Hi all. I adopted a 2-1/2 year old cat yesterday from a rescue group at Petsmart. He was an injured stray who has since recovered and has been living in a foster home. I was able to talk to his foster mom and get lots of info on him. I can tell he was well taken care of there. He's really pretty and VERY affectionate and I'm told gets along well with dogs. I have a small dog so that was an important consideration.
He got diarrhea on the way home so I had to clean him up when we got home. I set up a spare bedroom just for him and put up a baby gate so the dog can't get in. I put his bed inside a cardboard box so he'd have a little safe cave. He went straight to the box and has pretty much stayed there since yesterday afternoon (28 hours now), sleeping most of that time. I've been keeping the door shut and leaving him in peace. He lets me pet him and "demands" that I scratch his cheeks, lol. But he doesn't want to come out of the box.
What concerns me is that he still won't eat or drink. I bought the exact dry food his foster mom was giving him, but he won't touch it. He will sniff his water bowl but won't drink. This morning I offered some canned food and he ate most of it and used the litter box. Thankfully the diarrhea is gone. He still wouldn't touch his water, so I mixed some with milk, and he lapped it right down. I read that milk isn't that good for cats, but I was concerned he wasn't getting any liquids.
He seems very comfortable in his box and he sleeps a lot. He keeps looking at the door where the dog is, so that could be partly why he's not coming out. My dog isn't aggressive but he's anxious to make friends and keeps wimpering at the door when I'm with the cat.
I know the kitty just needs time to rest and adjust. But should I try coaxing him to come out a little? I bought a big cat tree for him. His foster mom said he loves to sit in it and look out the window. I saw him eyeing it a few times. Should I try lifting him onto it?
What should I do about him not eating the dry food or drinking water? Keep giving him canned? Should I give him more watered down milk? I don't want to give him things that will upset his stomach again, but I want him to eat and drink something. Any suggestions?
He got diarrhea on the way home so I had to clean him up when we got home. I set up a spare bedroom just for him and put up a baby gate so the dog can't get in. I put his bed inside a cardboard box so he'd have a little safe cave. He went straight to the box and has pretty much stayed there since yesterday afternoon (28 hours now), sleeping most of that time. I've been keeping the door shut and leaving him in peace. He lets me pet him and "demands" that I scratch his cheeks, lol. But he doesn't want to come out of the box.
What concerns me is that he still won't eat or drink. I bought the exact dry food his foster mom was giving him, but he won't touch it. He will sniff his water bowl but won't drink. This morning I offered some canned food and he ate most of it and used the litter box. Thankfully the diarrhea is gone. He still wouldn't touch his water, so I mixed some with milk, and he lapped it right down. I read that milk isn't that good for cats, but I was concerned he wasn't getting any liquids.
He seems very comfortable in his box and he sleeps a lot. He keeps looking at the door where the dog is, so that could be partly why he's not coming out. My dog isn't aggressive but he's anxious to make friends and keeps wimpering at the door when I'm with the cat.
I know the kitty just needs time to rest and adjust. But should I try coaxing him to come out a little? I bought a big cat tree for him. His foster mom said he loves to sit in it and look out the window. I saw him eyeing it a few times. Should I try lifting him onto it?
What should I do about him not eating the dry food or drinking water? Keep giving him canned? Should I give him more watered down milk? I don't want to give him things that will upset his stomach again, but I want him to eat and drink something. Any suggestions?
