Hello all, not really sure how to start as it’s somewhat a lot? Hopefully I can get some kind of advice or guidance. I’ve own some cats before so I know of more typical behaviors when you adopt/bring in a cat. This cat is different.

She was in a home with at least 10 other cats (all indoor cats), and 2 dogs (one blind and indoor, the other outdoor) she is aged 5 months and we brought her home a little over a week ago. She constantly hides from us to the point where the only way we know she is alive is litter box use and food/water depleting in her bowls. The person we got her from said she was active and loved to play, this is absolutely not the case here. The first 3 days of her being with us included hiding in the closet, digging her claws into the wood frame when we tried to show her litter and food areas, hyperventilating, and absolute silence. She has just now started to meow when we try to allow her to smell our hands. I know cat nip is hit or miss but I did try a spray on some toys to see if this would help her relax. The only time we’ve seen her outside of finding her hiding spot is at night and she immediately runs away from us even if we don’t get close at all.

She has come up when she thought I was sleeping and sniffed my belly (I am 27 weeks pregnant.) Last night I think we had an even further set back. I was home alone with our 7 year old son, husband working nights, and had a man attempt to enter our house. When I opened my bedroom door to confront the man, I scared the absolute heck out of her. She had an accident in a few places and I still have not seen her. No food has been eaten from her bowl either. I don’t know what else to do for her. I know it can take time for a new animal to come around but the level of fear she displays is very new to me and a total 180 on how she was described to us. The person we got her from is willing to have her be brought back but we really would like to keep her if possible. We are trying again at pets after a very traumatic passing of our beloved Miso.

Is there anything I can do? We do have a local vet if medicine might be an option. Thank you for any advice given!