That is what I just asked his royal majesty when he leaped up into my lap the minute I sat down. Me thinks, Bentley is home. There was no hiding for this boy last night. Because he hadn’t gone missing very long, I just merged him in with the others and there was no fighting or posturing. He slept on my chest all night, becoming quite indignant when I wanted to change my sleeping position. Right now he is head-bumping the beejesus out of my hands as I type, as if to say:”How dare you NOT pay attention to me.”
He seems no worse for his experience, just intent on keeping me within his eyesight. Mike said last night when I went outside to feed, he meowed the entire time I was gone. I guess he loves me- LOL The feeling is mutual.
I haven’t gone out to feed yet. There is a chill in the air and I am not yet brave enough or awake enough to go and face 35 degrees- in April! Instead, I think I will curl up with a good book (just got Darlene Arden’s latest book) and I can’t wait to go through all the gorgeous pedigree cat photos as she shares her experience with these amazing cats with the world.
Goofy is my next project to socialize. He is coming out now when I go into the room and he is staying out unless I make eye contact accidentally and then it’s spit-hiss-hide.
I have a cat Jordan- she has been with her new adopted mom for 55 days now. Jordan came to us as a young kitten who was destined to be snake bait until I got there in the nick of time. She has siamese in her- but no color points. She was adopted out to a family not soon after arriving here, but they didn’t keep her very long as she doesn’t like other cats. I put her in foster care, she hid for about 9 days then came out and joined that family. I then adopted her out by the time she was 2 years old, to a really nice elderly woman in Portland.
Jordan has not come out of hiding since she was placed in the home. It is confusing because when I took her there, I had to bathe her before I could leave her. She’d urinated all over herself in the carrier. She was good with the bath, and although she was hiding a bit afterward, she did come out a few times to be admired, then she ducked back into hiding.
As I said, this has been a 55 day adoption and several times, I have been notified to come and pick this cat up, but at the last minute, a change of heart, another try with different measures being taken: feliway, soothing music, etc…
Now apparently, the only way Jordan is staying out is if this wonderful woman (who again is elderly) lies on the floor. Once she is completely prone, Jordan comes out and stays out! Now I applaud this woman for wanting Jordan so badly that she is trying all these things but my instinct is to just go and get her because something isn’t right. I don’t know if there is a trigger nearby; a scent, a sound, or something that drives this cat into hiding? I know I can’t expect this elderly woman to have a life that only takes place while she is lying on the floor. I can’t imagine my mother even doing something like that, so I know this woman loves this cat.
If anyone has any ideas- please post them here. I know the gentleman who first contacted me about a cat for this woman frequents my blog so he will see the ideas and perhaps one will click?
I’ve only had in the past one cat who hid from his adopted family for three months. Then one night, Rocky came out and stayed out and is living the high life on 10 acres in Scio. But with Jordan to have hid this long is quite puzzling. She only comes out to eat at night and is using the litter pan, drinking water etc.. This poor lady who has all this love to give Jordan is being robbed of a beautiful companion who instead of seeking out laps finds instead, dark holes and closets to hide in.
Here is jordan at the last foster home:
I can’t seem to get these two off my mind. While I have no ideas about Jordan’s strange behavior I can offer prayers and my admiration for Jordan’s new mom. Anyone willing to go the extra mile for her cat is a hero in my book. These two ladies belong together. Has she tried a calming product? Perhaps a mister? I used a plug in unit and it helped my situation.
Praying!!
Marian in Houston
Yes the feliway plug diffuser is currently in use. I also suggested the pheremone collar not sure if they are using that at this time.
In Jordan’s case, I’m wondering if an Animal Communicator might not be required to get to the bottom of it. They can work via phone, so even if she isn’t in a “big city”, it can be done.
Has she tried the Harp CD?
I have mentioned it, unsure whether they went through and bought Diane’s music though
Was there a big dog living in that house before? Something is definitely freaking out that kittie.
Will Jordan play with toys, or a catnip mouse? Anything along those lines? Maybe a wand toy will tease her out for a chase.
Does Jordan have anyplace ‘up’ she can get to easily? Shelves or a cat tree, something like that? Maybe moving something like that close to a popular hidey hole will make her more comfortable.
It has to be a sound or smell because it started while she was still in the carrier. The lying prone is really odd. And what would scare that baby so badly that she urinated all over herself? That’s pure terror.
What a beautiful girl!
Some cats just take longer to adjust to new surroundings. Seeing how much this woman cares about Jordan, I would let her stay longer to see if she can get comfortable.
I adopted a one year old who was very cautious of our main living/dining floor, I suspect due to the very high ceilings. She has been with us for a little over three years now, and is still cautious of anything new, and dislikes the stereo stands, always peering between the components.
She is a real love bug with me and my husband but standoffish with anyone else. I sort of prefer the kitties that take a little longer to decide you are safe.
I have scaredy cat that still, at 7yrs, likes it best under the chair. She purrs & purrs but loves that cover. Now, we’re not granny age but we’re down on the ground a lot. Yea, it’s a pain but not so much when we hear her purrs. If Jordan is a scaredy cat, that just be his way.
Feliway definitely helps! Just a bit pricey so we save for those weeks after annual Vet visits when she needs an extra boost of calm.
No it is common for cats to pee or poop in their carrier on car rides and Jordan pees going to the vet which is only 25 minutes from our sanctuary. This initial ride up there was two hours long. I had dry fur pads in the carrier, but those don’t stop the urine from sticking to fur on the legs.
Is there something that she especially liked while with you? Something that would coax her out?
My littlest girl, Mia, had a very hard beginning. Before she came to me she was abused, was put out of the house, and after becoming pregnant, miscarried and suffered health issues which left her close to death. She recovered and while progress has been slow at times she recovered and she learned. She learned what toys were. She learned that they would not be taken away from her. She learned she could say no. She learned she had a Mommy and the right to sit in her lap and that would not be taken from her. This is why Jordan’s story touches me so. It makes me think of Mia. It takes time and it takes patience on both sides. I had to give Mia space when I didn’t want to and I had to let her test out her new environment and make it her own. Maybe that is what Jordan needs too?
Still Praying!
I have a scaredy cat too. She spent her first 4 weeks here hiding under the bed. I just took it real slow and let her go at her speed. After about 3 months she finally made a visit to to the top of the bed when I was asleep and now she sleeps curled up next to me and sits on my lap. All I did originally was take it slow and not force her to do anything. I tried feliway and stress treats and nothing seemed to help. The thing that I think helped her the most was adding a second cat. I got a super chill male cat and she watches what he does and seems to learn from him. After 4 years she’s still a scaredy cat, but she’s an absolute love bug when she wants to be. I’m also starting her on Jackson Galaxy’s Scaredy Cat formula so I’ll see if that works – I’ve tried his formulas for other issues and they’ve helped, so I’m hopeful this might calm her down a little more. Good luck!
It has been decided by all parties (unless someone changes their mind) that I will go and fetch Jordan tomorrow. From what I am hearing, it sounds to me like Jordan has a health issue and they can’t capture her to take her to the vet. I hope to take her last foster mommy with me to make this capture a bit more successful and take the edge off the day for sweet Jordan, I will take her to the vet first thing Monday morning and see what is up. The cat described to me late last night is a far cry from the cat I initially dropped off.
Glad you are picking her up. Something is just not right and she is not happy. Good luck and sending prayers your way.
If everyone thinks she may be sick than you are her best option now. Sick is very different than scared. Unfortunately, the behavior is so similar, it’s easy to miss. Especially if the cat is new to the house. Glad you’re getting her. Good Luck!
I am wondering if there is a ghost in that house. Our one cat, Ashlyn , would stick to one room hiding beneathte bunk bed and thati ncluided using that area to poop and pee. She would never venture out of the room in that house. Once we moved to an apartment Ashly acted totally different. she came out and enjoyed the cat trees and wondered the apartment. Some cata are more sensative to such things then others.