New cat hasn't eaten yet....

[ladymariner]

I've taken on my late relative's cat, I got her on Thursday night and she still hasn't eaten anything, I'm getting really worried now.

She has always been extremely shy and nervous, my aunt had other cats that used to bully her. I also have a cat, a Tom who obviously wasn't at all pleased to see her - he hissed and growled at her but now has settled down and is just ignoring her. I've kept them separated, and they have separate food bowls in different areas of the house.

She is fat, so I guess she has surplus to live off as it were, but she's such a lovely little thing, and I just want her to settle in and be happy here. My aunt used to feed her ham and chicken and cat biscuits, so although my own cat eats proper cat food pouches and biscuits, I've been giving her the same as she's been used to. I've also tried her with the pouches, but nothing.....

She's healthy as the day after I got here took her to the vet for a check-up and she got an all-clear. Has anyone got any advice please?

Anyone please?

I would take her to the vet, it's probably stress related and they might be able to give her something to calm her a little. My vet said thy use Diazapam in these situations because it also gives them the munchies. You can get Feliway plug-ins too which release a pheremone which calms them too.

I was going to suggest the plug in too. It helps some cats to feel less stressed. Is she drinking? Has she used her litter tray? If not, then id ask the vet for advice. Perhaps offer her a little saucer of the special cat milk you can buy, just to tempt her back into eating. Don't use normal milk though because many cats are intolerant to it.

I'm sorry about your aunt

Thankyou very much, I shall take her back to the vets and see what she suggests, and thankyou also for your kind comment, mrsden.
I've heard about a plug-in you can get but didn't know what it was for so it sounds as if it could help in our situation.
She really is a lovely little cat and it's awful to see her so subdued and scared. I keep talking to her and stroking her, trying not to overdo it as I don't want to make her worse, and she has started to purr when I do it now. Keep your fingers crossed......xxx

Sorry for your loss

You should be able to buy the plug in at a pet shop.

When my brother took my young cat she didn't eat, drink or go to the loo for almost two days, and she was fairly thin. I think they just go into a sort of stasis shock. It sounds like she's getting used to you though, bless the little thing. X

Thank you keepitgoing

Plug-in ordered, just waiting for delivery now. Rang the vet, she wasn't unduly concerned having already checked the cat over, she also recommended feliway. She has nibbled a little bit of food now and looks a bit brighter. We've a long way to go with her but feel as though she's responding to us a bit. Xxxxx

Great she's eating a bit at last. Has she been drinking, at least? To the toilet?

Ah that's good. Nibbling a bit sounds as if she's slowly getting over her shock.

All the best with her.

Yes, she doesn't drink from her bowl though, we caught her standing on the draining board (how hygienic !) so I think she gets water drips from the tap. She has used her litter tray too.
She's a total hide and seek expert though, I can't believe how she finds it possible to hide in the places she does, found her in my sons wardrobe staring out at me from the top shelf.....she's also been under the bedside cabinet, behind the cushions on the sofa bed and wedged under the bureau!
Our other cat has got more accustomed to her as well now, he's still not particularly happy to see her but as he's realised nothing in is world has really changed he seems to tolerate her ifnhe comes across her. And she doesnt panic when she sees him either, just sort of sits and watches him.
Really appreciate all your advice and care.....thank you xxx

Great stuff!
She'll just be finding the smallest (safest) places she can.
She sounds like a lucky kitty to have you x

X

Sounds to me like she may be grieving .. just gentle love and lots of care as you are doing, lady ...

The 'just sort of sits and watches him' sounds like surprisingly dominant behaviour to me. I reckon she's settling.

We had a little breakthrough last night. As I said, she is starting to nibble a little food but I hadn't actually see her eat, I only knew because obviously there was a bit less in her bowl when I went back to it. Anyway, last night she was on her cushion and I knelt down and stroked her, then she got up, walked over to her food, ate a bit then came back, looked at me and settled back down for another stroke. She then repeated it. It was almost as if she was showing me she was doing it, daft as that sounds.

We had a little breakthrough last night. As I said, she is starting to nibble a little food but I hadn't actually see her eat, I only knew because obviously there was a bit less in her bowl when I went back to it. Anyway, last night she was on her cushion and I knelt down and stroked her, then she got up, walked over to her food, ate a bit then came back, looked at me and settled back down for another stroke. She then repeated it. It was almost as if she was showing me she was doing it, daft as that sounds.

Such a breakthrough I posted it twice..........

Hi. Sorry about your aunt. My cat was terrified when we brought him home from the rescue. Had had a terrible start to life and was just settling into the rescue when we took him home. I put some roast chicken bits in with his biscuits and that got him eating after about five days of refusing.

Looks like she's started eating though so that's ok. Poor kit, she must havehad a tough time, good job you're there for her.

Brilliant, thanks for letting us know! Well done!

Feliway has been plugged in for a couple of days now, and the cats seem to be responding, the new cat certainly seems a lot happier. She actually came back when I called her this morning, she'd been hiding under the sofa and then shot out and halfway up the stairs, but then came to me and let me pick her up and take her to the kitchen where I'd put her food down

Just to update all you lovely people who responded.....

She is LOVELY!!! She's curled up next to me on the sofa in her sparkly pink collar, purring and miaowing away......she's still nervous around strangers but that's to be expected but with us she is so happy and settled. She follows me around like a little dog when I'm in the house and if I sit in the garden she sits nearby so she can see where I am. She eats really well and is so soft and fluffy, really pretty markings.
She has a selection of toys that she plays with and has taken to jumping out and trying to play with our other cat who, it has to be said, isn't too impressed with that, although he has settled down a treat and they get on reasonably well together now.
Sooooo happy we got her, love her to bits

Excellent news.

• and I think we need a picture of her or the pair of them.

Well done for persevering.