NGKUR:Help! Cat Sitting!

[BrewGirl]

So my BIL and SIL just had a baby this past week. They have two cats that they have asked us to cat sit for three weeks while they get acclimated with the new LO. Since they have been here, both are hidden. One under the couch and the other under the bed. They will not come out to anything. Do we just wait it out? I really don't want them peeing because the smell is fucking terrible and stays forever. Any tips?


We had cats before DD was born so we are not totally clueless on what to expect.  

[thechickencoop]

Just wait it out. They have no clue what's going on. Do you have any other pets? Maybe try separating them if you do. And entice them with some yummy food and keep the litter box easily accessible. Good luck

[Ray]

Mar 21, 2015 19:45:04 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Just wait it out. They have no clue what's going on. Do you have any other pets? Maybe try separating them if you do. And entice them with some yummy food and keep the litter box easily accessible. Good luck

All if this.

[kariann12]

Yeah you just have to wait it out. They'll come out when they're comfortable. Do you have the litterbox and food/water close by where they're hiding? If they're scared enough they could pee under where they're hiding, but likely when you go to bed and they're alone they'll come out to eat/drink/pee/poop. Not much you can do at this point besides giving them space and waiting for them to get over being in a new place

[kariann12]

Mar 21, 2015 19:53:15 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

Leave them be, they will come out when they are hungry or need to use the litter box. I won't even touch the fact that they sent their cats away...

Right?! Let's scare the shit out of the cats for 3 weeks by sending them somewhere new, and then let's scare the shit out of them more when they get home and another little person who makes a lot of loud noises now lives. But hey, whatever makes them feel better.

[kariann12]

Mar 21, 2015 19:55:48 GMT -5 @sluttybigb00bz said:

Mar 21, 2015 19:53:15 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

Leave them be, they will come out when they are hungry or need to use the litter box. I won't even touch the fact that they sent their cats away...

Wait. You don't want to watch my 2 kitties and 2 pitties when I have my baby?! One cat spite vomits and my deaf dog is like Velcro. Hope you don't mind If she supervises you in the bathroom...

Spite vomits?!?! Bahahaha!!! She sounds like a peach.

[BrewGirl]

Mar 21, 2015 19:53:15 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

Leave them be, they will come out when they are hungry or need to use the litter box. I won't even touch the fact that they sent their cats away...

Don't even get me started. The whole situation is completely fucked up. The funny thing is. they own an ANIMAL RESORT!! I am not even kidding. Apparently they can't keep them there cause half the cat area is under construction and the other half is full. 

I think it's completely unfair for these poor cats.

ETA: GRAMMA

[BrewGirl]

Mar 21, 2015 19:52:08 GMT -5 @sluttybigb00bz said:

I agree to wait it out. My cousin brought her cat to us a few years ago (it was "short term" but we still have her). She hid from us. We soon discovered she came out at night while we were sleeping to play with our kitten and eat, drink, and go to the bathroom. She did poop in the middle of the floor once...after less than a week she was comfortable and came out to cuddle with us.

This scares the shit outta me

[BrewGirl]

Mar 21, 2015 19:45:04 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Just wait it out. They have no clue what's going on. Do you have any other pets? Maybe try separating them if you do. And entice them with some yummy food and keep the litter box easily accessible. Good luck

Yes, two dogs. Our husky is okay with cats. He has been around them. Our bichon however, has not. 

[BrewGirl]

Mar 21, 2015 19:52:24 GMT -5 kariann12 said:

Yeah you just have to wait it out. They'll come out when they're comfortable. Do you have the litterbox and food/water close by where they're hiding? If they're scared enough they could pee under where they're hiding, but likely when you go to bed and they're alone they'll come out to eat/drink/pee/poop. Not much you can do at this point besides giving them space and waiting for them to get over being in a new place

Yes, we put it in the middle of the living room where one is hiding. She popped her head out a little bit ago. Progress!

[nuggetrn]

I agree with everything that has been said here. Good luck with the kitties!

I am very confused about why you have them (and I realize you semi-explained it, but it still makes no sense to me). Poor cats, hopefully they acclimate quickly and do not end up too traumatized by this whole experience.

[Deleted]

Mar 21, 2015 20:23:57 GMT -5 BrewGirl said:

Mar 21, 2015 19:53:15 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

Leave them be, they will come out when they are hungry or need to use the litter box. I won't even touch the fact that they sent their cats away...

Don't even get me started. The whole situation is completely fucked up. The funny thing is. they own an ANIMAL RESORT!! I am not even kidding. Apparently they can't keep them there cause half the cat area is under construction and the other half is full. 

I think it's completely unfair for these poor cats.

ETA: GRAMMA

That is really bizarre. I agree with PPs that the best thing to do is wait it out. Make sure to keep the litter box and food easily accessible.
When we moved, my cat hid in our bedroom closet for three days. As much as H hated it, we decided to put all of her things in that closet until she was more acclimated. Now her litter box is downstairs, foods in the kitchen and she rarely hangs out in pur closet.

[Deleted]

I think everyone else gave great advice. Cats are weird little critters, so the ones you are looking after are likely just getting used to being in a new place. They will eventually come out on their own terms.

[BrewGirl]

Mar 21, 2015 20:30:34 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

Mar 21, 2015 20:23:57 GMT -5 BrewGirl said:

Don't even get me started. The whole situation is completely fucked up. The funny thing is. they own an ANIMAL RESORT!! I am not even kidding. Apparently they can't keep them there cause half the cat area is under construction and the other half is full. 

I think it's completely unfair for these poor cats.

ETA: GRAMMA

What ?? For real ? 

This is why I am scared they are planning on leaving them here. I seriously doubt they have no room for two cats for a whole three weeks. Makes.No.Sense.

[anonymouseliza]

Yep, they'll come out when they're ready, but keep the dogs away from them until they are better acclimated. Our dog stayed with BIL while I was in hospital with the baby and the first night back and I kind of think it was a mistake. He was so hyper and excited to see us when he came back home that he was very barky and very pushy around brand new baby. I mean, it worked out fine, but, yeah. The cats were uninterested in baby save for a sniff or two.

[BrewGirl]

Mar 21, 2015 20:35:29 GMT -5 @sluttybigb00bz said:

Mar 21, 2015 20:33:56 GMT -5 BrewGirl said:

This is why I am scared they are planning on leaving them here. I seriously doubt they have no room for two cats for a whole three weeks. Makes.No.Sense.

Now I understand why my post scared the shit out of you. My cousin is a flake and I only agreed to take her cat "for a few weeks" because I talked to my husband and told him we'd probably end up keeping her and were both ok with it.

Honestly, I would have no problem keeping them if we were in a bigger house. We live in a tiny bungalow with two dogs and there's just not enough room. Which brings me to another screwed up issue, they live on the lake in a 4500 sqft house! 

I keep going over all this in my mind and have come to the conclusion that, we got screwed.

[Deleted]

Mar 21, 2015 20:33:56 GMT -5 BrewGirl said:

Mar 21, 2015 20:30:34 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

What ?? For real ? 

This is why I am scared they are planning on leaving them here. I seriously doubt they have no room for two cats for a whole three weeks. Makes.No.Sense.

I would make them give you a set return date. That would be messed if they tried to dump the cats on you.

[brettanomyces]

Poor kitties. Yeah, every time I've moved my two spend the first day hiding. Then one of them will come out to explore and he'll crawl around meowing loudly. Cats just don't like a change of environment.

Just make sure when they do come out they have a safe path to food/water and most importantly litterbox.

[13liza]

It was really nice of you to take them for a while! I had someone ask me to take their cat while they got settled after a move and I flat out said no. I love cats, but get nervous caring for other people's pets long- term.

[BrewGirl]

I managed to lure them out with some chicken. One is starting to come around. The other came out, at her chicken and went right back under the bed. The funny thing is, she hisses and growls at her sister! The only one here she should be comfortable around. Maybe she blames her for the situation they are in.