I'm probably worrying too early, but I AM worried!

[MrsPresley]

I already have a 2.5 yo female cat, got another 2.5 yo male cat yesterday from the local cat home.

Read loads about how to introduce them, new cat (Cookie) is used to other cats but my cat Tiggy isn't, so have put Cookie in DDs bedroom with tray and food and basically left him to it. I check him every couple of hours and he always has himself wedged in the corner under the bed, but will let me touch him, when I can get to him!

Anyway I out down bowls of water, cat food, dry biscuits (home said he prefers this) then last night cooked some fish for them both.

This morning, he hasn't eaten anything at all and I don't think he has had any water either. I think he might have had a wee, but no poo yet although I don't think he ate very much at the cat home either but had only been there 6 days.

I know when I got Tiggy she came out at night and had something to eat, but I'm worried about Cookie as he has had nothing at all. I got him at 10am yesterday, so that's almost 24 hours.

Is it too soon to be worried, is this normal?

Honestly, it really is too early to worry. Though I know that's easier said than done. I used to work with pet fostering and it can take quite a while for a cat to settle. If he was only at the shelter 6 days then he didn't settle there and he must be feeling pretty stressed out. He doesn't know that this is his forever home!

Just leave him alone, don't go after him. I'd suggest going in now and again but just sit there and let him come to you if he wants to. Keep supplying food and water and clean litter but don't pressurise.

He'll be fine, he's just a bit stressed. It'll be ok!

Cats can hold out on eating for a few days but water is more of a problem. Have you shown him the food and water I.e. plonked him in front of it? Also not too near his litter tray. Is this the food he was on before?

When I had a nervous kitty in my spare room I plonked myself on the bed with a book quietly and ignored her so she got used to me being there but could ignore me. I think in the end I picked her up and placed her on my lap and she passed out asleep. I think she had been awake all night very lonely.

It's taken 6 months for me to get my boy cat used to being held. He wouldn't tolerate it at all and now I'm writing this in bed with him under my arm and his nose on my phone purring away. Perseverance.

Thanks for answering. Yes I've put the bowls near the edge of the bed, so he didn't have to come right out to get them. As you say he's probably feeling quite stressed, poor wee fat cat

He let me hold him yesterday, for about a minute and a half! and when I can reach him he'll let me give him a wee head rub . I think he'll definitely be ok with us and be quite a cuddly cat when he gets used to being here.

I don't know what dry food he was getting before, I've got go cat here, and a whole selection of different wet foods thanks to fussy cat

I seem to recall that Firstcat spent two maybe three days wedged behind the piano after he first arrived - and in this house, Seniorboy hid for close on two or three weeks (maybe even a month, I forget) before he came out properly. We only knew he was still alive because the tray was being used and bits of ham were disappearing in the early hours. We never did find his hiding place.

Don't worry. If in doubt, maybe see if he would like a low volume constant noise source like a radio on in his room. Sometimes that can help to ease the many sounds of a new house.