Hiding, not eating, accidents, pacing — what each first-week behaviour actually means and what to do about it.
The most common reason people call their rescue group in a panic in the first week is behaviour they did not expect and do not understand. The foundational principle: almost every difficult first-week behaviour is a stress response, not a personality problem. The animal is not broken — they are processing an enormous amount of new information in a state of elevated anxiety.
What it means: The animal feels unsafe and is using avoidance as a coping mechanism. This is healthy.
What to do: Let them hide. Put food, water, and for cats a litter box within reach of the hiding spot. Sit nearby on the floor quietly, without eye contact or reaching towards them.
What not to do: Do not drag them out. Each forced interaction resets their sense of safety to zero.
What it means: Stress suppresses appetite. Refusing food for 24–48 hours is normal decompression behaviour — they are overwhelmed, not ill.
What to do: Leave food accessible without hovering. Use the exact food the foster was using. Warm wet food slightly to make it more aromatic.
When to call the vet: If a dog refuses all food for more than 48 hours, or a cat for more than 24 hours.
Cats and fasting: If your cat has eaten nothing in 24 hours, call your vet. Hepatic lipidosis can develop quickly, particularly in overweight cats.
What it means: Stress directly affects the bladder and digestive system. A perfectly housetrained dog may have accidents in a new home for the first week or two. This is physiological, not behavioural regression.
What to do: Clean up without drama using enzymatic cleaner. Increase outdoor toilet opportunities to every 2–3 hours for the first week.
What not to do: Do not punish accidents. The animal cannot connect the punishment to the behaviour after the fact — it only confirms you are unpredictable and frightening.
What it means: Active anxiety — the nervous system is in a heightened state and cannot settle.
What to do: Keep the environment calm and predictable. A piece of unwashed clothing near their bed provides scent comfort. White noise can help.
What not to do: Excessive reassurance in an anxious voice actually amplifies anxiety by communicating there is something to be anxious about.
What it means: The animal has identified you as their source of safety — the beginning of a bond.
What to do: Allow closeness but build in short separation periods from day one. Leave the room for five minutes, return calmly. This teaches them your absence is temporary and predictable.
What it means: Non-linear decompression is normal. A good day followed by a difficult day reflects the nature of adjustment, not failure.
What to do: Hold the reference point of the general trend, not the individual day. If week two is broadly calmer than week one — even with difficult days within it — that is progress.
The one-week test: Take a photo on day one and again on day seven. The difference in posture, eye softness, and physical relaxation is almost always remarkable. Progress is easy to miss when you are in the middle of it.
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