Cat won't eat - My successful experience

18 years ago

Our 13 year old cat stopped eating after getting a distemper shot and simultaneously a course of antibiotics for a respiratory infection. The vet found nothing specific wrong except some slight change in liver enzymes, and slightly elevated white blood count.

What we did was to feed him kitten food mixed 2:1 with water with a pet syringe (from the pet store) by hand. After a couple of days, he accepted this very well and was eating about 5 oz of food a day and slowly gaining back lost weight. The key was to be gentle with him and when he had had enough stop. Feeding 2 or 3 times a day worked very well and he seemed to welcome the food and handling.

This went on for 8 weeks! He had regained about half the weight he lost and was getting more active and generally seemed to be feeling better. Then we noticed him sniffing at the food put out for his brother, so we tried feeding him by hand (from a finger). It took some encouragement such as putting a finger down into the food bowl so he felt we were still helping, but after a day, he started chowing down on his own.

The bottom line seems to be that in at least some cases, a lot of patience pays off. If you can syringe feed your anorexic cat and he maintains his weight or gains, just keep at it. At least it worked for us.

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Comments (6)

socks
18 years ago
That was a lot of patience! Wow, 8 weeks. That was really an act of love for your kitty, and I hope she continues to do well.
ncaralph
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, actually, it was kind of fun feeding him. In fact we went away for 10 days during this and the person who fed him for us said she missed feeding him when we came back.

He's doing very well, still eating well and gaining weight.

We loosely wrapped him in a towel and put an old shirt on backward ourselves to minimize overspray damage and it all went very well. About 5 minutes per feeding - generally 2-3 oz. He was very happy with all this, but let us know in no uncertain terms when he'd had enough for that session.
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daggett
18 years ago
I had to feed one of my cats this way for about a week. Then he started to eat on his own again. He was very sick and I think he just got too week and lost interest in food. He lived several more years.

I hope your cat continues to do well.
katsmah
18 years ago
We had to force feed my now 14 year old cat shortly after adopting her from a shelter when she was about 10 months old. She had a severe upper resporatory and had to get subq fluids in additon to the force feeding. I thought she would hate me after that, but even once she hit the limit that she could deal with for that feeding, she didn't run away from me. I think we had to do it for about 4 weeks. It takes a lot of patience. Good for you and your cat that you took that on.
lfnyc
18 years ago
One of the things I fear most about my cat's health is that if she should go off her feed, how to get her eating again. Yours is good advice...thanks for posting your story.
L
decco_aol_com
15 years ago
Success! My cat Larry for no apparent reason, stopped eating at age 12 years old. I took him to the vet & all tests came back good. As far as the vet could determine there was no reason he was not eating. He was dangerously undernourished & his weight plummeted over the course of several months. I really thought we were going to lose him. I tried just about every food I could get my hands on including advice from cat rescue people of foods that even the "most finicky cats" would eat. Larry wanted no part of any of them. My husband & I tried everything. We were cooking fresh fish, eggs, baby food, the list goes on & on. Then I finally found a food he would eat! It is "BLUE BUFFALO HEALTHY GROWTH KITTEN" dry food. (I buy it at Petsmart.) It has now been 3 and a half weeks & he's still eating & slowing gaining his weight back. To all of you going through this, I advise you to give it a try & GOOD LUCK! :) April