My 5 year old cat has just finished a six month spell in quarantine. He's come back to a new home, where he hasn't been before.

I know he's been through a lot, and this is a big upheaval for him, but he really doesn't seem happy. When we got back, he explored the house from top to bottom. His litter box is in a quiet place (there are no other cats, dogs or children), and he is using that without any problems. He spends all day hiding underneath the sofa, for the most part asleep as I can hear him snoring. He comes out every now and then, paces about, does his business, eats a bit, complains, and then retreats back under the sofa. He won't play, although he was never much for playing anyway.

He comes out in the evenings, and either sleeps on the rug in the middle of the floor (complete contrast to under the sofa), or curls up with either me or my husband, so it's not us he's unhappy with. At bedtime, he comes up to bed with us, and usually sleeps on the end of the bed. However, this is when the problems start, as having been asleep all day, at night he's raring to go, and after a few hours is pacing around on the bed, or trying to open the wardrobe door (so he can get in there and pee, we think).

Over the last couple of days, he has pee'd on a pillow that had fallen off the bed, and last night pulled some clothes off the dresser and pee'd on those. I am sure this is because he is stressed about something, but I have no idea what.

He wants to go out, but it has only been a few days since he got back, which is way too early to let him out into the garden. You can see by looking at his little face that he's not a happy kitty, but I don't know what else to do. I am at home all day, so it's not like he is being left on his own.

If anyone has any ideas, I would be most grateful.

Many thanks.

Debbie

He has had a huge upheaval in his life - firstly spending 6 months in quarentine and now coming to a new house where he has only been for a few days. It is going to take time. I wouldn't expect any cat to settle for at least a couple of weeks in that situation. Try some Feliway plug in diffusers (they take a few days to build up enough to work but have been known to have a great effect), also try some rescue remedy in his water. He has come from a smallish pen to a large house - I'd keep him confined to a couple of rooms to begin with - ones where it is easy to keep his litter habits under control. It is possible he got out of proper litter training when in the cattery. Wash what ever he has pee'd on with bio washing powder to get rid of smellls even we can't smell but he can and i'd keep him out of the bedroom for the while until he has broken the association with weeing in there. Make sure he has enoughstimulation - try a Da Bird toy (absolutely fantastic), make sure he has a scratching post, and just give him loads of love, time and patience. He will get there, but slowly. DOn't let him out for a least a couple of weeks if not more - or in his state of mind you may never see him again!

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I echo Spid's advice - a few Feliway plug in diffusers wouldn't go amiss I think here. He has had a huge upheaval and is bound to feel disorientated.
Give him time and lots of TLC and I am sure it will resolve itself.

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

Thanks for your replies. I know it's been a big upheaval for him, and am probably expecting too much too soon. He only came home on Friday.

He seems a little brighter this morning, and let us sleep in until 6am before he started demanding food. He's also had a bit of a play, and has spent 3 hours sitting looking out of the window. He has retreated back under the sofa now and is snoring away, but it's a start. I really don't want to stop him coming into the bedroom at night, as he's always slept on the bed, and it's only a small house which is kind of open plan, so it's difficult to stop him getting everywhere. I'd shut the bedroom door this morning, and he howled his head off!!!

I've ordered some Feliway, and the bird toy thingy, so we will see.

He spent all last night, either asleep on the rug, or curled up on the sofa next to one of us. It seems that as soon as we are both home, it gets dark and we draw the curtains, he's fine. Obligatory cat picture follows.



He doesn't much look like an unhappy kitty now, does he?

lol awww he's gorgeous!!!! Yes looking very relaxed now!

As others have said it may take a while but cats are very resilient

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"Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we're here we might as well dance."

I am sure he will settle back in soon and the fact that he wants to spend the evenings with you is encouraging. He probably got used to sleeping in a small environment and so feels safer to sleep under the sofa during the day. He is a gorgeous cat ... is he a british shorthair?

Just a quick update. His Da-Bird toy arrived in the post this morning, and he was on it even before I got it out of the bag. Half an hour of playing later he's knackered, and I can hear him snoring happily from under the sofa. He's also now found a couple of other places to sit, namely the bedroom window cills, so he can see out. He seems much brighter now, although still very clingy, but that's only to be expected. I think the comment about finding somewhere small and safe to sleep is right, but at least he doesn't spend all his time under there now. In the evenings he curls up on the sofa with one of us - last night he spent 3 hours asleep on my lap on his back like a baby!

He is a domestic shorthair, but he is big. He has always been a large cat, but has put on a fair bit of weight whilst in kennels. They weighed him before he left, and he was 8.9 kg, which is apparently almost twice what he should be. That's quite a weight to find laying on your chest in the morning!!