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Original poster

Help! need some advice about my new cat please

15 replies

teameric · 27/02/2010 15:32

I haven't posted on here for a while but would be really grateful for any advice.
I brought my new cat home last sunday evening (she is a 9 month old exotic shorthair)
she has been hiding for most of the time but allows us to stroke her if we go to her hiding place with her, she is eating and peeing but hasn't had a poo since she's been here (sorry if TMI!) and I'm starting to get a bit worried.
I have emailed the breeder I got her from but she hasn't replied yet. Do you think I need to take her to the vet? or could it just be the stress of new surroundings, she is very timid and nervous and she isn't used to children (my DC's are aged 3 and 11), although the kids have mostly left her alone, my house is slightly more noisy than prehaps she is used to. Will she ever get used to us? TIA

OP posts:
MrsL123 · 27/02/2010 15:56

I'd take her to the vet regarding the pooing - if she's eating, what goes in must come out (!), and if it's not then it'll cause problems. If she's constipated she'll probably be feeling a bit yuck, so it won't help with her hiding. The vet can also check her over to make sure there's nothing else wrong. Is it possible she's pooing in secret somewhere in the house?

She's obviously not scared of you if she lets you stroke her, so I'd suggest it's the noise and new surroundings that are putting her off. A Feliway plug-in will probably work wonders, as it releases soothing cat pheromones (the same ones they release themselves when they rub their faces on something) - just plug it into the nearest socket to her hiding place. You can also buy it in spray form, to spray on her bedding, furniture, carpets etc around the room. You can't overdo it, it's not harmful, so the more the better until she settles in! Your vet will sell it, but PAH do too. You could also ask the vet about Zylkene capsules for her, which can help with stressful periods (you can open it and mix the powder with her food).

Once you've pheremoned the house to within an inch of it's life , make sure the house is completely quiet during feeding times and start moving the bowl a bit further away from her hiding place each time you feed her (just a few inches), so she has to emerge to eat. Our cats were very sick when they were tiny, and for the first month or so one of them hid behind the TV unit constantly, she was terrified of everything, but if you pulled her out and put her on your knee she stayed for ages and purred like mad. It took a few weeks to bring her out of her shell, but now she's four and you'd never know what she used to be like (she now waltzes through other people's cat flaps on the search for food!).

Original poster
teameric · 27/02/2010 17:15

MRSL123, I don't think she's pooing in the house, I will definately try the feliway and will book her into the vets if we have no poo tonight! Thanks for the great advice and reassurance

OP posts:
msrisotto · 27/02/2010 17:23

1 tsp Cod liver oil in her food if it is dry, will loosen her up.

I would make sure she has plenty of hiding spaces where she can go and not be disturbed along with somewhere higher up as cats feel secure higher up.

If she does seem scared of you, you could try stroking her with something on a stick and reduce the space between you gradually.

Original poster
teameric · 27/02/2010 22:33

She has just done a poo but it was very small and hard and I noticed a tiny bit of bright red blood in it (sorry I know thats gross) I will give her some cod liver oil, thanks msrisotto. She has actually ventured out and came into the livingroom and sat and stared at me I just spoke to her gently but didn't make a move toward her, thought I should let her come to me? she is sleeping out in the hallway at the moment curled up on my rug, so we are getting there!

OP posts:
MrsL123 · 27/02/2010 23:01

Glad you're making progress! Sleeping out in the open (and on the floor!) is a huge step forward, and if she's already feeling a bit braver on her own the Feliway will make a big difference and bring her out of her shell even more. You did the right thing by letting her come to you - even better, completely ignore her. Cats hate being ignored, and it will just make you even more interesting to her!

The blood and hard poo means she's probably been a bit constipated - bright red blood usually means it's close to the exit (maybe from straining to go). Blood from deeper inside is usually darker, but still mention it to the vet to rule out anything sinister. Take a poo sample with you - vets love poo! They'll have a look at it under the microscope to rule out parasites. When was she last wormed?

BTW if you think some blood is too gross for 'pets', you obviously don't spend much time here

shockers · 27/02/2010 23:19

Our cat was so timid when he first arrived... it took about 6 months for him to get really confident but he rules the roost now. I just let him do things at his own pace but I did keep him in for about 6 weeks and asked the children not to fuss around him.
He's sitting on the desk next to me now

piratecat · 27/02/2010 23:23

Mrsl gives great advice.

op, cats just love to prove you wrong !!

it will take time, but she will be f ine, there's been improvement already!

Original poster
teameric · 27/02/2010 23:38

Thanks everyone. I can't remember when the breeder said she was last wormed , but she is up to date with all her vaccinations, and was spayed about 3 weeks ago. And yes MrsL I suppose I'll get pretty used to gross stuff soon

OP posts:
Original poster
teameric · 01/03/2010 17:51

Just thought I'd let you all know, I took her to the vet and it was discovered that she has fleas ,got that treated and the vet has give me some laxatives to put in her food. If she doesn't poo in 24 hours they will have to take her in to do an enema. Vet said if it becomes a reacuuring problem and she has to rely on laxatives then there is obviously an underlying problem and they will have to do tests. I am so anxious that there is something wrong with her .

OP posts:
MrsL123 · 01/03/2010 18:10

Oh no, really sorry to hear that teameric

Hopefully the laxatives will do the trick without any more treatment needed (especially with the cod liver oil). Did the vet worm her? Chances are if she's got fleas, she'll have worms as well, which won't be making her feel great.

Poor thing

How is the hiding going?

Original poster
teameric · 01/03/2010 18:24

no she didn't worm her. She was doing so well last night, she was playing with her toys with me and rolling on her back! she is not a happy bunny today though, poor baby, she is under my bed now

OP posts:
MrsL123 · 01/03/2010 18:30

The vet will probably want to get the constipation sorted before worming her, so probably something she's saving for the next visit.

Grrr at the breeder though for not flea treating - no wonder the poor thing has been hiding. Has the vet given you advice re defleaing the house?

Original poster
teameric · 01/03/2010 18:37

Yes she did. I am very surprised with the fleas as the breeder is very reputable, oh well I suppose you live and learn. I'm just so upset that the poor little thing has to go through all this on top of having to settle into a new house

OP posts:
MrsL123 · 01/03/2010 18:39

Lots of nice treats are in order, I think! Sardines in olive oil would go down well, and the oil will loosen her up a bit too.

Original poster
teameric · 01/03/2010 19:35

Will try that MrsL thanks

OP posts:
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