My New Kitten is Relaxing but Not Eating

Good morning everyone,

I just welcome my kitten Dobby yesterday



He was hiding in the corner of my studio at first. Then he started to play with his toys. By bed time, he climbed in my bed and slept next to me last night. And this morning, when I am watching TV and using my laptop, he just lay down on my legs by himself.

So I feel like he is relaxing and got used to his new home

He also used his litter box last night, because I scoop out some solids from his litter box.

BUT

He hasnt started to eat or drink yet

I understand it is stressful for kitten to have a new home. And based on my early research, it's normal/common that new home kitten doesnt eat at first day.

But Dobby is relaxing (in my opinion), why he hasnt started to eat yet?

please give me some advice or suggestion, everyone

Thank you very much

It is normal for nervous cats to not eat, but the catch is that it also can be dangerous if they go more than a day or two without eating! It could be that he's not used to whatever food you're offering as well. Try something really yummy, like treats or human baby food (gerber or beechnut in the little jars, chicken, turkey, or ham), just to get some calories in him to start, and if he likes that you can mix it in with his regular food to get him to start eating it.

Thank you for your reply

I just keep serving his food as his previous owner. I have 1 lbs of his original food. So it's not a new food for him though.

I have some wet food at home, but im afraid it would be too early to switch his food at the second day being at new home.

So with his old food, he still doesnt eat

Is his food dish someplace he feels comfortable getting to, and not too close to his litter tray? When we first got our kittens we had their food in the kitchen, which we thought would be okay because our flat is pretty small. They were wary of the kitchen, though, I think because of the cold tiles and because it was just too overwhelming at first. Once we moved the food and water into the living room, they started to eat and drink. 

Dobby is adorable

Updates!!

Dobby started to eat last night.

I counted 60 pieces dry food in his bowl, and I went out for dinner for few hours. When I came back, there were only 20ish pieces!!

Also, he ate again this morning when I was in the bathroom.

So I think he probably just felt more secure being alone at the beginning

Thank you everyone

He looks a lot like my new kitten, Mogget! Here he is being bad and climbing a tapestry...

haha yes and same as Dobby that it's hard to film his front face lol!

Mogget looks like snow-shoe siamese, right?

Dobby acts different usually, sometimes he is shy, hiding at the corner or his litter box. Sometimes he walks to me and sleeps on my legs or next to me.

Here's his front. He's super young and so squirmy, most of his pictures come out as a blur! He's definitely a mutt, but I think he must have some Showshoe ancestry since his sister looked very much like one. 

I've had him for 3 days now- I'm sure yours will grow much more confident in no time.

Mogget looks so cute haha those round eyes

Dobby just arrived at my home on Saturday. So today is also his third day. I am still thinking when to switch him from dry food to wet food.

I would start right away. Wet food is much better for them and they need the extra fat and protein to grow. You can try giving a little bit of dry food along with the wet- he's a baby so I'm sure he'll go for wet right away. 

Mogget's a very outgoing little guy. He's only about 7 weeks, but he's not scared at all of my very angry 5 month old girl. She is very unhappy at having a new cat in the house!

Yes, I know wet food is better than dry food. The only concern is that is it too fast to change his food (because he has only been at my home for 3 days)?

I did some reading online before, they said changing food will bring too much pressure to new home kitten. Is this true?

you could put a little dry food on one plate and a little wet food on another or mix them together.  sometimes it takes a little time for cats to make the adjustment, but most of my cats were thrilled to move from dry to wet - just not the other way around  

btw, when i tried with one cat mixing the dry and wet together, the cat ate all the wet food from around the dry, leaving EVERY piece of dry on the plate, sort of moist and messy looking *lol*

I would think a spoonful or so would be okay. I have no idea what my kitten was eating before I got him but he only had loose stools the first day, thankfully. 

@basschick  That's funny.. my kittens LOVE dry. My older kitten thinks it's a treat.

haha I fed Dobby with wet food, Weruva, this morning. And he ate it

elkie said:

 
I would think a spoonful or so would be okay. I have no idea what my kitten was eating before I got him but he only had loose stools the first day, thankfully. 

@basschick  That's funny.. my kittens LOVE dry. My older kitten thinks it's a treat.

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how funny!