Thanks, GG. Yes, I've decided to leave her to her own devices and hope she'll come round. She sneaked into the dining room at about 4pm and hid under the sofa and is still there. I'll let her get on with it.
Her former foster mum gave me some of the cat litter she's used to and some food and I'd already asked for details and bought some in. She came with her own cushion for her bed so it's not been too much of a change.
Hopefully she'll come round.
mc, let me add my voice to the others in assuring you that your kitty's avoidance response to her new home environment is quite common and not harmful to her health. i did not see bb, the kitty i adopted on march 6,until may 2nd. for an entire TWO MONTHS, he stayed totally out of sight, concealed in a 'hidey hole' behind the cabinets in the kichen, or under the bed in the spare room. at first i wasn't overly concerned, thinking he would come around in a few days. in the beginning, days went by that he didn't eat or disturb his kitty litter. 10 days in, i was ready to give up. bb was obviously not happy, and only came out nocturnally on occasion for a bit of dry food, and to tear up the linoleum in front of his hidey hole in the kitchen. the only reason i didn't return bb to the shelter that first month was that i wasn't able to flush him out from his hiding place. then, two or three times, i caught him by surprise, at his food bowl, but all i ever saw was this blurry streak of orange and a fluffy tail as he sped past me to his other refuge. honest-to-god i was looking on ebay for a nanny cam (well, kitty cam, actually) to buy, thinking it might be the only way i'd ever get to lay eyes on this cat of mine! then, one fine day in may, at about 3:20 ayem, bb came sashaying into my bedroom, pretty as you please, and introduced himself, tail sticking straight up in the air like a fat fluffy flag pole. he jumped up on my bed, as if he belonged there, and proceeded to love on me up and down and all over, eager to be stroked and scratched, nudging against me, kneading and purring, getting acquainted, and making up for all that lost time. we occupied ourselve in that fashion for better than two hours that morning, and that was the beginning of our strange but beautiful relationship, almost one year ago....mad cook, your kitty is already showing signs of interest and acceptance around you. she will come around, but she is a cat, so it will have to be on her terms. but don't worry, and once she decides you can be trusted, she will make it all worth your time and trouble with her adorable soft kitty ways and wiles....