My newly adopted cat won't drink water or poop. Is this normal?

Question

I just adopted a 4 yr old buff tabby male cat from the dumb friends league. I brought him home three days ago, and he just started eating, but he won't drink any water and he hasn't had a bowel movement since I brought him home. How can I help him? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 10 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Meep! It sounds like he's very nervous, and still adjusting to his new environment. Moving to a new home is very stressful for cats, so this is not unexpected. It's likely that he hasn't had a bowel movement because he hasn't been eating well - if nothing is going in, there won't be anything to come out :) This problem should resolve itself within the next couple of days now that he is eating. Unless you have seen him straining in the litter box, this should not be any cause for concern. It's also very normal for cats not to drink much water - they are adapted for living in very dry areas. If he is eating wet food, he may not drink any water at all. Since it sounds like he's starting to settle in and things are improving, I would suggest giving Meep more time to get used to things. Make sure that he has his own room with his food and water bowls, litter box, and toys and hiding spaces so that he feels safe. He will start to venture out into the rest of the house as he gets more comfortable. You can also try using Feliway pheromone diffusers in his room and around the house to help reduce his stress and make him more comfortable.

My newly adopted cat won't drink water or poop. Is this normal?

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