I got a new cat..its been about 2 weeks...I got her from a friend and she wont eat...she eats a little...but not much at all...she is always in the back room...she wont come out.....how can i get her to eat and how can i get her to come out of the back room? i asked my friend if she would take her back to see if that helps but she dont want her anymore...what can i do for this loving cat?
2006-10-03 21:44:13 · 17 answers · asked by bratbaby_411 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
she is bout 2 years old..she isnt a little kitten anymore..she dont need kitten food...
2006-10-03 23:19:41 · update #1
If she isnt eating her usual brand of cat food, try mixing something you think she would like from your fridge in. Just a enough that she smells something that she cant pass up in it. She may just be mourning her old owner or did she have a playmate at the other place? She could be missing it, too, if she did. Is her environment completely different? Could be too quiet or too noisy and she has to get use to it. Also, could possibly be a smell from previous animals that she isnt sure of. Countless possibilities, just give her more time. Maybe she is just a cat that likes alot of solitude. Try taking her outside some, too. Maybe that will perk her up. Lots of cats are just lazy and dont socialize very much, if she doesnt have anything physically wrong, she will eat when she gets hungry enough. See if your friend is willing to let you bring her over for a visit to see if she acts differently. If your friend isnt willing to let you bring it over even for a visit, then I would say your friend knows more than shes telling.
2006-10-04 01:58:55 · answer #1 · answered by Kellie W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would join in with the "leave food and water _in_ the backroom", possibly, if plausible, the litterbox too. The kitty bed too, also, toys, and the scratching post. I guess the cat selected the back room as base camp, so furnish it for her. When the cat is confident and calm in that room, she will come out and explore. When she does, leave her alone, don't pick her up or anything. Wait until the cat comes to you.
Also, when you feed her, make sure you talk to her in a calm, quiet, reassuring voice. Say her name cajolingly, many times. This is to get her used to your presence and voice.
I think the idea of getting an (unwashed) towel or rag or bed cover or clothing from your friend's house should be tried - cats do get bonded to their territory (house) and getting away is hard. How old is the cat?
Oh, and ask your friend what she fed the cat - get the exact same food, just to get her eating normally. Make sure the food is fresh (if kibble, you can leave it out for a couple of days; if you offer canned food, it should not be left out for more than a couple of hours - it starts rotting and the cat is not likely to be attracted by that. Pour it into a ziplock bag, put it into the fridge; then next feeding time (morning/evening, respectfully), take out the ziplock bag, put it into some warm water for 15 minutes or so, and offer it again. If the cat doesn't eat it, throw it out... more storing in and out of the fridge is not likely to enhance its attractiveness.
2006-10-04 05:04:30 · answer #2 · answered by AlphaOne_ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When my sister moved into her new apartment her cat hid behind the drier for weeks and she has had the cat for years. A lot of patients and love will help. Don't pressure her. Leave, food water, and a litter box in the back room until your baby comes around. She sounds like a sweet soul, Just never let her outside. Cats can live to 15 or 20 Spay and Neuter your pets people. Good luck! :)
2006-10-04 04:57:23 · answer #3 · answered by christancat2000 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is she around other cats?
Does she have a warm, quiet, dark room to sleep or rest?
Does she have all her needs, food, water, clean litter box to where she can access it freely and not be disturbed?
Give her time. Cats in a new home are nervous. You just gotta show her lots and lots of love. If she doesn't start eating well, please take her to the vet and tell the vet all the things about her and they will be able to give you great advise on how to show her ways to feel comfortable to eat. She may be sick and doesn't want to eat. Even if she's NOT sick, maybe she's just upset that she's not with your friend anymore and she's mad about it.
Heres a link that explains "The body language of cats" and how to understand them!
http://www.iams.com/en_BI/jhtmls/nutrition/sw_NutritionQuestions_qanswer.jhtml?li=en_BI&sc=C&bc=I&pti=PN&qi=2437
Good luck!
(poor kitty....please eat something) lol
2006-10-04 06:40:26 · answer #4 · answered by Cherries 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat is grieving her loss of home and family. It will take a while, but she'll get over it enough to join you. Keep offering her little cat treats and speaking softly to her and pet her gently if she lets you near her once in a while. It will take about six months for her to transition. After that, she would go through the same difficulties if you were to move her again.
2006-10-04 04:56:19 · answer #5 · answered by nora22000 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
She is very young. She neeeds milk, they sell it at walmart or any pet store. If you don't get the milk atleast get soft kitten food, she is most likely too young to eat the hard food. Let her adjust like other people have said and go have her checked over by a vet for any problems.
2006-10-04 06:17:28 · answer #6 · answered by Jamie L 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
take the food into the room where she wont come out of and take her water too ...she is afraid to come out and you need to get some food and water to her also supply her with a litter box all the poor cat needs is some tender loving care just give her time and she will let you pet her and stuff...do you think she was previously abused? it sounds that way to me
2006-10-04 05:16:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
not cow's milk just special cat milk
give kitty a cardboard box (and blanket) to hid in, it feels like somewhere safe and warm.
get exactly the same food she was used to.
also, for a treat white fish cod/coley. Chicken.
cats also eat grass to help their digestion but I'm not sure how you sow a lawn in your back room!
2006-10-04 06:49:54 · answer #8 · answered by XT rider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't sound like a loving cat to me. Get you a Pit Bull dog, it'll get the cat out of the back room & after he chases it around the block a couple days it will probably start eating again.
2006-10-04 04:57:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
They just need time to adjust to their surroundings, when I got my two cats at the same time they did the same thing. Just to be sure to show them where the litter box and food is, kinda keep them close together, that helped me.
2006-10-04 06:24:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋