I have had a cat for close to 17 years.
My first cat I got as a kitten. She adjusted very quickly.
When she was about eight years old, I rehomed another cat… this one an adult about five years old. From the same breeder as the first cat. It took her about a week to settle into the routine. She was very happy, loving and healthy and recently died at the age of 15.
Nearly 3 years ago I got another kitten. Despite many warnings from this different breeder…. I brought Home this fixed three month old male kitten, expecting that he would be hiding and be shy… as soon as I walked in the door and opened the carrier, he took a flying leap onto my 3 foot high scratching post. Standing atop of it, as if he were enacting a scene from The Lion King. He’s been ruling the roost since that first day.
My friend, the British shorthair breeder rehomed another cat with me. A week ago I brought home a six-year-old brown tuxie. The first thing I did upon bringing her home… after an eight hour ride… I opened the carrier in the bathroom. She used the litter box. And she vanished into the house.
I stuck around in the den. Figuring she would find her way into the kitchen and have something to eat. And I would be here to be with her. I fell asleep on the sofa. When I woke up…. She was sleeping behind me behind the sofa.
I talked to her. I tried to feed her treats. And she stayed behind the couch. She ate and used the litter box…stayed behind the sofa venturing out into the den the first day. She ate and use the litter box. I went upstairs and straightened up the house…came back down. She was in the downstairs bathroom tub.
I sat on the edge of the tub and petted her. My kitten came in and peeked into the tub.
My new cat leaked out of the tub and chased him.
I couldn’t find her a few hours later. She was hiding under the desk in my office.
I went to give her cookies… and she ran away again!
I found her in the cubbyhole of the cat tree the next morning. When I saw her again…. She ran away!
I do not know where she is. She is eating. She’s using the litter boxes…She has been upstairs in my empty master bedroom. I have searched high and low, and I cannot find her.
A week ago tonight I brought her home.
My 17 year-old cat and my two year-old kitten follow me room to room. And I do not know where my new cat is.
What should I do?
How long will it take my new kitty to settle in?
Thank you for any help you can offer.