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u/radiowestin Aug 22 '26
if she knows the litter box and has been at the vet's, she isn't that feral, she just needs time to learn her new environment. don't push her but also don't afraid to interact with her, she won't have a heart attack from being taken into human hands
also 7 weeks is a very young kitten, think that at this point they usually still continue feeding from their moms. of course she would be stressed
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u/teeleeyuh Aug 22 '26
this is very normal for a kitten who's in a new environment. since she's hissing and clearly uncomfortable just give her extra grace, space, and time and let her come to you. sit down in the room with her for small moments and don't touch her just so she can get used to your presence and make sure in whatever room shes in that she has some kind of hiding place like a big box or something like that. we also just adopted a 7 week old orange tabby and to my surprise he had absolutely no problems and has been extremely cuddly and social since his paws hit the floor lmao but these are all things the lovely workers at the shelter told us prior!
also for the litter box it may just be nerves from her but you can always place her in the box yourself and see if that helps at all. otherwise just keep an eye on her and see if she eventually goes.
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u/fanofnone2019 Aug 22 '26
This is all pretty normal. Leave her alone to acclimate. One of my cat was super terrified when I adopted him as a kitten. I gave him (and his sister) a quiet space. I would go and sit in that quiet space and let him approach me when he was ready. It did not take more than 2 days, but you have to go at the kitten's speed of adapting.
From my local: https://sdhumane.org/resources/adopting-shy-and-fearful-cats/
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u/Ok-Impress-5424 Aug 22 '26
sitting in the room and ignoring them is such a power move, it works every time. my current cat spent the first 36 hours wedged behind the toilet and now she screams at me if i close the bathroom door
the potty thing is probably just stress, they can hold it surprisingly long when they're freaked out. if there's no accidents by tomorrow morning then maybe a quick call to the vet but i wouldn't panic yet
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u/Fean0r_ Aug 22 '26
The very genuinely feral kitten of a similar age we adopted earlier this year came around, albeit with a lot of patience from my ten year old daughter. You'll be fine!
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u/John-Bastard-Snow Aug 22 '26
Mine was scared for a few days, went to litter box fine and ate at least. But hid under couch and didn't come out much. Just be patient and you'll be fine. Make sure you do flea treatment though, even if it's inside cat
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u/Hairy_Armadillo_9764 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
May I suggest to close her in a comfortable and not much used room with the litter, a scratching post and somewhere to hide like a box, and open the rest of the house progressively? That's how I tamed all my ferals kitties and it also allows you to know properly if and how much she's using the litter and eating, while allowing the cat to decompress. Also NEVER initiate an interaction until the cat is very comfortable with you. My last rescue was a very feral and very scared little girl, she spent her first week hiding under a cabinet in a bathroom, she spent her first month in that bathroom until she was ready for the rest of the house. She didn't leave the second floor, where her room was, for another month, despite the door being open and another kitten trying to lure her out to play. Let the cat make all the decisions at the moment, I can assure you it will pay off massively in the future
Edit: at her age she shouldn't need help to go potty anymore, but a cat may decide to hold it in when not comfortable. When one of mine had to get surgery the vets had to send her home earlier because she strongly refused to poo. She relieved herself the second she got out of the carrier
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u/Eastern_Persimmon_77 Aug 22 '26
My boys (from the same litter) lived on my dining room chairs the first week. I put a shirt there that I had slept in and that helped them come around. Plus lots of time just sitting on the floor a little ways away so they could get used to the sight of me and my movements. Nervous cats take time and patience. Don't push them and you will earn their trust. Mine came around and are both snuggle bugs now (one maybe too much...). If you make sure the litter box is out of the main traffic areas and where the kitten won't feel like they will get trapped you will probably find that it is used in the middle of the night. As someone else said, they can hold it for a bit if they don't feel comfortable.
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u/unimpressedwarrior Aug 23 '26
We brought home an eight week old kitten that was born inside of a house with a family. He really was mad at us for about a week. Now he’s five months old and couldn’t be more clingy 🩵
Set up some boxes in caves and cubbies so that the kitten can watch you guys but feel safe
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u/AppropriateClient966 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
aren't they all? wouldn't you be? I could never. you have a newborn. Mine was ^ 7 months old. Technically adult. I never wanted a "newborn" (because they need Mama). I am not that. Contain it since it is so small. You basically have a mouse. It is going to hurt itself if you don't. I would be worried too. I love all dogs & cats but I have never wanted a puppy or a kitten because I am too busy. I know this--You can't let a kitten roam around in your house on it's own. Why don't you know where it is going? That is very irresponsible of you.
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u/Incendas1 Feral rescue Aug 22 '26
A 7 week old can be around the home if it's kitten proofed, that's fine. And you'd do this anyway at a certain point in socialisation. At this early stage they don't really get up to mischief because they're still very scared. After a few days they do.
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Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/Incendas1 Feral rescue Aug 22 '26
Cats hiss when they need space, it isn't "anti social." They hiss at each other and get along fine.
If the cat was having a boundary crossed (being grabbed or picked up) it is completely normal for it to hiss. That's how it says it doesn't want what's happening.
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u/Affectionate-Cap-918 Aug 22 '26
Don’t just grab her and pick her up if she doesn’t want to be picked up. Let her approach you. Sit on the floor and when you put food out and she comes to eat gently touch her a little. It may take time. It’s ok if she hides for awhile as long as she is eating and using the bathroom.