New feral kitten - not eating or drinking anything

Hey guys! I'm new here--just joined the site today because I'm looking for some advice about the feral kitten my boyfriend and I just took in. His cousin has several feral cats in the neighborhood that she feeds, and one of them had two kittens, a black and a calico. She knew we were thinking about getting a couple kittens, so she asked if we wanted them, since she can't really support them on top of the cats she's already feeding. We agreed, and after several attempts, yesterday evening at around 5 PM we were able to capture the black kitten in a pet carrier. We haven't had any luck getting the calico one yet, but we went ahead and took the black one home to begin the taming process.

Now, I've been around cats my entire life--when I used to live with my mom, we had seven. But working with a feral cat is an entirely new experience for me. Right now, she's confined to our bathroom--it's a small space, with nothing in there that she can get into or hurt herself on. I put out some dry kitten food, water, litter box, and a scratching post, and left her in there with the pet carrier door open. She has come out of the carrier, and she's currently hiding underneath our sink, up against the wall. Right now, I'm just trying to do everything I can to make her feel comfortable and safe. I haven't tried to approach her at all, I've been avoiding looking directly at her, and I talk to her in a soft, baby voice when I go in there. She's been under the sink every time I've gone in there, but I'm pretty sure she got up and explored some during the night, while we were sleeping.

My problem is that as far as I can tell, she has yet to eat or drink anything. I even put some tuna in there in addition to the dry food, thinking it might be more appetizing to her, and she hasn't touched it. Granted, she's only been in my house since yesterday evening--not even a full 24 hours yet, so I don't know if I should necessarily be worried yet or not. Is it normal for a feral cat not to eat for a while? Should I be worried, or do I just need to give her more time?

Any tips or advice you guys can give me would be massively appreciated. I'm a paranoid first-time mommy, as it were, and the fact that she's not eating or drinking at all just worries me.

Thanks!

WiseOldUnicorn said:

His cousin has several feral cats in the neighborhood that she feeds, and one of them had two kittens,

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How old is the kitten?  Im thinking he perhaps dont really knows how to eat, if he took his milk from mom...

But otherwise it is quite common the new bee´s dont want / dare to eat.... perhaps a couple of days.

You dont want them to abstain longer as this is on the total limit, but as said, common enough. Sometimes even with bough cats.

You seem to do everything all right, along the manual.  I presume you had tried to read on!  

About this cousin.  Splendid she is trying to help the cats. But what strikes me, you didnt say anything abouth neutering them.  Spaying and neutering is the trick here.  Just giving them food tends to cause them to be more and more...   Look up the TNR word...

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Stefanz is correct regarding the age of the kitten. There are we sites which provide pictures of kittens with their associated ages so that u can estimate your kittens age. This may be a helpful tool.

Can you touch this black kitten?? How did you get it into the cat carrier initially??


As far as taming - In my own experience (yours may be different) - the cat need to trust you. It has no idea what u are and what you want.

I have never personally rehabilited a kitten that I could not touch - but I have rehabilited an older feral cat (had a semi docile nature - i would never attempt to confine a wild feral much as I would not try to tame a wild possum.)

I was forced to bring him in because he was failing at feral life.

When he first came in He always hid - so I made more secure hiding places for him to go in. I got a book and sat in his room and completely ignored him. He watched and watched. Then I would leave without bothering him.

Everything was terrifying to him: the sound of the door, the sound of the water pipes, the sound of sneakers on wood floors. I just kept "visiting" him and letting him watch me.

it's been about two years now and he has learned how to play with cat toys and not rip my hand to shreds. This past month he began making biscuits (making muffins? you know what I'm talking about).

Still a long road ahead (he still becomes frightened outside his room - he'll walk out and around with me, but if we get awparated or he hears a steange noise - ZIPP gone back to his room. )

if Your kitten is young enough then with time and patience - you'd likely never know (s)he had been born outside.

TNR is essential for the health and well-being of a feral colony. Remind your cousin to trap momma and daddy cats before they get sick due to the violence, illness, and injuries associated with non- neutered cats.

I have one feral who eats while im there and another who has only begun eating when i put it in the kennel and cover it. I leave kitten kibble and water always, but i only feed wet food while im with them. I'm having a similar problem with the one kitten eating and drinking. I had to feed together at same time bc the brother would pig out on it all and leave none. The one is so frightened it wont eat until its covered. Maybe try this....

theresqsociety said:

I have one feral who eats while im there and another who has only begun eating when i put it in the kennel and cover it. I leave kitten kibble and water always, but i only feed wet food while im with them. I'm having a similar problem with the one kitten eating and drinking. I had to feed together at same time bc the brother would pig out on it all and leave none. The one is so frightened it wont eat until its covered. Maybe try this....

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Tx for telling your experiences in this area, and the useful tips.

But this thread is a old one, 2 years ago....

I see you dont need to start a new thread, as you yourself managed to solve the problems you had.

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