Having some new cat trouble...

[Bkas]

I adopted a 6-year-old tabby cat (took it off of my mother's co-worker's hands, who couldn't care for it anymore).

Anyway, I got him last Sunday night, and he's been incredibly shy (as expected, seeing how he's never been in our house before). So, he likes to hide and doesn't ever come out during the day...

He'll let you pet him, and wont shy away then. But he'll never come directly to anyone in my family (he did once yesterday, only for a few minutes...jumped onto a bed and cuddled up for a couple of minutes, jumped back down under the bed). He's spent the last couple of days under my mom's bed. Doesn't move around, just stares at you.

Now, I've never had a cat before, so I don't know. But it seems as though the cat isn't eating or drinking at all. The bowl is always full of the Purina cat food, and the water bowl is also almost always full. It doesn't seem like he's been drinking or eating. Is this normal? I'm kind of concerned, since he's been around for a week and has been eating very little, if any at all.

Anyone have any thoughts about this?

 

[amnesiac]

Some cats need time to adjust to a new environment. My cat hid under my covers for an entire week after I got him. Give him some time to get used to his new home.

*edit*

But my cat DID eat and drink a little bit.
Get your cat to a vet, he might have one of the many conditions that kittens are susceptible to.

 

[boomerang]

He'll eat when he gets hungry enough. He may have been used to canned food and you're serving him dry or vice versa. Cats don't drink much water. If you do take him to the vet, the vet can give him a shot to boost his appetite. I really think it's just going to take some time for him to adjust. Imagine yourself in similar circumstances.

 

[HiTek21]

Your cat will come out once it begins to trust your family. When I got my 2 cats they both hid in a closet and didn't come out for 2 weeks, once in awhile they came out to eat something but went straight back into hiding.

 

[Bkas]

I'm not surprised at the hiding. The thing that concerns me is the eating.

When you guys say they came out onec in awhile to eat, how "often" is that once in awhile?

I left for a day and a half earlier this week for a quick vacation i had planned, and I figured it would be a good time to leave the cat to adjust on his own. When I came back, I think some of the water was drunk and there was some movement in the food bowl (and soem crap in the litter box).

The food I'm serving him is the same he's had for 6 years...I've consulted his previous owners about all of this. I know he's adjusting, I'm jsut concerned about his eating habits.

If this keeps up fo ra day or two more, maybe I'll get the vet to take a look.

How often is he supposed to eat when he's shy/frightened, anyway? I thikn he may have only eaten once or twice this entire week...

 

[Harvey]

The fact that your cat will allow people to pet him is a good sign. It also helps to learn to speak "Cat," which is very different from speaking "Dog." For example, put your hand on the floor where he can see it, and try scratching the carpet or tapping the floor with just your fingertips. Speak gently, and you can even try making purring sounds along with it. It's impossible to put a lot of this into typed words, but if you have a friend who is good with cats, maybe he/she can help. It also helps to get down to the cat's level. If you're standing, you look like a big, towering other animal.

Another trick is to get something that really interests a cat. String is good, so is a wadded piece of paper on the string. Drag it slowly and UNevenly across the cat's field of vision, and watch to see if he gets interested enough to investigate it.

Cat's are a blast. Hope yours works out well.

 

[kgraeme]

Don't worry too much about the not eating. Our cat did that when we got her and did it again when we moved and again when we had contractors in the house for several days. I suspect she just gains nutrients through her eyes with how wide they get at those times.

 

[Bkas]

Originally posted by: kgraeme
Don't worry too much about the not eating. Our cat did that when we got her and did it again when we moved and again when we had contractors in the house for several days. I suspect she just gains nutrients through her eyes with how wide they get at those times.

That's comforting news, thanks.

Harvey: thanks for the advice. I've followed it through for the most part (down at his level, etc., etc.). We bought him a couple of balls with bells in them (suggested by previous owner), but I think he's still a bit shy to get excited. We'll see. I'll try some of the other stuff you've suggested.

Thanks for the tips, everyone.

 

[Liviathan]

I have a Tabby cat and they are very independent cats. They will come to you when they want to be petted.

Mine is 4 years old and spend the day sleeping. Perhaps your cat found a place it likes for now.

Buy some Whiskas and try to bribe her affection. If all else fails buy some Cat Nip and let her go to town.

She is new to the home, not use to you so it will take time....

 

[Azraele]

Some cats need more time to adjust that others. Perhaps you could restrict him to one room with food/water/litter and let him adjust there. Once he's used to that room, open up and let him explore the rest of the new environment.

You can also try hand feeding him treats.

Consult the vet if he goes without food/water for much longer though.