New cat not eating

njg55

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I brought home an 8-year-old male cat yesterday. His owner died a month of so ago, then friends and family took care of him and another cat while the cats remained in the home. One of those friends talked me into adopting him, and after a get-acquainted visit a week earlier, he is now here. I put him in a spare bedroom with water, dried food, and a litter box, and have offered him canned food several times. He has barely eaten any, even though I'm offering him canned varieties my friend told me he liked. He's been through a lot lately, and now he's in a strange place, with three people he doesn't know, another cat and a dog (he hasn't seen them but probably detects their scents), and separated from the other cat he had been with for many years. All of us drop in to pet him and talk to him, whether it's for a few minutes or even hour, trying to get him accustomed to the new situation. I assume his lack of interest in the food is related to the stress. What can I do to encourage him to eat?
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi. That is a lot of changes to go through, and not eating at first isn't terribly surprising. Just monitor how much you give him so you know if/when he eats and how much. Maybe leave some canned food for him in the room along with the dry food.

Is he interacting with you when you visit him? Some cats will hide when 'strangers' come into their safe space, but will come out to eat at night when it is dark and quiet and no one is around. See if you don't notice more food gone over the next few days.

Were you able to bring with him some of his possessions - toys, blankets, towels, bedding? Even him having his 'old' food/water dishes can help. I am not too comfortable with suggesting this, but it might help for the short term - bringing him some blankets/towels from the other cat so he can smell his old buddy. That might be helpful to the other cat as well - to swap items between you and whomever adopted the other cat until both cats get better acclimated to their new homes.

It's too bad you couldn't have taken both cats; that would have gone a long way in helping him/them to adjust to a new life/home.
How To Help A New Cat Adjust To Your Home - TheCatSite

Let us know how he progresses over the coming days.
 
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njg55

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He's super friendly and comes out from under the bed as soon as anyone enters the room. I've already begun opening the door and letting him look around a little, staying with him to pet him and let him know it's OK. He definitely likes people and is getting TLC from the entire family. I didn't get anything from his temporary owner; I don't know if he had a bed or blanket. They weren't my friend's cats, and it wasn't her house, so she may not have even known about special possessions. I have been leaving the dish with the wet food in the room for several hours, until it reaches the point where I don't think it's edible any more. There is also a bowl of dry food, that I think he has slightly sampled. He will eat treats, not that I want to feed him nothing but that. Hopefully as he settles in things will get better. I need to drop off some paperwork at my vet clinic, so I will mention that he isn't eating and see if they have any other ideas.
 

susanm9006

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It may days before this guy is feeling settled enough to get his appetite back but as long as he is eating a little something he will be okay. You can try squeezing out a Inaba Churu for him, or offering some tuna in water.
 
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maggie101

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Do you cats let him eat by himself? My cat Maggie will walk away when Peaches eats her food. Has he tried fancy feast? Some reason cats will come running and meowing for it
 
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njg55

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I'm giving him Fancy Feast, since that's one of the brands he was eating before. I may have to stay with him, although that hasn't made much difference when I've tried it before. I have another cat who is like that, though, so I'm familiar with the behavior. I'll probably give him a Churu before bedtime, since he's hardly eaten anything today. He also urinated on the bedspread a short time ago. He may have used the box in the room once yesterday but not since. However, apparently after the recent accident, the door was open because a family member was with him, and he walked across the hall and used the box in a different room. I switched them since maybe if he likes one of them better he'll use it. Right now he's about to step on the laptop keyboard, so before he creatively edits my message I'll end.
 

vampiric_conure

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When I brought home Puddles, the first of my current 2 cats, it took her 4 days before she ate anything. She would eat the Temptations treats I left out for her, but that was it. Then on day 4, she decided food was a good thing and ate like I had starved her. As in she was growling over her food and hiding her wet cat food on the floor to eat there.

Your new boy should settle down food-wise in a couple of days, Keep feeding him his usual food. One day he'll decide he's safe and eat like he's never seen food before.
 

maggie101

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I'm ending too. Just wanted to suggest r
I'm giving him Fancy Feast, since that's one of the brands he was eating before. I may have to stay with him, although that hasn't made much difference when I've tried it before. I have another cat who is like that, though, so I'm familiar with the behavior. I'll probably give him a Churu before bedtime, since he's hardly eaten anything today. He also urinated on the bedspread a short time ago. He may have used the box in the room once yesterday but not since. However, apparently after the recent accident, the door was open because a family member was with him, and he walked across the hall and used the box in a different room. I switched them since maybe if he likes one of them better he'll use it. Right now he's about to step on the laptop keyboard, so before he creatively edits my message I'll end.
I'm ending too. Just wanted to suggest getting another litter box. A storage. Bin if he's a big cat. If he continues peeing get him checked for uti. Good luck!
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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He's super friendly and comes out from under the bed as soon as anyone enters the room. ... I have been leaving the dish with the wet food in the room for several hours, until it reaches the point where I don't think it's edible any more. There is also a bowl of dry food, that I think he has slightly sampled. ...
Since he is calm-ish and friendly when people are in the room, I would just make the effort to keep his normal wet food much fresher than the idea of leaving it several hours until it is not as appetizing. A week or so of extra effort at changing out & renewing the food (and likely, producing a bit of food waste on your end for a little while) might result in big benefits: of him being attracted to that fresh(er) more exciting food choice. The most immediate concern is getting him to eat enough real food (not treats) that will put his liver to work.
:catrub:
 
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njg55

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I'm ending too. Just wanted to suggest r

I'm ending too. Just wanted to suggest getting another litter box. A storage. Bin if he's a big cat. If he continues peeing get him checked for uti. Good luck!
All of my litter boxes are storage bins. A cat behavioral consultant I've worked with off and on over various issues tipped me off to that. And he is a very large cat. I don't know his weight, but he may be the biggest cat I've ever had!
 

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What about leaving some background noise for him? Nobel always settled better in a new rental when he had background noise going. I like the cat calming music with purring best for this because I feel like it builds confidence.

Had the other cat already used the litter he wanted to use?

How did he like his Churu? Did feeding him with you work.

You can try crushing some of the treats he likes and put them on top of thr wet.
 

maggie101

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What about leaving some background noise for him? Nobel always settled better in a new rental when he had background noise going. I like the cat calming music with purring best for this because I feel like it builds confidence.

Had the other cat already used the litter he wanted to use?

How did he like his Churu? Did feeding him with you work.

You can try crushing some of the treats he likes and put them on top of thr wet.
Her favorite music is hearing me sing! Also loves Bugs Bunny
 
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