My 3 Strays Won't Eat

I'm not sure what is happening. I've never dealt with trying to tame cats or dealt with outdoor cats before so this is completely new. 2 days ago the one I called Shadow went missing. The other two: Shaman and Treasure stayed around and ate fine til last night. This morning as I watched on a private at home cam, Shadow came back, sniffed the food bowl filled with her favorite food and walked off. 15 minutes later, Shaman and Treasure showed up and di the same thing. Both looking very nervous. I just never saw that kind of reaction, and maybe I"m just overthinking it and they may be getting fed by another neighbor as well. I wish my elderly mother wasn't allergic to cats or I'd bring them inside to tame that way. Any advice? And hopefully I am just overthinking this as I never dealt with trying to tame 3 strays before. Thank you.

Hi!
It could also be they had a run-in with a raccoon or something like that?

If it was wet food, perhaps it was out too long and was starting to spoil - that would explain why all 3 were all of a sudden not interested.

Also, did you check the food - when Furballsmom mentioned a raccoon, it made me think that perhaps a raccoon (a skunk, or some other wild creature) ate from the bowl causing it to smell differently, or maybe even threw up in the bowl after eating from it. Raccoons have done similar things on our area with folks who have left cat food outside. Raccoons will also poop in a bowl of water when left outside, but I can't say I ever heard/saw where they did that with a food bowl.

Odds are, even if they are being fed by another neighbor, they likely would still eat some of the food you leave out for them. Or, if they were full, it is not likely they would have even bothered to come up to the bowl and sniff the food.

Maybe you could use the private at home cam at night to see if another animal is using the food bowls?

Since they've only not eaten one meal, this morning, I wouldn't worry about it yet. Wash their bowls and put fresh food in them. Do you leave the food out 24/7, or just during the day? Do you leave just dry food out, or canned food? They could have eaten something that upset their tummies, or eaten elsewhere this morning. Maybe try feeding them something especially tasty later today, some treats?

The food was opened like 3 minutes before they came and sniffed though. I never let food sit out for more than 30 minutes

msaimee said:

Since they've only not eaten one meal, this morning, I wouldn't worry about it yet. Wash their bowls and put fresh food in them. Do you leave the food out 24/7, or just during the day? Do you leave just dry food out, or canned food? They could have eaten something that upset their tummies, or eaten elsewhere this morning. Maybe try feeding them something especially tasty later today, some treats?

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I leave the wet food out only for 30 minutes and then pitch if they don't eat. The dry food I have in a bowl and take out to them as soon as I see them and I bring it back inside immediately when whey finish. They usually eat one right after the other and finish the bowl. Yes I wash the bowl after each feeding and so no other animal eats out of the bowl.

FeebysOwner said:

If it was wet food, perhaps it was out too long and was starting to spoil - that would explain why all 3 were all of a sudden not interested.

Also, did you check the food - when Furballsmom mentioned a raccoon, it made me think that perhaps a raccoon (a skunk, or some other wild creature) ate from the bowl causing it to smell differently, or maybe even threw up in the bowl after eating from it. Raccoons have done similar things on our area with folks who have left cat food outside. Raccoons will also poop in a bowl of water when left outside, but I can't say I ever heard/saw where they did that with a food bowl.

Odds are, even if they are being fed by another neighbor, they likely would still eat some of the food you leave out for them. Or, if they were full, it is not likely they would have even bothered to come up to the bowl and sniff the food.

Maybe you could use the private at home cam at night to see if another animal is using the food bowls?

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No other animal ate from it. I literally open the wet food outside while they're there (which I watch through the screen window on my cam) and bring the bowl in (after discarding any old food) as soon as they finish and wash the bowl. The dry food I take out in the bowl which I keep inside until I see one of them show up. So odd though. And this is the expensive stuff from Whole Foods that they all love

Then, perhaps they are being fed by someone else. See what happens the next couple of times you put their food out for them to see if they eat it or reject it.

You would think that unless another neighbor is coincidentally feeding them right before you normally feed them, that they still would eat some of the food you are offering them. You could check with some of the neighbors to see if they see/feed the cats?

Keep an eye on the area via your cam to see if there is another cat (or wild critter) showing up around the general vicinity - maybe it is freaking them out a bit?

FeebysOwner said:

Then, perhaps they are being fed by someone else. See what happens the next couple of times you put their food out for them to see if they eat it or reject it.

You would think that unless another neighbor is coincidentally feeding them right before you normally feed them, that they still would eat some of the food you are offering them. You could check with some of the neighbors to see if they see/feed the cats?

Keep an eye on the area via your cam to see if there is another cat (or wild critter) showing up around the general vicinity - maybe it is freaking them out a bit?

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Thanks. I'll do that, although I usually just go right inside the door while watching on cam or in nice weather sit outside 4 or 5 feet away while they eat. I wish I could afford a real cam instead of private broadcasts on Periscope from my smartphone

None of them will drink water and I have no idea why. I can't believe that on a normal day they want food the 15 or 16 times they come to the food bowl. Again I'm unfamiliar with stray/feral cats as the one I had years ago was inside constantly and her food and water always filled. I feel bad in 80 degree weather not giving them water. It's not clorinated water either.

I am wondering if some creature has just been in that location and left a scent. It doesn’t take much to make the cats wary. You could try moving where you feed them if this happens again. If you want to tame/ socialize the kitties it would be good if you could sit very still nearby while they eat. That might also make them feel more secure if they trust you to be there.
As far as taking them, do you have accesss to a garage or outbuilding? That could be used to bring them in. Getting them used to your presence would be a good step. If you have absolutely no way to bring them in then maybe a neighbor would. You could check with neighbors to see if any are feeding them and if any would be willing to assist. Getting the kitties spayed and neutered is extremely important. You don’t say if they’ve been fixed but if not then there will be other cats coming around. Then you have other issues that can come up.
Everyone here will very good about helping you through learning how to deal with the kitties so please keep updating as you go. You are doing a fantastic thing by helping these kitties! Welcome to the site! It’s very nice to meet you! I love your user name!

MoonstoneWolf said:

None of them will drink water and I have no idea why. I can't believe that on a normal day they want food the 15 or 16 times they come to the food bowl. Again I'm unfamiliar with stray/feral cats as the one I had years ago was inside constantly and her food and water always filled. I feel bad in 80 degree weather not giving them water. It's not clorinated water either.

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Do you leave water out for them all the time? Cats are not typically known to be crazy about drinking water. They may also be finding elsewhere - drains/empty planter pots/along the curb - pretty much wherever they find it when they do happen to want a drink. It helps that you do feed them some wet food, as they are getting moisture from that. And, tbh, they are liking eating mice/etc. which also provides moisture content for them as well.

I just observed, I put out fresh food. Shadow refused again and walked off but Shaman and Treasure ate it just fine. Same spot and 15 minutes apart watched on my cam. No other animals so not sure. Cats sure are a puzzle.

Feral and stray outdoor cats rarely drink water from a bowl, it tastes odd to them. If you add some water to their canned food, they will get plenty of water, especially since canned food has a large water content to begin with. Even dry food contains some water. They also get hydration from prey they kill, and when it rains, they drink rainwater. If there is a stream nearby, they drink from that as well.

There could be any number of reasons why they skipped a meal this morning. Yhis sometimes happens with outdoor cats. Hopefully they will eat tonite or tomorrow.

msaimee said:

Feral and stray outdoor cats rarely drink water from a bowl, it tastes odd to them. If you add some water to their canned food, they will get plenty of water, especially since canned food has a large water content to begin with. Even dry food contains some water. They also get hydration from prey they kill, and when it rains, they drink rainwater. If there is a stream nearby, they drink from that as well.

There could be any number of reasons why they skipped a meal this morning. Yhis sometimes happens with outdoor cats. Hopefully they will eat tonite or tomorrow.

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You and I posted at same time:

I just observed, I put out fresh food. Shadow refused again and walked off but Shaman and Treasure ate it just fine. Same spot and 15 minutes apart watched on my cam. No other animals so not sure. Cats sure are a puzzle.

However while Shaman is outside with me sleeping 4 feet away I heard 2 cats play fight which would be Shadow and Treasure as I see the 2 of them "fight" and an hour later sleeping next to each other. So I guess Shadow is ok because at this point I'm so used to their personalities I'd be worried if those two didn't figh or play fight.

Ok Shaman and Treasure ate the food again and yet Shadow is still turning her nose up. Is she dying? I hope not. I feel so sad

How does she look? If you store clips of camera video, or have previous photos look at those and compare to how she looks today. If not, take pictures today/tomorrow and continue, so you can see how she looks day to day.

Shadow came back again this morning and was laying by the food bowl. I went out to feed her and she let me come within 4 feet but she's been doing that anyway the past week. She ate but not a lot. She looks well so I'm assuming she's getting fed as well by a neighbor or as mentioned above catching mice. I have posted in the NextDoor app if anyone else is feeding them to let me know so I'm not so worried and vice versa.

She is beautiful! I'm glad she ate

Thanks. Does she look thin to you? Right now she's stretched out laying by the food bowl, not eating and barely moving when I go by. Again I have never dealt with this situation before so I have no idea if she's sick, dying or getting used to me. I know I worry a lot though