Why isn't my newly adopted cat eating, drinking, or using litter box?

Poor Minu. It's actually quite serious when a cat won't eat, and if they go long enough without eating, they will develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so it's important to avoid this. Please take him into a vet first thing in the morning. Best of luck.

Congrats on your new cat! You are correct that Oliver should stay inside for a while since he has moved to a new home, good on you for doing that! It is a little concerning that it's been 36 hours with no eating or going to the litter box, but moving into a new home is stressful. Because cats can develop a fatty liver when they haven't eaten for three days or more, which is fatal without treatment, I'm going to give you some things to try to tempt him to eat. You can soak his food in gently warmed low sodium beef or chicken broth, or soak it in tuna juice. You can also try offering him small amounts of boiled white meat chicken (no bones). If you can get him to eat, then he will use the litter box. Should he still not be eating in the morning, then I would take him into the vet for a health check just to be safe. Hopefully, however he will eat some of the tasty morsels I've suggested you give him :-)

Moving into a new home is stressful for a cat, but it's actually pretty serious when they won't eat. If a cat goes long enough without eating, they will develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. Try to tempt TJ to eat with some boiled white meat chicken, but if he won't eat that, take him into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

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!

I think he is likely stressed and unsure of his new surroundings. I suggest you get a Feliway diffuser to put in the room with him. It is a wall plug-in that emits pheromones to relieve stress in cats and calm them. It really works wonders in the majority of cats. You can buy these online or at any large pet store like Petco. Be sure that room he is in is very calm and quiet. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) Also, you may need to try a different food or a different form of food. I suggest putting out multiple options for him like 2 different varieties of dry food and 2 different types of wet food (one pate type and one chunky) to which he prefers and go from there. You can always call the shelter and ask what they were feeding him although they may not know. I suggest trying a "light" or reduced calorie food as at 14 pounds he is a bit overweight. We like to keep cats at 12 pounds or less to prevent diseases like diabetes, orthopedic issues and heart disease. If he does start eating in the next 24 hours then I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Poor Cathy! Not eating is quite serious in cats, as when they go long enough without eating, they will develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment. She may not be eating because she has a dental problem, systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

Ozzie's whole world has just been turned upside down by coming into a new home with new people, so he is likely quite stressed at the moment. Some cats refuse to eat or drink normally during times of stress, so there are a few things that you can try to help Ozzie along. First of all, try to leave him alone as much as possible so that he can acclimate to his new environment. Also assure that his food and water are in slightly quieter and more secluded areas of your house so that he has some privacy while eating or drinking. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers, such as Feliway. He may be tempted to eat with canned cat food, small portions of tuna, or meat-based baby foods. Warming up these foods slightly will make their odor stronger, which is often enticing to cats. However, if Ozzie still won't eat or drink by tomorrow, it may be worth a trip to the vet to assure that there aren't any other medical conditions at play. I hope this helps and that Ozzie warms up to his new home quickly!