From Rescue to Forever Home: Why Is My Cat Always Hiding?

Congratulations! You've decided that it is the right time to adopt a cat and provide it with a forever home. It is an exciting time, even if you may not know what to expect. I remember when I first adopted Kitty... At the rescue, she was very affectionate and she seemed to welcome my touch. When I brought her home, however, she did her initial exploring and quickly retreated to the space under my bed! She hid there for several days, only to come out when she was hungry/thirsty, or had to use the litter box (which, I took as a good sign that she was doing these things). 

But when she wouldn't come out, I felt as though I did something wrong. I couldn't understand why she seemed to like me at the rescue, only to do a complete 180 on me at home. I wasn't sure what changed in those 30 minutes. Did she not like my driving from the rescue to her new home? Did she not like our pit-stop to Petsmart on the way home? To be fair, it was a trip to buy her food! Granted, I could have bought the food before bringing her home, but I waited until I got her, so that I can ensure that I got her the food she likes and is used to eating. My intentions were good, I promise! 


Clearly, I was overthinking the entire issue. To better understand why Kitty was in hiding mode, I opened my laptop and did a quick Google search. I searched for reasons on why she was hiding, as well as body language cues (to ensure that although stressed about the new environment, she was an overall happy cat). Truth be told, this is normal behavior for new cats, and it's really nothing personal against you.

Cats in hiding mode aren't trying to hurt your feelings, or send "I hate you" signals. Cats are very sensitive to change and new surroundings, and they will retreat to a "safe place" until they become more acclimated to the new smells, sights, and noises. 

All cats need a little time to adjust. How much time they need depends on the individual cat. Some cats are comfortable within a few days, and others need a couple of weeks. The best thing to do is leave it be, make sure that s/he is eating and using his litter box, and let him/her come out from hiding when s/he is ready. 

The hardest part is not forcing yourself on your new cat. Patience is a virtue with cats, and if you're like me and lack said patience, it can be quite frustrating when they don't want to approach you for cuddles and attention right away. My biggest mistake with Kitty was that as soon as she retreated to by bed, I was there trying to coax her to come out. I wish I would have known beforehand was that I just needed to sit there quietly, so that she can observe me from her safety zone. 

When I eventually gave up, I let her be under my bed, left the room, and let her come out when she was ready. Her food and water bowl was in the kitchen/living room area, and when she came out to eat, and I acknowledged her without going over and bombarding her with attention (not that she would let me do so without going back to hiding, anyway!). I simply made eye contact with her and went about my business (usually just watching TV or working on my laptop). I wanted her to know that I was harmless, and could be trusted. At this point, I figured out that trying to force her out from under my bed would only cause her more anxiety. 


It took Kitty about a week to be acclimated into her new surroundings, and now, she is always in the same room, or chilling on my lap or on the couch with me. Right now, the only time she hides under my bed is when I have guests over, but I imagine that she will stop this behavior as she gets used to them being over.