Took in a MC that's not eating/drinking

[SpencerTheLion]

A friend of mine is under threat of eviction and has to sharply reduce the clutter in her apartment.

She also has to surrender her brown Maine Coon to me as his spraying has saturated the entrance of the front door. {blush}

I agreed to take him - name is Malibu.




Nearly a week later, he has not sprayed at my house - I have him isolated in a bedroom. I'm confident the spraying was him getting hen-pecked by the feisty white Turkish Angora appropriately named Mewdonna (pale, thin, athletic, has an attitude just like the rock superstar :D ) Malibu's temperment is typical MC - even-tempered, reserved, not an alpha-male.

My concern is he has not eaten or drank much - hope that is starting to change.

Again, Malibu is isolated in my master bedroom from the other three cats...last thing he needs is going from one turf war to another.

On Day Four, I broke down and force-fed him a small can of IAMS, then had him to drink water from a dropper....felt like I gave him an Gitmo inmate experience. :( ... really did not want to do it.

The next day, I have evidence he is finally drinking and perhaps eating as well.

Drinking water is priority, as that's more critical to his health.

Malibu seems calm and at a robust 16 pounds.

I just want to be on top of things and make sure he takes care of himself until he calms down and starts the slow process of adapting to a new home.

[CatsMom]

What a wonderful thing that you're doing by taking Malibu in. He is handsome. Sounds like he's in good hands. Wish you success in his adapting to his new home and companions.

[Steve Morgan]

Our first Maine Coon was a retired Stud cat and he was the same for the first week. Once he settled his eating & drinking went back to normal. Just give him a little time to settle in and I am sure he will be back to normal.

[cooncatbob]

Is that the same food he was eating at his former home?
I'd be inclined to feed him the same food he's used to until he's settled in.

[candes]

Oh is he adorbale! I love his face. You may want to get him neutered before he decides to start marking your house. ASAP!!! This isn't just a good idea, it is mandatory! Trust me! If he starts up again, you will not be pleased.

He is obviously depressed. If you feel his lack of eating has reached the danger zone, pull out the big guns. Crack open a can of tuna (water and all) and let him go to town. Once that is gone pull out the kitty crack (Fancy Feast). Make sure to use the cans with any shade of blue label. If the tuna fails, you got major problems. And need to take him to the vet.

[SpencerTheLion]

^ Mailbu is neutered.

Since the last post, he has bonded with me, eating/drinking regularly.

He now enjoys being petted by me.

Lots of progress.



I still keep the master bedroom closed most of the time as he is very territorial with the other three cats....if any of them get close to him it's like Mortal Kombat.

So now I'm hoping Malibu will start to tolerate the other cats.

[LilyC]

Sounds like Malibu has settled it. That's great!

[SpencerTheLion]

Mailbu is relaxing more, sometimes he looks like the bobcat on the right in the picture below.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...rf/bobcats.jpg

[candes]

Mailbu is relaxing more, sometimes he looks like the bobcat on the right in the picture below.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...rf/bobcats.jpg

That is why I love the Mackerels so much. The exotic cat look. So how is he doing with the territorial issues? Are they mostly sorted out yet? I know you mentioned that he is more relaxed. If not, things will still improve. Don't even worry about that.

Just get Da Bird , and whip it out. Maybe they will forget their differences? Or they could kill each other and lesson learned. LOL...

Hey do you use feliway? That would be a good thing to use. I can offer lots of great tips if you let me know the weak areas. I have always been good with cat behaviors.

[SpencerTheLion]

While Malibu is more relaxed, he still has work.

One morning he stayed on the bed's header so afraid to go to the litter box he had a huge dump there. {blush}

A couple of times, I've taken him from the master bedroom to the room I use the computer for an hour or so each - unthinkable a month ago.

Malibu somewhat tolerates two of the three other cats, but he definitely does not get along with Spencer - ironically the other MC.