I just got a new kitten and he won't eat...Help?

Question

I was told the kitten was 7 weeks when i got him last week and so as of yesterday, he was 8 weeks. I was also told he was eating solid food when I got him. Now he doesn't really eat at all. He doesn't even show interest in food. He's only 1 pound, you would think he'd be starving. I took him to the vet yesterday and they just basically told me to force feed him. and he hates this. what to do?

I am giving him wet food. he is drinking plenty of water and at the vet last night he ate a little bit of food that they gave him, but with much pushing. I brought that food home from the vet and he hasn't touched it since.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will definitley try all of them. My vet is having me come back next week and make sure he is gaining weight. I hope he's eating on his own by then. They did a worm test on him and it was negative. they were going to take blood, but his veins were too small.

I also tried kitten milk in a dish and giving to him with a kitten bottle. he didn't want anything to do with that either.

Thanks for all your responses. I tried several different suggestions. Now my little kitten is eating every 2 hours, at least! he's grown so much. Guess he just needed a little coaxing! Thanks again!

Answer 1

Maybe try other kinds of food. He may need formula (you can get it at any PetSmart or Petco) longer than other cats, or he could have gotten weaned too early. Or he may simply not like the taste of the solid food you give him, or the texture. You can try a different brand. Or feed him a scrap of something he'll find tasty, like meat.

Answer 2

When I first got my kitten Copper, he was very little too and only weighed 1.5 pounds himself. Does your kitten have worms? Did the vet check him for worms? The best way to check a kitten for worms, is to capture his or her poop in a baggy. Take the sample to the vet and the vet can test the poop for worms on a special machine. If the kitten has worms, the vet can give you some medicine to give it to him or her.

Stress of a new owner and different environment can cause a little kitten to not eat. Get yourself some CatSip milk for kittens you can find this in a blue and white box in the pet stores. Give a small amount to your kitten with some dry kitten food to moisten and soften it up. Take the kitten's face and dunk it's head in the food. This will teach the kitten how to eat again. As this may sound cruel, this is the only way to get him or her to eat out of the dish. If this technique doesn't work, then I suggest getting a large eye dropper and filling it with CatSip and moistened dry food and put it down gently in the back of it's throat. If the kitten doesn't soon take in nurishment it will die. If all else fails, take it to another vet.

Good luck to you and your kitten! May the two of you have many happy days ahead!

Answer 3

Best thing to do is take him to a vet for some professional advice, a different vet from that one though,.

Bear in mind 4 things....

1. If he was really hungry he would eat

2. Cats are fussy, they are not like dogs that eat anything put in front of them, they only eat what they want, when they want.

3. Try some tinned tuna flakes, or even pink salmon. Not too much though, it may be a too rich for him at a young age.

4. Make sure he has access to water and/or kitten milk, 24 hours a day.

Answer 4

You need two things.
First, are you feeding the correct food for the feline? You need to feed cat food that is for cat 1 year or less. Do not buy adult feed.
Second, I suggest you get a cat nip or spray and spray around the area to help the kitten get 'comfortable'. The herbs seeds are soothing to the kitten and helps the kitten to calm down. You would need to spent some time to observe the way the kitten react. Have a bowl of fresh water around and change it twice a day. I hope the cat is drinking enough. If the above does not help, quickly call a vet for assistance.

Answer 5

Sounds a bit young to be eating solid food....or do you mean wet?

I would call the vet...he may have worrms.

Keep trying the wet stuff...maybe try another flavor. You can get simulated cat milk from the pet store too. That may help. Also give the kitten mineral enhanced water...you can buy it at the pharmacy. It is used for small children but it is great for pets too.

If you put food on his nose he will eat...cats a notorious groomers...so he will lick it off to keep his nose clean.

Answer 6

Well I would go to a different vet first of all. That one sounds off.

Force feeding is one thing, but they could at least give you a demonstration how to do it. Try a few different foods to see if there's anything he likes. I'm assuming the people you got him from told you what food he likes and that's what you're trying to feed him.

Definitely have another vet check him out and give him a thorough exam and pet him and reassure him. Try to keep him hydrated at least with water if he's not eating.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Have you tried some other foods, maybe some people foods? He's probably kind of scared and unsure of the new home. Maybe some tuna crushed into little pieces? Cats also usually like peanut butter, although that might be too sticky; you don't want him to choke. And will he drink any milk? If none of this works, you might have to dissolve some soft food in something like milk or water and use an eyedropper to put the food into the back of his mouth so he'll swallow it.

Answer 8

Hi; its worrying when they are like that; he is missing his mum and his family, and in a strange place, and force feeding him will not make him feel better. I would take him to another vet, and dont wait to do this, as kittens go downhill very fast when they dont eat.Try well-squashed canned tuna or sardine- its very smelly and may attract him. Dont give him cows milk- it will make him ill. Cuddle him a lot and make a fuss of him, stroke his tummy and snuggle him up to you. Can you contact the people you got him from and find out what they were feeding him?? Perhaps he might eat that, but I think giving him lots and lots of love will help, and tiny morsels of smelly fish. Dont fed dried food until after 6 months, as they can choke. Very good luck to you both.

Answer 9

i would DEFINATELY take him to another vet!! did the vet check his throat or little mouth? there could be something small stuck there or even a swelling of some kind, maybe through an infection ,it maybe difficult for him to swallow!! did he check his temperature? if a cat has an infection he's not going to want to eat! He may have a sore or a loose tooth, a gum infection, it could be ANY number of things !! get a vet who will look for all these things and more!!!! there's no shame in going to another vet. i would do WHATEVER it takes to get the best done for your sweet little cat then you'll have the peace of mind and know that you have done everything possible for the poor little thing . it's so nice to see that you really care for your pet and i'm glad that you asked for advice, everyone here is rooting for you. wishing you the best of luck sweetheart bye for now.

Answer 10

i have just got kitten too!
brought him home and ate straight away im using whiskers junior food for kittens 1month to 1year . perhaps what your giving him is too big . are you feeding him dry food as they don't really like it meat is best . the kitten junks I'm using are very small probably size of capital letter on here K (example) . normal cat food is big in comparison !
is he drinking ? is he happy ? if hes o.k. in himself don't worry .
i take it the vet gave him good check over ?
perhaps his teeth but i think hes to young to be loosing them yet ???
my kitten is 7 and half weeks old and weighs more than 1 pound !
id take him back and also try him on the kitten milk you can buy .
perhaps hes just missing his family have you got him into routine and also has he got a soft toy same size as him to cuddle and play with like he would his brothers and sisters ?
hope this helps a bit , good luck x

Answer 11

Mix a spoonful of kitten wet food with 2 spoonfuls of kitten milk. Mash together. Put small amounts on your finger and encourage him/her to eat it by dabbing it around its mouth.
I wouldn't force feed the kitty, thats just cruel. Try and get it to drink kitten milk either from saucer or syringe. If it won't drink then get it to a different vets for a second opinion.