I recently moved in with my boyfriend and brought my 8-year-old cat along. I’ve had my cat since he was a kitten, and we’ve moved before without many issues. I flew my cat across the country from NH to WA, and he’s adjusting well when my boyfriend isn’t home. He’s out and about, but when my boyfriend is home, he prefers to hide. The odd part is that he lets my boyfriend pet him, which confuses me because he usually prefers men over women. My boyfriend feeds him as well to help, but I’m not sure what else I can do. I tried blocking him off from his hiding spot, which is our bedroom, but he meows and runs around, still going to my boyfriend for pets but avoiding us when my boyfriend is home. He also gets scared when my boyfriend walks around. Nothing has happened between them, though, except maybe my cat’s tail getting stepped on by others (not by my boyfriend). Does anyone have any advice or tips?
It sounds like your cat just needs a little more time to adjust. Maybe give him some space, and try offering treats or playtime when your boyfriend’s around to make him feel more comfortable.
Emory said:
It sounds like your cat just needs a little more time to adjust. Maybe give him some space, and try offering treats or playtime when your boyfriend’s around to make him feel more comfortable.
We’ve been here for almost a month now, so I thought he’d be used to it by now. It’s frustrating because he’s usually so social and loves being around everyone, but now he just hides.
@Charlie
It takes time for cats to adjust.
It’s possible that your boyfriend’s loud steps are adding to the stress. Your cat probably likes your boyfriend, but the noise might be too much for him. Maybe your boyfriend can try stepping more quietly if he’s unaware of how loud his footsteps are.
For example, my cat is fine when I’m barefoot, but she runs away if I wear shoes or slippers—it’s not that I’ve stepped on her, it’s just the sound she doesn’t like. You could also try a Feliway diffuser; it might help calm your cat down over the next few months.