New cat wont eat

Question
Hello Jana,
My husband and I just adopted a cat from the Humane Society and brought him home this past Sunday.

He is almost 2 years old and is a Domestic Long hair/Maine Coon mix. He lived with his previous owners all of his life and then the owner moved to a different house with another person and another cat.

Our new cat "Tucker" didn't get along with this other person's female cat, so they dropped off Tucker to the Humane society.

After that, he was neutered and changed locations again to the local branch of the humane society where we picked him up.

She told us that he needed a quiet home, which we have and we have been giving him his space and not forcing ourselves on him, but we have been talking nicely to him and giving him reassuring petting from under the couch where he hides all day long.

My husband got him out from under there this morning and we were loving him up and brushing him and he really seemed to enjoy it, but being sensitive to his needs, we let him go and he very calmly went back under the couch right away, but he didn't run away, he just went slowly.

We know that he needs to adjust to his new home and us, but we are concerned because he hasn't eaten anything yet.

The last possible time he ate anything was Sunday morning before we picked him up.

He had a bowel movement Sunday night and yesterday afternoon, but not at all last night or today yet.

I cannot tell if he drank any water. How long can he go on this way? The Humane Society provides a free vet visit, but that's not until this coming Thursday night! Any advice you can give would be helpful. Thank you.

Leslie Mills

Answer
This is a common problem with new cats. Moving and changing families is very, very stressful for them. On top of that he was neutered after being a tom for two years (no wonder he didn't get along with the other cat).

One way to tell if he is eating at all is to count the nuggets in the bowl in the morning and then after leaving it out all day count them again.

You might want to give him little bits of wet food, even tuna cat food, for a few days to entice him. He is coming around, but on his own time which is what he needs to do.

He will start to eat and drink soon- he knows he cannot go long without them. But three days is the start of a danger zone if he doesn't eat. Some cats just forget about how food tastes if they are stressed enough can develop some serious problems by not eating.

So get some tuna canned food (or use human tuna this ONE time) and put it down for him but first get him out from under the couch and take him in the kitchen or where ever you feed him and let him hear you open the can and then give him some. If he walks away put him back in front of the bowl.

You may have to put some of the food into his mouth like he was a sick cat. Once he tastes it he should start eating. There are drugs that you can use (sometimes only once is all it takes) to get them started on eating, but you have to get them from the vet.

I would call them and tell them he is going on three days tomorrow of not eating and ask if they have something you can pick up to give him.

Sometimes the tuna trick works, so try that today. Make sure it's room temp too, they don't like it cold.

I hope that helps Leslie. Please let me know how it goes and how he does.Sounds like you have given him a great home!