Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I helped my brother rescue a 2yr old fixed female cat from our local shelter, a great match, she went directly to my 6 yr old niece and climbed into her lap! Everyone was amazed. At the shelter they feed a mixture of whatever dry food is donated so they usually don't have many issues introducing new foods. My brother went with Nutro Complete Care but she's not eating and there is only urine in the litterbox. We have tried everything, tin food, heated tin food, dry food with water from a tin of tuna, heated the dry food but she shows no interest in eating. It's in a quiet place and she'll drink her water from the same area and same type of dish but shows no interest in the food. She will eat the 4 pounce that they have given her each day but nothing else. She is not bugging them for food and is still playing and affectionate, I think she could have found somewhere other than the litterbox to go because I would think after 4 days if she wasn't eating she wouldn't be as active. Any opinions? I'm at a loss, my 3 cats have had the opposite problem, they want to eat too much!

Hi,

I think it would be a good idea for this cat to be confined to a small room with all the necessities. This way she will have to use the litterbox and it will be easier to monitor her eating. She may be in trouble if she hasn't eaten for 4 days.

If she is a nervous kitty at all, she may only eat well when she is confined. She may be overwhelmed if she has the run of the house after living in a small cage at the shelter.

I recommend that she be offered strained meat baby foods (without onion added) and some fishy canned cat foods. If this doesn't start her eating better, a vet visit should be arranged.

Please keep us updated.

Regards,
PHKitkat

If she's eating the Pounce, maybe mix it in w/the cat food. Or, give her more than 4 Pounce a day to jump start her appetite. Fully agree w/KitKat to confine her to help her get accostomed to the larger house and feel safe. If she doesn't start eating ASAP, get her to a vet. If cats go without food for long, they can develop problems (liver, etc.) The vet can also prescribe appetite stimulants.
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

Last night they bought some Cat Chow and she wouldn't eat out of the bowl but when he put a few kibbles on the floor she ate about 10 of them the went to the bowl but wouldn't eat from the bowl. They then put about 10 more on the floor and she ate those. The bowl is the same size as the one she drinks from but I suggested that her food be put on a saucer, she obviously doesn't like the bowl. Now that we know she's eaten something it's time for the litterbox patrol! It doesn't appear that she's gone anywhere else but cats can find hiding places we would have never thought of! I feel so much better now that she's eaten something, if there is no stool today then she will be confined in the 1/2 bath with her food, water and box to make sure everything is fine. She doesn't seem nervous at all but I never thought of her being overwhelmed having full run of the house after spending weeks in a cage.
Thanks for everyone's advise

Good to hear she is eating. If she only eats off the floor, then sprinkle it on a placemat or directly on the floor for now to get her eating... Good news!
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

I will mention to them about using a place mat. I found out last night she has not eaten again since Friday & no stool either. She won't even eat the 4 daily pounce anymore but she is still playing and cuddling and so happy to be in a new home. I think I have convinced my brother she needs to see a vet, but a few of his co-workers who have cats told him that as long as she was active not to worry, not all cats eat and poop everyday. News to me! She seems to be taken by the view from the patio door but will leave it for a cuddle and some water but won't eat even if it's brought to her. Do you think the blinds should be closed to see if that would help her eat? I'd say no because I think a stimulated cat is a happier and healthier cat but I wanted to get other opinions. Hopefully the vet can find something, even though her teeth and gums got an ok from the shelter, caring for over 100 cats at a time makes it understandable they might miss something.

I think I have convinced my brother she needs to see a vet, but a few of his co-workers who have cats told him that as long as she was active not to worry, not all cats eat and poop everyday. News to me!

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Bad news, at that. Cats should not go more than 24 hours without eating or they can develop liver problems. She needs a vet ASAP if she has stopped eating. People have the misconception that cats will start eating eventually when they are hungry. Wrong. Cats in pain can starve to death with food in front of them. Keep putting the food on the floor if that is the only way she eats it. Please convince him to get her to the vet if she is not eating. ASAP...
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey