I need advice on how to get two feral cats to eat! I had been feeding these two stray ferals outside all winter long. They know me as a food source. I have been trying to trap them and finally succeeded. They are now in my home.
I took in one feral cat about two weeks ago. I placed her in a room of her own, gave her hiding spots, litter, freefed dry food & canned food 2X day. She refused to eat for the first 3 days. On the fourth day, she began eating at night and ate every night. All was well until I took her in to be spayed three days ago (had to wait for a feral spay appt.). After the spaying, she ate about a tablespoon of canned food. Now the last few days, she has eaten nothing. I have offered her canned food, cat treats & real tuna. She is freefed dry food. She stays inside her hiding box whenever I am around which is what she did before and after the surgery. She doesn't look sick, though I am sure the surgery scared the heck out of her and caused her pain.
The second feral is a male (waiting for his neutering appt.). He was captured five days ago. He is in a separate room & has dry food, canned food & hideaways, litter, etc. He is offered the same meals as the female feral. He ate well the first night, but has refused all food since.
I make sure to spend time with both cats each day, talking to them, not looking in their eyes, reading etc.
HELP! Any ideas on what I should do to help encourage them to eat? Are there any special foods which entice ferals to eat?
I took in a feral years ago (she has since passed on of old age), but eating was never an issue for her. I know the time and patience that is needed to befriend ferals and I am willing to give these two what they need, but I can't help them eat! I am especially worried about the female as she had surgery.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I took in one feral cat about two weeks ago. I placed her in a room of her own, gave her hiding spots, litter, freefed dry food & canned food 2X day. She refused to eat for the first 3 days. On the fourth day, she began eating at night and ate every night. All was well until I took her in to be spayed three days ago (had to wait for a feral spay appt.). After the spaying, she ate about a tablespoon of canned food. Now the last few days, she has eaten nothing. I have offered her canned food, cat treats & real tuna. She is freefed dry food. She stays inside her hiding box whenever I am around which is what she did before and after the surgery. She doesn't look sick, though I am sure the surgery scared the heck out of her and caused her pain.
The second feral is a male (waiting for his neutering appt.). He was captured five days ago. He is in a separate room & has dry food, canned food & hideaways, litter, etc. He is offered the same meals as the female feral. He ate well the first night, but has refused all food since.
I make sure to spend time with both cats each day, talking to them, not looking in their eyes, reading etc.
HELP! Any ideas on what I should do to help encourage them to eat? Are there any special foods which entice ferals to eat?
I took in a feral years ago (she has since passed on of old age), but eating was never an issue for her. I know the time and patience that is needed to befriend ferals and I am willing to give these two what they need, but I can't help them eat! I am especially worried about the female as she had surgery.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!