Food to keep down?

livedeeply

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
60
Purraise
0
Any suggestions for wet food for my nauseous cat? I've been trying everything, but she can't keep anything down. Beef baby food, canned tuna, Special Kitty, Fancy Feast, etc.

We have taken her to the vet, who says nothing's wrong with her, she just can't handle rich foods.

Help?
 

anakat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
4,237
Purraise
2
Have you tried cooking her some chicken and rice? Just poach a breast of chicken in water and cut it up and mix it with some plain boiled rice(no salt)
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
Originally Posted by Anakat

Have you tried cooking her some chicken and rice? Just poach a breast of chicken in water and cut it up and mix it with some plain boiled rice(no salt)
That's what I was going to suggest. She needs something very bland.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

livedeeply

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
60
Purraise
0
I've tried this. She won't touch it. She barely touches anything anymore. Seriously, I haven't seen her eat for weeks. The one thing she has touched is canned Nutro kitten food (she won't even touch the adult kind), and that was only for a couple of days.

I can feel her bones all sticking out, poor kitty. I don't know what to do. I have NO friends in this town who would be able to help out.

I can't take her to the vet again (they charged us $500 for the unhelpful diagnosis in the first post), because to be honest, I can barely afford to feed MYSELF this month... I've got $20 to last until my next paycheck two weeks from now, and that's with all of the bills past due, utilities being turned off. Sorry to whine, I'm just so worried about everything.

What do I do? She's the sweetest cat in the world, I don't want her to die... but she won't eat anything!
 

cloud_shade

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
2,807
Purraise
17
Location
Oregon
If she's nauseaous, some kitties do well on Pepsid (not the complete, just the regular old stuff). I can't remember the doseage right now. In the mean time, try finger-feeding or spoon-feeding her. That may help "prime the pump" to get her to eat on her own. If that doesn't work, you can try syringe feeding her (be sure to visit this site first to learn the correct procedure: http://www.assistfeed.com/FelineAnorexia.htm). When a cat stops eating (or stops eating enough) they lose the desire to eat at all.

How old is your kitty?
 

lsulover

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
5,057
Purraise
1
Location
Columbia, Ms.
Sending prayers and hugs from Mississippi, I do hope that your kitty gets better soon.

I am sorry you are having such a hard time with everything too.

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

livedeeply

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
60
Purraise
0
Thanks, guys.

I tried syringe feeding her wet Nutro today... most of it ended up on the floor. Do you think she got any? Even a little bit is better than nothing.

Could I add fish oil or olive oil or something to make it more fattening?

I looked at the link but didn't see specific instructions on how to syringe feed. Hope I did it right.

She's 2-3 years old. She's gone from 8 lb to 6 lb in the past year. So worried for her.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
You need a Vet dear....And what tests did the last one do?>?? blood urine fecal a pyscial exam??
 

cloud_shade

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
2,807
Purraise
17
Location
Oregon
Has she been dewormed?

The information about syringe-feeding is under feeding tips (and I fixed the link so it works now):

"How to Feed
Gently place the syringe in the side of the mouth and squeeze the plunger so that the food "shoots" across the tongue and hits either the back half of the tongue or the roof of the mouth. If you can get it on the tongue, that's the best because it's a more natural eating scenario.

CAUTION: It is very important to NOT shoot to the back of the throat or your cat may accidentally breathe the food into his or her lungs. This is called aspiration, is very dangerous and an cause pneumonia which may lead to death. Take care not to tilt the head back to prevent aspiration. There is a greater chance of aspiration when administering liquids, but it can happen with food, too.

Make sure that you don't tilt your cat's head back, try to keep the head in the natural lying or sitting position. You cat may feel out of control and panicky otherwise.

Small or Large Squirts? - Some cats eat fast... some eat slow. Some swallow large amounts... others require just 1ml at time. When I first started, I fed maybe 1/2ml at a time! When my cat and I adjusted to the assist feeding routine, the amount squirted into the mouth increased.
CAUTION: If your cat has a clogged up nose, feed smaller amounts to prevent choking and to keep your cat from experiencing the feeling panic. It's very difficult to eat with a clogged nose."
http://www.assistfeed.com/FeedingTechniques.htm
 

crazyforinfo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 26, 2006
Messages
6,773
Purraise
4
Location
Philly
She is drinking? What about dry food?
Did the vet check her gums,teeth & back of her throat?
Spunky had a tooth pulled and developed an infection that spread down his throat. He wouldn't eat or drink and it took several rounds of drugs and steriods to get him to eat again. I think you need another vet, one that will work out a payment plan.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

livedeeply

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
60
Purraise
0
Yes, the vet did full spectrum blood test, urine, fecal, physical, a lot of feeling around in her torso. She checked her mouth, and reported it ok other than a bit dry from dehydration from vomiting. (Yes, that's why I took her to the vet in the first place, and she hasn't been, for a while... but she also hasn't been eating....) They gave her a saline shot to rehydrate her. I don't see her drink, but I assume she must be, since she's still walking around! I mixed some water into the food today, hope that works....

I added olive oil, too, since fat seems to be the main ingredient in NutriCal. Let me know if that's a bad thing.

Thanks for the force feeding info. I hope she eventually starts to understand... right now she tries to wrestle away from me. Once I let her go when I'm done she doesn't bolt, though! That's pretty amazing. Usually when I clip her claws or something she'll avoid me for a bit.

She's normally such a social, lap cat, and as this goes on, I see her less and less. I worry that she doesn't have the energy to do anything but hide and sleep. She came out today after I fed her yesterday, so that's a big improvement!
 

rang_27

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 28, 2002
Messages
4,304
Purraise
5
Location
Milwaukee, WI
At the shelter we feed Chicken Baby Food. The pepcid is also a good suggestion. Is there a vet in your area that is understanding enough the take some form of payments??? She really does need to see another vet. It is not normal for a cat to not eat for a prolonged period of time and it's important to find a vet who not only knows technical information, but will listen to you when you say something is wrong with you cat. Keep trying to force feed her at least a little bit of food 2x a day. If you can get her to eat more often that's good, but don't giver her too much at once or she may throw it back up. Have you tried warming the food up a little? Obviously make sure it's not so hot it will burn her mouth, but perhaps if she can smell the food it might help her want to eat.
 

wookie130

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
2,313
Purraise
106
Location
an ice cube in Iowa...
Oh, honey, do I ever know what you're going through! I've had my share of poverty, and problems making ends meet...it's so hard. You hang in there, and try to make it until pay day!!! Call everyone, and set up payment arrangements...this way, they'll know you're making an effort.

The truth is, you need to find a vet who will make financial arrangements with you. This poor kitty needs some help immediately, and I'm afraid that she won't make it, and you'll have to live with some serious guilt...there's always someone out there that will help your kitty, and you!

In the meantime, we've got to find a way to make her eat. If she's refusing all food, my gut instinct is telling me that she's first of all very dehydrated...a dehydrated cat will not eat. If you have some low-salt chicken broth (or soup broth, bouillion cubes, whatever) on hand, syringe feed her that slowly, diluted in some water (about 50/50). If you have a blender, puree some cooked cold rice, chicken, and broth together, or dilute baby meat with water and plain yogurt, and syringe feed her. You've got to force her. Wrap her up in a towel snugly, so she can't back up out of your grasp, and lay her on your lap, tummy down, not belly up. After the food has made it somewhat into her mouth, close her jaw, and rub her throat to encourage her to swallow. Do this until you can get about 1/4 cup of food into her...even if it takes you an hour and a half. Make sure she's warm enough, and monitor her use of her litter box. If she's straining to go potty, or is having accidents, howls in pain during urination or during a BM, you must get her to the vet, ASAP!

Please let us know how she's doing. I'm very worried for you both.
 

mzjazz2u

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 6, 2003
Messages
10,133
Purraise
4
Location
The Beehave State!
Originally Posted by livedeeply

Thanks, guys.

I tried syringe feeding her wet Nutro today... most of it ended up on the floor. Do you think she got any? Even a little bit is better than nothing.

Could I add fish oil or olive oil or something to make it more fattening?

I looked at the link but didn't see specific instructions on how to syringe feed. Hope I did it right.

She's 2-3 years old. She's gone from 8 lb to 6 lb in the past year. So worried for her.
Did you add liquid to the nutro and blend it? That helps. Then squirt it slowly into the side of her mouth (Not down the throat.) I have a stick blender now and when Jake was sick I'd puree' the heck out of the nutro with some water and nutrical. Makes it much easier to push in a syringe.
 

tuna

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
40
Purraise
0
Location
vancouver, BC, canada
is your cat on any meds?
is your cat vaccinated on a regular basis?
when was the last time?

when did this start?
what was going on?
did anything change?
what will your cat eat?

you can feed your cat raw egg yolk with your finger. touch the lips with it. there should also be available at the vet special food (here it's called A/D) and it has 4 times the calories and cats love it. ask for it. also cream they love just make sure there is no added anything like sugar. sardines should work and give the oil too. be careful about added salt. i used raw buffalo liver mixed with some canned.
 

yosemite

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
23,313
Purraise
81
Location
Ingersoll, ON
Originally Posted by tuna

is your cat on any meds?
is your cat vaccinated on a regular basis?
when was the last time?

when did this start?
what was going on?
did anything change?
what will your cat eat?

you can feed your cat raw egg yolk with your finger. touch the lips with it. there should also be available at the vet special food (here it's called A/D) and it has 4 times the calories and cats love it. ask for it. also cream they love just make sure there is no added anything like sugar. sardines should work and give the oil too. be careful about added salt. i used raw buffalo liver mixed with some canned.
Please don't give your cat cream. Most cats are lactose intolerant and the cream or any dairy products can cause diarrhea which is the last thing you need right now.
 

tuna

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
40
Purraise
0
Location
vancouver, BC, canada
that is a possiblity however my holistic vet jut suggested it for elimination purposes but since it is high in fat it could help. if that's the case there is always goats milk which has no lactose but i think the point is to get the cat to eat. i do feed my cat enzymes at every meal to help digestion...
 
Top