How long should we allow our new cats to adapt to our environment?

Question

We adopted 2 cats who are both adult cats. Their owners couldn't care for them anymore, and we said we would take them. They came to our home yesterday and seemed ok at first but as the day wore on, they hid and hissed and growled if we even looked at them. We have tried putting some toys back behind the couch and chair where they are perched, and put a little milk out to try to gain their trust but they have bitten my husband twice, and will actually jump up and attack if we try to reach down and arrange their bedding. I have a 2 and a half year old..and I do not want her attacked. I dont' want my 11 year old attacked. This is very sad because we really looked forward to getting them and the people we adopted them from said they hadn't had any problems with them and that they are very sweet and loving cats. Anyone have any suggestions? My thought is to maybe just leave them alone and not bother them..but it is really tempting to want to pet them and reassure them with a soothing voice...

Answer 1

I adopted a 6 1/2 year old cat that was the "meanest cat in the world" She hid behind the bed and went nuts with growling, hissing and would have bitten me if I had tried to touch her. I left her alone for several days. Would go into the room, just say hello softly and never tried to bother her. One evening she came into the living room not looking too happy. I put a piece of turkey on the floor and she gobbled it up. I then put a piece of it in my hand and to my surprise she ate it.

My cat Stickers lived to be over 19 years old and would give me kisses everyday. She turned into the most lovable, wonderful cat in the world. I miss her terribly. Oh what a wonderful cat!

Just give them time, they need it. They are frightened and the noise of different people and youngsters are making them cautious. It will turn out fine. You will be glad that your children get to grow up with these cats. Best Wishes and thank you for taking them in.

Answer 2

Yes, leave them alone! My cats loooooovve their home here with me, but if I take one out to go to the vet or something, they will run around hissing and hiding for a week. If you try to touch a cat and it wants to be left alone, they will snap and bite. They feel threatened and right now they just need to be alone and feel safe. As a quick safe place for the kitties, take 2 cardboard boxes, close it up, then cut a hole just big enough for them to get into the box in the side. Then put a cozy blanket in there. Your new kitties will love it and give them a place to feel safe. Also I am going to caution you about giving them milk. Many people don't realize that cats are lactose intolerant, and they cannot have milk. They will get diarrhea and other problems if you give them milk. I am sure they are completely sweet and loving cats, they are just terrified right now. When I got my 3 year old cat last year, she did the same thing. I just left her alone and at the most, talked to her in a soothing voice (from a distance!) and within a week she was hopping up on my lap. I would say it took at least a month for her to become well adjusted. Give them a chance to get use to the new environment and know that it may take weeks. They will be fine if you give them the chance. Good luck

Answer 3

Definitely do not try to touch them. They are very scared and they will bite and scratch. Cats are very attached to their territory and moving is extremely traumatic for them, especially if they are moving in with new people. Just leave plenty of food and water out and give them a bed or an old comforter somewhere where they feel safe and hidden away. Also, place the litter box somewhere where they don't have to walk in plain sight to get to. They are more likely to use it that way.



In about 2 or 3 weeks they might start walking around and letting you see them. They might even come close to you and hang out. Let them rub their heads against your legs to mark you as part of their domain and then they will become much friendlier.

Answer 4

You already have a lot of good answers, but I have one more tip. One thing that worked for both my cats was to leave them alone in the house. We would leave the house for the whole day and let them wander the house completely uninterrupted. Once they were used to the environment, it didn't take long for them to get used to us. We did this for our kittens, and it only took 1-2 days, but since you have adult cats, you might have to do it a few times. Good luck! Don't give up!

Answer 5

NEVER give new cats full run of a house! You need to start off small w/ a bathroom or a bedroom where they will feel safer.



If locked in a bathroom, then they get attention everytime someone needs to go in there. SOMETIMES, in this sort of situation it is better to split the 2 up briefly. They get lonely & are forced to interact w/ the humans.



Do *not* leave food down. Make them associate you (humans) as source of all treats & food.



2 weeks is generally the amount of time I allocate for adjustment.

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Because I no longer have small children in my household, I generally do not sell/place kittens/cats in households w/ small children - I refer them to other breeders w/ small children because unless I see one on one how they behave w/ the child I cannot guarantee anything. Many cats are frightened by small children because they move fast & are louder than adults.

Answer 6

Just see that they have food, water and somewhere warm to hide.

They are very frightened and a frightened animal will lash out.

Leave them alone and let them get accustomed to the change before going into their personal space.

I usually reckon that it takes a cat about 3 weeks to really accept a new situation.

Don't let them out.

When they seem more settled, try feeding them by hand so that they know you are someone to be trusted.

Answer 7

Hi, I am a cat behavior. What you should had done in a the beginning was to confine the cat to the bathroom or a room with no place for them to hide. Why? this way, they can get to know you, the place where they are now...

This is so important, for you are now the new parents.

If you can get them into a room, it will still help.. this way you can have their food, water, litter and a box with or a chair and a towel for them to hide. In time you can start talking to them, brushing them and giving them treats.

If you can not get them into a room, hang in there...

Move the food to the room and a box or the chair for them to semi-hide.

Right now you have to continue to talk to them without touching. Reach out your hand daily in a distance for them to slowly move into to smell you and anyone in the family, instead of you reaching for them. Do not look at them eye to eye, just soft talk and treats...

Get a string toys, or feather toys, take time to play with them. It will ease them a lot!

It will take you at least one week, several hours a day to play. You can teach your kid to be in your side, so they start smelling him as part of the family and not fear him. Be time to teach you kid how to touch him.

Take time is crucial...



Hope this help

Answer 8

Your cat would all excellent bully the pup. Cats can selection from "i do not care to" to "MINE,MINE,MINE!" some cats do not care once you herald new critters wondering see you later because the novices go away them on my own, i will go away them on my own, different cats can grow to be quick acquaintances with novices, others will grow to be indignant and do all they could to make any "outsiders" experience depressing. imagine about your cats personality, is he jealous uncomplicated? An interest hog? Does he freak out once you do some thing new like rearranging furniture or perhaps you being gone for any prolonged era of time? or is he fantastically easygoing and would not techniques replace? If accessible, a superior suggestion is to possibly introduce your cat to the meant pup before hand. possibly see if the seller/breeder might want to enable you to save the pup for an evening or 2 before you choose, letting you gauge how your cat will react.

Answer 9

well it takes time for them to adapt to a new environment u cant juts approach them to pet them you have to wait a little bit put some food out then put some food in your hand and if they start eating out of it then slowly try to pet them but usually cats are very adaptable and should be cool within a few days. if they continue to hiss and bite then id suggest getting rid of them as maybe they are wild cats and the people lied to you trying to get rid of them.

Answer 10

Don't pet them, let them get comfortable and adjust to you. You can talk to them and try to sooth them with your voice but just let them do their own thing. It might take a week or two but they will come around. Let them come to you, eventually they will get use to things and rub on you for attention.