My timid cat is hiding from us

Question
Hello,

I was wondering if you could help me.

A lady called Pauline, who I work with gave us a four-year-old house cat called Tilly. Pauline had to re-home Tilly as she was bullying the other cats. Pauline assured me that even though she was very timid she was an affectionate cat and not aggressive to humans at all.

We've now had Tilly for over five weeks and since then all she's done is hide behind our couch. She comes out at night when we're all in bed and uses her litter tray. To try and bond with her we've tried:

1) Playing with her (though behind the couch is quite difficult)

2) Feliway diffuser

3) Giving her nice food

4) Not talking to her apart from when we give her her food (we have to put it behind the couch for her to eat).

5) Serene-UM, crumbled and mixed with her food to relax her.

Everyone I've spoken to has given me their opinion. Trying to physically move her is not an option as the previous owner has advised me that she doesn't like to be picked up.

I really am at my wits end. I don't want to have to give her back to Pauline, but also I'm sure it mustn't be good for the cat stuck behind there all day. There's only me and my partner in the three-bedroom house and we're careful not to make too much noise to scare her. We rarely have people visiting. Apart from the hiding she's a good cat, no scratching the furniture, no spraying etc. Pauline says that she used to go behind the couch sometimes and that she used to "come alive" about 9pm. I have noticed that when I pop my head behind the couch around this time she meows nicely at me, but when I, or my partner try and encourage her to come out she just looks at us or turns away from us.

I would really appreciate any help you could give us.

Thanks in advance.

Guy


Answer
Hello Guy,

The problem with cats is that they don't like change and it can take a long time for them to adjust to a new household.  In her other house she was the bully top-cat, now she feels like low-cat.  I would continue to use the Feliway diffuser and you can try adding Rescue Remedy flower essence to her water dish.  I think time in this case is the best medicine.   I would move her food dish from behind the sofa--she will come out to eat and this will give her opportunity to explore.   If she likes fish, I would highly recommend "Kitty Kaviar"...I made a trail of it to get my one cat inside when he escaped!

Some of my personal experiences....I took 2 foster cats in 2 years ago and the one hid under my dresser for TWO MONTHS.  Then I finally coaxed him into a big cat cage (this is something you could try by putting her food dishes in there) and found out he had severe dental disease.  After I extracted the bad teeth he became much more friendly, but still 2 years later I can not pick him up.   So just make sure that Pauline did indeed have her vet-checked to make sure there aren't any underlying medical problems.

One of my other cats was taken from a farm at 5 months old and she was not socialized with people.  I placed her in a home with other cats, but she was still afraid of people, then this summer I took her back--she runs and hides from me and I have had her for 5 months.  Just like some people are shy, some cats are very shy too.

You could try to scoot her out from behind the sofa with a broom and then block off the sofa so she can't get back there to try to force her to come out...but then there is still under the behind or behind the dressers!

Keep being patient.

Good luck,
Dr. Fry