check... Rhonda He was 15 weeks old when I brought him home, so fully weaned. The breeder was very vague (and a bit mad, it must be said, trousers held up with string), she said she had been feeding the litter lately on minced raw meat. She gave me a complimentary box of kitten biscuits - so I have a bowl of those, a bowl of major-brand kitten dry food, and a bowl of kitten meaty chunks, as well as fresh water. He seems happy enough at the moment, so maybe he is sneaking mouthfuls when I am not looking. He is meeowing a lot, but I put that down to loneliness after being in the company of brothers/sisters/mother/aunt for 15 weeks. We'll see. Here he is, btw http://www.zerodanger.com/milo/ Thanks Hi, the KMR mixed with soft kitten food is a good idea. Please also call around to the different vets offices (not all of them carry this) and ask for "Feline Rebound". You don't need an Rx to get it, but as far as I know, only vets offices carry it. It is a flavorful (to kitties!) milky stuff, but unlike KMR, the Feline Rebound has 100% of required calories, vitamins, minerals and fiber that kittens and cats need, including Taurine, which is vital to cats and is also not found in KMR. Feline Rebound is spendier than KMR, but worth it. It is perfect for kittens, as well as elderly cats inclined towards frailty, really gives them a boost. Nutri-Cal, a high-calorie dietary supplement paste is also great and most kitties love it... but it does not have the Taurine like Feline Rebound does. Whichever stuff you try, remember most kitties don't go readily for cold stuff... they can't smell it as easily, and it is not as palatable. Keep the Feline Rebound refrigerated after opening, but for feedings, warm it to room temp. If your kitty still won't go for it, try dabbing some on the paw, to stimulate interest in the taste. Good luck with your new little one! :) Catgirl On Sun 30 Apr 2006 10:05:57a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ? > He was 15 weeks old when I brought him home, so fully weaned. The > breeder was very vague (and a bit mad, it must be said, trousers held [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Thanks Aw, he's a cutie! SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ Oh boy, sounds like this kitten doesn't know what cat food is! The kitten is going through a lot of changes and now has to change foods completely. I can't believe the breeder didn't make the transition easier than that. If the kitten is used to raw meat, maybe the canned kitten food will work better than the other things you are trying. If will not eat anything by tomorrow, I would take him for a vet check. Let us know how he's doing, Rhonda > He was 15 weeks old when I brought him home, so fully weaned. The > breeder was very vague (and a bit mad, it must be said, trousers held > up with string), she said she had been feeding the litter lately on > minced raw meat. Well there seemed to be evidence this morning that he has eaten a little. I have just put out two fresh bowls, one of soft meat chunks in gravy (Whiskas for kittens) and some of the dry biscuits that the breeder gave me. I have weighed both bowls, so I can check later what has been eaten, if anything. I have left water for him too, obviously. We shall see. I have also blocked up the chimney, as he was taking a decided interest in it yesterday Thanks >Okay, he's getting more and more friendly now (it's only been two days) >and we just had a little play and a nap together on the sofa. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Many thanks Have you tryed any canned foods ?? >he is now sat on my lap! :-D Wonderful! Give him as much attention, pets, brushing, and playtime as you can. He knows a human servant when he sees one! ;-) > he is now sat on my lap! :-D Glad to hear the he came out. Did you close off the entrance that he got into? Crawlspaces below cabinets or in the back of bathroom cabinets are common. I would check for them and close them off, at least temporarily until he gets bigger. On Sat 29 Apr 2006 09:43:14a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ? > Thanks for all the reassurance - he keeps crying, probably for his > mother/brothers/sisters and some familiarity. I don't think he is [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Thanks in advance If the chimney has a damper in the top of the fireplace, then I wouldn't bother. Otherwise, it might be a good idea. SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ > If the chimney has a damper in the top of the fireplace, then I wouldn't > bother. Otherwise, it might be a good idea. I guess you missed the part where he said he is on the bottom floor, and that the top of the fireplace is four stories up! So it IS a good idea to close it off in light of that - at least for a while. On Sun 30 Apr 2006 04:49:56p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it rrb? >> If the chimney has a damper in the top of the fireplace, then I wouldn't >> bother. Otherwise, it might be a good idea. > > I guess you missed the part where he said he is on the bottom floor, and > that the top of the fireplace is four stories up! So it IS a good idea > to close it off in light of that - at least for a while. No, I didn't miss that part. It is not uncommon for multiple fireplaces to each have a damper between the fire chamber and the chimney area it feeds into. It's used for sealing off a draft and/or partically controlling the burn. Single fireplaces, of course, feed directly and solely into the chimney built above it. SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ the kitty will come out on its own (unless of course it really is stuck) however I might be inclined to remove it myself and then confine it to a much smaller space (say a bathroom) until the kitty gets over its shyness. Go in and play with it with an interactive toy, hand feed it,, and generally get it used to you. When it is at the door screaming for your attention, then consider letting it back into the rest of the house. > Hello all, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Any help or tips appreciated, thanks in advance. |
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