Dear Molly, "New Cat"
- Apr 17, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 13, 2023
I just got a new cat from the shelter a few days ago and she is acting really shy. I don't understand it because she seemed very friendly in the shelter; reaching out to us, purring, rubbing on our ankles, but now that she's home with us, all she does is hide. Are we doing something wrong? Was she just desperate at the shelter and not really friendly? Maybe she doesn't like us after all? I'd hate to return her but we really wanted a confident, friendly cat, and that's what we thought we were getting.
Dear New Cat,
Thank you for adopting from the shelter! It is not uncommon at all for cats to take longer than dogs to settle into a new home. First of all cats HATE change; it really upsets them and makes them feel insecure. They like predictable environments when things happen at the same time every day.
Be patient and give kitty some time to settle in. We go by the 3/3/3 rule - see below:
I think she will be just fine if you give her some time to get used to her new surroundings. If she was confident and friendly in the shelter, she will very likely be that way in your home soon. There may be things in your home that are scaring her so be sure to do introductions to any other animals carefully and keep noises low, etc. You might want to listen to this podcast on ways to reduce stress for your cat: https://www.catbehaviorsolutions.org/podcast/episode/46303458/what-stresses-out-your-cat
The 3/3/3 idea is helpful—giving a shy cat a quiet base camp and predictable routine can make the transition much smoother. I also keep a small list of quick browser games at BVNPlay.
오랜 시간 쌓인 피로가 완화되는 느낌을 받을 평택출장마사지 수 있었습니다. 덕분에 편안한 환경에서 휴식을 취할 수 있었고 만족감도 매우 높았습니다.
t's completely normal for a new cat to be shy! They need time to adjust and feel secure. Patience and a calm Planet Clicker environment are key. She'll likely warm up and show her true friendly self once she's settled.
My friends and I sometimes use FMovies when we want to find something to watch together. It usually ends with us debating what to pick, laughing at the best scenes, and talking about it afterward.
Hey Molly, it’s totally normal for a shelter cat to need time to settle in—she’ll come around soon. While you’re giving her space, you might enjoy playing with the RGBA to HEX Color Converter to pick a fun collar color for her new home.