Day 4: Is This Weird Behavior Normal for a New Cat?

It's been four days and I basically own a ghost. A very small, furry ghost who apparently lives under the vanity in my guest bathroom and refuses to acknowledge my existence. I've wanted a cat for years, and now that I have Luna, I have this sinking feeling that I'm a massive failure. All the articles said to give her a 'safe room,' so she has the whole bathroom to herself with food, water, a litter box, toys, a soft bed... the works. And she has spent exactly 96 consecutive hours hiding in the darkest possible corner. I try talking to her softly, I try just sitting in the room and reading, but nothing. I'm starting to worry about all this first time cat owner weird behavior, or if it's just me. I feel so guilty, like maybe she hates it here, or hates me.

I guess she has to be coming out sometimes, right? The food in her bowl is definitely a little lower each morning, and the litter box is... being used, so that's a relief. But she only does it when I'm not looking. It's like living with a shy cryptid. I'll leave the room for ten minutes and when I come back, it's like a tiny poltergeist has been there, moved a single kibble, and vanished. And the nights are something else entirely. The apartment is so quiet, and then suddenly I'll hear it. A single, frantic THUMP from the living room, followed by the sound of something skittering across the hardwood floor at a million miles an hour. It's kinda terrifying, tbh.

The Midnight Zoomies

Last night was the first time I actually saw it. I was getting a glass of water at like 3 AM and I saw this brown blur just tear across the living room, bounce off the side of the couch, and disappear down the hall. No sound, just pure, chaotic speed. The infamous 'zoomies' I've read about. It's one thing to read about it, it's another to witness it in the dead of night when you think your pet is cowering in fear. It was just so... weird. I mean, is she scared or is she secretly training for some kind of feline Olympics while I sleep? I don't get it. And I'm just sitting here in the dark wondering if this is normal and if I'm doing anything right, I keep replaying the zoomie in my head and thinking maybe she's not scared but just nocturnal and I'm the one who's weird for wanting to see her during the day. Anyway.

I just want her to feel safe, you know? But trying to coax her out feels wrong, like I'm violating her trust before I've even earned it. My friend texted me to just be patient and let Luna call the shots, which is so much harder than it sounds. So for now, I just refresh her food and water, talk to the empty space under the vanity, and try not to feel like the world's worst cat parent. But it's hard not to take it personally when you've dreamed of having a cuddly companion and instead you have a very skittish, very fast roommate you never see. I'm just watching her food bowl, I swear I can see the level go down millimeter by millimeter while I'm not looking.

I'm telling myself it's just the '3-3-3 rule' in action—three days to decompress. We're on day four, so I guess we're in overtime. I just thought it would be different. I imagined, like, purrs and cuddles, not this silent, anxious waiting game. He was supposed to be comfortable—well, not comfortable comfortable, but at least visible. It's just a lot, and the constant second-guessing is exhausting. What have I gotten myself into? I really hope this changes soon. [Read more: {cat-adjustment-period-333-rule}]