Molly the new kitten not eating

[oursarge]

Well I've never had this happen before. We got Molly on Sunday and she seemed to eat fine. The rescue girl told us what her favorite foods were so we bought them. She ate the first night and second night. Tuesday she didn't eat much, yesterday she ate about nothing and today she only ate a few bites of a couple different foods.

I don't know what to do. She acts totally fine, she's alert, loves to play, loves to be held and brushed but she has almost zero interest in food. I talked to the rescue girl and she said she's never encountered this before and said to keep trying different foods maybe something will spark her interest. She said she might have too much stimulation with us playing with her and holding her so much, she's not used to that, she had alot of alone time in the rescue. I didn't spend much time with her today she seemed to miss the attention but I'm trying to give her the space the girl thinks she needs.

I have like 7 cans of food opened and 3 bags of dry food. Tonight she took a few bites of Science Diet and a couple pieces of dry food. The rescue girl said not to panic yet, the girl at the pet stores said since she was trapped at a feral cat colony maybe she's used to eating alot then not eating much for awhile. I don't know, she was in the rescue 6 weeks I think and I was told she ate fine there, she didn't eat alot but she ate and she loved the little calcium treats, she'd do anything for those things but not anymore, she sniffs them and walks away. I even bought a fresh bag thinking the other was stale but no luck.

She told me to weigh her and if she looses weight by Sat. she might have to go back or we might have to take her to the vet. I don't even know what to tell the vet. She's playing like a crazy cat, she's loving attention, she acts fine but she isn't interested in food. Has anyone had this problem? I even bought kitty milk and mixed it with soft food. She took one taste. She isn't interested in her cat treats that I know she loves or even canned tuna. I'm at a loss and my heart is broken because I don't want to send her back but I don't want her to die either. She seems happy here and is getting friendlier all the time, she's even getting better with Noah. She's come so far since Sunday, I've been happy about the progress but she needs food.

I've been a nervous wreck. The rescue girl said she's had so many changes in a week with being spayed, being in a new home with new people, meeting a dog, having new siblings. She even had me take my big female cat in to see if Molly would like her. They got along OK at first then they were hissing and carrying on which I guess is normal. I went to the barn and came back and Molly was hiding and Bo wanted out of the room. She's getting alot better with the dog.

I'm at a loss, I hope her appetite will kick in before Sat. She's drinking fine. It's such a mystery. I had one cat come here and she was terrified but she ate. All my animals eat but not Molly. I will probably take her to the vet before I'd take her back to the rescue since maybe there is some simple fix. I might call tomorrow. I feel so bad, I wanted her and knew she was the right little girl for us and I still think that but I want her to be happy and I want her to eat and don't know how to make it happen! Thanks for listening. I think I need a bottle of Xanax now, these animals are going to put me in my grave!

[WashingtonBay]

As long as she's acting happy and not sick I wouldn't worry a whole lot if she just nibbles.

I don't think you need to take her back, I'd just give her one thing and let her take her time to get used to it.

[Gypsy Rose]

I wish I knew what to tell you, oursarge. Is she weeing and pooping okay?

I'm really hoping this works out for you- Molly seems like the perfect cat for you.

[Ryle]

Antyime a cat doesn't eat you need to see a vet. There are just way too many things that could be going on and not eating for just a couple of days can lead to slower recovery from anything.

[Cat]

Don't take her back - switching her like that is just going to up her stress even higher.

Is dry food out all the time? Is there a chance she is eating when you are not around to see her? Also, check inside her mouth. There might be a sore in there that is making her not want to eat, or (I don't know her age) but maybe a loose baby tooth is bugging her.

Also, watch the litterbox. Is she pooping? She may be constipated.

[oursarge]

She's using her litter box like normal. All is well there. If she was eating normally you'd never know there was an issue and maybe I'm making it an issue when it isn't. She's 5 months old give or take a few days. She ate more tonight than she has, not alot but she has something in her. I do keep dry food out all the time but I had it counted and there was nothing missing this a.m. but she did have a little tonight. Yesterday she really didn't eat anything but today she had a tiny bit. I thought her mouth could be hurting but she's chewing on her toys with no problem at all, she chomps right into them and takes off with them. I just put her to bed or I'd go look her mouth better, I will tomorrow. I noticed she did eat her treats that I left on the floor so that's better than before. I will probably end up taking her to the vet rather than back to the rescue, it will kill me to do that. I thought she might be happier there but she's made so much progress here she truly seems happy and we love her so much, it's like she completes our family, that little face is so precious.

Hopefully nothing is really wrong. She just had a total physical last week, a week ago today actually. She was checked from head to toe and checked out perfectly but I guess things can pop up quick. My friend thinks she has an infection but she shows no signs of one. According to the rescue lady when she was spayed she had anti biotics and some sort of shot where the anti biotic is for a longer term. Her insision is almost healed, not red, her eyes are clear, her nose is clear, her stomach doesn't seem sick or sore. It is a mystery. If things don't get better I'll call the vet, I can't take her tomorrow because I have to see my own "vet". Maybe she just needs more time. Oh she is drinking fine. Thanks everyone. My biggest fear has always been getting an animal here and it won't eat. They've always been fine and I worried for nothing but Molly is making me worry. I keep hoping tomorrow I'll go in and some of the food will be missing. Thank you!

[Gypsy Rose]

Hopefully, you'll have a positive update for us tomorrow.

[Arrow]

I think she sounds o.k. if she's bright eyed and bushy tailed. But I wouldn't switch foods around either--that just teaches her to be finicky. I'd pick a food and stick with it--she'll eat when she's hungry.

[zoel_222]

I hope she'll be okay. If I were you I'd take her to the vet. I don't like to gamble with my pets' health.

[SedonaThunder]

I'm with WB - no need to panic or even really worry yet. The poor little thing has had so much new in her life recently she's bound to be feeling a little up and down. Besides that, I've found that kitties go in phases... when B&B first got here they couldn't eat enough, then they really slowed down and then started going for it again. This last week and half they are leaving food on their plate again (quite a bit actually) but they are still running around, peeing, pooping and acting happy!

If she weren't even nibbling for more than 24 hours... then I'd call the vet.

[oursarge]

Thanks everyone. I think I have a positive update. I had her dry food dish where the food was totally covering the bottom of the dish. This a.m. there is a bare spot at the bottom, a pretty big bare spot. My husband also remembers it being covered so we're guessing she ate during the night. I can only hope we're both remembering right. I know he was pushing the food around hoping to get her attention, he says he knows he left the bottom covered. I WISH I COUNTED IT but I put so much in thinking that she was used to eating from one of those feeders you load with food and it comes down as they eat. I thought maybe seeing the bottom of the dish was scaring her so I put alot of food in to cover the bottom and now I can see the bottom and it doesn't look like it's been pushed around.

I know it's not good to switch foods all the time, I was hoping to just find something that would catch her interest then I'd stick to that. She did take a few bites of the chunks and gravy, she licked all the gravy up and maybe ate a chunk or two so I'll give her that again. This is frustrating since I never had it happen before, most of my animals can't get enough food.

I will weigh her tomorrow a.m. [She weighed 5 lbs yesterday] and if she's lost weight I will call the vet and hopefully get her in. If I see her eating more than a bite or two then I'll feel better but chances are she's more comfortable eating alone in the dark!!!! Tonight I'll count the food!

She's getting so much more comfortable, at first if we walked in the room she'd dive under the couch. This a.m. she layed in the chair and let me pet her then jumped down and sat in the middle of the floor like "Well why aren't you playing with me?" She seems happy, she looks and acts fine. I don't want to take her back especially because the rescue lady can't keep her, even if she's happy there she will end up in another home and she picked up over 20+ other people. She loves looking out the windows here, there she didn't have windows. She really does seem happier here than when I first met her. We feel like she's part of us, so fingers crossed she'll love her food and all will be well if it's not, off to the vet she'll go. She's had so many vet checks and last week was a major one but I guess stuff can happen in a week. Cats have such complicated little minds, maybe she needs a kitty shrink.

Thank you!

[Arrow]

Good news!

[rums_mom]

She is still adjusting. Give her a little time, I'm sure she will be fine. Try not to worry so much. This does not mean you have to give her back........

All my indoor animals will sometimes not eat for a day, but then be right back munching away. She sounds cute.

We have a Maine Coon and he is a beautiful cat and very personable.

[WashingtonBay]

Sounds good! Most of my cats don't eat a lot at one sitting, they're nibblers.

[vicklynn]

I sure hope its nothing. Cats are funny. Sometimes they pig, sometimes they nibble.

[Gypsy Rose]

I think it will work out fine, oursarge- from the sounds of it, like everyone said, she's had a lot of changes- she may just need some more adjustment time.

It sounds like she's already becoming very attached to you.

Maine Coons are like rums_mom said- very personable. They also love all the family members, but pick one for their special person.

In some respects, they have more of the dog type loyalty than most cats.

[oursarge]

She's a funny little girl, she looks at me with those big eyes and I melt. I am a worrier, I think Worry is my middle name and I've never encountered this eating thing before. I hope she actually did eat last night and all willl be well. I won't let it go on long, tomorrow she gets weighed and if she's dropped any I'll haul her to the vet. She seems happy in every other way.

Thanks again for all the support, I'm such a nervous new mother! I always get a little nervous when we get a new "kid" but they normally settle in just fine. She's a little harder but is worth it.

[oursarge]

Just a little update on Molly. She's here a week already! She has been eating thankfully. She's been eating alot. She likes Purina One food. That wasn't what she was used to eating, she was used to eating Wellness but Purina seems to be her food of choice and she also likes kitty milk. I'm just glad that she's liking food again! She is a funny little girl and we're enjoying her.

She loves to cuddle, I just wish she'd stop diving under the couch. She comes out fast but we walk in the room and under the couch she goes. I think that's part of being feral at one point in her life and then the room she was in at the foster home had no windows so she never knew who was coming through the door. Here she has glass she can look through and can see everything but she still dives. I hope that soon she'll be able to come out and join the others.

Thanks for all your support when she wouldn't eat! We can now start a pet store with all the food we have here but I don't care as long as we found something she likes. Now that we found it I'm not giving her any other foods just that and her kitty milk. I do love the little buckaroo, she even had a doggy ride on Noah yesterday, I put her on his back and he walked with her on him. That's major progress since before if I had her touch him she'd hiss, I think eventually they'll be friends once he stops being scared of her!!!! Here's this 55 lb dog terrified of a little 5 lb kitten!

[WashingtonBay]

Well, it's good news that she's eating well! My dogs and cats aren't particularly friends, but I think that's OK. I don't push it. Wicket's just dumb enough to get herself in trouble pushing it without my help.;)

[JetLagaside]

Wonderful progress! I had a feral kitten that every time he saw a bird fly by the window he would go diving for cover and yeah he did that his whole life but other than that he was awsome. We had a poodle at the time and that was HIS dog the two used to play together :) good luck with yours!

[Gypsy Rose]

I'm so glad Molly's working out for you- I know how much you wanted this to work!

I think she's celebrating having her forever home by pigging out, lol!

[oursarge]

She's getting more comfortable all the time. I took to ignoring her if she dove under the couch so now she hasn't been diving under since she wants attention. She helped me type an e-mail to my cousin, she likes to watch the letters go across the screen then she gets tired of that and she wants to have both hands on her.

I don't know about the other cats, Jack wanted to go in the sunroom so I let him but he just growled, she ignored him and kept playing. As long as she's eating I think we can hopefully get through anything. I will have to start getting them used to each other but I'm not exactly sure how since they can see each other through the door, I did the towel thing with them. I might try the vanilla on the chins and tails but Jack growls before she ever gets near him so he hasn't even sniffed her yet! I wonder if Feliway will work. KIDS they'll drive me nuts but I do love them. I'm really happy they saved her from that cat colony, I can't imagine her alone out in the big wide world. I wish every animal could find a good home but I know that's not happening.

Thank you again for the support, it does help.

[Gypsy Rose]

It may just take time- cats are so territorial, lol!

It sounds as though progress is being made, though, and that's the main thing!