new cat hiding under bed for 12 hrs, normal?

Just got my 4-month-old rescue yesterday and she's been hiding under the bed for 12 hours straight. Should I force her out to eat or just leave treats nearby and wait?

My heart is breaking a little. I have Pearl (11, white, deaf) and Peanut (4, gray, a bit heavy), and I don't want this little one to get stressed out trying to navigate around them. I've put a bowl of wet food and water near the bed, but she hasn't moved. Is this normal or should I be worried?

Oh honey, don't panic. I remember when I brought Whiskers home at 15 (yes, I know, weird) and she was terrified. Hiding is a defense mechanism. For kittens, I usually wait 24-48 hours before I start getting worried about food refusal. Check out rescue kitten refusing food for some tips on what I tried with Lady when she was new.

Do not force her out. It will only make her more anxious. Have you set up a separate room for her? I always suggest a small, quiet space like a bathroom or spare bedroom first. See quarantine room setup for how I block off the house for new cats. If she's already loose in the main living area with Pearl and Peanut, that's a lot of stimuli. You might want to move her to a smaller room to let her decompress.

@greg_walsh That is a great point. When Lucy came home, she hid for three days. I think the size of the space matters a lot. I read somewhere that shy cats need time to process their surroundings. shy cat hiding for days talks about this too. Did you put a litter box in the room where she's hiding?

I didn't set up a separate room, I just let her loose in the living room because I thought she'd be comfortable with the family. I have a litter box under the bed, but she hasn't used it. I'm worried she's not drinking water either. Should I take her to the vet today? first vet visit for new rescue says wait a bit, but I'm scared she's sick.

Terri, take a breath. If she is hiding, it is likely stress, not sickness. Look at signs of cat stress to see if she is grooming herself or if she is matted/lethargic. Since you have senior cats, you need to be careful with introductions. introducing new kitten to senior cat has good advice on keeping them separated until the new cat is confident. Force-feeding is a last resort. Try warming up the food slightly to make the smell stronger.

Oh no, I hate seeing a new kitty stressed! My Loki took about two days to come out of his hiding spot. I just left treats around and sat on the floor reading a book. Don't stare at her. Give her space. If she hasn't eaten or urinated in 24 hours, then call your vet. But for now, just be patient. She will come out when she feels safe. picky eater transition might help with the food part later.