Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: moongirl on March 21, 2009, 16:23:46 PM

Title: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: moongirl on March 21, 2009, 16:23:46 PM
Hi,

We have recently adopted a 6 month old kitten who is very friendly and she loves a stroke and a cuddle. As we both have offices upstairs in our home and work at home we thought the best option for an introduction was to base her in our spare bedroom with food, litter tray, water etc where she would have the reassurance of some background activity. Until now she has wandered in and out of her room using the litter tray and eating, then generally wandering around the upstairs part of the house

We went out shopping this morning and shut her in her room just in case she set off the house alarm. Since we came back she has hidden herself under the duvet on the bed in her room (our spare bedroom) and has been there for approximately 5 hours. We do not wish to disturb her and want to let her come out on her own terms. We have only had her for 2 days and she has not behaved like this until today. Is her behaviour to be expected and should we just leave her until she resurfaces, no matter how long?

Rgds
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: MrsR on March 21, 2009, 16:30:29 PM
She may simply be sleeping hun, our cats do this.    You can always have a gentle look under the duvet, lift it gently up till you can see her and see what she is doing.
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on March 21, 2009, 16:33:42 PM
It is quiet normal for new kittens/cats to hide under something.
the reason she did this today is probably because she was "shut" in a room, it has probably upset her a little bit.

I have never confined a new cat/kitten to one room so cant advice you on that I'm afraid x
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: DebbieM on March 21, 2009, 16:41:44 PM
My previous cat Dissy used to hide under the duvet if she was frightened. Fireworks, dustmen, door bell, things like that used to send her under the duvet. She was a nervous thing and felt safe there. Many times she would be there for hours as she fell asleep there once she relaxed. I agree with MrsR, lift it up and give her a quick check. Reasure her with some soft words and put the quilt down so she knows it's ok to go to her safe place if she wants too! Maybe there was some noise outside which frightened her.
Congratulations on your new kitten by the way!  :hug:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Kay and Penny on March 21, 2009, 16:45:31 PM
my two love nothing better than to be inside a blanket or duvet when they're sleeping

it could be that she is now confident enough to feel she needn't be keeping a look out all the time
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: moongirl on March 21, 2009, 16:48:13 PM
Thx for your replies, I feel awful now with us both going out to get the weekly shop, poor little mite. Lesson learned, one of us stays at home while the other goes shopping.

I have just freshened up her water and placed a nice fresh bowl of tuna with some treats sprinkled on the top and left the door half open, lets hope she pops out soon.

Thx again for your help & reassurance.

Rgds
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Janeyk on March 21, 2009, 16:51:55 PM
awww, bless her I'm sure she'll be fine with lots of gentle reassurance  :hug: do let us know how you get on
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: MrsR on March 21, 2009, 17:01:32 PM
Dont feel bad about going out hunnie as you have to carry on as normal.   Just have a little nose at her, maybe take a little bit of tuna up for her to get the smell of.
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on March 21, 2009, 17:05:28 PM
Thx for your replies, I feel awful now with us both going out to get the weekly shop, poor little mite. Lesson learned, one of us stays at home while the other goes shopping.

I have just freshened up her water and placed a nice fresh bowl of tuna with some treats sprinkled on the top and left the door half open, lets hope she pops out soon.

Thx again for your help & reassurance.

Rgds

Don't feel bad  :hug:
You cant be in 24hrs a day.

I would get under the duvet with her, lift it up call her and I'm sure she will come out to see you. Have the bowl of tuna with you too  :evillaugh:

Anyway....You havent told us her name ??  Colour ??? .....and we *need* some pictures once she has settled  :Luv2:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Stuart on March 21, 2009, 17:08:16 PM
Hamish did this a couple of times, on the first occasion it took me about 4 hours to find the little butter
turned the whole house upside down, looking in wardrobes and cupboards Under the bed ( didn't think of looking on top of it  :doh: )

I Dont think a wee kitty would be large enough to set off your house alarm hun  :-:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: MrsR on March 21, 2009, 17:12:41 PM
Yes we want piccys as soon as possible too  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: moongirl on March 21, 2009, 18:58:58 PM
Alls well that ends well.

After 7 and a half hours under the duvet she emerged of her own accord and all seems well as she quickly ate her tuna and treats.

Her name is "Socks" and I have attached a couple of pictures.

Rgds
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Stuart on March 21, 2009, 19:10:14 PM
awwwww she's so purdy  :Luv:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: MrsR on March 21, 2009, 19:15:37 PM
Sound slike she was having a mamouth snooze  :evillaugh:

She is sooooooooooooooo pretty  :Luv: :Luv:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Kay and Penny on March 21, 2009, 19:23:17 PM
you'll find after another 16 years or so that she will go straight back to bed after having her tuna, to put in another 12 hours or so of sleep :innocent:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on March 21, 2009, 19:25:34 PM
Aw bless her she is  :Luv:

Oh BTW ....Welcome to Purrs  :hug:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: **TINA** on March 21, 2009, 19:28:22 PM
Awwww Socks is gorgeous   :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: DebbieM on March 21, 2009, 19:32:26 PM
What a cutie!  ;D
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Janeyk on March 21, 2009, 19:33:37 PM
awwwwww, Socks is beautiful  :Luv2:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Rosella moggy on March 21, 2009, 22:30:47 PM
Billy Whiz used to hide under duvet when he 1st arrived. In his case it was fear  :( .  Our lovely Millie however tunnels under the duvet frequently when we are in bed just coz she loves it :Luv:.  Certainly not fear with her.

Socks is one very beautiful pud :Luv: :Luv: :Luv: and I hope she's more of a Millie than a Billy  ;)
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: JackSpratt on March 21, 2009, 22:41:22 PM
She's lovely. Of course, now she knows that worries you and she gets treats out of it..... ;) They're sneaky ones, cats!
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on March 21, 2009, 22:57:26 PM
What a little cutie  :Luv2:  Glad she's emerged  :) Do you think she was hiding or just having a snooze?  One of my cats, Riley, loves sleeping under the duvet - preferably when I'm in the bed too!  :innocent:
Title: Re: Our New Kitten Hiding Under Duvet - Is It Normal ?
Post by: nessa (A C S ) on March 22, 2009, 08:53:36 AM
what a pretty kitty :Luv:.....I wouldnt worry to much about her hiding under the duvet...I have found some of my foster cats and kittens in the strangests of places after hrs of searching :Luv2: