Help - Cat in new home and not eating

[GillieGirl]

I moved my elderly Mom in with me along with her 6yo female cat Olive. Olive is solidly a one-person pet. She adores my Mom, hates everyone else.its not fear b/c she'll eat treats from my hand but God forbid I try to pet her or otherwise get too close. The issue is that since the move 5 days ago Olive is MIA. I started her in the guest room with her own litter box, food and water (I have two young, friendly male cats and wanted her to feel she has a safe place). We've left the door partially open so she can hear us and leave the room when she's ready.

She's used the litter box but isn't eating and as far as I can tell not drinking either. She's in complete hiding and was only seen once when I looked behind the bed. She won't even come to my Mom.

What can we do? The lack of eating is worrying me after 4+ days. But I'm not sure what else to do? Keep the closed? Open?

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi
I would leave the door closed, also maybe try a calming product and try classical harp music now and then, or look at musicforcats, Relax My Cat, Spotify etc.

She's going to need a lot of time and patience and no expectations. This is going to happen on her schedule.

 

[GillieGirl]

Hi
I would leave the door closed, also maybe try a calming product and try classical harp music now and then, or look at musicforcats, Relax My Cat, Spotify etc.

She's going to need a lot of time and patience and no expectations. This is going to happen on her schedule.

At what point should I be worried about the lack of eating? My Mom said a cat won't starve itself to death but I'm still concerned.

 

[Furballsmom]

See if there is anything in this thread that might entice her, and keep an eye on the litterbox. You might consider a vet home visit down the road when things settle a little for her.
See if your mom might have some unwashed socks and/or tshirts you can scatter around the room to help with familiar scents.

Any Good Tips To Get Your Cats To Eat? Share Them Here!

 

[rubysmama]

GillieGirl : just seeing your thread now. Have you had any luck getting Olive to eat anything?

At what point should I be worried about the lack of eating? My Mom said a cat won't starve itself to death but I'm still concerned.

You're right to be concerned, as cats can't go too long without eating, as they can develop a condition called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver, which can be very serious. This can set in as quickly as 48 hours, so if she really hasn't eaten anything in 5 days, I would recommend calling your vet for advise. Meanwhile, here's a TCS article with more info: Why Has My Cat Stopped Eating And Is It Dangerous? – TheCatSite Articles

Also How To Get Your Cat To Start Eating Again – TheCatSite Articles

Good luck. Please keep us updated on how things are going.