'I just want to help my new baby boy': Pawrent adopts a shy 7-month-old kitten and faces a heartwarming struggle to help him settle into his furever home one paw step at a time

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Aug 19, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

A hopeful but frazzled pawrent has just adopted a seven-month-old kitten, and life has become a pawsitively tense adventure. The tiny furball is irresistibly cute but skittish, turning every entrance into a suspenseful game of hide-and-seek. A private cat sanctuary with food, water, litter box, and treats is set up, yet every attempt at interaction feels like tiptoeing through a minefield of claws and silent judgment.

The pawrent is unsure of the right approach. Should food be offered by hand or left on a plate? Is staying in the room too much or too little? Each encounter feels like walking a tightrope over judgmental paws, while the kitten darts away at the slightest sound. Still, the kitty eats, drinks, and uses the litter box perfectly. They're slowly getting used to their new home, proving that this new pawrent is doing something right. 

Having only known docile, affectionate family cats, this shy newcomer is a whole new ball of yarn. Each day is a careful mix of patience, observation, and quiet panic, as the pawrent tries to make their whiskered roommate feel safe… and maybe, eventually, allow a cuddle or two.

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  • 01
    'I just want him to have a good quality of life, and be less stressed'
    via chrishumphreys1 / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hello! This is my first time posting on here, and I don't really know how it works, but I'm slightly desperate. I adopted a seven month old cat about 10 days ago, and he's the absolute cutest, but very skittish. He has his own room in my apartment with everything he needs, since that seemed to be the consensus of what's the best plan of action for a cat's adaptation to a new environment.
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 03
    I live by myself and spend most of my day in my apartment, apart from when I'm at college. I don't bother him much, only going into the room to fill up his food bowl and water fountain, clean his litter box, and sometimes offer those little tubes of wet cat food.
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 04
    He hasn't eaten any form my hand, and I didn't expect him to, so I just put them on a plate after ten minutes of holding it out to him, or when he seems to be uncomfortable with it. I sometimes just hang out there for an hour or two, without trying to force an interaction out of him, just to get him used to my presence.
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10543623168
    via vladeep / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    He's been "hiding" between the wall and the bed the whole time, and he always scurries away if he happens to be out when I come in. He's eating, drinking water, and using his litter box pretty normally. He doesn't hiss at me unless I'm standing over him, which I've refrained from doing since the first time it happened.
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 07
    I've had cats my whole life at my parents' house, and I was always active in taking care of them, but we never had cats as scared as him; always incredibly docile and affectionate, from the very start. I am now in college and living away from them, and this is my first cat that's not the family pet, and I want him to have the best life I can possibly give him.
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 08
    I guess what I'm after is reassurance that I'm doing things right (that is, if I am) (please correct me if I'm not!), and that it's just a matter of waiting for him to "come out of his shell". I understand that he may not ever be as affectionate as my family cats, and I'm not expecting him to jump into my lap straight away;
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10543617536
    via bondarillia / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    I just want him to have a good quality of life, and be less stressed. Advice is welcome and I'll answer any questions anyone has. I just want to help my new baby boy.
    via Little-Fall-9501
  • 11
    Playswithdollsstill If you aren't gonna be home, leave TV or radio on not blaring but to get the cat used to sound. I have watched YouTube with feral kittens and read them Reddit AITA posts to get them used to me.
    via Playswithdollsstill
  • 12
    We have one feral who was catatonic for like 5 days and took 6 months to leave the basement bedroom. Now he sleeps where ever he wants whenever he wants and started singing for us at night. Our feral housemate doesnt like human contact
    via Playswithdollsstill
  • 13
    except for my sister, but does hang out around us where we can see her. Its been 9 years with her.......meanwhile we caught a neighborhood feral and he is happily sleeping on the bed in his new home after only 2 months.
    via Playswithdollsstill
  • 14
    Each cat is different and they all take time. Just hang out and let them get used to you and your routine and talk to them. Dont force interaction as that can give them a bad association with you. Just be patient and calm and give them time.
    via Playswithdollsstill

  • New kittens are basically tiny judgmental ninjas. Leaving a little background noise, TV, music, or even YouTube vids can trick them into thinking humans are less scary. Patience wins.

  • 15
    RatherRetro My cat stayed in his litter box for the first day..... he gradually came out and treats really helped her to come out of hiding. She loves to play finally. It took about a month for her skittish behavior calmed down. Even now after 4
    via RatherRetro
  • 16
    month i still have to hold my hand out for her to sniff before i can pet her. She still is not cuddly but loves to play and eat treats from my hand. Good luck to you.
    via RatherRetro
  • 17
    Substantial_Hall87... 10 days is still new, give him maybe some extra comfortable hiding spots (even if it's just boxes with blankets in them lol) and maybe I would try to spend more time in the room with him (if you aren't already), even if you just do your own thing it will be good to coexist in the same room. And lots of patience :) im sure he'll come around
    via Substantial_Hall8737
  • 18
    lovepeacefakepiano I'm on week four of our new kitty hiding from us. I go inside "her" room 3-4 times a day. I always bring her something small (a toy, one single treat) so she knows good things are coming from me.
    via lovepeacefakepiano
  • 19
    For the last week or so, she pokes her head out of her hidey hole to look at me. Never for long. Sometimes she even slow blinks at me. It's small but it's a start. Ten days is still decompressing time. Does he eat the tube treat with you in the room? If yes that's huge!
    via lovepeacefakepiano
  • 20
    One more thing you can do, after setting the treat down, sit as far away from him as possible on the floor and read to him. Just get him used to the sound of your voice, for ten minutes or so at a time.
    via lovepeacefakepiano
  • 21
    Tapdancer556011 If you are okay with sleeping. with him, you could take a nap on the floor or the bed. I found that some of the shy ones like to sniff around and get to know someone when they're absolutely no threat at all.
    via Tapdancer556011

  • Kittens need time to decide humans are not terrifying. Just sitting quietly in the same room, or even taking a nap, lets them get used to your presence without feeling threatened. 

  • 22
    AnotherDarnDay It's important you don't force the cat to come out of hiding. He needs to adjust and every time you pull him out you reset the process. Make sure kitty has food and water and litter box close to where he's hiding. Kitty will come out when it's quiet. He needs to learn your sounds. and your routine before he feels safe.
    via AnotherDarnDay
  • 23
    You can sit in the room he's hiding and be quiet and still and see if he'll come to you on his own. But he needs to feel safe first. And it's not an easy process. It takes time and patience
    via AnotherDarnDay
  • 24
    OkFault3313 All totally normal things!! I adopted a 3 year old cat like 6 months ago and he was the same way (maybe not as extreme but very similar) and you are 100% doing it right. Let them build their own boundaries. My cat hated when me and my boyfriend would stand up even if he was across the room too. It seems to be ur
    via OkFault3313
  • 25
    kitty is just a shy scared dude. You kinda gottta put it into perspective that not only is this a new home but this is also a kitten who's barely been on this earth so he's got waaaay more adjusting to do them the average adopted cat. I definitely think give it some time my cat started acting like an ENTIRELY different cat around 3 months- So don't worry to much!! You're doing great!
    via OkFault3313
  • 26
    miti3144 Kitty needs months but will come around. Be patient.
    via miti3144
  • 27
    kiwiera My calico is sooo skittish and anxious too. She immediately hides when she hears the doorbell and is terrified of strangers. If a new person comes over (even someone she's met before), she will promptly go into hiding for the next two weeks. I've lived with her
    via kiwiera
  • 28
    skittishness for years, but she warmed up to her family and the love/excitement is unbelievable. It takes time, and the time will pass before you know it. You are doing right by your kitty. Good luck <3
    via kiwiera

  • At the end of the day, this little kitty just needs more time. Give it a few months, and with patience, it will start to warm up and trust you. 

  • 29
    Emotional_Shift_8... I would open the door to let him explore. Spend some more time in there just quietly coexisting, and let him make the first move, and be patient, he will come around :)
    via Emotional_Shift_8263

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Cats kitten adopted advice cat owners feline pawrents rescue heartwarming
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