3 days and Burmese still in hiding

[tschock]

It's only been three days, but I'm a little concerned as I found vomit on the floor this morning.
Not sure which one did it, but would like to check on him.
I haven't seen him near the water/food dishes...nor the litterbox.( These were on the main floor until this morning )
I brought all those things into the downstairs bedroom this morning ( as no one goes into the basement much, and he prefers to keep well hidden.) I figured that if it was near him he just may eat/drink/go potty.

I don't want to intrude on him, but at the same time...

The Mau keeps going back and forth between us and the Burmese...he's becoming more playful, and enjoys belly rubs. He sat on my lap for about 10 minutes yesterday, so he's starting to get more comfortable.
Turns out he's afraid of mice...
The youngest wants to name him Elephant ( because of the mouse episode )...I suggested Eli for short lol.

Anyway...should I check on the other one? If I go down there he will likely feel trapped. I want him to come out on his own.
Starting to think that the gentelman wasn't telling us the truth about him...like he isn't fond of kids, noises...and he isn't purebred like we were told...he's Burmese/Siamese mix...Burmese in looks, except for the blue eyes...which according to everything I have read suggests Siamese somewhere up the line. That's no problem, I couldn't care less what the cats look like or what breeds they are...we just wanted a cat, and those two boys needed a new home pronto.
The Burmese X also doesn't seem to like the Mau much...even though the guy said that they are best of friends, sleep together, etc. The Mau DOES stay close to him, but keeps about 6 feet or more away at all times.
Anyway, the point is, that I'm not sure how honest the man was...therefore I'm not sure how long they have been together, if they truly get along well or not, if the Mau is maybe a bully...so many things to think about. lol
Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, would it hurt to check on him? Will this just make him more nervous? Will he feel hunted? I do so want to become best of friends with him...and therefore I don't want to pressure him, stalk him, etc.
Should I have left the food , litter, etc upstairs to try and " force him out into the open " by thirst, hunger, etc?

Adult adoption is harder than I thought it would be. lol
I just keep trying to imagine how he feels. If it were me, I would want a friend to help me through the lonlieness...but I'm not him, he's not me.

[opus88]

found this in our health pages.....on introducing a cat to a new household, there maybe some helpful hints written there to know....cats are complicated creatures. :)

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Pets/Cat-Social-Behavior-And-How-To-Introduce-New-Cats-Or-People-Into-The-Family/show/415?cid=2

[opus88]

aligator, we over lapped.......that may help sure, worth a try....than Eli can see the little boy and know he doesn't mean any harm...
its all such a matter of just time and patience anytime you bring a new one into a strange environment, especially an adult kitty:)

[opus88]

I should add that 2 male cats don't generally bond that well in my experience anyway. I have 2 males myself here now, they've been together for nearly 8 years since one was a year old and the other was 1.5 years. they don't fight, but they don't really like each other either...each respects the others territory and they 'tolerate' one another.
So I kind of doubt the previous owner saying they were buddies.....:)

[aligator79]

Opus- would having the little guy go down and hang around with him, with mom out of sight but right there, since he is smaller?  I wouldn't even think about it with most little ones but he sounds like he might be able to understand that kitty is scared and needs some quiet with little guy time?

[opus88]

well you've taken on a real guessing game by the sounds of it.....sounds like they both really needed someone to step in and give them a home too before he wasn't handling things at all.

I think now that you've gotten his food downstairs near him and will get some variety down there to tempt him with, he should come around.
they don't sound as if either are ill, thank goodness. and your son sounds like a little darling, good he knows already how to respect and love animals...

so I do think its just getting him to eat...the rest will just be patience, he won't hide forever, he just needs to learn the new sounds/smells and layout of the new home.

go easy on the tuna, its just to tempt him....too much(and a fast change) of a new food will/can cause diarrhea. however who knows WHAT he was getting fed before. is the Mau eating dry or cans?
and NO diarrhea? than try to keep Eli's diet the same...but add just a bit of tuna to tempt him to start eating....
I'm betting that with the food down where he is hiding that alone will get him going, he was perhaps just too afraid to come upstairs....

[tschock]

Thanks for the quick reply.
The previous owner had stated that I would be getting half a bag of food to go along with the cats...there was no food...just an empty dish, litter pan, ( no litter as was also stated in the ad ) and a play mouse.
I think the man was broke...he looked terrible...very frail, skin and bones, etc.
His ad stated all sorts of " goodies " would be added...good thing that we went shopping the day before and bought everything that would be needed.
The cats are "plump" so I know  he fed them something. He did mention that he gave them Temptations cat treats. He also mentioned that they played with the cats that lived on the first floor of the building...so I'm thinking that the people downstairs may have been feeding them.

He said that the boys were GREAT with children, dogs, etc...but then again, he said alot of things that ( now ) don't make sense.

I have one ( almost ) 4 year old...the rest are grown men now. lol
Little guy wants to be a zoo keeper when he grows up, and he's very quiet and gentle with animals of all types. He doesn't lunge at them or anything. He's best of friends with the Mau already. They sit and bunt heads. lol
My mom has always had cats, and he's always been careful to be quiet around them. He knows he can't go looking for the Burmese, so it's all good that way.

As for the vet checks...I know they are both fixed. The Mau has tattoos and I'm guessing the Burmese has a chip...as he IS fixed but no tattoos.
He couldn't remember where their health passports were...said he couldn't find them. So I'm really starting to wonder how long he had the cats. But then again, as I said above, he did look VERY sick...so perhaps he can't remember anything.
Their coats are beautiful, shiny. Their eyes look good ( no drips, etc ), no sneezing, not too much shedding even though they are under extreme stress...so looks like they were well taken care of.
I have to call the vet here when they open...hopefully they can track down info by the tattoos/chip.

I'm thinking that the size of our house alone is enough to intimadate him. They were living in a very small, one bedroom apartment before.

I think I'll grab a can of tuna and head down to talk to him a bit.

How often should I check on him though?
Thanks a million for all the help!!

[opus88]

well one thing is for sure he can't go without food.../water. so I'm really glad to hear you've moved those down where he is hiding..the boy is terrified right now. kids/noises/new home...the whole works.

yes you do need to check on him, to talk to him..so he gets accustomed to the sound of your voice for one thing..talk quietly and soothingly to him. make very sure his food water and litter are in HIS SPOT where he is comfortable and not disturbed.

the vomit I wouldn't be too concerned abt just right now , the main thing is he eats....this is critical!!!
cats go into fatty liver disease very quickly (organ failure) if they go without food for even a few days...
so temp him with whatever it takes....try different foods, even canned tuna(in water)...
are you feeding the same as he was accustomed to in his previous home?...

Was he in good health before you got him? when was his last Vet check?

If he doesn't start eating by tomorrow at the latest you had better get him to a clinic...but first try temping foods, cans and dry both.
even some people foods to get him going, such as cooked chicken.

its not easy to bring adult cats into a new situation. particularly if he is already stressed with the Mau.
Maybe Pip will jump in here and add some comments, he brought miss Teia into his home with multiple other kitty's in the household, she was very shy...kept to her own space for a very long time...like 2 years(?)...but she come around and is now fully integrated. It does take a great deal of time and mostly patience.....
but for right now you must get him eating!!!!
like I said this is CRITICAL!!!

keep us posted, and good luck, bless you for trying. I didn't realize you had little kids, if the kitty isn't used to little kids this will be even harder on him...♥