rescue kitten refusing food

I adopted a 4-month-old rescue female yesterday. She has been hiding under the bed for 12 hours straight and hasn't touched the food I put near her. My other cats are Whiskers (15, DSH, arthritis) and Lady (9, calico, kidney issues). I am very anxious because I know how fragile they can be. When should I worry if a new rescue cat hasn't eaten in the first 24 hours?

My Rocky is a 5-year-old orange tabby and he's hyperactive, so he eats when he wants. But for a new kitten, 12 hours is nothing. She's probably terrified. Don't hover. Put the food down, leave the room, and come back in a few hours. If she still hasn't eaten by tomorrow morning, then you start worrying. Check out this thread for the basics: First Week Protocol for New Cats.

I track my cats' intake because my Sam, a 4-year-old DSH with a lost ear, is picky. Data suggests most new cats eat within 24-48 hours. If she hasn't eaten in 24 hours, check her gums. If they are pale or sticky, that is a dehydration risk. You can see the specific metrics in this post: New Cat Not Eating: Timeline.

I have a 9-year-old Maine Coon named Moose who is deaf in one ear. He took two days to eat in his new home. I would separate the new kitten into a quiet room for a few days to reduce stress. It also keeps her away from Whiskers and Lady, which is good for their introductions later. See this thread for how to do that safely: Introducing a Kitten to Senior Cats.

I just adopted Koda, a 1-year-old mixed, and my Kiki (5 siamese) was very anxious. Koda hid for a day and a half. I was worried she was getting sick. If you get to the point where she is lethargic or not drinking water, call the vet today. You can find the red flags in this thread: Emergency Signs in New Kittens.