Cat has no sense of smell or taste.

tbauer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
2
Purraise
1
My poor cat was hit in the face by a car. He lost an eye, broke his jaw in three places and has a feeding tube in his neck. He is completely recovered now. All pins are removed from his mouth and he can groom himself and use his tongue and swallow but... I cannot get him to eat or drink on his own. When he can, he will get the tube out. The vet sees no reason why he cannot eat or drink. I believe he has lost his sense of smell and taste. The vet had me stop all tube feeding and try to get him to eat on his own by hunger but no luck. He had no interest in food. Now the vet has him on appetite stimulants and we will try again to stop the tube feedings when the stimulants kick in.

I can find no internet info on how to get a cat to eat and drink when their sense of smell is gone. Any ideas?
 

captiva

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
10,312
Purraise
25
Location
Indiana
I'm so sorry about your cat. You sound extremely dedicated to his recovery.
I don't have any advice but I wish you all the luck in the world.
 

ollie19

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
2
Purraise
1
The exact same thing has happened to my cat.  I am feeding him with a syringe.  But he doesn't seem to recognize food and has not eaten anything on his own.  I think he can't smell it.  This has been going on for over a month.  Did you find anything that worked?
 

ozquilter

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 15, 2015
Messages
5
Purraise
6
I see that the original post on this thread dates from 2009, but the most recent post is from March of this year 2015. In January 2015 our cat was also hit by a car in the face and went through a virtually identical recovery is the original poster's cat. Our cat was blinded and also has lost his sense of smell. We have continued to work with him and so far after 4 1/2 months the only thing he seems to be able to smell is butter. Every morning I fix him a small bowl of "butter soup" – a small lump of butter with a bit of cream and baby food chicken warmed in the microwave until the butter melts. I stir it around and let it cool to lukewarm. He usually laps up a teaspoon or two. This is the extent of his voluntary eating. He still receives three meals a day of syringe feeding (half Iams Max Cal, half Hill's AD) and he is doing quite well physically in terms of his nutrition. It is a long haul and takes a big commitment to care for a cat with these disabilities. We don't know if he will ever get more of his sense of smell back. We continue to work with him and hope for the best, but if this is as much as he has we're willing to meet him there. Good luck with your Kitty.
 

2bcat

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Feb 8, 2015
Messages
363
Purraise
103
Location
Southwestern PA, USA, Earth
You folks working with these cats are amazing, that's all I can say.  Takes a lot of energy and patience.  I wish you continued success!  Your cats are very lucky to have you as their caretakers.

Smell is most likely to be the big factor in why they won't take food on their own.  Taste might be a factor but if it doesn't smell like food that is what drives them to ignore eating it in the first place.  I suppose it's hard to know for sure if they can't smell at all.  At least with vision and hearing you can get a reasonably good idea if they can't see or hear.  Only thing you can do is keep trying to make the food as smelly as possible and see if it gets a reaction.

I suppose if the cat is otherwise fine and they tolerate the syringe feeding well (not fighting it) then that can continue indefinitely.  There also is one type of feeding tube that I think can be used indefinitely if syringe feeding by mouth doesn't go well.
 

lam29

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Oct 25, 2015
Messages
1
Purraise
1
Yes, exactly the same thing has happened to my cat too - his accident was only 6 days ago, but will be going back to the vet tomorrow as I cannot get him to eat on his own.  At least he is drinking on his own tho'.  He has definitely lost his sense of smell tho - he has always had a very sensitive nose, especially to lemons and to Vick - now he doesn't react to these at all.  How long has your cat had his feeding tube in for?
 

ozquilter

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 15, 2015
Messages
5
Purraise
6
Hi lam29,

Bertie's e-tube was in for the first 7 weeks at which time he pulled it out. When they checked his xrays his fractures were healed enough to unbond his teeth. That was when we realised he had lost his smeller and didn't recognize that the food in front of him was indeed food. I gave him the blended food via syringe feeding (basically loading it into an oral syringe and squirting it in his mouth one bite at a time) until August 8, 2015 - eight months after his initial injury, at which time he suddenly realized that the food was there and started eating again! It took another month for him to get his little jaw muscles working properly again but he eventually started eating enough to no longer need supplemental feeding. He even eats crunchies and hard treats now. As of today (October 26, 2015) he eats completely normally and has recovered in every way except that he is still blind, which he will always be from the damage to his eyes. He has adapted wonderfully and again enjoys life, although Buick-bashing is no longer one of his activities.


So hang in there and be ready for the long haul. Recommendations:

1. Stay with the etube for as long as the vet recommends. In  prepping the "slurry" use as powerful a blender as you can for at least 5 minutes to get the particles as small as possible.  After blending push it through a fine sieve with the back of a large spoon to remove any remaining larger bits (bone, fibers etc.) This is a bit of work but well worth it in keeping the etube from clogging. The vet should provide you with the remaining equipment you need.

2. When you go to supplemental oral feeding, track down oral syringes that have an o-ring instead of  the big rubber stoppers. The o-ring syringes will last close to forever - I got two of them in April and they lasted until Bertie didn't need them any more. (I still  use them  for one of our other "medical" cats and they're still good.) I found mine on Amazon.

3. Prep the food for syringe feeding (although with less water) using the blender and sieve just like with the tube feeding and for the same reason - a clogged nozzle in the middle of feeding does nobody any good. Worth the extra prep time to ensure a smooth feeding.

4. Pace the syringe feeding just like you do the etube feedings. I always did about 2.5-3 ml per minute, using a timer. This enables kitty to swallow and settle the tummy between bites. If you go too fast you get barf and an unhappy kitty. 

5. Trying to use hunger to motivate eating when the cat can't smell is a complete waste and endangers you cat's health. Going without food for more than a day or two can cause irreversible liver damage in a cat. The bottom line is that in order to recognize that the food is there, you cat HAS to be able to smell it. Otherwise it might as well be a pile of rocks as far as they're concerned. It's more difficult when they also can't see the food. So in order to give your cat a chance to recover its sense of smell you must supplement any or all the food they need to give them time to get that sense of smell back. As I said in my previous post, as long as it takes.

Hope all goes well and that your kitty has as good an outcome as our Bertie.
 

purrna2go

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
8
Purraise
1
I read your posting with care and will refer to it often.  My cat had a stroke.  One additional problem is that she has not learned to open her mouth; it's clenched.  No sense of smell.  Food is merely a pile of rocks, as you so aptly describe.  I try to put her in familiar places, such as her old feeding station, so habit might take over some day.  At first I thought we'd have to put her down, but I see lots of people posting on youtube about their cat with a stroke.  It could go either way :  another stroke, or a slow recovery or just the status quo. I'll look into the feeding tube option.  If only she would open her mouth if I massaged it or any stimulus trick.  But alas, it's very difficult for her.  Thx for your encouraging story.
 

ozquilter

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 15, 2015
Messages
5
Purraise
6
Hi purrna2go

If your cat is getting no food you need to get your vet to put in an e-tube ASAP. Keeping the  food coming in is the only way to buy your kitty time to recover.  It's no guarantee of recovery, but gives your cat a chance, which starving and/or liver damage would preclude.

Preparing the slurry (combination of water and food) and slow feeding takes effort, but is worth it when you consider the possible consequences of "wait and see".

Another precaution I forgot to mention in my previous post is when you are tube feeding is that the temperature of the slurry is very important. It should be slightly warm - about 110 degrees fahrenheit - but no warmer. If it's cold (say, right out of the fridge), it will cause chilling, which isn't good, but if it's too hot it can burn the tummy, which causes irreparable damage. Just be careful and err on the side of slightly cooler if necessary.  Room temperature is fine of you don't have a thermometer.

Another benefit to the e-tube is that if kitty needs oral meds they can be crushed/dissolved and administered very easily.

Hope your friend recovers soon.
 

purrna2go

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
8
Purraise
1
OzQuilter,

We so appreciate your valuable tips.  Thank you so much for writing back.  I've lost valuable time with clumsy feeding attempts and would like an e-tube.  One vet charges $600 for the evaluations, but I think I could persuade them to forego all of that.  The surgery there could be $2K. So I'd need a benefactor.  Meanwhile I'm picking up some Hills Science A/D, which is slurry-like I'm told and can be given with a syringe. I'm going to Petsmart to pick up supplies for syringe feeding. My kitty had a stroke, so she is so dependent on me now and I hate to be away to do these errands.  I have zero $.  I'm looking for any cat or animal organization that funds needed surgeries.  Cupcake had a stroke and her jaw is clenched, so it's a sad struggle, but she is grateful to be fed.  Cupcake was always a very tiny thin cat, so feeding is urgent.  

-- Mary and the Cupcake Team.
 

ozquilter

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 15, 2015
Messages
5
Purraise
6
Mary, I'm afraid I don't know of any agency that could help, and we personally are tapped.

(In addition to Bertie we have an additional 20 cats, some of whom have other health/med issues...we're always looking for "creative" financing 
...)

As for the oral feedings, AD is definitely "tubeable" (if that's a word!) especially if you whirl it in a blender or hit it with a stick mixer.  Putting it through a fine sieve will also help remove the small bone bits that can plug the little nozzle.

Important when doing the oral feeding is to put the food in the front-to-middle of her mouth so she can swallow it (she can swallow, right?) rather than the back of her mouth, where she might aspirate it, which can lead to pneumonia. Small squirts, same reason. Takes lots of patience.

Good luck.
 

purrna2go

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
8
Purraise
1
Wonderful tip!  We're getting somewhere!

I applied a flea drop Rx today too.  Got the AD and it stays in her mouth, unlike the more coarse Friskies pate.  

Most grateful.

Mary and Cupcake Team.
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
 
OzQuilter,

We so appreciate your valuable tips.  Thank you so much for writing back.  I've lost valuable time with clumsy feeding attempts and would like an e-tube.  One vet charges $600 for the evaluations, but I think I could persuade them to forego all of that.  The surgery there could be $2K. So I'd need a benefactor.  Meanwhile I'm picking up some Hills Science A/D, which is slurry-like I'm told and can be given with a syringe. I'm going to Petsmart to pick up supplies for syringe feeding. My kitty had a stroke, so she is so dependent on me now and I hate to be away to do these errands.  I have zero $.  I'm looking for any cat or animal organization that funds needed surgeries.  Cupcake had a stroke and her jaw is clenched, so it's a sad struggle, but she is grateful to be fed.  Cupcake was always a very tiny thin cat, so feeding is urgent.  

-- Mary and the Cupcake Team.
The agony from not  having enough money to pay for your kitty's vet care is one of the worst feelings in the world.  Below are a couple of articles that might help you find a way to manage it.
[article="29706"]When You Cant Afford A Veterinarian  [/article]
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/302649/info-sheet-for-cant-afford-a-vetl

Also check out the U.S. Humane Society for national and state organizations that help with vet care:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animal...rding_pet.html?credit=blog_post_011416_id7852

You can also try an organization like modest needs.  https://www.modestneeds.org/   Although they are not restricted to vet emergencies,  people who apply for grants often are posting for that reason.

Then there is always gofundme   https://www.gofundme.com/lp/welcome...f3uKTSEtT2z0lQBIkaQ8vwMIFO-MNezZNgaAjlr8P8HAQ

And finally CareCredit:  http://www.carecredit.com/?dtc=N353...mk-EPoeLeVPmDDpdLHheZor31vWVwdwMs4aAg678P8HAQ

Good luck! 
 

purrna2go

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
8
Purraise
1
Also, Cupcake had fleas very bad.  I used powder, drops, collar, herbal spray, but nothing seemed to work, even my trusty Zapper comb too late in the game.: when I combed one side of my reclining cat, the fleas would run to her underside. I'd flip her, comb there until there were no more fleas, because they'd run back to the other side again.  Fleas can inflict injury, with dermatitis, loss of appetite, and possibly in my Cupcake's case, because she is such a small cat, I keep wondering if it affected her causing this problem.  Well, back to another feeding, again with many thanks to the cat community, to this website, to the moderator.
 

hatchytt

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Messages
569
Purraise
59
Location
Tucson, Arizona
Honestly, fleas are hell to get rid of. I've seen repeated baths with dawn dish soap work, and I've seen repeated dips in thieves' oil help to keep numbers down. I'd honestly go for the repeated dawn baths first since it's not toxic. Basically, wet the cat, work in dawn from the neck down until fully lathered to the tip of the tail, wait for like ten minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat every week or so til the fleas are gone. And wash or vacuum alot. Pretty much anything that the kittenhead spends any time on.
 

elen nikkol

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 29, 2016
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Hello all,

it's a bit of an outdated topic, but I believe other people will find it useful.
I have NEW situation here. I rescued a street cat hit by a car with the same condition - lost its sight, broken jaw, possibly lost his sense of smell too.. At first, in the vet clinic he couldn't get any food or water at all, his condition was worse than a dead cat's so he was on feeding bag for a while at least until recover from the shock.   Even before his jaw was fixed, the vet started feeding him with a syringe (wet food mashed with water) and it was only just about so his stomach wouldn't be completely empty. This was on the second week after the crash.

3rd week - He recovered as much as to start accepting the syringe with appetite. The jaw was fixed, but he still wouldn't eat on his own.


5th week - When he was given wed food directly into the mouth he started accepting it without the syringe.

6th week - He finally began eating from a bowl on his own.

it is already 2 months since the crash and he is eating on his own, very hungry all the time but he still doesn't have a sense of smell. I checked him with holding a piece of grilled chicken in front of him and he didn't react to it at all. I even touched his wiskas with it so he knows there is something in front of him but still nothing, not even moving his nostrils. Then with the same piece of chicken I went to his feeding place and dropped it in the bowl and called for him - he came, started searching for the bowl and ate the chicken right away.

So in conclusion I am a bit confused what did that experiment meant... is it all about smell or also a sense of taste? I hope he will keep on recovering and for now the biggest struggle is that he isn't litter box trained and I can't think of a good way to train him. He avoids any surface that isn't smooth - he wouldn't lay in the cat bed, he will just stay on the floor. He didn't want to stay placed in the litter box and just urinate on the floor without even making any "burring" gestures. I took the litter grains directly on paper without the box itself and placed them in the place he usually like to urinate. He went there twice and urinated on the grains, but also did his job just outside the paper again. Half of the room now is with papers and litter grains. Since he was stray I guess he never used a litter box before and staying in the vet clinic for a month totally ruined his cleanness habits.


  Any suggestions how to train a blind cat with no sense of smell to use a litter box?
 
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
What a wonderful person you are for saving this poor boy.
  You've given this guy a home, something he probably has always wanted.  I know how much work it is to take care of a special needs cat, too.  What is his name, btw?  And do you have any pictures of him?  We love pictures around here. 
   I have been trying to figure out how you would go about teaching him how to use a litter box, considering he can neither see nor smell anything and I'm afraid I don't have any ideas, never having dealt with that before.  It is possible to get cat diapers, and that may be what you end up doing.  Check out this thread for some info on that (towards the end - it's a long thread, though worth reading as it's very inspiring.)  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/314056/kitten-who-cant-move    

Hopefully someone else will come along who can help you more than I have, but I did want to welcome you to the site and let you know how great I think it is that you saved your cat.  
 

elen nikkol

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 29, 2016
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Hi all again!

The Mr. cat is named Solun and is around 2 or 3 years old. I'll upload some pictures with "now" and "then" effect. He is really a real fighter - getting better with each day.

So! To the topic with the litterbox training, I succeeded! What I did was cover the place he was doing his job with paper, plastic bags and just about a bit of grains as I said in the previous post. I put some objects around the place I wanted him to go - several boxes upside down, half-full bottles of water etc. so he stops going out of the place I wanted him to urinate. And that worked. He started to do his jobs only on the plastic bags with grains, so I just started covering his urine with more grains but didn't clean it and I guess that helped because he started going at the exact same spot on the grains with his own old urine there. I must say that for a week it was such a stinky mess.... but worth it ! Eventually, I removed the big objects around to see if he will ever go out of the grains area ever again and since he didn't for 3 days, I started making the area smaller and smaller with each day (and finally started cleaning a bit!)

The semi-final step I did was to put only the upper part of the litterbox (model like this one: http://www.catsofaustralia.com/images/litterboxrim.jpg) around the last piece of plastic bag with paper and grains. As I'm saying, I really did a slow and steady progress of getting the area smaller and smaller. Solun kept doing his things inside the "ring" so the final step was get the whole plastic bag with the same grains I didn't change for a week and put it inside the litterbox itself, but  just leave it at the exact same spot.

Solun is using with absolute no problem the Litterbox and I'm just so SO proud of that cat. He even started digging in the grains. Just in case I'll leave the litterbox at that spot for awhile before I move it a bit (it is on the doorstep to the balcony ...)

Cheers, friends!
 

jennyr

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
13,348
Purraise
593
Location
The Land of Cheese
Well done! Sometimes we have to go through a bad time to get a good result. When you do decide to move the litterbox take it slowly - move it a little at a time towards the place where you want it to be so he doesn't get confused.
 
Top