Have you tried putting a bowl of tuna or salmon down just to get something in him? Most cats go crazy for this.
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New Cat--not Eating, Please Help
- Thread starter trizzo0309
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I know. It's very unusual. I had one cat who hid under the bed for weeks, but she did come out to eat and use the cat box from the first day.
Sounds like you're probably going to end up at the vet tomorrow. I'll look forward to any updates.
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We tried a can of tuna which is his favorite according to the rescue and he was licking his lips the whole time but didn't eat any and wouldn't touch it.
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Thank you, I will provide some updates tomorrow if I wake up and he has eaten something. That'd be ideal.
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Wait....I just had a thought. Prior, my cat used to live on a quiet back road street and now I live on a loud, busy road right across from a fire department. Do you think this may have any correlation to his scaredness?
Leaving him in a safe room alone will get him eating. It's hard to get him out with food when you are around and not to mention getting him out to get him to the vet, meaning you have to catch and pull him out of hiding which I would suggest you do not do that.
If you pull him out of hiding, he'll be more fearful and weary and once he's back from the vet, it'll be more hiding for him from you. So please don't do that. As long as you know that there are no immediate known issues with the cat, meaning he is healthy, leave him alone and leave fresh water and fresh food for him and when he's really hungry, he'll eat.
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I really appreciate you commenting on the situation. We took him to the vet on Monday and he got his shots and they said nothing was wrong with him physically. One would assume that after 60+ hours he would be hungry and eat. I don't want to be a selfish person and yank him from his "safe space" but his health is now my concern and I don't want my kindness towards him to cost him his life.
He is currently in my room which is a decent size so do you think moving him to a smaller bathroom may help him feel more comfortable?
I think just leave him where he is now if it's ok with you. At least he's been there for awhile and he can see the movements and probably he's getting use to the sights and sounds.
Do you feel that he looks comfortable where he is now? Maybe moving him in to the bathroom would be good as there's less traffic in there but you have to approach the bathroom quietly as not spook him. Spend time talking to him and get down to his level and visit him with food in your hands. Let him associate you with food. If not, just leave him where he is.
Do you feel that he looks comfortable where he is now? Maybe moving him in to the bathroom would be good as there's less traffic in there but you have to approach the bathroom quietly as not spook him. Spend time talking to him and get down to his level and visit him with food in your hands. Let him associate you with food. If not, just leave him where he is.
It's been three days without food and water? He may be dehydrated, please check his gums by lifting up the top lip and putting your finger on it's gum. If it's tacky or dry he's dehydrated.
If you don't feel comfortable putting your fingers in your cat's mouth, pinch and gently pull up the skin at the top of the shoulders. If it doesn't spring back it's dehydrated, you need to get it to the vet.
If the test is ok and your cat is not dehydrated call the place you got the cat from, ask them what they fed it and feed it to the cat.
If you don't feel comfortable putting your fingers in your cat's mouth, pinch and gently pull up the skin at the top of the shoulders. If it doesn't spring back it's dehydrated, you need to get it to the vet.
If the test is ok and your cat is not dehydrated call the place you got the cat from, ask them what they fed it and feed it to the cat.
I will respectfully disagree with TabbyTom. The cat is now approaching 72 hours, or 3 days without food or water. I would either 1) get him out and syringe feed him, or 2) take him to the vet to get some water and nutrition into him. He has to eat. I had a young, healthy-weight cat go off food and get hepatic lipidosis. He pulled through after weeks of syringe feeding every two hours at first, then 3 hours, then 4 hours. It was a grueling period for the cat and for me. I don't let a cat go 48 hours off food. Never again.
It's also possible that he is having a bad reaction to the vaccines he was given on Monday.
It's also possible that he is having a bad reaction to the vaccines he was given on Monday.
That could add to his adjustment anxiety. Which room in your house is the most quiet (furthest away from the traffic noise)? I would move him to that room.
I noticed you've said he's licking his lips like he wants to eat...a cat licking their lips is actually a sign of nausea (unless it's after they've eaten and they're cleaning, of course). I agree with orange&white that it's possible he's having a bad reaction to the vaccines he got on Monday. Maybe this is more than just new home stress and he needs some antinausea medication.
How's it going today? Did he eat anything overnight? Could you call the vet you took him to on Monday and see what they think and/or bring him in if not?
How's it going today? Did he eat anything overnight? Could you call the vet you took him to on Monday and see what they think and/or bring him in if not?
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Thank you for your comments. My girlfriend and I slept in a totally separate room as him last night to give him space and so he can feel comfortable and eat. When we walked in today we saw that he drank some of his water, ate 3/4 of his wet food and used the litter box!
He is still hiding under the bed but at least he ate food and drank, which is excellent! I'm not sure if that means it will be safe to sleep with him back in our room again but him eating is a great sign.
I think I'm going to go back to sleeping in my room and hopefully over time he'll get used to us being there at night and eat with us in the room.
I'm confident the situation has gone from "Why won't my cat eat" to "Now my cat is hiding under the bed still and it would be nice to have him come out and feel more comfortable around us."
Bravo! 
Great to hear that he ate, drank and used the litter box. It's ok to leave him where he is now as he is eating, drinking and litter boxing. Just leave doors opened so that he can sense that he is not locked up and have an option to roam around the house.
Give him some time to overcome his hiding. As soon as he don't feel that you guys are a threat to him, and with your talking and luring him out with a toy like a cat wand, he'll eventually come out once he have full confidence in you guys.
Great to hear that he ate, drank and used the litter box. It's ok to leave him where he is now as he is eating, drinking and litter boxing. Just leave doors opened so that he can sense that he is not locked up and have an option to roam around the house. Give him some time to overcome his hiding. As soon as he don't feel that you guys are a threat to him, and with your talking and luring him out with a toy like a cat wand, he'll eventually come out once he have full confidence in you guys.
That is fabulous news!!! I was getting really worried, so I can just imagine how you were feeling. What a relief.
So yes, now you can get down to trust building and bonding. Trying to interest him out of hiding with toys as TabbyTom suggested is a great idea! Put a little trail of yummy treats out while you're in the room with him as well, to try to challenge and build his confidence.
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Thank you for the kind words! Yeah, he just wants to hide in the back of underneath the dresser or back of the bed up against the wall. I've tried catnip and play toys but he just sort of stares at them and hisses if try petting him, so we haven't even actually touched him yet.That is fabulous news!!! I was getting really worried, so I can just imagine how you were feeling. What a relief.
So yes, now you can get down to trust building and bonding. Trying to interest him out of hiding with toys as TabbyTom suggested is a great idea! Put a little trail of yummy treats out while you're in the room with him as well, to try to challenge and build his confidence.
Real sad getting a new cat and not actually seeing what he looks like! He's hid for four days so we have never even seen his full body. Guess I have to wait and leave him alone...
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Thank you, it's awesome news. Currently we have three other cats so we have him in our bedroom with the door closed so no other cats can get in to bother him. Do you think it would make sense at all for us to leave the door open to let the other cats in or should I keep the door closed so he feels safe in his little room?Bravo!
Give him some time to overcome his hiding. As soon as he don't feel that you guys are a threat to him, and with your talking and luring him out with a toy like a cat wand, he'll eventually come out once he have full confidence in you guys.
Have they been introduced correctly? Does the other cats know that there's another cat in the house and vice versa?
If they have met and there're no sparks between them, it should be okay to leave the doors open. I'm afraid that they have not met and things will be different. It'll be better to keep him by himself till his confidence level is way up otherwise meeting the 3 other cats will be a nightmare for him.
Your other three cats are likely to be territorial and not too welcoming to a "stranger" at first. I'd keep the door closed until the cat is coming out of hiding, then plan on a screen door or baby gate so they can see each other but not "get at" each other to see how they react.
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Sounds good!
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They have not been introduced at all. Old cats know there's a new cat considering a door has been closed and they smell him. New cat definitely knows old cats exist because he hears meowing outside the door.
Yeah, it's just going to be a waiting game for him to be more comfortable in general. Currently, he is scared to death of us humans and hasn't warmed up at all even if we've tried all the tricks in the book.
