We got a cat on Monday, he is around 1 year old. He keeps constantly meowing we put this down to him missing his previous owner. However he is now scratching for no reason, he is hissing at us just for walking past him. He comes outfrom under the kitchen table now and again for a fuss and he rubs up against our legs, but as soon as we touch him he attacks us! We have told the children to leave him alone and only to stroke him if he goes to them. However one of my daughters went to the kitchen to take her plate away (followed by mum) and the cat ran from under the table and went to scrath her on the leg, my daughter did nothing to the cat to make him do this. He is trying all ways to escape from the house, we have had to shut all the windows!!.
It's really upsets us to him in such distress. We know its ealry days but he does not seem to be settling at all. We have tried playing with him, giving him cat treats but nothing seems to work.
We have contacted the previous owner to let her know but they have not been back in touch. Any suggestions on what to do?

It's obviously really upset him moving home. If he is new to your house, I would put him in one, quiet room with everything he needs (food, litter, water) for a few days, maybe even a week and gradually open up the rest of the house to him. Definitely don't let him out for at least two weeks. I would be calm with him and keep talking to him. Feliway plug ins and Bach rescue remedy are both excellent for calming kittie down. The rescue remedy you can get from boots and results are quickest and cheapest. Poor mog.

Hi there- well done for taking in this poor cat and giving him a second chance. As Noodle suggests, he really needs a quiet area to get used to being in a strange new place. He must be feeling distressed, confused and threatened at the moment so needs time to chill out. Obvously, you dont want him getting out as he will not come back if he has not yet bonded and got used to his new home, so be careful opening doors/ windows. Suggest you look at the nutrecare website as they stock Feliway diffusers at a competitive rate and are quite quick to despatch orders. A Feliway plug and refill costs about £19 and it should last about 30 days- the Feliway emits feline friendly pheremones which should help your new cat to relax and feel more secure in his new surroundings. He will calm down, I have seem this with new cats and it is a fear response - once he realises you do not pose a threat he will get better. Keep us posted xK

Oh the nutrecare website is (I think, from memory) http://www.nutrecare.co.uk

To be honest we dont have a spare room, however we have put him in the kitchen which is a large room. We dont allow anyone to go in there now not even the kids. We leave the door open a tiny bit so he can come out as and when he is ready. My partner keeps going in to talk to him and give him food and water. Thanks for the advice

Get him a nice igloo bed or even a couple of boxes with nice cuddly blankets and towels in that he can hide in - that's cheap and allows him a choice of bed. If you can get hold of the previous owner, ask if you can borrow an old, worn t-shirt, something with her smell on it.

Try what's been sugested here and just give him time and space - cats are soft things and don't like moving. Bless. :)