Erika, Ziggy is very fortunate to have you. He will respond quickly if he is able, I am sure. Most cats are very intelligent and adaptable, and only need a little time to learn the new home.

He might be able to scent the dog...and that may be a contributing factor.

Maya was the most shy kitten we have ever had. Collectively between the two homes (vacation and here), it was over a month before she would come out of hiding! Our record for adjustment prior to that was 2 weeks for Oreo. So I was concerned about little Maya, but she is now, comfortable with us. (but still runs from strangers). I play with her everyday, and I think that helped alot with her. She loves to play and invents games!

I keep her indoors and she gets tense sometimes with her hunting needs watching birds out the window. So I discovered a way to defuse this need, and it calms her right down! I call it the biteybite game. She likes sticks (the ends of the feather toys, or string toy). So I put it under a towel on a chair, where she likes to play, and move it around like a mouse, and she leaps off the chair back or arms and attacks it. I think the towel cleans her teeth too. The towel is thick enough she can't hurt her teeth, and she goes to town nails and all, on this moving thing. After a few minutes she is docile again, and typically takes a nap. This way her need to bite and be ferocious is directed safely. None of our other cats did this, but then they were less feral too. She tells me she is tense with little vocalizations like crying. She has been the most unusual cat we have ever had in 40+yrs!

Ziggy is one lucky fellow! Keep posting on your progress, please, because these situations can be so instructive to all of us.