New Cat--not Eating, Please Help

[trizzo0309]

Hello all, I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this but I really need some help.

Got a new cat (2 years old) from a rescue, placed him in my bedroom with food, litterbox and water and he's done nothing but not leave underneath the dresser. We have tried different foods, putting it under the dresser with him, no luck.

We've had cats our whole life and are growing extremely concerned. It's been three days and no eating or drinking.

I know cats will do this but we called the vet for advice and they said if he doesn't eat within 24 hours to rush him to the vet. Please help.

 

[Primula]

He's frightened in a new home. Leave him be & he will slowly adjust. If you could put his stuff in a room other than your bedroom he will then come out at night when you are sleeping to eat & drink.

 

[orange&white]

Hiding and only coming out to eat at night, or when the house is really quiet, is normal. Not eating anything for 3 days is not normal.

Go out and get several flavors of canned food, treats, kibble, meat-only baby food, tuna, etc. Set out a buffet for the cat with multiple choices. Also get a syringe...you may have to try to get him from under the bed to feed him (if he won't scratch or bite you).

Call the rescue and see if they or a previous foster home can give you any advice on the cat's behavior and favorite foods.

 

[hellomisskitty]

In addition to the advice above, here's a TCS article I hope may be of help:

How To Help A New Cat Adjust To Your Home

Please keep us posted on how your new little man is doing

 

[trizzo0309]

Hiding and only coming out to eat at night, or when the house is really quiet, is normal. Not eating anything for 3 days is not normal.

Go out and get several flavors of canned food, treats, kibble, meat-only baby food, tuna, etc. Set out a buffet for the cat with multiple choices. Also get a syringe...you may have to try to get him from under the bed to feed him (if he won't scratch or bite you).

Call the rescue and see if they or a previous foster home can give you any advice on the cat's behavior and favorite foods.

Thank you for your reply! We have been in constant contact with the rescue as it was a singular woman who rescues them. She isn't concerned in the slightest. She told us the food he likes, we've followed those directions and are going to try catnip to relax him a bit and get him to loosen up.

I couldn't even think of how we'd get him out from under the dresser if we need to physically feed him or bring him to the vet.

 

[trizzo0309]

Thank you for replying! I'm very much in your boat of letting him warm up to the place but not eating for three days can kill him. I dont know when waiting for him to relax and he needs medical help crosses the line.

 

[Primula]

Three days without food won't kill him. I honestly think if you move his food to a room where he is alone he will come out overnight & eat. He won't come out from under the dresser because you are in the room sleeping.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Canyou move the dresser away from the wall,then if you have too, leave it away from the wall for a little while so you can continue to reach him if needed. Would shutting him in a bathroom be better, where he has the room totally to himself in the middle of the night (as suggested in your other post). This might help him relax a bit.

 

[trizzo0309]

Three days without food won't kill him. I honestly think if you move his food to a room where he is alone he will come out overnight & eat. He won't come out from under the dresser because you are in the room sleeping.

I appreciate your insight. We have him in our room and come in once every couple hours to check in on him and have his food in their as well.

So you're saying we should leave him and his food there and just go sleep in a different room so he has the place to himself for the night? I thought that it is good to be in the same room as the cat so they can be comfortable around you.

 

[orange&white]

Moving him to the bathroom is a good idea. Set him up with a blanket in a cat carrier (or cardboard box), food, water, litter and some toys. The only place he could hide would be the carrier. Turn on some talk radio or classical music at a low volume.

I brought a little feral home in early February. She lived in the bathroom for the first 9 days with that set up.

 

[tabbytom]

I second what Primula mentioned. I just want to add this, visit him often so that he'll get use to you or whoever is living there. Whenever you're the room, move slowly and get down low so that your kitty won't feel intimidated by your size.

Talk to him sweetly and let him gain confidence in you. It takes awhile but with patience and love, it'll speed up the process. Keep repeating the routine and once he feels no threat from you, let him explore the surroundings on his own but make sure he has a safe place to retreat to if he's afraid.

Place a towel or two where he is now and once he gets his scents on them, move the towel,around the house so that he'll feel that the house is safe as his scents is there.

Most important thing is to cat proof your house. Keep all medications out of reach. Keep human foods away from him and also certain plants and flowers are toxic to cats.

There are many good Articles in this forum. Do browse around for the informations or if you have questions, please ask.

What's your kitty's name? Please show us his photos

 

[Primula]

So you're saying we should leave him and his food there and just go sleep in a different room so he has the place to himself for the night? I thought that it is good to be in the same room as the cat so they can be comfortable around you.

I was thinking the other way round - move him to another room. But your way is actually better if it's easy for you. I think if he is left alone until tomorrow morning that you will find he's come out of hiding & eaten his food.

Yes, it is good for your cat to get used to you, but the primary goal here is to get him to eat. Once he realizes that nothing terrible will happen to him once he leaves the safety of the dresser, I'm sure things will improve.

 

[trizzo0309]

I was thinking the other way round - move him to another room. But your way is actually better if it's easy for you. I think if he is left alone until tomorrow morning that you will find he's come out of hiding & eaten his food.

Yes, it is good for your cat to get used to you, but the primary goal here is to get him to eat. Once he realizes that nothing terrible will happen to him once he leaves the safety of the dresser, I'm sure things will improve.

Thank you so much for your comments! We're going to try that tonight and if he doesn't eat when we check on him in the morning we have to bring him to the vet. I 100% understand making him comfortable and he will overtime but going 3 full days without eating is very bad.

 

[trizzo0309]

I second what Primula mentioned. I just want to add this, visit him often so that he'll get use to you or whoever is living there. Whenever you're the room, move slowly and get down low so that your kitty won't feel intimidated by your size.

Talk to him sweetly and let him gain confidence in you. It takes awhile but with patience and love, it'll speed up the process. Keep repeating the routine and once he feels no threat from you, let him explore the surroundings on his own but make sure he has a safe place to retreat to if he's afraid.

Place a towel or two where he is now and once he gets his scents on them, move the towel,around the house so that he'll feel that the house is safe as his scents is there.

Most important thing is to cat proof your house. Keep all medications out of reach. Keep human foods away from him and also certain plants and flowers are toxic to cats.

There are many good Articles in this forum. Do browse around for the informations or if you have questions, please ask.

What's your kitty's name? Please show us his photos

His name is Dash and we haven't had the chance for him to come out so pictures will have to be on hold!

I understand that making him comfortable is important but he's gone almost 60 hours without eating a single bite of food and that has me worried. I'm totally cool with being patient if he was eating but as he has not eaten at all we are concerned. If he doesn't have anything by morning we have to rush him to the vet.

 

[trizzo0309]

Canyou move the dresser away from the wall,then if you have too, leave it away from the wall for a little while so you can continue to reach him if needed. Would shutting him in a bathroom be better, where he has the room totally to himself in the middle of the night (as suggested in your other post). This might help him relax a bit.

Thank you for this tip! We have no problem waiting for him to be comfortable with us as we totally understand that but him not eating is what is concerning. If he was hiding and eating, that's great, but he's hiding and not eating at all which is scary.

It has been 60 hours without food and we're going to sleep in a different room tonight so he has the entire bedroom to himself to eat and feel comfortable. If he doesn't eat by the time we wake up tomorrow we're planning on bringing him to the vet as his health will then be in serious jeopardy.

Do you agree with this at all? We've tried all his favorite foods at the shelter and he licks his lips like he wants to eat but is too scared to.

 

[trizzo0309]

Moving him to the bathroom is a good idea. Set him up with a blanket in a cat carrier (or cardboard box), food, water, litter and some toys. The only place he could hide would be the carrier. Turn on some talk radio or classical music at a low volume.

I brought a little feral home in early February. She lived in the bathroom for the first 9 days with that set up.

Thank you for this tip! We have no problem waiting for him to be comfortable with us as we totally understand that but him not eating is what is concerning. If he was hiding and eating, that's great, but he's hiding and not eating at all which is scary.

It has been 60 hours without food and we're going to sleep in a different room tonight so he has the entire bedroom to himself to eat and feel comfortable. If he doesn't eat by the time we wake up tomorrow we're planning on bringing him to the vet as his health will then be in serious jeopardy.

Do you agree with this at all? We've tried all his favorite foods at the shelter and he licks his lips like he wants to eat but is too scared to.

 

[Lauracalla]

I'm so sorry this is happening. Trying different foods and moving around the bowl is a good idea. I would listen to the vet and maybe try a pheromone diffuser to make him more comfortable. It was helpful to make my new cat adjust to her surroundings. Best of luck with your new kitty.

 

[orange&white]

Yes, maybe he'll come out at night in your empty bedroom.

Sixty hours is a very long time. The vet will do IV fluid drip or sub-Q fluids to rehydrate him and possibly insert a feeding tube.

Well, I'm sorry you're having this experience with the new kitty.

 

[trizzo0309]

I'm so sorry this is happening. Trying different foods and moving around the bowl is a good idea. I would listen to the vet and maybe try a pheromone diffuser to make him more comfortable. It was helpful to make my new cat adjust to her surroundings. Best of luck with your new kitty.

Thank you so much for the support and advice!

 

[trizzo0309]

Yes, maybe he'll come out at night in your empty bedroom.

Sixty hours is a very long time. The vet will do IV fluid drip or sub-Q fluids to rehydrate him and possibly insert a feeding tube.

Well, I'm sorry you're having this experience with the new kitty.

Thank you. It's been a tough few days and the support is definitely appreciated. I have never seen a cat go this extreme with being scared before is all. Just eat!