To ask for advice on my new cat please

[Nosferatu345]

I recently took in an elderly cat that another family wanted to rehome. He is thin and bony and apparently wasn't eating because of the stress, and he seems absolutely ravenous.

When I give him food it's like he has never eaten before, and he will eat endless amounts. I'm really pleased he's eating as he needs to gain weight, he's frail.

Unfortunately he keeps trying to eat my other cat's food too, so I'm not sure how to do it other than feeding him in a separate room and shutting him in until my other cat has eaten.

I also made the mistake of eating a chicken sandwich and then stroking him, and he bit my finger and drew blood as he could taste the meat.
He tries to get food out of the bins too so I've had to put a weight on top.

I introduced him and my existing cat slowly, they haven't fought luckily, they co exist but she will hiss if he gets too close. However he seems to respect her boundaries and backs off.

I'm not sure how to manage this, it's too early to tell but he seems to have put a bit of weight on which is good. I use a feliway diffuser and my current cat goes outdoors but I haven't let the new one out yet, I am planning to soon though.

Not sure what to do about the eating thing. I thought it might be stress but he's been settled otherwise. Any cat experts who could advise?

He's a moggie but a long-haired one, and he was slightly matted when he arrived, luckily given him a brush.
I suppose this is the risk I've taken getting a cat from a private seller and not from a shelter. Shelters will check for any health issues first, private sellers can say anything.

Unkempt coat is also a sign of hyperthyroidism.

Good luck at the vets.

Ah, poor kitty, I'm glad he's yours now.
Obviously the vet check, but you have that in hand.

Cats that have gone hungry can be devils for foods, even for a few years. He'll settle in time and meanwhile you'll learn a way to manage his food with your other cats.

Healthcheck and lots of love, he'll be good :)

Yep, it’ll be hyperthyroidism. My mum had one with it that needed medication 2x a day and bloods every 3 months to check the levels and adjust dosage as needed. Plus follow-up bloods two weeks after any change to the dosage to make sure it worked. It cost her several thousand a year to maintain, depending on how many times he had to go in. You may be able to find a vet willing to do the maintenance for a bit less though. Her cat was aggressive so had to have extra medication and sedation for every visit.

Definitely sounds like hyperthyroidism. You could google it and look at images as hyperthyroid cats tend to have a certain 'look' - bony as hell and quite an unkempt coat. My previous cat had this, along with with kidney disease.

I also recently got a pair of male cats and cannot believe how much more they eat than my older female cat. More than double I'd say. I have to feed her extra, separately, otherwise they eat all theirs and then start on hers. It's a pain in the arse!

I just rescued two kittens and they ate like monsters for two weeks and have now slowed down so maybe it’s what’s he’s been through

he probably needs to relaise he doesn’t have two big dogs behind him when eating and that he can slow down…it will take time

also is he wormed?

all else sounds good. Give it time

Def a visit to the vets, sounds like your cat needs an health overhaul teeth check wormer etc.

Hyperthyroid and or worms!

Hyperactivity is another sign of an overactive thyroid in cats. Mine was like a stalker when her thyroid level was high.

Yeah another one saying hyperthyroidism. Classic signs, starving, skinny and rough coat.
Blood test at the vets and he’ll be right as rain. My old cat lost 1kg yet was permanently eating. She’s now on a high dose of Thyronorm, twice a day and she’s less bothered by food and has calmed down loads.

As an aside kitten food can bulk up an old cat as it has more calories and protein but see the vet first.

Just a slightly different perspective, but our boy is two in a fortnight and was an ex stray kitten/cat. We adopted him at just past a year old via CP and he is (fully vet checked) in rude health. For the first few months he was a pure nightmare with food, would get into the food waste caddy, steal anything resting on the sides, gobble his actual food. He’s still an opportunist (the turkey was almost a casualty!) but I think he had been used to scavenging for food and now knows it’s in plentiful supply so he’s relaxed and comfortable. He will often leave food in his dish now and go back to it later, whereas our previous cat (who had never been a stray) would lick her plate clean in minutes.

Unasked for photo from this afternoon because he’s so handsome.