What to Do if a Cat in Foster Care Won't Eat or Drink

This is a normal phenomenon. Cats are naturally timid, sensitive, and prone to stress. When a cat arrives at a foster care facility, it is in a foreign environment, which can cause fear and anxiety. As a result, the cat may refuse to eat or drink. Cats need time to adapt to a new environment. The foster care facility should be kept as quiet as possible, with a separate space for each cat to reduce stress. Once the cat adapts to the environment, it will naturally begin to eat and drink.

Reasons for a Cat in Foster Care Refusing to Eat or Drink

The cat is sick, possibly due to a viral infection such as feline distemper or a gastrointestinal disease. In this case, it's necessary to take the cat to a pet hospital for testing and symptomatic treatment.
The cat's food does not suit its taste. You can mix some fresh food with the cat's regular food, as fresh food has better palatability and cats usually don't resist it.
The cat is scared or shocked, causing it to refuse to eat or drink.

Symptoms of Cat Stress Reaction

Alert phase: The cat undergoes a series of neurophysiological changes, emergency mobilization of internal resources, and preparation for battle. This phase can be divided into the shock phase and the anti-shock phase. In the shock phase, symptoms such as lowered blood pressure, increased vascular permeability, decreased blood concentration, and decreased body temperature may occur. The manifestations of the anti-shock phase are opposite to those of the shock phase.

Resistance phase: Continuous neurophysiological changes occur, making full use of internal resources to deal with emergency situations.

Exhaustion phase: The cat's hormones and essential trace elements are depleted, causing damage to some cells and tissues, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This phase occurs only when the stress factor is severe or persistent. Once the defense mechanisms fail, the condition may progress to death.

What to Do if a Cat in Foster Care Won't Eat or Drink

If a cat newly arrived at a foster care facility refuses to eat or drink, there's no need to worry too much. At this stage, the cat is scared and refuses to eat due to the unfamiliar environment. Once the cat adapts to the environment, it can usually resume normal eating and drinking. If a cat suddenly stops eating or drinking, it may be due to illness, such as feline distemper or enteritis. In this case, take the cat to a pet hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.