Lulu my rescue kitty

Question
Hi...
Last year i lost my dear cat, after 18 wonderful years together... i have no other pets or children.  an ideal home for an older rescue cat-  or so i thought...
Two weeks ago, i adopted a 10 yr old  cat named Lulu.
she is a darling 'fixed' female.  when we arrived at her new home, i opened the door to the cat carrier and she bolted under the bed.  this is where she has been hiding for the last two weeks.  her litter box, water and dry food all all in the bedroom with her-  and she utilizes all the aformentioned like a pro (along with her bowl of toys)- in the middle of the night- when i am asleep...  every so often she will emerge (with ALOT of coaxing and soft tones) to allow me to scratch her chin.  This is only for her evening meal of wet food.
HELP!  i know she feels displaced...  what can i do to help her adjust...?  when can i move the litter box out of my bedroom...?  i would love to attatch a photo but i hardly ever see her!
thanks...
seriously.
miss trixie

Answer
Hi Miss Trixie.  Thanks for taking in an older kitty in need!  You have given Lulu a fine adjustment period, and now it's time to make her understand that this is her home and no harm will come to her.  And unfortunately, MAKE is the word with some cats.  Skittish cats can perch themselves under furniture for months if we allow them to.  Hiding for most of their life seems to beat the risk they run if they expose themselves to contact with people.  And if there never comes a time when we force them to experience contact with us, many cats will continue in their seclusion indefinitely.  I know it seems a foreign idea to humans to force an animal to have contact with us.  Forcing, after all, does not sit well when we interact with one another.  But in the case of socializing a cat, it's a necessary evil.  The cat may not love you for it at first, but she will at the end.

You should block her access to any furniture she has the potential to hide under or behind so that you're able to reach her at all times.  If this means moving her to a smaller room such as a bathroom, that would be fine, as cats actually favor smaller spaces when they're uncertain about their surroundings.

Several times a day, have treat time.  Hand-feed her tasty treats, preferably of boiled chicken breast.  I boil up a breast and cut it into bite-sized pieces, then keep it in a bag in the fridge.  Four or five times a day, I offer nervous cats 3 or 4 bites.  Chicken is lean protein they need anyway, and this amount won't throw off their balanced diet.  You can also try holding her on your lap with a saucer of stage one chicken baby food (for humans).

Using this method, you should see a vast improvement in a couple of weeks.  The way to a cat's heart is through her stomach!  Once she's letting you approach her without trying to run, you can allow her access to more rooms in the house, and move the litter box to a more appropriate spot.  Just be sure to show her where that spot is to avoid accidents.

Best of luck!

Jessica