New kitten not eating after adoption. When should I see a vet?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Sheeba has been unwell since arriving home. It is possible her behaviour is related to stress and anxiety. However, it could also be related to a medical problem. Whatever the cause, when a cat does not eat or drink for several days, this can lead to dehydration, weakness, and secondary liver problems, especially for a kitten. Because of this, I would recommend taking Sheeba to the vet within the next 24 hours. They can perform a full physical exam and run some tests to rule out a medical issue. They can also provide supportive medications to improve her hydration, appetite, and comfort. If the vet confirms she is in good physical health, you can try using Feliway, a feline pheromone spray designed to reduce stress in cats. Also ensure she has easy access to food and water in the place where she is hiding. You can gradually try interacting with her more and more, through offering treats, and speaking to her softly and gently. With time, she should start to open up and learn to trust you and be comfortable in her environment. I hope this helps, and that Sheeba feels better soon!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There can be many causes for decreased appetite. If you just got her on Friday, it may be the move has stressed her out a bit and she needs a few days to adjust. However, there can be other causes such as viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections that may cause decreased appetite potentially. It is good to hear she is having normal bowel movements and is urinating, however. You can try heating up her food a bit to bring out the flavor and try feeding small amounts frequently. If a couple more days go by and she still has not eaten, I would recommend she see her veterinarian just to make sure there is nothing more serious going on. I hope this helps!

I recommend to try a different food. Offer both canned and dried options. Cats can be very finicky about their food. Also call the shelter and ask what food she was eating and if she was eating well. Some brands that cats tend to like (although do know that some of these are more like fast food but first it's important just to get Owl eating): Royal Canin, Purina ProPlan, Fancy Feast and Frsikies. Food purchased from a larger retailer like Petco may be able to be returned if she won't eat it but do check the policy first. Also place the food where she is hiding. Try hand feeding her versus leaving her alone. If she does not eat by tomorrow, have her examined by the veterinarian to make sure she is ok. Congratulations of adding Owl to your family. Most cats will be comfortable within 1-2 weeks. I hope this helps.

Hello. I do not think you have too much to worry about just yet. There is always an adjustment period when a young pet comes into a new home, especially if the kitten was just taken from its mother & siblings. Give Milo a few days to adjust by allowing him to explore & become comfortable. Have him examined as soon as possible by your veterinarian to make sure he is healthy, has no intestinal parasites or external parasites like fleas or ear mites. He is old enough to start his kitten vaccinations, but I do recommend having him check for the feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency virus at his first visit, too. Hopefully, Milo will do just fine & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is unclear what is exactly going on with Sally. However, it does sound like Sally may be having gastrointestinal or respiratory issues, among other possibilities. This indicates a visit to a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as soon as possible. They would be able to check on her to see what seems to be wrong so that this can be treated. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your new kitten. I recommend that you seek veterinary care. The kitten appears quite thin. If he is not eating and drinking properly, this can be a sign of illness. It is worrisome that he is inactive as well. Kittens should be very playful. Infections (respiratory or gastrointestinal intestinal) are common causes of illness in kittens. Once the cause of his problems can be identified, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!

If the energy level is normal for this kitten and he is acting otherwise fine, I would continue to monitor and maybe syringe feed some water if he is not drinking enough to help prevent dehydration. If he is lethargic and continues to vomit, then I would take him in to be looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.