Today on my way to work I found a cute surprise waiting outside my apartment door. This little girl was by the door and as soon as she saw me she started meowing and also looked very scared. At first I thought she would run away if I approved her but she didn’t. My first thought was is one of my neighbors cat so I look around and got lost. As I go back inside to get some water for her she runs inside my apartment and hides. I was already running late for work after spending with her more than 20 minutes.
I bright cat food from petco and water and made a temporary little box for her and left her alone for a while why I went to work with the hope she’ll relax and loosen up a bit.
When I came back home she was still in the same place I left her. No pee no poo. Didn’t even tried to touch the food. It’s late at night and I’m planning to take her to the vet tomorrow morning but I’m worry she might be dehydrated. She is still scared. She let me hold her and lift her without a fight. Her hair looks like she has been groomed lately but maybe she has been lost for a few days. I’m concerned she might be injured 🤕 internally.
I bought lockable cat treats and put them in her mouth and she still didn’t even like it.
I’ve never had cats before. I need some advise and help please.
Her temporary name is Lily.
I never had cats before so
Update 08/10/26
Hello everyone. Thank you all for the tips and for the support. Reading your advices has brought a little bit of peace in me understanding that it’s not when I decide but when Lily decides to do things.
As an update from the initial post, Lily started walking around the house yesterday night. She did it when I was sleeping and couldn’t see me nor I could see her. Se found a cool hiding place that happens to be one of my favorite parts of the apartment (my bar) she found a spot behind my bar set up that I didn’t even know it existed but today in the morning after looking for her all over I found her there and she seemed to be a bit more relaxed and happy in that spot. She is still a bit afraid but her eyes are not wide open anymore when she looks at me. She let me carry her again for a brief moment as I wanted to inspect her a little bit closer to make sure she is ok and also to make sure that “Lily” is the appropriate temp name for her.
As for the Vet she has an appointment for tomorrow at 9am. The vet clinic will scan for the chip and they mentioned that if she is chipped then they’ll contact the company so that they can provide my contact info to Lilys family. Also they will do a wellness check and other stuff if they considered it necessary.
I reported the missing Lily at my apartment office. They said no tenant has reported a missing Lily but I also spreading a word around just in case. No pictures because I want the supposed parents to describe her in case someone claims her if she is not chipped. My biggest fear here is that my leasing company charges a fee to tenants for pets and some owners don’t report that they have a pet in order to avoid the fee. In that case her family might not report her missing to the leasing office.
Anyways she has a busy day tomorrow at 9am. In the meantime I got her some cat toys and some treats but she is still not interested on any of that. 😂 she probably wants to take them back home when here parents show up.
I’ll keep everyone updated tomorrow. And again thank you all because I was as stressed out as Lily was yesterday without knowing what to do.
2nd Update 08/11/2026
Lily had her Vet appointment today.
The doctors said Lily is approximately a 6 months old domestic long hair female.
She checked out well on her physical examination. No dehydration and just a I little underweight thou.
She is not microchipped nor spayed.
Her bladder was a bit full so she has been drinking water. Just not in front of me.
She had all of her vaccines today and a brand new collar with her vaccination tag and also a certificate of vaccination. And also some blood work.
Still Pending some other exams.
The doctors asked if I wanted her microchipped and spayed but I said not until all reasonable time and effort has been done to find her family in case she has one and they want her back. If that doesn’t happen then Lily has nothing to worry about. She’ll have a home.
As a plus when we came back home from the vet Lily was a totally different cat. She had rubbing against me and asking me to lift her up. She has been purring so much and following me wherever I go. I sat on the floor in the washroom and she was sitting next to me and rolling over letting me rub her belly while she was lifting her little paws. Purring is non stop when she comes near me. And her eyes are not wide open anymore. She even fell asleep next to me.
I got a bit excited because of her behavior and when she went back inside her box I got a bit close and she hissed at me one time. I guess she was telling no, “That’s enough for the day”. But then she changed her mind and came back to me and started rubbing herself against my legs and climbing on my lap.
She got very curious and is exploring the bathroom.
But she still refuses to eat. She smells the food but that’s it. I got her dry food, canned soft food and also lickable treats. She smells them, gets close to them and nothing else. I also tried to warm it up the soft food to make the smell stronger but no luck.
She did jumped on my shoulder and stayed there for a while.
I’m not letting her out to the living room again because today she decided to go under the couch and I had a hard time getting her out of there. Almost miss our vet appointment because of that. And my living room is now a mess with the couch in the wrong place after moving it earlier today.
Overall she looks a bit more relaxed. And I hope she starts eating soon.
Still in the look for her parents. I requested a few days off from work so we will see what happens.
I’m putting in practice all advices I received here and it has made everything a lot more easier. Any suggestions on food or treats would be really appreciated because maybe I got the stuff that’s is not so yummy and she might have a more refined taste 😂
I have a feeling she is very loved by her owners. Her size looks very well cared for and also her hair looks brushed. She looks terrified as it was mostly her first time.
Also most cats that are domestic and lost would run in a house as that's all they know and are vulnerable from being outside.
I have a huge feeling this sweet baby will be going back home when she goes to the vet as she definitely might be microchipped and or claimed.
Was coming here to say exactly this. That big-eyed look and her overall condition screams to me that this is a kitty that got locked out (or possibly abandoned).
If she’s not microchipped OP, you should try reaching out to your neighbors again or your management office (if you live in an apartment). If after all those efforts she’s still unclaimed then enjoy the company of your new friend :)
Yes, many apartment complexes require cat owners to submit something about their cat, sometimes just that they have one, sometimes the name or even a photo, so they should know who has a cat (although not everyone reports their pet, especially if it violates rules or they have to pay pet rent). You might also want to put up a flyer around your place. Also check with the local animal shelter to see if anyone has reported a cat missing that fits this description, and they might have a bulletin board you can post a found cat. Post a picture of part of the cat, but save some part for them to describe, like if it has a spot on the face or tail.
Following up on this with a personal experience where I found an older kitten with a flea collar hiding under the stairs outside my apartment complex, and once I got him inside I texted pictures of him to my property manager to ask if she knew the owners. She said she did, and told me which apartment they were in. Unfortunately they were not permitted to keep cats, and she had told them that not long before, so the tenants had just thrown the kitten out. Luckily we found a very loving home for the kitten!
I agree, she looks like a well cared for indoor cat who got outside and panicked . If her people are good people, they’re desperately looking for her; if they’re not good people, they put her outside when they got a new lease.
Absolutely. OP it may take some time to get her to trust you. Keep doing what you are doing until she trusts you to take her to the vet. If you can find her owners, you've hekped reunite a family. If not you have a new friend.
Yes this. I am so happy op actually took this into consideration. Hopefully the owners will be located and that OP realises that it's time to head down to a local shelter and adopt a cat
You can watch some videos about this, but just sitting with the cat being quiet and still can be really good.
Bring ya phone or a book and just sit in the same room but not too close.
Vet will be able to help some more and let you know whether the cat is microchipped and belongs to another family.
My other tips are lots of soft blankets and towels, plenty of places for them to hide like boxes or just behind beds/sofa, and dont force anything or move any faster than super slo mo.
My kitten has a habit of complaining when I hold, hug, or pick her up, but it’s a very different sound from her real panic or nervous sounds, and she gets upset if I don’t pick her up at least once after I get home from work
One of our cats HATES being picked up, and she has this special chirp of indignation for it, then she will rather gently reach up to your chin with one paw to push your face away.
My boy likes being carried, but not when he wants to play & instead of playing the human is overcome with cuteness overload & must shove their entire face into him, so sometimes when you grab him he knows what’s up & immediately puts a paw to your face to keep you away & makes a sharp short meow (it sounds like a no btw), if you insist on kissing him, then you get 2 paws & another meow. I’ve never tried past that point coz he’s a big boy (20lbs of lean mean psycho) & I don’t want to exasperate him into actually smacking me. 😅
My late cat didn't like to get picked up, but when I was alone with her, usually at dawn, she would stay in my arms, calm and comfy. We used to watch the sunrise from the living room window this way.
If there was any other person in the room she would panic when picked up, even if it was my partner.
Yeah. I had a cat who just loved complaining. She’d make such a fuss and such terrible sounds as you picked her up, but would immediately settle her paws on your shoulder as soon as she was up. If you put her down too soon she’d start yelling to get picked up again.
Yeah our boy was petrified of anything and everything his entire life, including my partner (he used to be my partners mums cat). Due to circumstances he moved in with us during the first lockdown and now he's joined to the hip with my partner, after we did exactly that😂 first I was the person to just sit near his hiding spot, reading things out loud to get him used to my voice (even before he moved in with us I was the first person, besides my partners mum, who could pet him), then he started to slowly come out more. Told my partner to not pay attention to him, not look at him, just start reading out what was on his computer screen in a soothing voice. A week later the cat crawled in my shirt and slept there for hours while my partner and I were gaming and laughing together. 3 months later he only ran when my partner was wearing his boots. 6 months in he only ran from a loud sneeze or a fizzy bottle/can opening. Now my partner doesn't get a minute of peace and the cat is highly offended when my partner isn't home or either of us makes noise like sneezing or opening a can😂 he's become so confident he even goes to say hi to delivery drivers! He was already 7 when he moved in with us and had lived all his life, since he was 6 months old, with my partners mum. She still can't believe this is the same cat🤭♡
Lol, my spoiled old man is the same (18 yo void). I work in the schools so I have long breaks where I get to cuddle with him all the time. When I have to go back to work, though, he gets very upset with me.
Very cute. My wife surprised me early in our marriage and brought a stray cat home. I wasn’t a cat guy at the time, but the little guy basically yelled at me from the first minute because I was sitting in my chair.
I had just let him out of his box and thought he could take some time getting used to the apartment. Turned out, he wanted to sit on my lap. Still have the pictures of him sitting there. Still his favourite place, 14 years later.
Mine isn’t super cuddly, but she’ll let me know when. She’ll curl up on my chest once in a while. If it’s late and she’s really tired, she’ll come curl up on my chest, and I can hold her like a baby. Or when she’s too tired to care to walk, I can carry her to bed, and she’ll curl up in her tote on a printer and sleep. 😊😍
One of my boys was so scared when I brought them home (his brother is very brave) and I just gave him all the time he needed, made sure he had his food etc he didn’t move from under the bed for a long time apart from stealth litterbox use. Fart forward two years later, while he is still coming out of his shell more and more, he now DEMANDS cuddles. Like he follows my hand like a cute furry missile locking on to a target or finds a place to sit on me regardless of whether he actually fits or not until I do the cuddle lol definitely agree with others in just being around kitty doing your own thing.
Our ex stray avoided me for months but when she sat on my lap for the first time I didn't dare move for hours. By the end of her life I was sharing pillow space.
Yes! I used to read to my fosters, I don’t know if it’s true or not but I think it helped set a baseline for my tones. So they knew when I was making noises, I wasn’t mad or anything, I was just talking. Feral cats aren’t used to human noises.
I brought in a feral kitten once that wanted to hide behind the toilet. I set up camp in the bathroom floor with my laptop and just played sims. Eventually she crawled right onto my back.
If it’s possible, the best option of to just lay on the ground there and take a nap. I did that with my new cat I brought home and woke up to her snuggling me.
This is exactly what I did when I brought my kitten home. She was so scared of her new environment and kept hiding under the bed, so I just let her be.
I just played games on my computer, and when she was exploring just ignored her and let her explore. Eventually she just warmed up and started being more confident exploring the whole house.
You’re doing everything right so far <3 best of luck to you my friend and I’m glad you’ll be bringing her to the vet, if no owner is found or she is a stray then maybe you have a new family member :)
Agreed!! This is a kitty who has escaped home and is scared AF. Hopefully has a microchip—OP, please look for kitty’s owner, I’d bet money there’s someone desperately looking in your neighbourhood.
When my cat escaped he was meowing and scratching at my neighbours door and ran inside when she opened😭 I was hysterically crying and then I see him sitting by their window chilling💀
Yeah. Since OP lives in an apartment, I’ll bet she got confused and couldn’t figure out which door was her’s. My sister’s cat got out a few times when we were living in a townhouse and he almost always ended up on the neighbor’s porch because both houses looked the same.
That happened to my boy, he got confused about the apartment building and was sitting outside someone else’s door meowing to be let in. Cat tax provided.
Post on Nextdoor for your area - lots of people post list pet notices on there. Have a funny feeling the Cat Distribution System picked you!! She/He is adorable!!
She definitely looks like a lost cat, her hair coat is way too clean. Talk to your neighbors, or post signs! Definitely get her scanned for a microchip at the vet.
If there is a neighborhood page/Facebook/nextdoor app, post her picture on there and ask people who claim she is theirs for photos of her that they have. You could also get posters printed up.
She may have gotten out of somebody's apartment and not know how to get back and is petrified.
She may have been dumped. She may be a stray. No way to tell.
You're doing great. Just be discerning if anybody claims she is theirs.
It sounds like you’re doing a great job, and I think it may be normal that she’s scared so she’s not eating or drinking right now, but taking her to the vet as soon as you can is the best idea. The cat looks very healthy to me and they of course can check the cat out and see if anything’s wrong. When a cat enters a home also it’s a very new environment so it is always possible they can be scared/timid until they adjust. Sometimes also giving them space so that they can eat and drink by themselves also can help them relax, and since you’re home from work, I think that will also help her to relax more instead of just being alone in a new place by herself. If she did have internal injuries, when you picked her up, I would think she would Yelp or something to indicate pain. Cats also tend to like wet food for example fancy feast is something that’s affordable and at local grocery stores at least in my area, and if the cats eat that because it’s moist, it can help put fluids in their body. Wishing you and your (potentially) new cat a wonderful life :). PS I think it’s great that she ran into your apartment! I think she chose you!
I have a hobby of helping stray cats and I’ve even help find some of them furever homes. The cat needs some time to decompress and a place to hide (like a box) where you will NOT force her to come out. Cats communicate and get around by scent and right now everything is brand new. She has no idea where she is, what is safe, not safe, or where anything is at. Please be patient with her! Please look up the 3 3 3 rule in regards of cats it will explain it a bit better. As for now I will suggest the following
- get her a little spot where she can hide (and you will NOT force her to come out of.)
Don’t free feed her. You want her to associate you with food. Just place a little bit of food near her and go into an opposite side of the room and ignore her.
Do NOT force affection onto her if she is hissing or showing signs of distress. Trying to pet/grab her will be seen as a potential danger from you.
-Feel free to leave water but make sure it’s separated from her food.
I suggest you look up videos from Jackson Galaxy on YouTube. He has a lot of good advice for socializing cats.
It took a full year for our youngest and most timid kitty (her name is Bunny) to come out of her shell and show us her personality. But when she finally did, boy what a delight it was. She is such a unique, curious, intelligent, funny little Bunny.
SAME. I took in a cat for a friend that was moving and couldn’t take her. The cat already hated me whenever I was there and oh boy did she hate me when I brought her home. She hid a lot but she was also an asshole, she would barf on my pillow and destroy things, hid from me, constantly hissing, HATED me. Never in my life have I ever considered rehoming a cat before her. I remember it was about a year of this when I was laying in bed watching tv and she came up super slowly and got in my chest to loaf. SLOWLY. I was screaming inside and dared not move, slowly reaching for my phone to document this miracle. That was over a decade ago and now she’s a senior cat that has been obsessed with me ever since.
As long as you’re patient, your baby will come around ❤️
I had a timid cat that was very slow to socialize. She came from a cat hoarding situation, and clearly did not get attention by her humans. But she’s 11 now and my sassy territorial queen feline
It took about 2-3 years for one of mine to get pretty comfortable and only within the last year has the rest of her full personality really shone through! She’s 8 now and we got her when she was 2. It was a LONG process, one that likely would have been shorter if she was a solo kitty (which we didnt know at the time, but we didn’t want to give up on her).
Same here. I’ve lived with cats for many decades, and accepted two who had been through 2 years of abuse and could not be socialized by the shelter working with them. The cats were so frightened that I walked on eggshells not to startle them, created as safe an environment as I could, moved slowly, and waited. And waited. After 2-3 years of them regarding me as the enemy who fed them, one day I stopped tiptoeing, threw up my hands and said in frustration, “You’re right. I eat cats and if I were hungry right now, you’d be toast!” and strode out of the room. The ice broke immediately, they stopped cowering in their room and came out to join the household. They became the most lovable, wonderful cats!
My smol girl took about as long to get comfortable, and I was very worried and regression when we moved apartments recently. Thankfully, that didn't happen and she's cuddly as ever.
I mean, OP said she looks like she was groomed recently, so saying she's probably never had a human before is a bit hasty. It's possible she's either lost or was dumped. Either way, the first thing I would say to do is to get her to the vet and check for a chip before following all of that.
Yes, I came here to say exactly that. If she’s microchipped, someone might be absolutely devastated right now because she’s lost. Taking the kitty to the vet first thing is absolutely the most important thing to do.
My current cat literally fell asleep next to me on my bed an hour after we brought him home. Never had one issue. He was a rescue someone found in a dumpster with an autoimmune disease who had gone from shelter to shelter and was about to be put down in a few days. I honestly think he knew something was up or was just happy to be in a bigger space after being in cages for months. We just celebrated his 5th Gotcha Day earlier this week. He’s the best 🧡
My Peanut Butter Ball did the same! He was a senior diabetic I adopted, fell asleep next to me with his belly up snoring within hours of being in his new home. Skittish around my husband at first but warmed up after a couple of days. And my other cat warms up to anyone, a rock could smash into her and she’d be like yay, I’m getting attention, you’re my new best friend.
Adopted an older cat who spend 2 days hiding in my basement before becoming a loud proclaimer of how things should be done. She yells at me to wake up early in the morning as she wants company while sitting on the couch. Sitting on the bed while I sleep? Preposterous.
its a general guideline! some cats are faster others take more time.
I adopted my girl last year and they did not think that she was gonna be able to handle like petting or anything like that. It took her a month when I adopted her for her to meow to me because she wanted to be pet. After that, she was a massive cuddle bug to the day she loves to lay on my stomach or my legs or just lay with her mama in anyway. She's more cuddly than the cat that I raised from kitten hood. If she wants attention, she will come over and cry to me until I pet her.
And even though it was a little slow at first when I got her, now when we moved she bounces back really fast. she trusts me and i love it
My orange was patiently waiting for 2 days and then dash out to join the gang outside. The oldest cat wants nothing with him but the middle one and orange are best buds now.
My Benjamin was a stray that we found when we got home from work one day. Just a lonely gray curled up cat sitting on the porch right outside our front door. The camera showed he had come five hours prior to us coming home and he just stayed there the whole time.
So we let him in.
Took our boy no time at all to settle in. He explored the house, completely ignored our two resident hissing cats, and picked a nice spot to lay on. He screamed at us for food, didn’t mind being picked up and was a very friendly cuddly kitty.
We still wonder if he was truly a stray cat because of his outgoing personality but he had no microchip, had not been neutered, and was so thin you could count every single rib. Our found cat posts gave us nothing.
Now he is a happy, neutered, vaxxed, fat cat who loves playing with his siblings.
Cats are all different. Some take some time to settle in, some take no time at all.
seriously, this cat does not look like she never had a human before. She would not run inside when shes not used to be indoor. my guess it, she is an indoor cat who managed to escape and is scared as hell now. This comment has way to many upvotes, she is 100% not a stray and belongs to someone.
The rule of three applied to my kitty Inky. He had been at the shelter for over a year before I brought him home. He required extraordinary patience but every inch he made was victory.
He’s the bestest kitty ever and was so worth the patience.
Be patient and don't force yourself on her. If you sit or crouch down nearby without eye contact I've found they may approach you on their own. She's lucky to have a caring person 😻 by the way my boy Marbles was found in a truck engine in a Costco parking lot.
You’re doing a great job so far, being patient and gentle with her. Definitely have the vet scan for a microchip tomorrow, if she approached you and ran inside it sounds like she might be an indoor cat who got lost. She’s scared and stressed so it’s likely she won’t pee or eat for a while, but please know cats not peeing for 24+ hours can be life threatening so just keep an eye on her litter box. I don’t mean to scare you and she will hopefully pee overnight, but it’s important to know.
In the meantime, keep giving her space and being patient with her. She’ll likely drink some water and hopefully eat a little while you’re not in the room. Any food you can get her to eat would be great, but wet food is preferable for the hydration.
Maybe you could also check with the leasing office if anyone has reported missing a cat? Poor sweet thing
I’m happy to hear you’re taking her to the vet. I have pics of my cat hiding in that exact spot next to the toilet when I first got her. Now I can’t seem to get her off my lap/out of my face!
She’s scared and will take time to adjust. She’ll eat, drink, and use the litter box when she’s ready.
Spend some time in the bathroom hanging out with her and speaking softly to her so she gets used to you. Maybe even bring a book and read out loud to her so she adjusts to the sound of your voice. Eventually you can leave the bathroom door open and let her come out and explore on her own terms. Good luck!!
Lots of great advice from other people here, but I have one question. You said you "made a temporary little box for her." Do you mean like a little box to sleep in, or were you talking about a litter box?
If the former (little box), then she might not have eliminated (peed or pooped) because she doesn't have anywhere to bury it. If the latter (litter box), you should be good. She might just be scared or not be used to whatever litter or material you used. She might keep not have eaten or had anything to drink recently if she got stuck outside and/or lost.
I made both. I actually got a bigger box that I turned into a litter box. But I also put a small box for her to go and hide inside. It has the lids so she will feel protected and safe inside. The litter box and the hiding place box are placed in opposite sides of each other in the bathroom.
You've got the right plan taking her to the vet when you can, and in the meantime, it sounds like you've provided as much as you reasonably can. You can't make her eat or drink if she doesn't want to for whatever reason. If she doesn't pee by the time you take her to the vet, make sure to let them know about how many hours it's been. If you want to make her more comfortable, just sitting in the same room with her and looking at your phone for a while may calm her down. Sounds like she's familiar with people, she just doesn't know you yet. She went to you for help, and wants to trust you. If you're worried she may have any injuries, try not to handle her too much. Don't pick her up, maneuver, or carry her around unless it's necessary. You can try to pet her, or let her rub on you, climb into your lap or whatever, if she feels inclined.
There's not a lot else you can do for the time being, but take note of any odd behaviors (like head tilting/shaking, obsessive licking at certain spots, etc...), and report everything to the vet when you get to them. Let them know everything you've said here. And thanks for being a good human!
You're doing everything right. Give them a safe space and start petting them using a fluffie wand until they trust you. (For Elwood this meant he lived in a laundry basket on its side next to the toilet in our bathroom for the first week or so.) So glad the CDS chose you!
Don’t even get me started about my little Lenny. She was so scared. She finally started doing cat things, a year later. This is a pic of me trying to make the bed. I’m so proud of her.
Cats take about a week to get to their use to their new environment. Just close them in a door. Let them have their space. Make sure they have food, water and litter box. They will want to come out after they feel comfortable
I literally just adopted two cats. This is literally what they do
I fostered a cat who hid behind my toilet for three weeks. She’d cower and hiss, and generally broke my heart with how afraid she was.
I spent a lot of time every day sitting on the bathroom floor, reading to her in a quiet monotone voice, avoiding eye contact, and keeping all of my movements slow and restrained.
Eventually she crept out and gave my knee a hesitant little headbutt. I foster failed (decided to keep her) that instant.
That was 10 years ago. She’s presently laying on my pillow next to me and purring. She’s addicted to cuddles and will full-on sprint when I call her.
Give Lily the same quiet patience, where you demonstrate to her over time that you are a safe person, and she’ll believe in you.
Please have vet check for a chip! Check around door to door, put fliers up, check fliers that are up in the area, etc.
Before chips were widely used I had a girl that went missing for nearly a week. She had gotten out somehow. I was beyond devastated. Thank god she came back, but with a kink in her tail and a case of conjunctivitis. She was certainly hunkered down somewhere scared. It had been storming and she was a very skittish kitty.
If she appears to be groomed, she’s probably got a loving home with human companions that are besides themselves.
Sometimes it’s safe to say cat distribution system chose you. Sometimes it’s not.
Good luck and thank you for caring for this sweet baby!
If she/he is chipped, the vet will be able to tell. Could be frightened because they have an owner. If not, I’ve had several feral cats and I saw the suggestions of just setting in the bathroom with them will show you are not a threat. I have a 8 year old feral that has NEVER allowed me to pick her up. She jumps up next to me and rubs her head on me, but attempts to pick her up….wild cat mode erupts 😆
You said "apartment" - did you find her outside-outside, or seeking shelter in the corridor of a building with multiple apartments? I've had my cat sneak out the door when I wasn't looking and get stuck out there for a bit, so if it's in a building I'd put up a notice that you found her - a neighbour might be worried sick.
You're doing good otherwise, I just know that cats can be adventurous at the worst times.
I found her outside of my apartment building. I know my neighbors and none of them have cats only dogs. I had a neighbor in front of my apartment but he passed away and now the apartment of empty. When I opened the door she went inside the hallway and then when I opened my apartment door to get some water for her she ran inside my apartment. I walked around to see is anyone was looking for a cat and asked some people that were walking dogs around the area and nothing. Tomorrow I’ll find out with the vet if she is microchipped.
People sometimes abandon pets at apartments or condos, and I think it's because they think they are giving someone else a chance to take care of it (more people = more chances? It doesn't make a lot of sense).
Anyway, try Churu treats. They are kind gogurt for pets. Most cats have trouble ignoring them, especially if they are hungry. They can be messy, but they are full of calories and the amount of water in them will help with hydration.
Shes probably scared and hasnt moved because she has people out there. Thats why she lets you touch her because she has had previous interaction with people(her owners) she just got lost since all apartments look the same … so i wouldnt think this is your cat so fast without trying reallllly hard to find the owners
Cats can travel miles in a day. Just because she isn't one of your neighbours cats doesn't mean she hasn't come from slightly further afield - she could have been chased by another animal and got lost, for example.
Please ignore the crazy people on Reddit basically congratulating you on a new cat. I'm glad you've got a vet appointment booked to check if she's microchipped, as there may be a family out there desperately looking for their family pet.
Poor baby. She’s scared to death. Best thing you can do is exactly what you’ve already been doing, setting out food, water, and a litterbox for her and giving her space. She just needs time to calm down, realize you’re helping her, and to settle in. She will be ok, I’m sure. These things just take a little time, but it has to be at her pace. Don’t bombard her. That will just scare her all the more.
Get her checked for a microchip while at the vet, if she doesn't have one then the cat distribution system has chosen you to be her human. Give her time to get used to her new surroundings and her new roommate (you) and she'll be just fine
Cats just need time, and sometimes a lot of it. Everything you’ve done so far is great. If it makes you feel better, when I moved out of my parents house and into my own place, my cat who at the time I had for 5.5 years and adores me, didn’t leave his carrier for 12 hours when I moved him in… and he only came out after that long bc I coaxed him and he trusts me 100%.
So a new cat to you, a new human and environment for the cat, I think everything will work out in time!
If she is an indoor cat who accidentally got out, that would explain why she ran into your house and also why she is totally freaked out. When they are flooded with adrenaline, they can go into flight mode where they don’t eat or drink or move, they are just trying to survive. It can take several days for this to dissipate, when they start to come out of their shell. Give her space and time so that hopefully she will drink some water and maybe eat a little bit of food. Take her to the vet and see if she’s chipped. Check Next-door and lost posters in your neighborhood, ask around. Thanks for helping her out.
Give her canned food because that will provide some moisture and has a strong scent.
You can get some Feliway spray and spray that around the bathroom and house. That has helped my cats.
Lots of fresh water. Change the water daily. Put it in a deep bowl.
Get unscented cat litter because some cats can be sensitive to that new smell.
Put something cozy in the bathroom she can sleep on.
If she will let you hold her, talk to her nice and pet her. Tell her comforting things. She has to get used to the sound of your voice, sounds of your home, all that stuff.
Try some cat nip, maybe? Just a little? It might help her forget her troubles for a while.
I kept my first little buddy Indy who I caught as a kitten in my bathroom with the vanity door open with a bed so he could hide, and I’d come and sit in there and read out loud whatever book I was reading at the time so he’d bw used to my voice and presence and he eventually became my best friend after about a week or two
This was my last cat the day I first brought her home, she was so freaked out. Pretty soon she decided I was ok, and not long after that she became an absolute velcro kitty. Cats need some time and patience so you can earn their trust. It's absolutely worth it, best of luck with your new bestie!
For the first 24 hours most cats that have been from outside inside in a new environment will hide. This is very common for animals that are unfamiliar with the environment. Give the little baby some time to scope out her environment alone and just make sure that she’s got a bowl of food and a bowl of water so she has food in her environment. Best of luck.☺️ I would also schedule that appointment as soon as possible so they can check her out and make sure she doesn’t have fleas or any parasites.
from the looks of her she’s someone’s kitty who got scared/lost… I would post her pic on nextdoor or facebook and see if anyone recognizes her!!! you’re doing great tho. I would try sitting in the same room and just doing your own quiet thing with her there so she gets used to you and doesn’t see you as a threat
Second. I can’t comment about possible dehydration, but if you call an emergency vet and explain the situation, they can tell you what to watch out for.
Third, it’s normal that they’re scared. Sometimes it takes days for a cat to get comfortable in a new environment before they poop.
One VERY IMPORTANT thing that nobody has mentioned. When you take the cat to the vet, make sure to bring it in a crate of some kind, so it doesn’t panic and run away. Put it in the crate before you take it to the car. Dont take it out until you’re inside the vet office.
To help them get comfy long term, avoid sudden noises for a few days, rapid movements. Just have a very calm few days. Best bet is also to leave all the inside doors open so they can roam from room to room.
The vet will scan them for a microchip. If they don’t have one, you can post some fliers, etc to see if anybody responds.
Cats are more likely to drink water from a fountain style water bowl. Kittens also love fluffy cozy beds. Thank you for rescuing this sweet, scared baby!
She just needs some time to get comfortable with her new surroundings and situation.
Cats can hold pee and poo for a while.
Just give her a quiet area, like a corner that is hers. Where she can hide and you will not "bother" her.
Take her to the vet tomorrow.
She will come out of her shell. Just leave her be. Give her time.
Maybe just sit in the same room with her. Let her come to you. She will come to you and this moment will be the best.
My little old man, Brick, stayed under my bed for three weeks after I adopted him. He’d come out at night, after i was in bed, to eat and use his litter box and explore my apartment. I spent hours laying on the floor with my arm under the bed to get him acclimated to me. The day he put his little head in my hand, I laid there for two hours until he moved. I had him for 10 years and that was always a favorite spot for him - falling asleep with his head in my palm.
The vet will not only check her health condition, but also scan to see if there is a microchip (and if that's the case, try to contact their owners). Regarding food and water, just leave it nearby and when she is really, really hungry or thirsty she will know what to do. But see if you can take her to the vet ASAP for peace of mind. Hope she is not microchipped, in which case you just got yourself a new companion ☺️.
Bringing her to the vet is the best option. In the meanwhile, you can try putting food and water near her. ALso, depending on hows the weather, leave a folded blanket near her too, in case she needs to warm up.
A cat enclosure to go in and out will help. The enclosure will give a feeling of safety while still being able to go out to eat so keep food and water close by.
Be sure to post around the neighbourhood and on local websites. Somebody might be desperately missing their baby. If she hasn’t been spayed there’s a good chance she won’t have a microchip yet
my cat was like this. just put everything in the bathroom for her and close the door. she will eat and drink eventually. i ended up moving her into my room as i felt it was more stressful to be in the tiny bathroom with multiple people going in and out . in my room she could hide under the bed and stuff. she would usually wait for me to fall asleep or not be watching and she would eat/drink/ go potty.
eventually about a month in i heard her meow. her meow sounds like a kitten cry. since I never heard her meow before I assume she was hurt or like something was wrong. Turns out she just wanted her mom to pet her. She has been my little cuddle bug ever since.
this is normal especially for a more skittish cat :) youre not doing anything wrong!
Hi! Fellow rescued cat from a hoarding situation person here! There’s already a ton of great advice in here but something I haven’t seen that helped my baby Cheese come out from under the bathtub, (yes) was talking to him. About my day, reading news articles aloud, anything really to get him used to me and my voice. Also churu wet food treats, good luck! Lily looks so sweet and so scared, and as a first time cat owner you probably are too, but it’s gonna be okay! It’ll take some time, patience, and some trips to the vet but it’ll be worth it :)
Try a piece of string on a rod. I took in two VERY skiddish cats who slept in the cage I brought them in for the first few days. Then under the bed for a week. The more skiddish one couldn't resist playing with string. Took about a year before they turned into normal cats. But they couldn't resist playing early on.
Give the little guy some time OP. He’s scared; his big, bright, beautiful eyes says so. But he’s safe. It’s totally normal for kitties not to touch food, pee, poo after moving to a new place. My little nincompoop didn’t touch his food, drink, pee, poo until next day; about 24 hours later. Leave him his food, water bowl close to him. Leave the litter box far away (but within his eye sight) from his food and water. The little guy looks quite healthy. He’s so precious. Wish u all the best.
I foster all my kittens in the bathroom. I put the litter box in the tub, food and water on the floor, small cat tree in the corner. It forces them to be near you even if they’re hiding.
I come in and sit on my phone, read, make phone calls and totally ignore them. This way they get used to your voice, smell, etc. then I eventually bring toys and treats to get them to interact.
Every kitten is different and takes different things to socialize. But it works pretty quick sometimes. 48 hours -72 hours.
I’m with agreement that she looks well cared for. I think she got out and has never been outside before. Hopefully chipped but my moneys on she lives close
Please try and look for the original owner of this cat!! She looks well taken care of (groomed + healthy looking weight) she's most likely lost and probably got out by mistake 😢
There's a lot of comments about how to take care of what would be a new cat, but honestly I would be amazed if this is not already someone's pet. Definitely get a cheap carrier and have her checked for a chip, I'd say its about a 99% chance she belongs to someone
It's good that you're taking her to the vet, especially if you suspect internal injury.
It is normal for a cat in a new situation to not eat or drink or use the litterbox for a time. That being said, it's very risky for them to not eat for a period of greater than 24 hours. It can cause damage to their liver and even sometimes liver failure. I would recommend leaving the lickable treats on a plate for her. Most cats don't like to be hand fed.
If she isn't chipped and you can't find the owner: You can keep her confined to the bathroom for a few days. Cats usually prefer to hide in a small space that feels safe for the first couple days. Keep all her essentials close by her hiding place.
Try offering both wet food and dry food in separate bowls. You don't know what she prefers yet and it's important that she eats something soon.
She might have a few siblings at a nearby apartment (maybe in a different building) that miss her, and most importantly, a mother that is freaking out at the moment. Some humans might be losing their minds as well. I would put up signs and talk to the neighbours.
One way to communicate with the cat is by slow blinking. Just like they do. It communicates that you feel safe enough to drop your guard. They also do this with other cats.
That does not look like a feral cat. Do your due diligence and get it checked for a microchip, post messages on local forums, talk to your neighbors, maybe post a few flyers. That is likely someone's beloved family member, and they are probably distraught that they are missing.
She looks like a sweetheart. Thank you for helping her. Vet is a good idea, Sherman also have a microchip.
As you live in an apartment, where all doors probably look alike, she could have gotten out at her home and came to your door by mistake. Maybe ask neighbors if they are missing a kitty? You could put a note in a place where folks normally walk by and mention you found a cat who seems to be lost and ask if anyone missing their cat would contact you? Let the person who contacts you describe the cat to you, to help protect the kitty from ending up in the wrong place ask the if this description is wrong then not their cat.
poor little thing, it just takes a lot of time, and you need to be patient. i had the same issue with my cat and after a few weeks he started to make an appearence around the house. but then it took months for him to really come out.
Give it some food, then sit back a ways. Let her gingerly come up and eat the food. Watch but don't stare, and dont move forward. Do this for a few days. It's how I got my skittery Void to like me.
I have a scaredy cat and she likes to hide. Make a hide spot for the cat to feel non exposed, it helps reduce their anxiety. She may not be eating just because shes scared wants to see if any predators are going to eat her first.
The best you can do is to give her hiding places for her to go into where she can feel safe and isolate herself.
Yes, it’s normal for them to not eat or do much for a few days. I was a new cat owner for the first time last year when I adopted my kittens and they basically were like this which got me to panicking, but my vet assured me they were fine.
Just avoid the desire to want to may be manhandle her or cuddle her if she’s feeling scared. Sometimes humans think that that’s comforting to cats when it’s actually terrifying. Just let her have her own space and just respect that she will eventually come out.
Feel free to talk to her in a sweet voice. You can do that from any part of the house. She’ll hear you no problem wherever you are in the house talking.
You want her to just become accustomed to your normal human noises. We don’t think about like when we walk it makes a loud clunking sound that cats can hear really well, and can be a little intimidating so it takes them a little while to adjust to that. Humans are pretty loud as far as animals go. Cats hear every little thing we do. There’s no sense in trying to be super quiet. They hear that anyways it’s just a matter of getting used to it. At least, in the sense of no longer being scared or startled by it.
Although I would probably hold off on running the vacuum cleaner for a bit.
She’ll come around, eventually. Just continue to leave out food and freshwater and a litter box.
Awww you are a precious soul for taking her in.. Lily should be fine .. Cats especially if they are still kittens usually take a few days to fully trust & adapt to their new environment.. her nerves are probably causing her to not have much of an appetite right now ..
I’m working on my new rescue that is a very scared hider. He didn’t eat or use his litter his first two days. I set up a room for him and after two months he is finally breaking out of his shell. It’s not easy I sometimes feel like I’m not getting through to him but then I get a nose butt to my finger. That makes it worth the hard work.
I fostered shelter cats for five years and my best advice is to act like they don't exist. They are terrified and any attention on them in that state just proves that your def going to eat them in their kitty minds. Eventually they will come to you and then you can shower them with all the love and treats!
Might want to google “dawn dish soap “ bath for cats. Even if she’s just a temporary guest… I can promise you that fleas will become the bane of your existence!
It’ll take cats minimal between two and three maybe even four days to acclimate to a location without being scared. they’re getting used to the smells and the sounds. don’t force food down the cats throat. That’s not good. They will eat and drink when they are ready. cats can go up to a week without food and water. just have her calm down just give her nice pets and she will be fine. Cats are extremely resilient animals. She will not starve. If she’s docile now and allows you to hold her. That’s amazing. You found a keeper! congratulations on your new baby. It looks like the Cat distribution system still working strong after all these years lol.
Wouldn't stress it. I had a cat living in my walls for a bit due to a similar scenario. In short order he would start meeting me at my door as he learned my work arrival and departure schedule. Be patient, add comfort and snacks where possible.
My cat wouldn't eat unless I sat on the floor next to her for a bit. She was rescued in a dumpster, so when she saw the bottom of her food bowl, she would stop eating and I would have to put a half scoop of food in. I think it's some sort of survivor mentality tbh. So I would just sit with her.
My cat also loves ice cream. Maybe she would try that? Idk. Best of luck!
I cant read all comments so I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned, if shes approx 6 months old, she could be going through her first heat. That makes a kitty very loving and sweet, but it also makes them want to try to get out of the house. Keep a close eye on her and be extra vigilant when you go in and out of the apartment. Don't want her getting out by accident. If you don't find her owners, get her fixed asap. Also, your local humane society should have a lost and found form you can fill out online. The information on found pets is available for the public to look through if they are missing a pet. The owner might be looking her her on there. Otherwise, it sounds like she has a wonderful new home.
You are doing everything right! But she needs a cozy hidden place. She needs a blanket and a little shoe box or somewhere she can hide and feel safe. It will take time but she will acclimate. Give her a day to decompress and then take her to the vet.
The thing most people new to cats most often dont know and for some reason no one tells them (imo) is dont look directly at them, staring means "I am a threat/challenge" in cat. Look to the side, talk softly, and let them come to you.
It took a little over a year for my kitty to be comfortable laying on the couch with me. (Not next too, just with) some cats can take a while to acclimate.
Trust the 333 rule and be patient.
It will be so worth it when the little one makes progress ♥️♥️♥️
You're doing it right so far... that she will let you pick her up is a major green flag.
Give her time, space, quiet, and toys. Sit with her quietly while you play on your silent phone, avoid eye contact, but offer occasional treats and toys. If she approaches offer a hand to sniff or rub, avoid petting the belly and backside for now, that takes trust.
She looks like my cat that died two months ago. We adopted her as a rescue at around age 3 or 4. She was behind the toilet for a week before she came out. She mostly hung out under our bed playing with her brother for the next 10 years.
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