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Question:

>I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the >SPCA.

Hi Jeff, Congratulations on your new family member!!! >Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how to >open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such >type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the >washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however >this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time.  

I have a cat that could open the same type doors to my washer machine area.  I got a hasp and installed it to the doors.  Problem solved.  I think once they decided this is the place they can go, they want to go there all the time. Better for kitty to find another safe place.  I was afraid of him being "accidently" locked in all day.Good luck. Cyndy

Response:

> I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off. > What should I do? > Thanks > Jeff

I am always inclined to err on the side of being patient and letting the cat take things at his own speed.  I would suggest creating a space somewhere (in a corner of a quiet room, in a bedroom closet, or some such) that he can go to as a snug retreat.  Use a cat bed or a cardboard box laid on its side with a folded blanket.  Use catnip to attract him to it and give him a couple of days at least before you block his access to the laundry closet. Your kitty might benefit from some Bach flower remedies.  Go to your local health food store and buy a bottle of Rescue Remedy and perhaps a bottle of Walnut.  Put a few drops of each remedy in his drinking water each day. These should help ease his anxieties over the transition into your household.  www.specialneedspets.org/flowers.htm Good luck.

Response:

Ditto what Cyndy said, kitty’s behavior is understandable but there are lots of other hiding places.  Our cat (formerly a stray) likes the furthest-back-and-hardest-to-reach spot she can find under the futon in the family room. I’m sure your cat will find another hiding spot… I’d lock the door to the washer/dryer! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hey there, > I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the > SPCA.  I brought him home last evening and he was mighty scared, hid in > his "room".  He finally came out at night and of course kept myself and my > partner up all night prowling around, meowing, etc etc. > Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how to > open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such > type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the > washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however > this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time. > 1) It’s very hard to see him back there > 2) That door needs to remain closed most of the time due to traffic > reasons…not to mention aesthetic reasons > 3) It’s very very hard to get him out of there > I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off. > What should I do? > Thanks > Jeff

Response:

Give him some time. Let him have the laundry room for now. He’ll get over it. He just needs a base of operation to go on his exploratory missions. As he feels more comfortable and secure in his "home", he’ll probably come out and may even forget about his first safehouse. Good luck! Laney

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the > SPCA.  I brought him home last evening and he was mighty scared, hid in > his "room".  He finally came out at night and of course kept myself and > my > partner up all night prowling around, meowing, etc etc. > Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how > to > open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such > type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the > washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however > this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time.   > 1) It’s very hard to see him back there > 2) That door needs to remain closed most of the time due to traffic > reasons…not to mention aesthetic reasons > 3) It’s very very hard to get him out of there > I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off.   > What should I do?

What a clever cat. I agree with the person who said you should leave him to chill and come out in his own time – he probably will in a day or two if you don’t try to grab him but just spend a lot of time talking to him soothingly. If he’s already been out for a prowl that’s very encouraging. You might be able to accelerate the process of persuading him out by providing him with an alternative safe place. If you get a tallish cardboard carton, open both ends and lay it on its side to make a tunnel, you might find that he hides in there instead. You can make it appealing by putting some kind of blanket (e.g. an old sweater) and possibly a catnip toy inside. Alison

Response:

>I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the >SPCA.

Hi Jeff, Congratulations on your new family member!!! >Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how to >open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such >type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the >washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however >this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time.  

I have a cat that could open the same type doors to my washer machine area.  I got a hasp and installed it to the doors.  Problem solved.  I think once they decided this is the place they can go, they want to go there all the time. Better for kitty to find another safe place.  I was afraid of him being "accidently" locked in all day.Good luck. Cyndy

Response:

> I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off. > What should I do? > Thanks > Jeff

I am always inclined to err on the side of being patient and letting the cat take things at his own speed.  I would suggest creating a space somewhere (in a corner of a quiet room, in a bedroom closet, or some such) that he can go to as a snug retreat.  Use a cat bed or a cardboard box laid on its side with a folded blanket.  Use catnip to attract him to it and give him a couple of days at least before you block his access to the laundry closet. Your kitty might benefit from some Bach flower remedies.  Go to your local health food store and buy a bottle of Rescue Remedy and perhaps a bottle of Walnut.  Put a few drops of each remedy in his drinking water each day. These should help ease his anxieties over the transition into your household.  www.specialneedspets.org/flowers.htm Good luck.

Response:

Ditto what Cyndy said, kitty’s behavior is understandable but there are lots of other hiding places.  Our cat (formerly a stray) likes the furthest-back-and-hardest-to-reach spot she can find under the futon in the family room. I’m sure your cat will find another hiding spot… I’d lock the door to the washer/dryer! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hey there, > I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the > SPCA.  I brought him home last evening and he was mighty scared, hid in > his "room".  He finally came out at night and of course kept myself and my > partner up all night prowling around, meowing, etc etc. > Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how to > open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such > type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the > washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however > this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time. > 1) It’s very hard to see him back there > 2) That door needs to remain closed most of the time due to traffic > reasons…not to mention aesthetic reasons > 3) It’s very very hard to get him out of there > I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off. > What should I do? > Thanks > Jeff

Response:

Give him some time. Let him have the laundry room for now. He’ll get over it. He just needs a base of operation to go on his exploratory missions. As he feels more comfortable and secure in his "home", he’ll probably come out and may even forget about his first safehouse. Good luck! Laney

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the > SPCA.  I brought him home last evening and he was mighty scared, hid in > his "room".  He finally came out at night and of course kept myself and > my > partner up all night prowling around, meowing, etc etc. > Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how > to > open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such > type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the > washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however > this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time.   > 1) It’s very hard to see him back there > 2) That door needs to remain closed most of the time due to traffic > reasons…not to mention aesthetic reasons > 3) It’s very very hard to get him out of there > I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off.   > What should I do?

What a clever cat. I agree with the person who said you should leave him to chill and come out in his own time – he probably will in a day or two if you don’t try to grab him but just spend a lot of time talking to him soothingly. If he’s already been out for a prowl that’s very encouraging. You might be able to accelerate the process of persuading him out by providing him with an alternative safe place. If you get a tallish cardboard carton, open both ends and lay it on its side to make a tunnel, you might find that he hides in there instead. You can make it appealing by putting some kind of blanket (e.g. an old sweater) and possibly a catnip toy inside. Alison

Response:

>I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the >SPCA.

Hi Jeff, Congratulations on your new family member!!! >Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how to >open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such >type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the >washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however >this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time.  

I have a cat that could open the same type doors to my washer machine area.  I got a hasp and installed it to the doors.  Problem solved.  I think once they decided this is the place they can go, they want to go there all the time. Better for kitty to find another safe place.  I was afraid of him being "accidently" locked in all day.Good luck. Cyndy

Response:

> I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off. > What should I do? > Thanks > Jeff

I am always inclined to err on the side of being patient and letting the cat take things at his own speed.  I would suggest creating a space somewhere (in a corner of a quiet room, in a bedroom closet, or some such) that he can go to as a snug retreat.  Use a cat bed or a cardboard box laid on its side with a folded blanket.  Use catnip to attract him to it and give him a couple of days at least before you block his access to the laundry closet. Your kitty might benefit from some Bach flower remedies.  Go to your local health food store and buy a bottle of Rescue Remedy and perhaps a bottle of Walnut.  Put a few drops of each remedy in his drinking water each day. These should help ease his anxieties over the transition into your household.  www.specialneedspets.org/flowers.htm Good luck.

Response:

Ditto what Cyndy said, kitty’s behavior is understandable but there are lots of other hiding places.  Our cat (formerly a stray) likes the furthest-back-and-hardest-to-reach spot she can find under the futon in the family room. I’m sure your cat will find another hiding spot… I’d lock the door to the washer/dryer! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hey there, > I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the > SPCA.  I brought him home last evening and he was mighty scared, hid in > his "room".  He finally came out at night and of course kept myself and my > partner up all night prowling around, meowing, etc etc. > Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how to > open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such > type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the > washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however > this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time. > 1) It’s very hard to see him back there > 2) That door needs to remain closed most of the time due to traffic > reasons…not to mention aesthetic reasons > 3) It’s very very hard to get him out of there > I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off. > What should I do? > Thanks > Jeff

Response:

Give him some time. Let him have the laundry room for now. He’ll get over it. He just needs a base of operation to go on his exploratory missions. As he feels more comfortable and secure in his "home", he’ll probably come out and may even forget about his first safehouse. Good luck! Laney

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just adopted a beautiful big (14#, about 1# overweight) cat from the > SPCA.  I brought him home last evening and he was mighty scared, hid in > his "room".  He finally came out at night and of course kept myself and > my > partner up all night prowling around, meowing, etc etc. > Now…it seems that this cat has learned in his previous household how > to > open folding closet doors.  My washing machine and dryer are in one such > type closet.  He has taken to opening the door and hiding behind the > washing machine.  I am glad that he has a place he feels safe, however > this isn’t a place I want him to be in all of the time.   > 1) It’s very hard to see him back there > 2) That door needs to remain closed most of the time due to traffic > reasons…not to mention aesthetic reasons > 3) It’s very very hard to get him out of there > I am torn between blocking the door so that he can’t open it versus > letting him chill in there for a few days till he feels safe and secure > in my household at which point I would block it off.   > What should I do?

What a clever cat. I agree with the person who said you should leave him to chill and come out in his own time – he probably will in a day or two if you don’t try to grab him but just spend a lot of time talking to him soothingly. If he’s already been out for a prowl that’s very encouraging. You might be able to accelerate the process of persuading him out by providing him with an alternative safe place. If you get a tallish cardboard carton, open both ends and lay it on its side to make a tunnel, you might find that he hides in there instead. You can make it appealing by putting some kind of blanket (e.g. an old sweater) and possibly a catnip toy inside. Alison

Response: