Why is my new mom cat hiding with kittens and not eating or drinking?

It could just be that she isn't quite sure what to do. Just make sure she has plenty of food and water and a litter box available, as well as a comfortable place to put the kittens. If she isn't eating, seems lethargic, or has a rectal temperature over 103 or under 100, then she should be evaluated by a veterinarian to see what could be going on.

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.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Menace is not eating, she needs to see a veterinarian asap. I recommend taking her and the kittens to be evaluated. She may not be producing enough milk which could lead to dehydration or malnutrition of the kittens. The vet can assess why Menace isn't eating and make recommendations if the kittens should be bottle raised or are ok to stay with their mom. Good luck, I hope she's better quickly.

Poor Girl! Motherhood can be rough. Since it has been 3 days, I strongly recommend having your vet take a look at her. Since she is nursing, the kittens are depleting her of hydration and nutrients so waiting too long can make things worse. Having babies can mess up their blood values and cause issues. Your vet will likely run bloodwork. They will put her some meds that are safe for the nursing kittens if needed to help her feel better.

I would put Mamma in her own room with the kittens and give them as much space as possible. Make sure she has food, water, and a litter box. Check on them only once a day to make sure things are going well with her and her kittens. It sounds like you may be a bit of a distraction for her, so leaving her alone with the kittens and having them be her only focus may help with this situation. I hope this helps!

Just like humans, there are many reasons Lana may not be interested in food and it is impossible to know without a physical exam. It's possible there are still kittens inside the uterus. Uterine infections are also possible. Unfortunately, both of these can be fatal without treatment. It's also possible this is something like a less severe infection but one cannot know without an exam. Have her examined today and bring the other kittens with her. If she is not feeding the kittens, you will need to take over. Here is a link about normal feeding: https://www.petcoach.co/article/care-feeding-of-queens-kittens/ Here is a link about assisted feeding: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/ Additionally, have Lana spayed when the kittens are 12 weeks old. Spaying pets has significant health benefits, helps to control the problem of pet over population and Lana may have up to 30 kittens in a year. That's a lot of cats to care for. Please feel free to post and additional questions. Best of luck.