New rescue cat in poor state, advice needed on strengthening up and introducing to existing cat
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 1:21 pm
Dear all,
I have one established cat of 14yo, and have had him since a rescue kitten with his sister, who sadly had to be put down last month as she was long term ill and just gave up.Our existing cat, Louis, is very sweet natured and gentle so I'm hoping he'll adapt alright to another cat with time and a slow introduction.
Yesterday we took a 4yo Maine Coone from our local rescue center, and he's in a terrible state. Very emaciated, obviously thrown out into the street and abandoned. He only weighs 4.8kg, which for an adult maine coon is tiny, all his pelvic bones REALLY stick out! He feels too light and is listless and just needs to sleep pretty much 24/7. He's an extremely friendly and chilled out cat, but seems very depressed, so although he's friendly to us, he just retreats to his basket and wants to be left alone. My old girl was depressed for the 6m before she was put down so I recognise the signs.
Sp here's what I'm doing:
Feliway everywhere as plugins for stress.
Zylkene once a day in wet food to combat stress and depression.
Feeding wet food twice a day and royal canin biscuits ad libitum to help fatten him up!
He has a safe room/suite with his own bathroom, all his beds, sofa and food, toys etc.
Leaving him in his safe room, but going there several times a day to say a quiet hello, or watch tv quietly to just give him some company.
Just now I've brought him up from his safe room which is in the basement, as it's very dingy there, and since he's depressed, I want him to try and be a part of family life, where there is household noise from our boys (7 & 11), but they're being deliberately quiet and gentle for him. He didn't want to leave his bed downstairs, but seemed interested when I showed him the birds in our garden (from inside of course), and our fish tank. Right now he's cuddled up next to me on the sofa in the living room and seeming alright to be a part of family life.
Here's the other problem, I can't leave him upstairs as his older established brother was hissing at him this morning (3m introduction) and so I have to reduce the frequency of these visits. I know from experience with my other cat that was depressed, that I always had to force the situation with her, and bring her our of her literal dark hiding place and into family life. This always made a huge impact and cured her depression. My gut instinct tells me I need to do the same with him, but obviously there are limits in terms of meeting his new big brother so as not to cause stress to either or them.
What do you think, should I try speeding up the introduction, so that I can help his depression and get him eating well, or delay introductions completely, but leave him in his darker basement - I do leave lights on to help, as well as leaving him one dark part to retreat to. He has a large window light, but there's still not much daylight there, and family life is mostly upstairs although we are careful to make sure we keep visiting him.
Thanks, I could do with advice for feeding him up and the rate of introduction given he's obviously depressed.
Heather
I have one established cat of 14yo, and have had him since a rescue kitten with his sister, who sadly had to be put down last month as she was long term ill and just gave up.Our existing cat, Louis, is very sweet natured and gentle so I'm hoping he'll adapt alright to another cat with time and a slow introduction.
Yesterday we took a 4yo Maine Coone from our local rescue center, and he's in a terrible state. Very emaciated, obviously thrown out into the street and abandoned. He only weighs 4.8kg, which for an adult maine coon is tiny, all his pelvic bones REALLY stick out! He feels too light and is listless and just needs to sleep pretty much 24/7. He's an extremely friendly and chilled out cat, but seems very depressed, so although he's friendly to us, he just retreats to his basket and wants to be left alone. My old girl was depressed for the 6m before she was put down so I recognise the signs.
Sp here's what I'm doing:
Feliway everywhere as plugins for stress.
Zylkene once a day in wet food to combat stress and depression.
Feeding wet food twice a day and royal canin biscuits ad libitum to help fatten him up!
He has a safe room/suite with his own bathroom, all his beds, sofa and food, toys etc.
Leaving him in his safe room, but going there several times a day to say a quiet hello, or watch tv quietly to just give him some company.
Just now I've brought him up from his safe room which is in the basement, as it's very dingy there, and since he's depressed, I want him to try and be a part of family life, where there is household noise from our boys (7 & 11), but they're being deliberately quiet and gentle for him. He didn't want to leave his bed downstairs, but seemed interested when I showed him the birds in our garden (from inside of course), and our fish tank. Right now he's cuddled up next to me on the sofa in the living room and seeming alright to be a part of family life.
Here's the other problem, I can't leave him upstairs as his older established brother was hissing at him this morning (3m introduction) and so I have to reduce the frequency of these visits. I know from experience with my other cat that was depressed, that I always had to force the situation with her, and bring her our of her literal dark hiding place and into family life. This always made a huge impact and cured her depression. My gut instinct tells me I need to do the same with him, but obviously there are limits in terms of meeting his new big brother so as not to cause stress to either or them.
What do you think, should I try speeding up the introduction, so that I can help his depression and get him eating well, or delay introductions completely, but leave him in his darker basement - I do leave lights on to help, as well as leaving him one dark part to retreat to. He has a large window light, but there's still not much daylight there, and family life is mostly upstairs although we are careful to make sure we keep visiting him.
Thanks, I could do with advice for feeding him up and the rate of introduction given he's obviously depressed.
Heather