various questions regarding cat behaviour

i have just recently (saturday) become the owner of a beautiful 3-year-old male ocicat. he used to be the top stud at the breeder's, and he was only neutered last monday. previous to our adopting him, he was kept in one room to keep him from spraying (something i am assured he had not done since being neutered) and impregnating the other cats. he had very little contact with new people and became very attached to one or two members of his old family.

since we brought him home, he's been under my living room couch, which i'm assured is normal. the problem is that he won't eat and won't use his litter box. i'm not sure if the litter we're giving him is the same as what he used to have; as a matter of fact i highly doubt it. surprisingly it looks like he hasn't defecated under the couch, but he's definitely urinated because you can smell it the minute you enter the room. he is being fed feline c/d to treat urinary tract infections - but this brings us to the not eating problem. i have put his bowls of feline c/d (which i was told he actually loved eating) and water under the couch with him, but he won't touch them (i suspect because they're so unfamiliar). we have tried putting food on the floor for him, but he hasn't touched that either. i opened up a can of wet food and left that on the other side of the couch. it went ignored. my neighbours came over with catnip and treats, both of which he ignored completely - as a matter of fact, he hissed at us.

i understand that for him to become accustomed to his new home, he needs to be left alone to feel comfortable, but i'm very worried about his eating and urination habits. any help would be appreciated.

First I would contact the people you got him from and find out what type of litter they used, then switch to that. Make sure he has a larger than normal litterbox and provide him with two. A quick trip to WalMart to buy those plastic slideout drawers you fit under your bed will do the trick nicely.

Cats really need two litter boxes apiece, one to pee in, one to poop in. Until you can get in and scrub the room with a good enzyme, kitty is going to keep spraying about every few days to refresh his scent. He is not doing it to upset you- he is marking his new territory.

Try feeding him some boiled chicken, mix it with good quality dry food and don't push the food to him, set it out where he can get to it. His habit of hiding is his way of saying he is uncertain what is going on with him his world has been turned upside down and he needs to get used to it. I would bet he is defecating somewhere if he is eating- and you will find it later.

Good luck- I bet he is pretty!

". .. i have put his bowls of feline c/d (which i was told he actually loved eating) and water under the couch with him, but he won't touch them. . .. we have tried putting food on the floor for him, but he hasn't touched that either."

If he has truly eaten *nothing* since Saturday, this is could become a very serious health issue. I think 2-3 days of not eating or drinking is about the limit that most vets are comfortable with. Severe and quick weight loss can cause something called fatty liver disease or hepaticlipidosis.

If he is nibbling a little, in increasing amounts then I would think he would be ok. But absolutely no food or water needs some attention. I don't know what would be best though.. . .taking him back to his former home for a little break or to the vet for hydration? If you can get close enough to him to pet him, pinch some of his skin together. If the skin stays up, and doesn't flatten out again, he's probably dehydrated.

Poor scared kitty. . .I hope he starts eating soon.

i just went and tried the pinching deal (he's begun kind of hiding under the slipcover of the couch and not the actual couch; makes the front of the couch look like it has a tumor with feet... progress i suppose) and it seemed normal. perhaps he's drank a little and i haven't noticed. to be sure i refilled everything to the absolute top and i emailed the breeder to see if she had any suggestions... i don't know; i'm not sure what to do about him right now.

It sounds like he's scared out of his mind. It happens alot with cats from a cattery. If you have a smaller room with less furniture, I would get him in there with his litter, food, and water. It may help to get him through the rough patch. Sometimes they just need a little space of thier own to adjust.