For most people when they experience cat problems, such as the cat not eating, worry immediately ensues and all sorts of possible illnesses are assumed. This worry can be even stronger when it is a recently adopted cat that is refusing food, as the new cat parents may worry that they have adopted a sick cat. Now, while it is always a good idea to schedule a vet visit when adopting any animal, in order to ensure its health is in order, health issues are often not to blame for a cat not eating. This is especially true when the cat has been moved to a new home, or has new owners, as often the cat will refuse food due to stress.
Think about it – the cat doesn’t understand why it has been uprooted from its home, and is likely to undergo some amount of stress. Also, if you are feeding the cat a new food during this time, rather than what it is used to being fed, it simply may not like the smell or taste of what you are offering. When adopting a cat you should always attempt to feed it what the previous owners did, and then slowly transition it to what you would like to feed. You can do this by mixing in a small amount of the new food with the brand it is used to, eliminating more and more of the previous food over time.
If you have not changed foods, then you may be able to entice your cat to eat by feeding him or her special foods, such as lean chicken or turkey, but you should avoid overdoing this or doing this for too long or the cat may soon become quite picky. Of course, if your new cat continues to refuse food, and especially if there is an issue with the cat losing weight, then you’ll want to consult a veterinarian in order to rule out any health issues.
Is Your New Cat Not Eating?
For most people when they experience cat problems, such as the cat not eating, worry immediately ensues and all sorts of possible illnesses are assumed. This worry can be even stronger when it is a recently adopted cat that is refusing food, as the new cat parents may worry that they have adopted a sick cat. Now, while it is always a good idea to schedule a vet visit when adopting any animal, in order to ensure its health is in order, health issues are often not to blame for a cat not eating. This is especially true when the cat has been moved to a new home, or has new owners, as often the cat will refuse food due to stress.
Think about it – the cat doesn’t understand why it has been uprooted from its home, and is likely to undergo some amount of stress. Also, if you are feeding the cat a new food during this time, rather than what it is used to being fed, it simply may not like the smell or taste of what you are offering. When adopting a cat you should always attempt to feed it what the previous owners did, and then slowly transition it to what you would like to feed. You can do this by mixing in a small amount of the new food with the brand it is used to, eliminating more and more of the previous food over time.
If you have not changed foods, then you may be able to entice your cat to eat by feeding him or her special foods, such as lean chicken or turkey, but you should avoid overdoing this or doing this for too long or the cat may soon become quite picky. Of course, if your new cat continues to refuse food, and especially if there is an issue with the cat losing weight, then you’ll want to consult a veterinarian in order to rule out any health issues.