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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#1
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. __________________ |
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Travelinglady
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Poohbah
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Location: The House
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#2
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... |
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Travelinglady
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Discombobulated, lizardlady, Travelinglady
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#3
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.
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TheGal, Travelinglady
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TheGal
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#4
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.
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TheGal, Travelinglady
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#5
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.
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
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#6
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. __________________ |
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BeyondtheRainbow, lizardlady, TheGal, Travelinglady
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#7
He is still force fed. This worries me a bit. He must be so hungry.
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#8
Jimi, do you think he would eat something like Churo's? Mine can't get enough of the stuff.
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Travelinglady
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#9
Or baby food meats? I've had luck with that before.
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Travelinglady
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#10
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.
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Travelinglady
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#11
Quote:
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. __________________ |
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lizardlady, TheGal, Travelinglady
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lizardlady
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#12
That's great news!
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Poohbah
Member Since Aug 2022
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#13
Very good news, indeed!
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#14
Thanks. Yea, the worst is hopefully over. I just miss a cat sleeping in my bed.
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#15
Glad to hear Jimi is eating. Maybe one of these days he'll sleep on your bed,
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#16
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.
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lizardlady, Travelinglady, unaluna
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#17
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.
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Jimi the rat
Member Since Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,293
15 |
#18
We haven't made any more progress. I fear this has no happy ending.
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Travelinglady
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#19
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.
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Travelinglady
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Elder Harridan x-hankster
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#20
Ive seen stories like that on youtube also.
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lizardlady, Travelinglady
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