Worried about my cat...

[Aimros]

DFi and I adopted a 2 year old male cat on Saturday. He was brought to the vet by his foster mom on Friday and all checked out well. He is very skittish and quite scared in his new home... apparently he's been adopted before and returned because he wasn't "getting along" with a dog. Anyway, it's now Wednesday, and this cat hasn't eaten a full meal yet. He's still a bit freaked out, but he's fine when we're with him... he loves to be pet and cuddle and he purrs really loud. Except everytime I give him food, he either turns his nose up at it or eats two bites and then leaves the rest. I've tried 5 different kinds of food now and I know he can't hate EVERY single kind (even all different brands too). He also only will eat a few bites if I'm sitting right next to him, although food I left in his room the other night did get a bit eaten. I don't think he's sick, just scared, but I'm worried he's going to have liver failure soon if he doesn't eat a full meal.

He seems to be using his litter box regularly but since I don't really know him I guess I can't really tell if it's regular for him or not. I also have fed him the exact brand of food his foster mom was feeding him, so I don't think I've been giving him food too out of the ordinary.

Anyway, I'm at work right now and I'm worried about him. Please don't flame me about not calling a vet because I am going to do that tomorrow if he doesn't eat today. I'm also going to stop at Petco on the way home and get some more kinds of food, as well as an eyedropper to force feed him if he doesn't do it himself. I'll also pick up some chicken broth and see if he at least will drink that. I have a friend who is a vet tech and I have been in touch with her, so someone does know what's going on (she suggested Fancy Feast Appetizers... ate two bites then walked away).

I've had many cats, including some that have been adopted and were really scared, but I don't remember any of them eating this infrequently. He currently has dry food out all day and I'll give him wet food when I get home (I think he prefers the wet but I didn't want to leave it out while I'm at work).

Sorry this was long... I'm just worried and was looking for some advice/consoling because I can't leave until 4:30pm and I can't stop thinking about him!

 

[WDSearcher]

First off, stop giving him five different kinds of food! He's likely not eating because he's confused. Cats are like kids ... they'll eat when they're hungry. He will not starve. Put the food out at specific times -- in the morning, in the evening -- and take it away an hour or so later. That will help the cat understand when meal time is, and he'll start getting hungry at meal time. Make sure he always has water. If you feel guilty not leaving food out, then leave about a half-portion out when you're not there so that he has something if he needs it.

Please PLEASE do not try any more brands / flavors / kinds of food. Please PLEASE do not force-feed him with an eyedropper unless a vet tells you to. Just because you don't think he's eating enough doesn't mean you have to force him to eat what you think he needs, y'know? How'd you feel if you ate half a sandwich and then decided you weren't hungry any more, and then someone tried to force-feed you the rest? Let him adjust.

And then let him be. He's getting used to a new home -- and if he's already been adopted and then brought back, he's been through a lot and will take a little extra time. Continue to interact with him, play with him, pet and brush him, etc, but stop hovering and just let him explore his new home and learn to be a pet in your house.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

It may take him a bit of time to get used to his new surroundings. Did you have another cat recently, would there still be cat smells around?

Our cat is 12 and he was biggest of litter, but vet suggested he could have been runt, he is very needy, you cant have a door closed if you are in room as he cries to be let in, if another cat has came in from the garden if the door is open, he wont touch is food.

call the vet tomorrow, but in meantime, try him on some dry food or little treats then at least you'll know he is eating something.

Im sure he'll be fine, dont worry. I know its hard, we just returned yesterday from 2 weeks at WDW my dad and my friend were looking after him, but he is still in huff today, 'cause we had gone and left him!!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

If it's any consolation, my foster kitty wouldn't eat any wet food, tuna, milk, or cheese because she was a street kitty who was taken in and not put down because she was preggo.

The organization needed to get her dewormed so her foster mom would put the crushed up meds in those foods. She got wise and wouldn't eat them anymore. It's got to be a trust thing.

Once we had Sassy for a while, I'd try to give her people food treats, but she wouldn't eat a bite unless she saw me take one first.

I've only ever had trouble with wet food with her, never dry.

Have you checked kitty's mouth?? Maybe there's something going on in there and it's painful to eat?

 

[Aimros]

First off, stop giving him five different kinds of food! He's likely not eating because he's confused. Cats are like kids ... they'll eat when they're hungry. He will not starve. Put the food out at specific times -- in the morning, in the evening -- and take it away an hour or so later. That will help the cat understand when meal time is, and he'll start getting hungry at meal time. Make sure he always has water. If you feel guilty not leaving food out, then leave about a half-portion out when you're not there so that he has something if he needs it.

Please PLEASE do not try any more brands / flavors / kinds of food. Please PLEASE do not force-feed him with an eyedropper unless a vet tells you to. Just because you don't think he's eating enough doesn't mean you have to force him to eat what you think he needs, y'know? How'd you feel if you ate half a sandwich and then decided you weren't hungry any more, and then someone tried to force-feed you the rest? Let him adjust.

And then let him be. He's getting used to a new home -- and if he's already been adopted and then brought back, he's been through a lot and will take a little extra time. Continue to interact with him, play with him, pet and brush him, etc, but stop hovering and just let him explore his new home and learn to be a pet in your house.

Yes yes very good points... I should stop trying to give him so many different kinds. It's my worry really - I just want him to eat! Of course my vet friend said, "If he doesn't eat in a few days, then he could get liver failure". But what does that mean?! It's been a "few" days and he's eaten some but definitely not even a full can's worth in 3 days. I'll keep giving him the kind he liked and see what happens. I have been feeding him at the same times every day (once in morning, once at night), he always has dry food and water. He's definitely warming up to us more now, so I'm not worried about that, I just wish he'd eat and not waste away!

We do have another cat, who is 4. I have a feeling that this may be where a lot of his stress may be coming from, although it's hard to tell. The cats have smelled each other but they haven't had a lot of contact (so newbie can adjust, of course). New cat his in his own room with the door shut, but he has all his food, water, litter box, toys, blankets, etc. When the two cats did see eachother, new cat rubbed his head on older cat. Older cat doesn't mind, he's just trying to figure out why we're locking a cat in a room and he can't see him.

So I will heed your advice and not force feed him, although it would have just been some chicken broth in a dropper (I wouldn't shove food down his throat).

I'm a defensive Mommy to my furbabies, so I don't want it to seem like I'm treating him badly... he's just a lot different then my older furbaby who is more like a dog and came out to play within in the first 10 minutes we brought him home (he was the same age as new furbaby when we adopted him). I've had lots of kitties, so when I see one that doesn't eat I get nervous. But thank you for responding, I do feel better that none of you said he's going to go into straight liver failure if I don't leave work early to go home and feed him

 

[Aimros]

Have you checked kitty's mouth?? Maybe there's something going on in there and it's painful to eat?

I haven't checked his mouth because he's been iffy about us even picking us up, I'm sure he wouldn't like me poking around in there . But I will check tonight just to make sure, although I'm sure it's fine since the vet just checked him out on Friday.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I haven't checked his mouth because he's been iffy about us even picking us up, I'm sure he wouldn't like me poking around in there . But I will check tonight just to make sure, although I'm sure it's fine since the vet just checked him out on Friday.

Fair enough.

Sassy was really timid around me when I first met her. I had actually come to look at one of her babies to take home. She sat between me and the door. FOR 30 MINUTES!!! She finally decided that I was okay and let me pass. By that time I'd taken a liking to her and the rest was history.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

This sounds like my furbaby bandit. She didnt eat a whole meal till she was here two weeks. She would eat little bits here and there but ONLY if I put the food under the bed where she could hide and eat. She never got liver failure and is now my pig cat!

 

[WDSearcher]

You said he's eating a little, right? And he's friendly and purring and social. So no ... he will not go into liver failure. (The vet friend is giving you a 'worst case' scenario. Liver failure takes a while.)

Look at it from a human standpoint. Imagine you're a kid and you've just moved to a new place. There are people there you don't know. They all seem friendly enough, but you're not really sure yet. You're exploring, there are other kids there who you're kind of getting used to. You're finding new toys and new places to sleep. And then someone puts a plate of food in front of you. You have a few bites, but you're really more interested in everything else going on, and you figure you'll come back to the food later. Then you come back and it's different food. So you have a couple of bites and figure you'll come back to it later. You come back and it's different food AGAIN! At this point, you're thinking, "What is up with these people? Every time I come back, they change the food. Geez ... give me a chance!" And then you're just generally suspicious of food for a while because you can't figure out why it keeps changing.

And really... if the new cat is rubbing heads with the old cat and the old cat doesn't mind, you may be able to put the two of them together already. Let new cat learn from old cat.

 

[KadysMom]

If the cat is eating at all and using the litter box i wouldnt worry too much yet. I know that my girl kittie is so picky though. She will cry for food, but if it isnt the kind and flavor she likes she will turn her nose to it and cry for food again. She will only eat Fancy Feast and it has to be the marinated morsels. But I have two cats, both a year and a half, and they get 1/4 of the can for breakfast and 1/4 of the can for dinner. They have wet all day but definately prefer the wet. They are now 14 pounds each!!!

 

[Aimros]

Look at it from a human standpoint. Imagine you're a kid and you've just moved to a new place. There are people there you don't know. They all seem friendly enough, but you're not really sure yet. You're exploring, there are other kids there who you're kind of getting used to. You're finding new toys and new places to sleep. And then someone puts a plate of food in front of you. You have a few bites, but you're really more interested in everything else going on, and you figure you'll come back to the food later. Then you come back and it's different food. So you have a couple of bites and figure you'll come back to it later. You come back and it's different food AGAIN! At this point, you're thinking, "What is up with these people? Every time I come back, they change the food. Geez ... give me a chance!" And then you're just generally suspicious of food for a while because you can't figure out why it keeps changing.

This made me laugh... even if it wasn't supposed to I totally see where you are coming from. You're right, he needs consistency right now, not some crazy Mommy who is trying to give him a million different kinds of food .

We haven't had too much time to be home to let both cats roam around/hang out together (I want to watch them together for a bit longer before I'm confident they will be friendly together). Old kitty is much more interested in playing, but new kitty wants to explore his new surroundings. I tried putting old kitty in our bedroom last night to let new kitty explore, but new kitty was still too timid and old kitty was not happy being locked up! I'm thinking this weekend is going to be newbies big reveal to the whole house!

Thanks for your tips... they make a lot of sense and I will try not to be such a cat psycho

 

[themarquis]

I actually disagree with the other posters.

Cats can get something -- I think it's called fatty liver -- when they don't eat or eat very little for a few days. They're different than people and dogs in that they can't go without eating and be okay. Their bodies can start to shut down after a few days.

But that being said, how much is kitty eating? A tablespoon or two a day or half a can of food or what? If kitty is eating a little bit every day, like a few bites a few times a day, that should be okay. If he (she?) is eating a teaspoon a day and that's it, then you have a problem. I would talk to the vet and tell them exactly how much kitty is eating each day and see what they say.

IF kitty is eating enough to not develop fatty liver, then I would relax and just wait for him to acclimate to your new home. Cats can take a loooong time to settle in when there is so much change in their lives. When we brought our "baby" home (now a big 20 pounder!) he hid under a dresser for several days. He kind of ignored us and would scoot in and out and eat a few bites of food and that was it. But over time, he started coming out more and more and he has turned into a total LOVE! Just the sweetest boy ever.

The fact that your kitty is sweet and purring and wanting interaction is great! It's a sign that he will eventually be a great companion once he relaxes.

If ... the vet is concerned about his eating, two more things to try. 1) meat baby food -- people use this all the time for kitties who are sick or refusing food. 2) "cat sip" milk. It is real milk but treated so it won't cause stomach problems. Most cats think it's pretty tasty.

 

[shortbun]

If he likes soft food, feed him soft food for a while but leave out the dry. Why don't you want to 'leave it out?' I feed my kitty soft food to bribe her to come off the porch when I'm leaving so we leave wet food out all the time. What's the big deal?

 

[Shmily1]

Having 14 cats myself I can totally relate to acclimating him to his surroundings. It may take a couple weeks to get him use to where he is and that's fine. As long as you are taking up time with him and showing him affection and he's purring back, he knows he's being loved and you want the best for him. Just because he knows this, doesn't mean he's not still nervous. Live pps have said, leave out some dry food and maybe give him some wet food every evening or morning and evening. I do know that six of my cats cannot eat wet food. They can't figure out how to actually get the food part out of the plate or bowl but they love the gravy.

Also, it seems like your new cat isn't an aggressive cat and would welcome the older cat's attention, even if it is in the form of playfulness. Maybe you could bring out the new cat for a little in the afternoon to spend time with the older cat for the rest of the week and then put them together full time by Saturday or Sunday when you can be there to watch them, if needed. This may be just the interaction the new cat needs. You may even be able to put the new cat's food in the same room as the older cat's so the new cat can see that it's ok.

Good luck!!

 

[Aimros]

I actually disagree with the other posters.

Cats can get something -- I think it's called fatty liver -- when they don't eat or eat very little for a few days. They're different than people and dogs in that they can't go without eating and be okay. Their bodies can start to shut down after a few days.

But that being said, how much is kitty eating? A tablespoon or two a day or half a can of food or what? If kitty is eating a little bit every day, like a few bites a few times a day, that should be okay. If he (she?) is eating a teaspoon a day and that's it, then you have a problem. I would talk to the vet and tell them exactly how much kitty is eating each day and see what they say.


If ... the vet is concerned about his eating, two more things to try. 1) meat baby food -- people use this all the time for kitties who are sick or refusing food. 2) "cat sip" milk. It is real milk but treated so it won't cause stomach problems. Most cats think it's pretty tasty.

Kitty is probably eating at least a tablespoon a day, a few bites here and there (definitely more than a teaspoon). How much is enough?

 

[HeatherH]

First of all, you are a GOOD pet parent for worrying so much and trying to take good care of your new kitty, so please don't beat yourself up.

I agree with those that say as long as he is eating some it is not likely he's going to get fatty liver disease. I have had a VERY ill cat (multiple issues) who stopped eating completely, and even with that, it was two days before we ended up having a feeding tube put into her (I had to feed her through a tube for a few weeks until she started eating again). Your cat sounds NOTHING like that, he doesn't sound sick, just skittish and confused. And I think he's probably eating more than you think he is when you're not around.

I would leave the wet food out while you are gone and see if he just wants to nibble on it during the day. You may also want to check out an automatic wet food feeder, I have one for my fat cat (the one who stopped eating is now HUGE and thinks she is dying if she doesn't have wet food three times a day) and it works great when I'm gone. It has an ice pack in the bottom and a timer that pops open whenever you set it for. That would be a good alternative if you don't want to leave wet food out all day.

I do think it's great that your two kitties seem to be getting along so well so quickly. Just relax and give it a little more time. As long as the new guy is eating some and drinking, and using the litter box, I think he is just fine. He will settle in.