Cat Sitting Advice

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'm taking care of a friends cat for a week or so while he's on vacation. I've never had a cat before and would like some advice on how to make the little furball feel at home at my place.

tonight is night 1 and she is quite scared and nervous about being here. She has found the litter box and food where I've left them, which is good, but beyond that she is very unsettled and scared.

Any tips that I can use to make her more comfortable in a new place?

[Dan02]

i find trying to avoid actually sitting on the cat helps(or stepping on)

although once my neighboors left their cats with me, they came home to one fewer a few weeks later. So maybe i'm not the person to ask for advice.

Now their cat might have been ancient and died of natural causes but i still think they don't trust me like 10 years later.

[ken0042]

Nothing settles a cat down like giving them their own carrier:

Kitty Carrier

* Note- no actual cats were harmed in the making of this joke.

[FunkMasterFlame]

Be sure to have a camera within arms reach at all times for potential lolcat moments.

[Prototype]

I'm no expert... no experience in the matter... but I would give it a day or so to figure out the surroundings, while keeping an eye on it... I think the cat will come to you when it feels cafe, but right now it's a new place, and it has to check things out.

Maybe a toy or a treat may help, but I think cats are independant enough that it'll check out the surroundings, and let you know when it's settled.

[jammies]

What I did before was open up a closet and leave some old towels in a dark corner, where the cat could go lie down and feel like she was safe. Don't go approaching it, let it get used to the place, then she'll come out. The key is not to push it, just let the cat dictate the pace of affairs. It'll take a couple-three days, then, as long as you've shown yourself to be trustworthy and the source of food, it'll come around.

[CaptainCrunch]

I hear cats like really dark cold places, like the inside of a freezer. And after a couple of hours in there, it won't be running anywhere or clawing your face.

[flylock shox]

Actually, a good trick for nervous cats is to give them a saucer of milk with a little brandy in it.


Rohypnol also does the trick.

[Dion]

Some treats and catnip

[spydermal]

Temptation treats is seriously cat crack.

[Devils'Advocate]

Don't do anything.

Anything that you do will stress out the cat.

Cat's abhor being placed in new environments, which is why I pay for a cat sitter to come to my house rather than leave them with friends. Since there is no way to relieve the stress of being in a new environment, you can relieve the stress of some strange human doing strange things.

The cat will eventually start roaming around on its own. Once it is out and about, temptation treats, shoelaces, catnip socks will make the cat happy.

And don't worry too much about the cat being skittish. They are naturally scared animals like rabbits. Whenever I have friends over, my cat hides under the bed. Heck, the cat hides under the bed when the snow plow goes by.

[urban1]

Theres some good points in these two posts.

Ill add this;

-Let the cat do its own thing. Some cats are more shy and timid while other cats are adventerous and brave. If this cat is shy it may not be very outgoing during the whole week its with you.

-Make sure its litter box and food are somewhere quiet... that cat should feel safe and not worry about someone sneaking up on it.... so in a quiet corner or under a table in a corner or a closet.

-Give the cat somewhere to sleep. The towels idea in the closet is a good one. Did the owner of the cat give you a blanket or a basket the cat sleeps in? Create a small space for the cat and show it to the cat. It may take to it quickly or it may find its own space.

-Dont be loud or aggressive around the cat.

Originally Posted by jammies

What I did before was open up a closet and leave some old towels in a dark corner, where the cat could go lie down and feel like she was safe. Don't go approaching it, let it get used to the place, then she'll come out. The key is not to push it, just let the cat dictate the pace of affairs. It'll take a couple-three days, then, as long as you've shown yourself to be trustworthy and the source of food, it'll come around.

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Don't do anything.

Anything that you do will stress out the cat.

Cat's abhor being placed in new environments, which is why I pay for a cat sitter to come to my house rather than leave them with friends. Since there is no way to relieve the stress of being in a new environment, you can relieve the stress of some strange human doing strange things.

The cat will eventually start roaming around on its own. Once it is out and about, temptation treats, shoelaces, catnip socks will make the cat happy.

And don't worry too much about the cat being skittish. They are naturally scared animals like rabbits. Whenever I have friends over, my cat hides under the bed. Heck, the cat hides under the bed when the snow plow goes by.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Thank you all.

I tried setting up some pillows and towels in a walk in closet/storage room along with a scratch rug provided with from the owner. She hasn't gone near it and instead keeps going on top of one of my dining chairs which is tucked under the table. this is fine by me and she seems to be comfortable there.

The food and litter have been no problem. She is getting to those fine.

I guess I'll just let her be then, and not expect too much attention. Maybe I'll pick up some temptation treats and that's that.

[Resolute 14]

DA is bang on. Cats will find the food dish and Litter box immediately once you point them out. Hunger and natural functions will bring the cat out. Otherwise, give them a nice, warm place to sleep - ie blankets in a quiet corner, and let the cat take the rest from there. It will start exploring on its own, and eventually will come out to say hi.

[sclitheroe]

It's worth noting too, that even if the cat never comes out of hiding to be friendly, it's likely just fine. Just keep providing it with food, water, and clean littler.