first vet visit for new rescue

Hi everyone. I adopted a 4-month-old female rescue from a local shelter yesterday. Her name is Biscuit. She has been hiding under the bed for 12 hours straight and I am a bit worried. I know I should take her to the vet for a checkup, but when is the right time? Do I wait a few days for her to settle in, or should I go today? She hasn't eaten or used the litter box yet, which makes me nervous.

My other cats are Milo and Lucy, so I am also thinking about how to introduce them, but first I need to know about the vet visit. I have read this thread about hiding vs sickness but I am not sure if I am overreacting.

Hello Kristen, welcome to the forum and to Biscuit. It is completely normal for a new kitten to hide for the first 24 to 48 hours. The stress of a new environment can cause them to shut down a bit. As long as she is not lethargic or breathing heavily, you likely do not need to rush to the emergency room today.

However, since she is a rescue with an unknown history, a standard wellness exam is a very good idea. I would say within the next 3 to 5 days. This gives her time to come out of hiding and lets you see if she starts eating. You can check out these foster setup tips to see how to make her hiding spot more comfortable while you wait.

I think 3 days is fine. My cat Whiskers took a week to come out from under the couch when we got him. He had alopecia back then so we went straight to the vet, but for a healthy looking kitten, give it time.

If you are worried about cost, look at cheap vet options. There are usually clinics that offer discounted packages for new pets.

Agree with the others. Don't force her out. Leave a bowl of food and water near the hiding spot but don't crowd her.

The main reason to go to the vet soon is vaccines and parasites. Since she is a rescue, you don't know if she is up to date. I would aim for this week so you can get her on schedule. See vaccine timing for strays for a general idea of what shots she might need. It is better to get the first round done while she is still young.

I just want to add that if she hasn't peed or pooped by tomorrow morning, that is a sign to call your vet. Dehydration can set in quickly for kittens. But if she is just hiding and sleeping, it is likely fear.

I had a similar experience with Pippin last spring. He was a stray we found in the garden. It took him two days to eat, but by the third day he was playing. You can read more about that in introducing new cat, though that was more about the other cats in the house. The vet visit is a separate matter.

For the exam itself, you can look at new cat exam checklist to see what they usually test for. It helps you be prepared for the questions they will ask.

Thank you all for the advice. It is reassuring to know that hiding for a day or two is normal. I am going to try to keep the house quiet and leave food near her spot as suggested. I will make a vet appointment for later this week so I can get her checked and started on vaccines.

I am still a bit anxious about the introduction to Milo and Lucy, but I will deal with that once she is out from under the bed. I posted an update in a follow-up thread about how the introduction is going, so check that out if you are interested in that side of things.