The quick answer
Provide a quiet, secure room with food, water, a litter box and safe hiding places. Let the cat come out by choice; do not pull it out or force contact. Keep familiar smells and food, and monitor eating and urination as well as confidence.
Hiding can be a coping strategy
Unfamiliar smells, voices and movement can feel overwhelming. Hiding helps a cat control distance; it does not mean the cat dislikes you. Check whether it eats or uses the litter box when the room is quiet.
Keep safe hiding spots available, but block spaces where it could become trapped or injured. A box with a comfortable exit is better than repeatedly reaching under furniture.
Start with a safe room
Choose a quiet room and separate food, water and litter. Bring a familiar blanket if available, and initially use its existing food and litter. Avoid changing several things at once.
Keep the open carrier as a retreat. Introductions to resident pets need gradual scent and visual exposure; do not immediately put everyone together or give unrestricted access to the whole home.
Offer contact without pressure
Sit nearby, side-on, speak quietly and avoid staring or reaching into the hiding place. Offer a toy or suitable treat at a distance and let the cat decide whether to approach.
Expand its space when eating, exploration and relaxed resting improve. Postpone visitors and baths. Progress may be uneven, so use the cat’s behaviour rather than a fixed number of days as your guide.
Watch health as well as confidence
Record food intake, drinking, urine, stools and energy. Observe gently rather than pulling the cat out for repeated checks. A hidden cat that eats normally is different from one that is becoming unwell.
Contact a vet if an adult cat approaches a day without eating; seek advice sooner for kittens or cats with medical conditions. Straining without urine, open-mouth breathing, severe weakness or repeated vomiting needs urgent help.
Common questions
Should I pull a cat out from under the bed?
Not if it is safe there. Keep essentials accessible and reduce disturbance. Injury risks or illness may require veterinary guidance.
How long does settling take?
Some cats improve within days; others need longer. Look for progress in eating, toileting and relaxed behaviour rather than setting a deadline.
Does refusing touch mean it dislikes me?
No. Allowing the cat to choose contact helps build trust.
Put it into practice
Sources & further reading
Compiled by the miaomap editorial team using the references below for basic care principles.
General care information cannot replace individual veterinary advice. Contact a vet for illness, injury or sudden unusual changes.
