A "catty" question....

[ShezaGirlie]

For all you cat lovers --

We adopted a 2 year old cat yesterday from a couple who owned him since kittyhood who just had a baby and felt they needed to give him away.

Since she/owner was a forensic anthropology major, his name is "Darwin". He is beautiful and we want to keep him. Problem is that he hasn't eaten in the 24 hours since we got him.. He came with his 'golden throne' which even has a filter, his food, his toys (lots) and his filtered waterfall which his owner said is the only water he likes.

He was never allowed outside and we wanted an indoor cat....he is fully trained and you can tell he's been well taken care of. He's not really afraid of us, he just wants to sit in the corner.. or try to run and hide.

He has full run of the garage w/all his stuff. The only thing in there are two bikes and the recycle bin. We're afraid to bring him in the house just yet since he will probably hide somewhere and we wouldn't be able to find him...

What would you do? I've always raised my cats from kittyhood -- never had a 2 year old before.. We don't want to call the owners and give him back just yet, but if he doesn't eat by tomorrow....well..

Here's his picture:

 

[Superbob]

Nice looking cat. I predict he will settle in and eat soon enough. Just has to get adjusted to his new surroundings.

 

[Bina]

Hi, NICE cat...I would let him into the house with all his stuff....the sooner he is integrated and encouraged to be part of the family, the better. We adopted our bl/wh female when she was 2 yrs. It did take a few weeks before she had really accepted our other cat and made herself at home.
Tomorrow, start again with fresh food, maybe open a can of tuna or salmon and see what happens.
Good Luck, its worth it.

 

[geebee]

I will probably sound a bit strange but it is my opinion that he is feeling a bit punished and doesn't understand why. He was pulled out of the only home he has known and brought to a strange place and then left alone. A house cat is used to being around people and, even if he doesn't know you, he will still recognize you as people. Rather than leave him alone, try putting him in a carrier in the same room as you until he gets more comfortable. This will be better than leaving him alone all the time. He needs to hear voices and know he is not alone.

He will eventually eat. He is just sad and needs reassurance.

BTW - I have a cat that looks very much like him and is curled up next to me as I write this.

Thank you for giving him a home and just be patient - things will improve.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

...we're taking your advice..

...we're taking your advice..

Ok, Mr. Darwin is in the house now. I forgot to mention that we put a radio out in the garage so he wouldn't feel so alone and that we left the light on for him last night. He managed to open one of the cabinets and got into a drawer (owners told us he'd do that), so we put rubber bands around the pulls so he couldn't get inside and would learn about us. So, for now he's in his carrier in front of the fireplace and TV....(hope he likes basketball... )

He's really very friendly and will let us pick him up and rub/pet him without trying to get down. However; he hasn't even meowed since he's been here..

The owners sent his food with him, so should I still try the salmon or tuna?

I've had B&W cats off and on for almost 30 years -- love them..!!

And another pic......I know, I know -- but I'm not a granny so deal with it..

 

[Freddie]

Yep, give the kitty some time to adjust. Its just pouting right now.

It will eat when its hungry and comfortable with its new surroundings.

 

[geebee]

I would try feeding him a small amount of tuna. Sometimes a cat's system can get upset with moves like this so I would feed small amounts until you know how thing are going.

 

[geebee]

Just though I would share a picture of my baby.

 

[Wise]

I bet your new kitty will be the King of your house in no time. Congratulations on your beautiful family addition.

 

[Glenda]

He's a beautiful marked cat. I'm sure he'll adjust soon if you show him enough love. You might also try feeding by hand by letting him eat the food out of your hand. He's just confused but he'll come around. I raised cats for years and every one of them have their own personality.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I will probably sound a bit strange but it is my opinion that he is feeling a bit punished and doesn't understand why. He was pulled out of the only home he has known and brought to a strange place and then left alone. A house cat is used to being around people and, even if he doesn't know you, he will still recognize you as people. Rather than leave him alone, try putting him in a carrier in the same room as you until he gets more comfortable. This will be better than leaving him alone all the time. He needs to hear voices and know he is not alone.

He will eventually eat. He is just sad and needs reassurance.

BTW - I have a cat that looks very much like him and is curled up next to me as I write this.

Thank you for giving him a home and just be patient - things will improve.

I agree with Gina. The Cat is probably terribly confused and maybe a bit terrified as to why he has been taken from the only home and family he has ever known.

A slower 'transition' may have worked better, i.e. getting to know the new parents before being taken from his home. "Quality Time" spent with his new family will certainly help. It may take a LONG TIME before he fully accepts his new situation.

I adopted a female mixed breed puppy from the 'pound'. She was paranoid about riding after being take from her home to the pound and then taken to a Veterinarian to be Spayed. I kept her in a crate (euphamism for CAGE) in my garage which worked during winter (insulated base, covered with comforter) but NOT after it got hot.

I moved her crate into the bedroom and she was much more comfortable and more content. Her 'indoor behavior' improved fairly quickly but outdoors, she was still a "wild and crazy puppy'. A prong collar saved her from being sent back to the pound and eventually led to better discipline after 1 YEAR.

At 2 years, she has fully integrated into the home and is a sweet, people loving dog (now that she is out of her puppyhood!).

I know Cats and Dogs are quite different, but I think they both react strongly from being uprooted from their comfort zone when they haven't done anything to deserve such treatment.

I hope that a lot of TLC and the passage of time will result in a closer relationship with your new cat.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Susan BAV]

I've never had a cat who moved easily; they've always been traumatized to some degree by any move we've made. But he'll hopefully adjust with love and patience, soon. I guess he's drinking water? He'll eat sooner or later, but of course he's got to drink water.

My cats are all so different in their preferences: some like beef canned catfood better, some like chicken better; some like closed in hiding places, some like the highest perch in the house; some like to show off and outdo the other cats, some are more shy; etc.

BTW, is he the only cat in your home right now? Is he the only pet right now also? Was that situation the same as in his former home?

 

[aussigal]

Darwin is gorgeous, you are so lucky to have him...makes me miss our Lucy who went to pussy-cat heaven last year. I think bringing him inside out of the garage and letting him slowly find his way around and looking for a favourite spot is the best thing for him. All the cats I have had were fussy eaters so I would probably stick to his regular food, unless you know what his favourite treat is. I bet he is purring and cuddling up real soon, he looks like a sweety.

 

[Ross]

Yeap, he's suffering the change. Let him get used to everything and he'll come around in a day or two.

 

[hensylee]

Lovely new family member. Thanks for taking him in. He will adjust, given time.

1. make sure his cage is always near so he can go there and feel safe. Put it where it's easily accessible and don't move it from that spot.

2. cook some chicken (without those Texas spices), put it near or in the cage. If that doesn't grab his attention, try cooking some fresh (not smoked) pork. Eat some in front of him so he'll know it's edible and he'll maybe want to join you!

3. Scratch, stroke his back, and talk to him. They love conversation. Call him by name, he will recognize it.

4. relax. If you don't, he will pick up on it immediately.

5. get some catnip - spray or ground leaves but put it away from your furniture. It's like a drug and they get 'high' but love it.

6. Love him - lots.

 

[Nancy]

I've adopted several cats from the shelter during my lifetime. They all take a couple of weeks to settle in. One ran and hid in the house for a week somewhere that I could never find.

They all eventually came out when they felt safe.

It's a big change for a cat and he might be in mourning a little for his old home. They are such creatures of habit, they don't like any change at all and are very wary of new things.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Darwin update...

Darwin update...

Great advice from everyone....thank you, thank you, thank you..!

Darwin has eaten.......!!!! It's difficult to tell if he's gotten water since the waterfall thingy runs all the time, but we think that he has. And hope this isn't TMI, but he's frequented his 'golden throne' too..

For now, he's roaming the open part (shut the bedroom doors) of the house and he just walked under my chair. He doesn't look as afraid -- he's certainly exploring his new home. He was raised in a small apartment and we did notice that the vertical blinds on the glass door were closed, so we don't think he even got to look outside much.. Here, he can sit at the patio door and watch the sparrows and grackles fight over the purple martin houses..

Gina -- your tuxedo kitty is gorgeous and looks so playful..

Bina -- do you have a picture of your B&W??

Glenda -- I tried feeding him by hand, but he wouldn't 'bite'...

Al -- yep, I feel like those are "cages" too.., but he seemed to be OK in there. Strange thing is - when it is available he won't go in there as he prefers a corner... I leave the door open just in case he decides to have a nap in there. We're having nice weather here, so the garage isn't hot. No way I'd let him in there in the summertime....whew, very hot. Right now I'm leaving the house door open into the garage so he can go back there if he wants to since that's where he's spent the majority of his time.

Susan -- yes, he's the only cat/animal. I haven't had a cat in about 6 years when my Panda disappeared.. I actually has the same lineage for many years and all the B&W's were named Panda.

Aussigal -- we're doing exactly as you suggested and Darwin's exploring around right now. In fact, I think I heard a faint "meow" while ago.. I gave him a rub to let him know..."good kitty"

Rachel -- you're so right -- they didn't want him anymore, so he's definitely not going back there. In fact, I think he was the husband's cat and not the wife's. She's a stay-at-home new mommie and I'm sure wants to fully concentrate on their darling little boy.

Hensylee -- Please, please, please tell me how to cook chicken without all these "Texas spices"...?!?! Do cats really know their names?!?! And yes, we're very relaxed as we both love cats and really want this to work for Darwin.

 

[Susan BAV]

Janie, My cats all know their names and make eye contact with me when I sweet talk each one. They even know the little nicknames I've given them when I sweet talk them and/or call them in for the evening. (They roam outside during the daytime but also have access via catdoor to our garage.) We have six cats right now and if I miss talking to one or petting one each day, it'll get its feelings hurt.

Panda sounds like a much better choice of name (to me) though! He is a really pretty cat! When you say "Darwin" with your Texas drawl, it could just as easily sound like "Darlin" to him. So maybe he needs a new name to go with his new life, maybe Panda Darlin ?

I was thinking too, Anne's idea for catnip was excellent; my cats love an inexpensive scratching board thing that has catnip spread on it--you can buy them about anywhere.

 

[Bina]

It sounds like Darwin just needed to adjust...he will love his new home!

Here is a pic of my B/W girl Maya....she is 11 yrs old and full of beans, she climbs ladders (in the house).
If hubby changes a light bulb, she is there!
Her previous owners gave her up at the age of 2 because she was biting the new leather couch.
She was just bored.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Bina, We had a b/w named Molly who also climbed ladders. One time she disappeared and we could hear her meowing. We thought she was locked in a closet and checked them all. It took us about 20 minutes to figure out that she had climbed the ladder into our attic when my husband was putting away ornaments. Luckily it was January and not August when that attic is sweltering.

Janie, Congratulations on the adoption of your new child. He is beautiful.