Adopted a F3 male Savannah cat and I have so many questions! Please help!

[Abby]

Hi everyone! So my boyfriend suggests that we take the bed out of the room so Aldo isn't hiding all the time. What do you guys think? I am thinking it is kind of like a safe spot for him so I don't want to stress him out more and make things worse. My boyfriend thinks with taking the bed out we can sit on the floor and get closer to him and he can get used to us better. I wanted to get some opinions on this! You guys are the best! Thank you!!

 

[WitchyWoman]

My boyfriend thinks with taking the bed out we can sit on the floor and get closer to him and he can get used to us better.

Does he have a crate or even a large card box that he use as a safe zone? If not, put one in the room with a soft blanket inside and elevate it off the floor. Perhaps even put it on the bed. Sometimes we recommend blocking access to under the bed but if it's the only place he feels safe, I wouldn't do it. If you give him another place to hide and he starts using it, then take the bed out but be aware that it will be another change to his environment that he may not like.

In the meantime, you should sit on the floor by the bed and even lie down on the floor and extend your arm under the bed. Just stay there like that for awhile and speak softly to him. Try putting a treat (if he has one he likes) or some of this food near your hand. If he approaches the treat/food, don't try to touch him, just let him take the treat/food. The best time to try that is when he's hungry. Use a feather wand to try to engage him in play under the bed. When he's comfortable with that, try to draw him out into the room while playing.

The goal is to get Aldo to associate you with good stuff such as food and play.

 

[Rob1984]

Hi everyone! So my boyfriend suggests that we take the bed out of the room so Aldo isn't hiding all the time. What do you guys think? I am thinking it is kind of like a safe spot for him so I don't want to stress him out more and make things worse. My boyfriend thinks with taking the bed out we can sit on the floor and get closer to him and he can get used to us better. I wanted to get some opinions on this! You guys are the best! Thank you!!

how long have you had him for ? the pictures of him lying beside you is pretty good progress if you ask me

but i would do what witchy suggested by using toys and treats to get him to come out that is exactly what i did

 

[Patti]

I agree with Witchy that he will need to have an alternative 'safe place' if you are going to take away the bed. However if he seems to be making some progress I would try to avoid changing his environment again. Also, if you are not already doing this, I would take turns visiting him him in the room, rather than both of you going in at the same time - one person will be less threatening than the two of you together. Remember your greatest tool right now is patience. Some cats, particularly rehomed adults, can take months to settle in, and there is little you can do except give them the space to accept their new home and learn that you can be trusted.

 

[Abby]

Hi everyone! Aldo update! Not so great unfortunately. Today I took him to the vet because the peeing problem still hasn't stopped. We managed to get him in the carrier by lifting the mattress up and he ran right into it. The vet tested him for a uti and he said that his urine did have some blood in it but he also said that this can be due to stress. He gave him an antibiotic shot to be safe just in case it is a uti. He was pretty scared at the vet and peed on the floor. I bought him a calming collar and the vet told me to just let him run free and that he may be even more stressed being locked in a room. Me thinking ok I'll give it a shot, vet knows best right? Wrong! Aldo was so scared he peed and pooped and went into hiding under the couch. My other cats were surrounding the couch not aggressively but just curiously which probably freaked him out even more. Then he ran into the home office and went to hide in there. I got so upset and just wanted to put him back in his room where he was comfortable. It was so hard to get him into the carrier so I can put him back in his room. He hissed at us and tried biting and pooped again. I am so upset because now I feel like this made everything much worse and I feel awful about it. I am pretty positive this just pushed any progress we had back to square one. I feel I'm a failure at being a savannah cat mom. Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! Sorry, I just had to vent.

 

[WitchyWoman]

He's not ready to have the run of the house. And your vet should have advised you that your other cats should have been locked up when giving Aldo access to the whole house. If you read the information I linked earlier in this thread, you should have known that introductions to the rest of the cats should have occurred slowly and when he was in his safe room.

You might be back to square one but that's the way it goes and you'll have to start again slowly trying to gain his trust. It is obvious by now that he will require a a lot of time and patience to adjust and your only option is to give him that time and patience. It is very important that you let him set the boundaries and that you respect those boundaries.

 

[Rob1984]

did you get him neutered yet? it might help

 

[Patti]

It sounds like Aldo is one of those cats that just does not adjust well to change - this can happen with cats of any breed. I have a cat that I have had for about six years who I can only keep in one room - she completely freaks out if I try to put her in another room, and like Aldo will loose control of her bladder and bowel because of her degree of stress. So I do what needs to be done, I protect her by keeping her in her safe room and limiting her from being exposed to any stressful events.

As you said, you are back to square one and will need to start over. The advice is the same - go slow and have patience...