Problems with Jimi

-jimi- · Apr 13, 2024, 03:12 PM

A few days ago, I got a new cat. He is so soft, such a pretty face and he is grey and white.

But... the family selling him had death in their family and hadn't have time to sell the kittens until now, he is 10 months. He is totally terrified.

I know the best ways of getting a cat to feel at home, but he is just so frightened. He stays in a separate room, but he is still in hiding. My fear is that instead of drinking and eating, he will just lie there until he dies. I know cats can be that stubborn.

I want Jimi to know he's safe. What can I do as a first step to make him at least eat? Some people say cats can go three days without food, some say 14. That is quite a difference. I know everything will be fine, if he just comes out to eat.

TheGal · Apr 13, 2024, 06:52 PM

So good of you to adopt this cat...

I take it you gave him a box with a towel in it and put it in your closet with the door slightly ajar, so he feels safe, eh? If not, I'd suggest doing that. Place food and water a couple of feet away outside the closet and a litter box further away still...

Maybe keep the door to your room closed for now so Jimi gets used to that space and feels safe, then you can eventually open the door and see whether he comes out on his own.

I'd go into the room to read, play soft music, talk quietly a bit, sleep but essentially do this while ignoring him and letting him make the first move.

There are YouTube videos search "how to tame a feral cat youtube" or "how to socialize a cat"

You are a good soul for adopting Jimi... let us know how it goes...

BeyondtheRainbow · Apr 13, 2024, 10:11 PM

Cats can't go more than 3 days, preferably less, without food. If they go longer than a few days they can develop a serous, potentially fatal liver condition called hepatolipidosis (something similar if that's not exactly right). I'm not trying to scare you, I just have lost a cat that way (he got sick and wouldn't eat, we even put in a feeding tube but he died anyway) and I hate the thought of anyone else going through such a thing. If Jimi hasn't eaten by tomorrow I would get him to a vet.

lizardlady · Apr 14, 2024, 07:37 AM

Jimi, The Gal gave a perfect answer. If you leave food and water near his hide hole he will come out to eat/drink when no one is around.

-jimi- · Apr 14, 2024, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

Cats can't go more than 3 days, preferably less, without food. If they go longer than a few days they can develop a serous, potentially fatal liver condition called hepatolipidosis (something similar if that's not exactly right).

Yea, I know they can get sick with no nourishment at all. That is why it is kind of a hard choice giving him space or force feeding him. Althought I know of cats that went without food for much longer. Cats are stubborn, so they might not always coming out when they are hungry. I will need help catching him tomorrow because someone convinced me of letting him out of the small space. I know now I shouldn't have listened. That is the problem with the web sometimes. You get both good and bad advice. And vets mostly just know the pure medical stuff.

-jimi- · Apr 15, 2024, 04:56 PM

I had to force feed him special made broth today, he ate about a dl. That is not too bad. After handling him, he actually got a little less tense, could also be well needed calories.

I have four days of emergency food coming in tomorrow. I hope after that he can eat by himself.

It is suggested that I give Jimi some benzos, they make cats eat.

If he starts eating normally, I think I'm looking at two months of socializing him before he is a cat again.

-jimi- · Apr 17, 2024, 01:46 PM

He is still force fed. This worries me a bit. He must be so hungry.

lizardlady · Apr 17, 2024, 03:56 PM

Jimi, do you think he would eat something like Churo's? Mine can't get enough of the stuff.

BeyondtheRainbow · Apr 17, 2024, 03:58 PM

Or baby food meats? I've had luck with that before.

lizardlady · Apr 17, 2024, 07:12 PM

Jimi, a million years ago my vet gave me a high nutrition paste for a cat with a broken jaw. I don't remember the name, but I bet your vet would know. It's a brown paste that comes in a tube that looks like a toothpaste tube.

-jimi- · Apr 19, 2024, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Jimi, a million years ago my vet gave me a high nutrition paste for a cat with a broken jaw. I don't remember the name, but I bet your vet would know. It's a brown paste that comes in a tube that looks like a toothpaste tube.

I force fed him broth for a week. Then I ordered rescue paste but by then he was eating cat soup. He has now nibbled his dry food. So the food scare is over. I feel so good about it. He still hates me, but as long as he is physically healthy I can deal with it. I don't force pet him, just to see he is well. He is just so cute. I can't take pics so I cant show you. I used to have an elegant black cat and then a european-persian-norwegian forest mix. So compared, this one looks plain. He still has something about him that makes him pretty. He doesn't have a common eye color but at this age it can change.

I sort of feel for the cats that were sold from that person, they were all poorly socialized and only the strong minded cats got attention. Jimi is a tender soul for sure, I do understand him.

lizardlady · Apr 19, 2024, 06:00 PM

That's great news!

TheGal · Apr 19, 2024, 06:05 PM

Very good news, indeed!

-jimi- · Apr 20, 2024, 01:44 PM

Thanks. Yea, the worst is hopefully over. I just miss a cat sleeping in my bed.

Travelinglady · Apr 20, 2024, 03:14 PM

Glad to hear Jimi is eating. Maybe one of these days he'll sleep on your bed,

-jimi- · Apr 22, 2024, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Glad to hear Jimi is eating. Maybe one of these days he'll sleep on your bed,

He is hiding somewhere in the apartment now. But he sneaks out and uses his litterbox. So he knows his ways. He seems like a cat that could turn cuddly. He will sleep in my bed even if it takes time. I don't want to push him, I stroke him shortly sometimes.

-jimi- · May 07, 2024, 04:58 AM

Jimi moves around when I sleep. He must meet the dog then and is OK with that. Is just not OK with people. It's like he is not here. If I find him in daytime I pet him, shortly. And he accepts it. He won't take treats or play. I have asked around, and no one has had a cat this shy. My friend says he isn't scared per se, he is just not used to people. I so wish I could afford another cat to keep him company. I'm glad I bought him, I think most would not have accepted a cat like this, but he is fine by me. Of course I wish he would be cuddly, but taking it step by step slowly. I try to remember that he was actually starving himself to death, and now he eats normally. So he has improved a lot. I'm still a little mad at the old owner, yea I understand that their life had a bad turn, but not socializing the kittens at all... that is not OK. I also hope she got to sell the rest of the two litters, those cats were less shy but really shy compared to normal cats, because she had to move and only keep three cats. I hope no cats had to be put down.

-jimi- · May 13, 2024, 06:10 PM

We haven't made any more progress. I fear this has no happy ending.

lizardlady · May 14, 2024, 08:57 AM

Human Jimi, I've read stories of cats like Jimi taking a year or more to warm up to their human. My Boomer was an absolute scaredy cat. He lived under the bed forever. Eventually he started to warm up to me. He ended up being a snuggle bunny, but only on his terms. Please don't despair.

unaluna · May 14, 2024, 09:22 AM

Ive seen stories like that on youtube also.

-jimi- · May 15, 2024, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Human Jimi, I've read stories of cats like Jimi taking a year or more to warm up to their human. My Boomer was an absolute scaredy cat. He lived under the bed forever. Eventually he started to warm up to me. He ended up being a snuggle bunny, but only on his terms. Please don't despair.

I was suggested not to keep him as a solitary cat as he grew up in a pack. So, I'm buying another cat. This one is a kitten that is well socialized and mentally healthy. I'm sure both me and Jimi will feel better. It's stressful though. I pictured my next cat as a tabby and white for some reason, but this one is the wrong color, I know that is a weird thing to fret about. Like, what if he is not meant for me?

Looking for two syllable names.

-jimi- · May 17, 2024, 11:59 AM

Isaac might move in.

-jimi- · May 18, 2024, 08:01 PM

Isaac is here now, he is a kitten. He is everything Jimi isn't. Hes brave, curious and cuddly. I even saw Jimi being out and I was awake, that has never happened. Jimi just locked eyes and looked at me. I feel it might be good. Isaac is a super good kitten, not a total nuicance, haha.

-jimi- · May 19, 2024, 12:14 PM

Isaac has changed names but I'll refer him as Isaac still. He walks up to where Jimi hides and Jimi hisses. I've never seen agression from him. It's super good he has some, because he only showed flight. Agression is a a start of healthy bravery. I love my lil Jimi so much. I just look at him and feel love. So I hope things will continue to go forward as it did. I don't care if it takes time. And of course I will love Isaac with time as well. He's so cute.

Travelinglady · May 19, 2024, 05:36 PM

I hope they will at least tolerate each other.

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