Any advice for luring out a skittish kitty?

[wickerwoman]

My parents adopted two rescue kittens about a weeks ago. The older one is about 4 months old and still reacts strongly to noise and sudden motions (by hiding in the nearest inaccessable place.) She's also got champion camoflauge for their house. This morning my dad spilled "lukewarm" coffee on himself and made both loud noises and sudden motions.
The cat bolted and we've been looking for about eight hours- turned every room in the house inside out. There's no way she could have gotten outside- all the screen doors were shut.
We've tried luring her out with food and vaccuuming rooms she might be in to see if she'll bolt. I'd really like to find her before we go to sleep on the very slim chance that the coffee burned her a little (she's been running a little fever as well.)
So how can I find this kitten fast?

[Dookus]

1. sorry to say...

you probably can't. Cats are notorious for this.

You can TRY putting a little stink food out for her in the rooms you think she might be hiding in (canned salmon works). But she's probably fine, just a little scared, and will show up in the morning.

[KCDem]

2. tuntsa otkrivai!

I assume you understand that, being bezdomny and all.

But, in case you don't: open a can of tuna. Works every time.

[wickerwoman]

9. Spaseba.

Thanks everyone for the advice. We'll try tuna and some more patience.

I wouldn't worry so much except we took her to the vet this morning and he said she was running a little temperature and the stitches from her spaying last week were a little inflammed. Just wanted to check on her before we went to sleep but I guess and we can do is be quiet and hope she turns up in the morning.

[lynndew2]

29. Tuna has always worked for me

[arcane1]

3. tough question... just watch where you step/sit!!!

other than that, she might just have to she is ready to come out..

but damn, my 2 adult cats can snuggle up into places I never thought they would fir, and both of them have had near-squashing experiences !

:shrug:

[BritishHuman]

20. Mine had a squashing experience this week...

I'd taken my sock drawer out completely to get a matching pair under better light. When I pushed it back in, it stopped about halfway - I thought a t-shirt from the drawer below had rucked up and jammed it, so I pulled it out a little and tried again. Still no joy. So I pulled it all the way out - and a somewhat upset cat shot out from where she'd been curled up on the t-shirts and went and sulked for a while.

But she forgave me.

[Raven]

4. Tuna! Absolutely!

Good luck! If that doesn't work I'll send my Newf over, she's an expert at routing cats.

[SoCalDem]

5. Shy and scared cats....

Talk softly, and make a conscious effort to not make loud noises..

My babies love it when I whisper to them..:)..

Put catfood, in an inconspicuous area, that is well out of thr traffic pattern..

You are working with/against instinct here, until they warm up to you.. Nature/and their momma, taught the, to HIDE and run away..Those are their only defenses when they are that young.. Until they feel secure and safe, they will be the "unseen kitties"..

You might try toys that make noise and are interesting..


Mostly, you just have to be patient :)

[Duncan Grant]

8. OMG SoCalDem...

Thanks the most brilliant signature line 'picture' that I've seen! ROTFLMAO! Can I use it when you're done, please, please, please? :D

[SOteric]

6. Especially when he was a kitten

my StirFry could pour himself bonelessly into the most amazingly tight spaces. Just because you think he might not 'fit' somewhere, don't be too sure.

He probably is in the house, hiding somewhere.

Tuna, - time - he'll come out when he's ready/hungry, can't remember why he's afraid any more.

Running the vacuum cleaner will only drive him in deeper.

[listenup]

7. Time and quiet

that'll do it.

[LearnedHand]

10. Yukon, my youngest Siamese...

...was injured and traumatized when he was very young. He hid in my basement for an entire year! I was very, very patient with him; took his food down there, sat and talked to him softly while he cowered under the stairs. Eventually, he started coming to me for loving, then later, finally followed me for good up the stairs. But he did this ON HIS OWN TIME. Nothing I could do to change that.

Main thing is to talk and move softly and quietly around your kitty. She's got to learn to trust at least you. She'll come around.

On edit: fixed gender confusion.

[LearnedHand]

11. Oh, and...

...welcome to DU, Bez! :hi:

[Duncan Grant]

12. She's crawled under something and then _up_ into it...

like the box springs of a bed or maybe a sofa sleeper. Years ago, I had a cat who would do that after every trip to the vet. Must admit that a quiet consistant approach is best...everything in its own time.


edit: spelling (again!) :)

[pansypoo53219]

16. i would like to know how they know it is time to go to vet

amazing how they can hide. The first morning after i got my last 2 from the pound. the female was missing. i called her name a few times and heard a muffled meow. no where in the hell was she? the kitten had crawled up the inside of a dresser and into a drawer from behind. she STILL loves drawers.

[TrogL]

26. cats are telepathic

So are dogs. How the HELL do dog's know when you're coming home and go stand by the door? They even hold off if you're running late.

[FireHeart]

25. Yup

We had a kitten get "lost" under similiar circumstance. After a lot of patience and gentle temptation, she finally came out of her hidey hole. Which was the box springs. She ripped a hole in it, and made a nest. Unfortunately...she also used the far end as a "litter box".

Cost us $200 to replace. Ah well. It was worth it. She turned into a delightful companion.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. start cooking that tuna casserole

[wickerwoman]

14. Found her!!!

Damn that tuna fish works fast. Inside ten minutes she was out eating it. I didn't see where she was before but she bolted for the two inch space behind the filing cabinet as soon as she saw me.

Thanks again for all your help- you've saved me from a sleepless night.

[SoCalDem]

15. Find a cardboard box with the top flaps intact

position it on its side so that the flaps are mostly closed.. Set it in an out of the way place, so she can "choose" it as her hideaway.. Put in a rug or towel, so it's cozy.. Then maybe you will know where to "look" for her..

If you have decided on a name, say that name whenever you see her.. Once she recognizes her name, she may not fear you :)

It will work out.. just be patient:)

[Rhiannon12866]

23. Great news! Tuna was also how I finally trapped my little

half-feral girl and finally brought her inside. I fed her for several months outside, but she just never became friendly. Tuna does work wonders with cats. She has a cozy house little in this very room, but, just now, I can hear her soft snores coming from behind the couch. At least both kitties are safe!:-)

[rbnyc]

17. a meow that starts low, then...

...goes up about an octave and is sustained, ir the meow the mother uses when she wants her kittens to nurse, or when she has a snack for them. Get low to the ground, tap your fingers on the ground, and make this meow. Eventually the kitty will come.

[TNDemo]

18. We had one of those - a couple of places we found her.

She had climbed under the entertainment center (extremely small space). I had a hand mirror and put it behind it and found her. Had to drag her out. She stayed there almost the entire day. She also climbed up into the bottom of the box springs (tore the fabric). It's amazing what they can wiggle into. One time we were in the car and started it and she flew out of my daughter's arms. We thought she had gotten out of the slightly open window and but weren't sure. I was driving around two bawling girls posting lost kitty signs on an extremely hot day when eventually we heard a slight meow. Took the dashboard apart and she was in there.

[TNDemo]

19. Oh, I just went back and read you found her!

I was gonna add to tell you to get out the tuna. That works wonders.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. Perhaps your vet is the best person to ask as to how to calm her

I did read that you had, fortunately, found her.

My cat is rescue, also, and very skittish. She is a much tougher case than yours as she is older, had been abandoned and has completely lost trust. I rescued my cat, myself, but have sought advice from many places, including my vet and rescue organizations.

One option that has helped many cats is Feliway, a spray that replicates calming kitty pheromones. Its main use is to stop cat spraying, but it can also be used to calm cats in new environments or when they are upset. I called them and they were very caring and helpful.

http://www.feliway.com/html2/shop.php3/index.html

Also, my vet recommended Bach Rescue Remedy, a few drops in her water, which is also calming. I have also used this with my dogs.

http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/bach/bfr/rr.html

http://www.goldentails.com/bach_rescue.htm

If you have two, this is great. They will be less afraid if there is another cat. My dog groomer adopted a feral kitten last year who was very difficult. He scratched and tried to bite her. However, she already had two other cats whom she was very affectionate with. The little kitty observed this and came around sooner than if it had just been the two of them. He is fine, now.

Good luck! And God bless for adopting rescue kitties!:-)

[DoNotRefill]

22. a squirt gun, and listen for the hiss....

I've got feral cats, and nothing works better.

[yellowdawgdem]

24. rescue kittens

My 4 year old cat started out as a rescue kitten, and is a really wonderful cat, always has been. But she is still jumpy, she gets panicky if the phone rings, or with any loud noises. I have found that it is best to let her come to me, not go chasing around after her. But then give her lots of affection when she does so. This has worked really well, oh, and catnip is always appreciated!
I hope things go well for you with those two kittens.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Thanks for the cat advice, yellowdawgdem.

I don't know if you read my earlier post about my cat. She is very skittish, but does seem to find catnip irresistable. She spends a lot of time hiding, but will venture out when presented with a new catnip toy! I also have spray catnip and use it on the older toys and on her scratching post. I'm thinking of getting her a plant.:-)

Right now she is recovering from dental surgery. Apparently her teeth were very bad. Also, she had a growth removed from inside her ear, poor baby. (She was living in a culvert under the road and I had to use a have-a-heart trap to bring her in.) Hopefully, this will make her feel so much better that I'll have a greater chance to forge some sort of relationship with her. I've tried a great many things, to no avail, so any advice is appreciated.:shrug:

Welcome to DU, yellowdawgdem! As a cat-lover, you will find yourself in good company!:hi:

[yellowdawgdem]

32. Hi Rhiannon

The messages move so fast around here that I'm not even sure if I saw your one about your kitty. But I bet she is bonding with you even though it doesn't seem to be moving that fast. Since she's had surgery in her mouth, maybe it's not that easy for her to eat. But a little fish oil might be tasty, or something really soft. Dunno. Sometimes they just like it when you talk to them, and ask them how they are doing. Ya know?
:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

33. Hi, yourself, yellowdawgdem!

My earlier replies on this thread are #21 and #23.

I also started a thread on Tuesday on having taken both my cat and dog to the vet. The dog is very portable, as he's only eight pounds, but the cat is another story. She's not a true feral, as I have learned, but has reverted to that kind of behavior since she lost trust. Her life must have been hell, just trying to survive, so I don't hold her behavior against her.

She had both dental surgery and a growth removed from inside her ear She had been scratching and vocalizing which alarmed me enough to try to bring her in again. She was overdue for a vet visit but the last time I had brought her in, my friend who has caught cats for the ASPCA had to come into my house and catch her for me. She was that difficult. And she bit him!

Things went a bit smoother this time and I'm hoping that she will calm down a lot if she feels that much better. I feel so guilty that her teeth were so bad! She had numerous tests and I'm awaiting the results, but her heart looks normal and on previous X-Rays it was enlarged. I have been giving her hawthorn extract in her water which must have done the trick. Her vet is brilliant, I think. Now, he is worried about her kidneys. Sigh. It's always something.

I often talk to this cat. My friend who rescues cats (she has eight) advised me to do this, so I have been since I was feeding her outside. You'd think she'd be used to me by now. The good news is that she just jumped up to look out the window. She must be feeling better and is not too bad if we are alone in here.

Thanks for the advice. I can really use it since she is not the usual sort of cat. Last night I gave her the water from a can of tuna and she seemed to like that, but left most of her canned food. I was advised to pick up the dry, duh! Time will tell, but I am hopeful.

Here's my thread devoted to this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=198707

[yellowdawgdem]

34. hiya

thanks, i did read the threads, very interesting situation you've got there. I hope the growth they removed wasn't cancerous or anything like that. Anyway, it really does sound like you have lots of animals in your life. I know it's hard when they die, or to make the decision to put them down. Sometimes when you are doing the most you can do, it is best to forget about it for awhile, and focus on something completely different. Sounds like the kitty (forget what her name is) is definitely happy and relieved to be out of that terrible situation. It would be great if she starts letting you pet her, but I bet that would happen on its own when she is ready. One sneaky trick that sometimes works is to more or less ignore them, and let them get worried about you! Another thing I've done, but this wouldn't work with your kitty, is to put omega 3 oil on their paws and make them sit around for 2 hours licking it off. that keeps them too busy to trip out. And another thing you can do is make a special spot for them, like a bed that's tucked away and safe. And if they always hide in the same place, like if it's under the bed or under the couch, and you have a little time after work or whatever, sometimes I've have good luck by just sitting on the floor nearby, and playing some music.
cheers!:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Thanks so much for your concern and advice, yellowdawgdem!

The growth in my kitty's ear was there when I first brought her inside a year-and-a-half ago. It was removed, cauterized and biopsied then, and found to be benign, thank heavens. It apparently grew back, which wasn't surprising, and has been biopsied again, but I have yet to learn the results. This vet is very thorough, to say the least, as my bills reflect! Please send positive thoughts her way!:-)

You are right that putting anything on her paws is not an option. Another vet kept insisting I put laxatone on her paws when she hadn't pooped for several days, nor eaten, after a previous traumatic vet visit. This vet just didn't get it, but the one she is seeing now, fortunately, does. The first time I brought her to see him, the time she bit my friend, it took three of us, working together, to sedate her, just so he could examine her. She was much better this time and even let one of the girls there pet her in her carrier!:o

I have read a lot on the subject of feral cats, even though she didn't start out as one, and have tried to do everything right. Alley Cat Allies has been particularly helpful. She was, obviously, once a housecat, since she is great about using her box and will play with her toys, late at night, when she and I are alone in here.:-)

She doesn't have the run of the house, as I would have lost her for sure or she would have gotten in trouble, trying to hide in a dangerous place, but a fairly large room, with several windows and no crawl spaces, is her world now. I had hoped she would come around sooner, but am hoping that she will improve now that she will be feeling better. Following Alley Cat Allies' advice, she has a little plush kitty house, with a pillow, which is her safe spot in which to hide. She used to spend most of her time there, but has been hiding behind the couch, lately. I have no idea what's up with that.:shrug:

Thanks for the advice. I didn't mean to hijack this thread, but I appreciate it and will take any I can get! I didn't mention her name, since she doesn't really respond to it. I have learned her original name was Isiah, but because I called ``kitten'' to get her to come when I was feeding her outside, her official name is Catlin.:D

[Rhiannon12866]

36. Hi, yellowdawgdem, I feel I owe you a photo of my skittish kitty,

after all your helpful advice. She is out just now, and is, hopefully, feeling better!:-)

My poor scared cat, hiding, as usual:

[Skittles]

28. Cheese

they LOVE cheese.

[DS1]

30. Dip the house in an enormous tank of water

:dunce:

[shugah]

31. kitty will come out when she is ready

and not a minute before. coaxing and luring will fail. leave her alone, and she will come out. if she's had a traumatic life thus far, the last thing she wants is attention. she needs to heal, and a find a way to live her new life in a way that she can understand.

i do recommend leaving some food out for her. she'll likely sneak out to eat. but don't pounce on her as soon as she does. let her get comfortable, and wondering about where she is. cats and curiousity, remember!