Updated
Cat behavior
For my new cat is hiding and not using the litter box, do the calm triage first: note timing, appetite, litter box changes, breathing, movement, pain signs, and any exposure. Call your vet promptly when the pattern is new, severe, or hard to explain.
Use this page to keep the first days calm and measurable: food, water, litter, hiding, sleep, and tiny signs of trust.
Watch the room like a cat would. Notice loud sounds, the path to the litter box, where people reach from, and whether the hiding spot has food, water, and a quiet exit.
Treat the visible behavior as a clue rather than the whole answer. Track what happened right before it, how much choice your cat had, and how quickly the room returned to normal.
Make one change at a time. Sit nearby without reaching, speak softly, keep visits short, and let your cat choose whether to approach. If eating, drinking, or litter use stops, call your vet.
Add distance, choice, and a safer outlet before adding more handling. Shorter sessions, clearer escape routes, and predictable routines often tell you more than one dramatic correction.
Call your veterinarian if a new cat stops eating, stops using the litter box, seems weak, breathes oddly, vomits repeatedly, or hides in a way that feels more like illness than caution.
Get help quickly for bites, escalating fights, redirected aggression, fear that traps one cat, or sudden behavior that does not fit the cat's normal routine.
Use litter tools to make the easiest bathroom choice obvious: reachable box, enough room, manageable scatter, and daily scooping.
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A roomy box with higher sides can help contain litter scatter while still giving the cat space to turn.
A lower front can help kittens, senior cats, or sore cats step in without a big climb.
A washable mat can catch some litter at the exit without blocking the path to the box.
A visible scoop setup makes daily cleaning easier to keep up with.
For my new cat is hiding and not using the litter box, do the calm triage first: note timing, appetite, litter box changes, breathing, movement, pain signs, and any exposure. Call your vet promptly when the pattern is new, severe, or hard to explain.
Call your veterinarian if a new cat stops eating, stops using the litter box, seems weak, breathes oddly, vomits repeatedly, or hides in a way that feels more like illness than caution.
