Useful Thread For First Time Cat Owners: What To Do If Your Cat Is Terrified And Won't Come Out

Greetings, fellow feline enthusiasts! How is everyone feeling this Friday? We hope y'all are feeling great, doing great, and being great. We don't know about you guys, but we've recently been on our 'what a day to be alive' type of shi. Or should we say… what a day to adopt a cat? 

We recently stumbled upon a Twitter thread that pretty much any cat person can relate to. The thread started off with someone posting a photo of a tiny kitten hiding behind the toilet. They wrote, 'New baby is terrified, what can I do?'. 

Fellow cat people did not miss the opportunity to chime in with advice, cat tax, and tons of emotional support. While reading through this thread, our hearts grew stronger and warmer because we realized that so many amazing cat people out there with impeccable patience work tirelessly to get their cats to trust them. 

Have a look through yourself and let us know if you have anything else to add! 

Author image for elina lee elina lee
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  • 01
    Product - Michael's Cat @michaelscat2 New baby is terrified. What can I do? 110 2:11 PM Oct 9, 2022 PyTwitterAssistant for michaelsc :
    via @michaelscat2
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  • 02
    Cat - Therese in NW @Thereseinpdx Replying to @michaelscat2 Be patient. She feels safe there. Go sit near her but let her come to you. Extend your hand & let her sniff you as she feels comfortable. Over the next few days/ weeks she'll gradually feel more comfortable & start to explore. Us cat lovers have all been there! KYNODA For FR9SN LERANAGER I ام ( ⠀ 7:16 PM Oct 9, 2022. Twitter for iPhone
    via @Thereseinpdx

    "Be patient. She feels safe there. Go sit near her but let her come to you. Extend your hand & let her sniff you as she feels comfortable. Over the next few days/ weeks she'll gradually feel more comfortable & start to explore. Us cat lovers have all been there!" 

    The last part couldn't be any more true. This is something that we all go through, it's part of the cat owner experience. 

  • 03
    Cat - Sarah @s_marshy_ Replying to @michaelscat2 I had one of these. I lay on the floor, to be her level or below, and tried to coax her out by playing with (toy on a string). Slow going but we got there and the result was all the more precious. Keep going! 8:24 PM Oct 9, 2022 Twitter for iPhone
    via @s_marshy_

    "I had one of these. I lay on the floor, to be her level or below, and tried to coax her out by playing with (toy on a string). Slow going but we got there and the result was all the more precious. Keep going!" 

    It's all about patience, dedication, and love.

  • 04
    Automotive tire - LLOGIE Cin as in challblues25 @challblues25x2 Replying to @michaelscat2 Give them time... he/she will come out- my kittens stayed in bathroom for days / would "creep out" and explore at night but return to bathroom- now they rule this house lol 2:53 AM - Oct 10, 2022. Twitter for iPhone
    via @challblues25x2
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  • 05
    Font - Judith McHale, MA.Ed., LPC @JudithKMcHale ... Replying to @michaelscat2 Don't try to force her out of her safe place. I have a cat who was raised in a shelter. He hid on a kitchen chair behind a tablecloth, I'd leave a treat for him and talk softly. It took six weeks before he finally approached me. I never pushed him to be anyone but himself. 4:45 PM - Oct 9, 2022. Twitter for Android
    via @JudithKMcHale
  • 06
    Cat - Sarah Glaze @SarahGlazeBKK Replying to @michaelscat2 We've just been through this with our new baby who was rehomed with us. It took Smudge a week to come out of hiding. She was skittish and scared of every new noise. Now, well, she a big lump of cuddly love. Hang on in there. Good Luck ... 12:00 AM - Oct 10, 2022 Twitter for iPhone
    via @SarahGlazeBKK
  • 07
    Cat - DancesWith Cats @PJKathmandu ... Replying to @michaelscat2 Be patient with kitty. A cat I adopted at 10 months old was very timid. It took months and months before she'd let me pet her. She'd watch me giving affection to my other cat & I knew she wanted my attention. I would talk to her & try to comfort her with kind words! 4:08 PM - Oct 9, 2022 Twitter for iPhone
    via @PJKathmandu
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  • 08
    Product - Alex Grant @AJfonzarelli Replying to @michaelscat2 I just adopted a cat from Dunedin cat rescue and they use the 3/3/3 Rule, which rings true for me having had cats all my life It Doesn't Happen Overnight The 3/3/3/ rule is a general guideline for the adjustment period of a pet after adoption. Every pet is unique and will adjust differently. Please have patience and allow your new pet time to settle in. . 3 Days To Decompress Feeling overwhelmed May feel scared or unsure of what's goin
    via @AJfonzarelli
  • 09
    Cat - Overeducated CatMom in NC @ToniNBloom Ⓡ & Replying to @michaelscat2 This was my Tigerlily after I brought her home. She hid under there for several days. I kept food, water & litter nearby and sat in the room with her. She eventually came out and curled in my lap. 8+ yrs later we are BFFs! 1:52 AM. Oct 10, 2022. Twitter for iPhone
    via @ToniNBloom
  • 10
    Cat - Melinda Tolley @MelindaTolley Replying to @michaelscat2 This fun rescue boy hid for 8 days before emerging for brief periods of time. Food, h20 & time. It'll happen! 9:18 PM - Oct 9, 2022 Twitter Web App +
    via @MelindaTolley
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  • 11
    Wood - Alan Zarek @AdziszAlan Replying to @michaelscat2 This was Whiskers in the first week after he came home with me in February 2014. Took about six weeks for him to build trust. Be patient. 9:41 PM - Oct 9, 2022 Twitter for iPhone
    via @AdziszAlan
  • 12
    Shelf - Jackson Heathen @HeathenJackson ⠀ Replying to @michaelscat2 You could start by fixing him a nice place up on a shelf or somewhere else higher up where he feels safe and can look around without having to hide under that sink. 3:25 AM - Oct 10, 2022 Twitter for Android
    via @HeathenJackson
  • 13
    Cat - Kristin Fehrman @KristinFehrman Replying to @michaelscat2 Calmness and patience! I spent a lot of time with my Ollie in his "safe room" where he hid under my bed in his cat bed. I would sit with him for hours to get him used to me. Squeeze Up treats worked well to gain trust. After a month he came downstairs and eased in beautifully! 3:32 AM - Oct 10, 2022. Twitter for iPhone
    via @KristinFehrman
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  • 14
    Product - StormHare's Evolution HO @FuriousHare Replying to @michaelscat2 Give it time. Holly was hiding all the time during the 1st weeks. I talked to her softly when she came out to eat and she eventually warmed up. 10:12 PM Oct 9, 2022 Twitter Web App SOME
    via @FuriousHare
  • 15
    Cat - SC Replying to @michaelscat2 It took my adopted cat 4 weeks to come out of hiding, a lot of hissing & growling. She is very much at home now. Just takes space & time. Strength Cards @StrengthCards_ 10:11 AM - Oct 10, 2022 Twitter for iPhone
    via @ StrengthCards_
  • 16
    Font - Robert Sweeney @BobJSweeney Replying to @michaelscat2 Only feels like yesterday that our two were hiding on top of the curtain rail. Now, one is asleep on our bed and the other on the sofa. They'll be up soon to demand their tea. 4:12 PM Oct 9, 2022. Twitter for iPhone
    via @BobJSweeney

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Cats cat owners kitten feral hiding place stray trust scared scaredy cat terrified
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