Why is my cat losing weight and acting timid after getting a kitten?

Cats can become stressed by other cats but they do often work things out eventually. There are a few things you can adjust to help decrease stress. Cats are sensitive to the type of litter, size of the box and location of the box. If you have more cats, you need 1 litter box per cat + 1 additional box. You should also have a litter box on every floor of the house. This article discusses different types of litter and litter boxes: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-litter-finding-the-right-fit-for-your-cat/ In general though, cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes, clay-based clumping litter that is scoped every day and a private, quiet location. If you have other cats or dogs, if they can access the litter box, it may cause Luna to be afraid that she could find herself trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Luna is still a baby and cannot really eat enough dry food at this age. You will need to feed her canned kitten food. She may be less active from stress and weakness due to not eating enough. So try this, get some good quality canned kitten food, and feed her small amounts 3-4 times a day. Let her eat as much as she wants, as she is still growing. If she does not brighten up and still does not eat enough, she should be seen by a veterinarian for an exam.

Congrats on your new kitten, but I'm sorry Eloise isn't doing well. Yes, I would be very concerned that she isn't eating. When cats do not eat going on 72 hours, they develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so anorexia in cats is considered serious. While bringing home a new cat is stressful for the existing cat, it typically does not cause severe lethargy and anorexia. I would be concerned that Eloise is sick, and I would take her into a vet today for a health check. I hope this helps!

Hello, and thank you for your question. Disinterest in food and weight loss are red flags, and I would be concerned with a medical issue causing these symptoms. I would recommend a visit with your veterinarian in the next 24 hours. They can perform a head to toe examination, assess for pain or discomfort, dehydration, or fever. Possible causes include infection, pancreatitis, gastric foreign body, or inflammatory bowel disease. Your vet may recommend blood work or ultrasound to help reach a diagnosis. In the meantime, continue to offer different types of food and free access to fresh water. Monitor for any vomiting or loose stools. I hope this helps, and that Kika feels better soon.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kenji. The stress of the new kitten could have started his symptoms, but most of the time a cat will adjust to new circumstances in the amount of time you have described. If it is not stress, he may have contracted an illness from the kitten. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian again or you can consider seeking a second opinion. Bloodwork would be warranted at this point. Cats can actually develop severe liver disease if they go extended periods without eating. I hope this information helps!

Hello. Laney's reaction to her kittens is pretty normal for a cat as they do not form very deep bonds with their offspring. However, the change in personality & weight loss is very concerning. There are multiple things that could be happening, from infectious to inflammatory conditions, so it is best to have her evaluated at your earliest convenience by your veterinarian. We need to rule out that there are no infectious conditions going on that could impact the kittens as well. I hope she is doing better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

These sudden changes in temperament and the weight loss are commonly due to an endocrine problem called hyperthyroidism. The thyroid starts working more than normal increasing the metabolism (that is the cause of the weight loss) and causing behavioural changes similar to what you described. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. A blood test and urine analysis are needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!