I am new to this 'parent of a kitty' thing. She's been camped out under the bed for the last 24 hours, so we moved her food and water to the edge of the bed in the hopes she'd eat something. She did, so I refilled her bowl. However, she's had no bathroom facilities at her disposal since she's been under the bed and her litter box has been in the kitchen (across the threshold - you'll see just how tiny this place is Friday).
I got her to pop out and walk around a little last night - meowed back and forth with her, Zach claims he got it on video and is putting it on youtube, and I promised immediate death if that happens. Needless to say, since she walked about the bedroom, still no potty time, so moved the litter box into the bedroom. Here's the problem - there's no way in Hades the box will fit under the bed and still leave enough room for her to climb in. Since the only doors in this place are bathroom, closet, and entry/exit, she can see exactly where I am in the family room. I keep wondering if this is going to keep her from sneaking out and using the restroom. I have some stuff to take to my parents, anyway, and Zach won't be home til 10 or after - should I just leave and let her have run of the place for a few hours? I don't want her peeing on my floor.
Re: Kitteh in hiding
If you are still worried, then I would do like you said and leave the house for an hour or two.
this... when she needs them she'll come out for them. My older cat, Amber, was like that when we moved her from my parent's house to ours and it took her several days before she came out to love us and be social.
I find treats help. I'd sit next to the bed on the floor with a treat and eventually she'd come get it and let me love her.
She'll come out when she's ready, but I wouldn't move the food or litter close to the bed. But she needs to know where teh litter is. Drag her out of there, put her in her litter box, and let her jump out and run away again. She'll remember it when she needs to go, and won't go under your bed or your carpet. Kitties like to dig, and she'll remember how that litter felt under her paws. Just make sure the litter somewhere a little tucked away--somewhere she feels safe. Not in the middle of the living room where she'll have to expose herself when she decides she can't hold it anymore.
Since she's eating (and drinking?) I wouldn't worry about her. She'll come around. New homes can be very traumatic for new kitties. Just be patient. She'll eat and poo and purr in no time.
She's in and out of hiding, still not sure about the owners, but went BSC through the apartment last night after sniffing practically everything in every room. I'm talking running at top speed from the family room to the kitchen, kitchen to under the bed, skidding to a stop back in the family room, and then doing it all over again. We've found she does not want a liner in her litter box - woke us up several times last night tearing it to shreds. Before she went totally insane, she let me get some video of her sniffing around the apartment.
http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/CS2B/Lola%20and%20Squirt/?action=view¤t=LolaFeb16006.mp4I couldn't agree with this more!
And I'm so glad to read/see that she's coming out a little bit now. She's so stinkin cute in that video. Just give her time. When Jason first got his cat, she went into hiding for a week straight. He noticed a little food gone, but other than that, he literally thought she escaped some how. She eventually warmed up and is now totally in love with him. She's still very shy though compared to my cat, so all cats are just different. Don't stress over it though, the second you stop worrying about her, she'll jump on your lap.