Expert: Jessica - 11/22/2009

Question
Hi,

We got a Ragdoll kitten today.  She's 10 weeks old.

We've now had her for 9 hours and in that time she has not eaten or drank, or used the bathroom.  She's mostly just laid around and napped.  

I have very little experience with kittens and no prior experience with Ragdolls. I heard Ragdolls were very laid back, so I guess she's not going to run around and play like I've seen other kittens do?  Mostly she just acts shy and a little scared, which is guess is normal, under the circumtances. Maybe I'm overreacting, but my family and I are crazy about her and just want her to be okay.  What do you think?

Thanks in advance!
Trish

Answer
Hi Trish.  It's normal for many new kittens not to want to eat or drink or use their litter box right away.  It's been almost 24 hours since you sent me this question, so I'm guessing she's probably opening up by now.  If she still hasn't had anything to eat, you may want to try something especially tasty, like some stage one chicken baby food.  Most cats can't resist this, and it contains a lot of water to help keep her hydrated, too.  She can stay on the baby food for a day or two, but since it's mostly water and contains only protein, she should get onto a kitten food within the next couple days.  Canned food is great for babies, although I try to transition them onto it from what the breeder was feeding them, if it's known, over a week or two.

As far as using the litter box, constipation is uncommon but not unheard of.  Nervous kitties will sometimes "hold it" for a couple of days, but eventually they will go.  I assume she has urinated by now, but if she hasn't moved her bowels and 48 hours passes, and she STILL hasn't, she should see a vet.  Cats can constipate themselves from holding it too long.  She could need a laxative or even an enema, depending on how much stool has built up.

Ragdolls are a docile breed, not prone to climbing the curtains, but you should definitely see the kitten perk up once she feels in her element.  Like all other kittens, Ragdolls love to play and act silly.  In fact, many consider Ragdolls the clowns of the cats.  I think she's just feeling insecure right now.  Like you mention, this is completely normal under the circumstances of moving to a strange new place with people she just met.  If she's not acting like the average kitten in another day or two, and her eating isn't normal, I would get her in to the vet.  It's more likely that she could have some underlying health problem that's causing her to be lethargic than she is just very subdued by nature.

Congratulations on your new addition!

Jessica