My older cat is stressed by a new kitten and won't eat. What to do?

It is possible that Pinga is exhibiting signs of stress in her home environment, but there are many things that you can do to help alleviate stress and help her feel better. Start by having Pinga seen by your veterinarian to help rule out medical causes for her behaviour. If no medical issues are noted, you may need to try some adjustments so you can help keep your home a fun and comfortable place for Pinga. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 , healthcareforpets.com and https://indoorpet.osu.edu// for tips on stress reduction. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com , and Feliway Friends, a pheromone that helps cats get along with each other.

Pets can vomit due to stress but with an older cat, it's very important to make sure there's not a health issue going on like hyperthyroidism or renal disease. I recommend to play it safe and have Harley examined by the veterinarian. If he is eating the kitten food, this could also cause the vomiting. If the vet thinks this is stress related, there are a few things you can do to help Harley feel less stressed. 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 for both cats and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm (for Harley, not the kitten). Make sure Harley has some quality alone time and is not being bullied by the kitten. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with stress if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

There are a few things that you can do to try to decrease stress and make the transition as easy as possible for Boxer. One option for decreasing stress is to add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com ) or Comfort Zone Diffuser ( https://www.comfortzone.com/ ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water and is safe for both cats. There are a number of companies that make calming treats such as Composure ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews ). You could also consider calming music specifically for cats ( http://throughadogsear.com/tace/through-a-cats-ear-1-music-for-calming/ ). Be sure to provide "safe" areas for Boxer to be able to get away from the kitten where he can eat and drink in private without worrying about the kitten. And spend as much time as possible playing with the new kitten to get his energy out, so he does not try to play with Boxer until Boxer is ready. If Boxer continues to have abnormal behavior, eating and drinking, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

It's probably more of a case of a rambunctious kitten than one trying to establish dominance (a very outdated theory). A few things you can try include giving kitten some extra play time to wear him out, making sure your older cats have places to hide and get away from the kitten (such as high up perches or separate rooms), making sure everyone has their own access to food, water, and litter, and using a pheromone diffuser or collar. Pheromone diffusers help by releasing a calming pheromone and are great for inter-cat stress and issues.

Yes, it is likely that Jack is upset about the addition of the new kittens. Introducing a new cat into the house is very stressful for an existing cat, especially old cats. I would try to tempt him to eat by offering him small amounts of boiled white meat chicken (no bones), or soaking his food in tuna juice or low sodium gently warmed chicken or beef broth. If he still won't eat with these methods, or it's close to three days since he last ate, I would take him into a vet right away. When a cat doesn't eat for three days or more, they become prone to a fatty liver, which is serious.

No this isn't normal and Scribble has to see a vet immediately. It's extremely serious she isn't eating, as when a cat doesn't eat for longer than 72 hours, they develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. While the stress of having a new kitten can cause a cat not to eat, it shouldn't last this long. I'm concerned there is something more serious going on with her, such as kidney disease, liver disease, dental problems. or even cancer. She needs veterinary care now, please take her into a vet right away.