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So my cat (3yo standard issue neutered indoor boy) and I moved houses. He came to the new house three days ago.

I put his litter box, food dish, and water in a large walk in closet in a spare room. I left the door cracked. Here's the issue. Every time he gets near the door, he sees the ceiling fan. If he sees the ceiling fan, in any of the rooms, he freaks out, slinks down like he's in danger, and runs and hides. I know it's the fans because I carried him through the house and every time he saw a fan, he would cling to me like his life depends on it.

He's never lived in a house with ceiling fans. All the fans in the house are off but he still panics when he sees one. He's taken to hiding in his litter box, and he isn't eating. And his litter has only a little dirty litter in it (for the move, so he knew it was his), the amount of which hasn't changed.

I was able to get him to come out and eat a soupie (his favorite) but then he immediately went back into the litter box and hunkered down.

I'm worried. The house is new construction so it's definitely the fans. He almost came out when I said his name when I got home, but when he got to the closet door and looked up and saw the fan, he darted back to his litter box!

Do I just keep giving him soupies and hope the stress eases? Do I rehome him? This would kill me, but if he can't eat or drink, it'll kill him! I can't believe my feisty little boy is being defeated by something I can't change! (I'm renting. Taking the fans down is off the table.)

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

I've gone and got covid for the very first time. Just in time to quarantine over Thanksgiving. At least I have time to actually be at home instead of working the whole time.

YSK: Just because something is easy for you, does not mean that it is easy.

ETA; Why you should know; everyone has natural talents, everyone has skills they developed with practice or over time. Something that feels easy to you might be difficult for someone else to grasp, or they might have a different background or a different way of doing things. When you show someone else how to do something, or when you ask someone else to do something, you need to set aside your expectations on how they might do that thing, or how quickly, or how well.

Be patient. Understand not everyone comes naturally to every new skill or new talent. Some people have learning disabilities or just a lack of familiarity with skills you consider "basic." And try not to belittle someone for needing extra time to master something you find "simple" or they may never try again!

Edit2: Kind of like how I can't figure out how to edit this to save my life. I've been belittled in the past for being bad at things so my instinct was to delete this, but seeing all the conversation, I couldn't bring myself to do it! Consider me a lesson in action!