I just adopted a cute little kitty, hoping he will become a friend and playmate for my 1 year old tuxedo cat.
This new kitty - who is going to be called Pesto - is super shy / scared. "His" room while he gets used to the change and us is our studio, and his made the area under the sofa his hideout. He just won't come out of there! Well, he has come out a couple of times tentatively, the first one I showed him where his litter box is (he used it), and the second one, other than wondering around he also used it again. So we're good in the litter box area - I hope.
I was wondering if there was anything I could do (other than give him time) to encourage him to come out, to not be scared of us humans? Should I try to spend as much time possible in the studio doing my own thing so that he gets used to me, or leave him alone in there?
Also wondering how often I should let my resident cat go in there (supervised). So far, it's Bicho (the resident cat) who got Pesto to come out from under the sofa for a little while. They sniffed each other, there were a couple of hisses from both of them, and an attempt at swatting from Bicho's part - but I don't think he was trying to really attack or hurt Pesto, just scare him, because the distance between them was bigger than his paw's reach. I just let Bicho come into the room for two short periods of time during the afternoon, so as to not overwhelm little Pesto.
I also had to kick Bicho out when it looked like he was going to eat the kitties food, as I was already having a hard enough time getting the Pesto to eat.
I was also wondering what signs to look for as to when they can be left together (supervised) for longer periods of time, as well as when can I consider that they're actually friends? And when will it be OK to let the kitty full run of the house (I'm assuming after he's been accepted and friended by Bicho)?
Once Pesto actually comes out from under the sofa I'll try to take photos of him and post them :-)