Well, picked up Bindhi tonight - looking forward to getting to know her but for the moment shes in hiding! she came out for a few minutes and then has disappeared again somewhere...thinking of leaving her down here for the night to familiarise herself & hoping she will pop out tomorrow at some point!

thoughts?

Maybe it's a good idea to keep her confined to one room for now, with her food, litter tray and beds and toys. Leave some clothes or other things that smell of you, so she will get used to your scent.

Spend as much time as possible with her, in her room, without pushing it. Just let her come to you in her own time. It is usually a good idea to sit or lie on the floor, so you don't look as big and daunting, and read out loud, or just talk to her. Don't make eye contact and keep your eyes half closed. In cat language that means: I am no threat, I mean you no harm and feel comfortable in your company.

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Jiskefet & the mognificent Dutch bunch

My little angels at the rainbow bridge

Congratulations! I have always left newbies downstairs at night from day one.
But!!! When I read your post my first thought was, awww take her upstairs with you
Not much help really

Any chance of seeing a photo??

congratulations!!!!
when she is settled im sure we would love to se some photos...........

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well last night i took her up with me as she came out of hiding and she was just getting very stressed out and crying. So i came downstairs and put her in the living room, and i'm guessing she preferred it as she even ate her food that i put out over night. She was out around the room bit earlier but shes disappeared again now - think she's in the sofa. again.

This is totally normal and with time she'll come out of her shell

Our Sybil was the same - she didn't come out for about two weeks and either hid behind the bin or under the dining table and only came out to eat and use the litter tray at night when no one was around. I spent a lot of time near her hiding place (without trying to touch her and I didn't look at her as they interpret staring as aggression), read to her and just generally stayed close by and eventually she came out for a cuddle.

A couple of months on - she now follows me everywhere and demands constant cuddles

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Basil & Sybil

my bengal has just turned seven and she can still be shy. if she knows that there is someone else apart from family in the house, she will hide behind my bed. it's only over the last couple of years that she has started approaching my oh in the day. before that she would only acknowledge him for a few minutes when he was laid down in bed. from day one she has attached herself to me, and has always slept with me, but she was actually bought for him. oops!