Older cat not eating...how long to worry?

lindalee · Feb 9, 2010

Hi everyone,
I have a 14 year old cat that has lately been going through phases where he seems to lose his appetite for a day or so. It coincides with a congested sounding nose but when I took him to the vet the last time, his lungs sounded good and his condition went away, the appetite returned and he was his old self. Then on Monday he ate breakfast and has virtually just subsisted on a few bites of kibble and licking down wet food since then. Not even his irrisistable treats have tempted him to eat. He still drinks water but seems to sleep more than normal. (although at his age, he is a big snoozer!) It's just making me feel kind of queasy that he's not eating his usual meals. Should I worry yet or am I jumping the gun? He still shows interest in the wet food but doesn't eat much of it. I hesitate to race to the vet until I feel there is enough of a reason. Oh, and I didn't change his food and can't think of anything else that could account for his lack of appetite.

For those of you with elderly cats, do yours go through periods of decreased appetite and is there anything I can do to help tweak it?
Thanks for any thoughts, I'd greatly appreciate it!

the_food_lady · Feb 9, 2010

When your cat last saw the Vet, was a proper senior bloodwork panel done, to check for things that commonly happen in senior cats? (kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism)? If so, how long ago was this? As things can change in even a month, I'd go back. And I'd request a full panel be done, including a urinalysis. I wouldn't wait on this. It's not normal for a cat this age to lose their appetite. I have 3 senior cats (and had another 2 who went to Heaven over the past year, ages 16 and 17 yrs) and they all have good appetites. The only time one didn't years ago, was when he was diagnosed with diabetes. My other girl sometimes had a day here and there when she didn't eat much but with her it was because she was constipated, which we'd treat.

strange_wings · Feb 9, 2010

Have you talked to the vet about what this reoccurring congestion could be? It would be best to address that. It could be a virus that's flaring up, such as herpes. If your vet determines that is what is going on there are some things to help a little.

In the meantime, what are you feeding? If your kitty eats wet food try warming it up when he sounds congested. And while it's not the best food, many people can get their cats to eat fancy feast when they refuse to touch anything else.

momofmany · Feb 9, 2010

I agree with a senior blood panel if he hasn't had one for a while. I've not had senior's lose their appetite unless they were ill. If it is a simple URI, then a round of antibiotics may be in order (even if viral, these can prevent opportunistic bacterial infections) and a stinkier food to attract him. I also will bring my cats into the bathroom when I shower to steam them and/or will put on a vaporizer for them.

lindalee · Feb 10, 2010

Originally Posted by the_food_lady

When your cat last saw the Vet, was a proper senior bloodwork panel done, to check for things that commonly happen in senior cats? (kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism)? If so, how long ago was this? As things can change in even a month, I'd go back. And I'd request a full panel be done, including a urinalysis. I wouldn't wait on this. It's not normal for a cat this age to lose their appetite. I have 3 senior cats (and had another 2 who went to Heaven over the past year, ages 16 and 17 yrs) and they all have good appetites. The only time one didn't years ago, was when he was diagnosed with diabetes. My other girl sometimes had a day here and there when she didn't eat much but with her it was because she was constipated, which we'd treat.

No, there was no bloodwork performed. It sounds like I'd better do it and it's helpful to know that cats should not be losing their appetite as they age.
He's still not eating much, (just some 'licking' at the wet food) and I noticed the sleeping is really excessive now. I'd better get him to the vet again.
Thanks for your answer

mews2much · Feb 10, 2010

I would do the blood tests.
I have a 17.11 year old cat but she has CRF which will make her not want to eat sometimes.
Otherwise she eats fine.

taryn · Feb 10, 2010

Maude stopped eating due to her liver failing. She was only around 10 so I'd say get some blood work done.

Taryn

blueyedgirl5946 · Feb 10, 2010

Please post back when you get blood results for your cat. We are waiting and praying for good reports.

lindalee · Feb 12, 2010

Here's a follow-up to Gizmo's condition. This was a rough week as I kept thinking he might be turning a corner and getting better but then he'd lapse into what I saw as a worsening of his spirits. I would feel happy and then get a wave of anxiety worrying myself sick about Gizmo. Things just didn't feel 'right' so today I was able to get him into the Vet and get some bloodwork done. Looks like his liver is just a little 'angry' as they said and he needs to continue taking the Clavamox. Plus I was so happy to get some pain medication as he looks uncomfortable, he was given Buprenorphine which I'm HOPING will allow me to administer his meds with less stress to him. I'm still concerned if I can get him to eat wet food, my sister bought some Science Diet AD which is supposed to get cats to eat. I do hope this works! If his liver doesn't improve with the Clavamox, I'm afraid we will have to make a sad choice and not allow him to suffer. But the Vet did seem to think this course of action might well turn things around. She doesn't think he's at that point yet. She didn't seem to think the congestion was a problem and he doesn't have it as much now.
They noticed his blood seemed 'thin' and sent a smear test thing to a lab to check it out I guess. He also is slightly dehydrated from not drinking as much.
I'm anxious that if this food doesn't get him to eat, what can I give him that would hopefully prove irresistable?
Thanks for all your support and I hope things will improve for Gizmo's sake:sigh

mystik spiral · Feb 12, 2010

for you and Gizmo! I hope he starts eating and gets to feeling better.

blueyedgirl5946 · Feb 12, 2010

It is important to keep him eating. If he won't eat this food the vet gave him, I would give him whatever he will eat. Try another kind of cat food, or maybe some chicken, like baked chicken. I am sure you will get some suggestions from others. But the main thing is to keep him eating to keep his liver from getting worse.

addiebee · Feb 12, 2010

You can also try stage two chicken or turkey baby food --NO garlic or onions... or boil up some chicken plain... nothing in it... and add in some plain cooked white rice... pour some of the chicken cooking water over it... you could also blend it in a food processor ... that is a recipe for sick cats/kittens and those with tummy/gut issues.

esrandall2000 · Feb 12, 2010

Originally Posted by lindalee

He also is slightly dehydrated from not drinking as much.

Did your vet suggest giving him subq fluids every other day and B12 subq once a week? My IBD/Pancreatitis kitty's flagging appetite really recovered when we added this to his regimen. You might mention this to your vet and see what he says.

Good luck and lots of vibes::vib es:

lindalee · Feb 13, 2010

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

It is important to keep him eating. If he won't eat this food the vet gave him, I would give him whatever he will eat. Try another kind of cat food, or maybe some chicken, like baked chicken. I am sure you will get some suggestions from others. But the main thing is to keep him eating to keep his liver from getting worse.

I bought some Fancy Feast food as I noticed my cat has taken to that in the past and the Ocean Whitefish was finally the one to entice him into eating a little bit this morning. I noticed it was very smelly so it must have proven iresistable to him

I'm hoping he will continue nibbling here and there.
In his litterbox, there was only a little bit of urine but he's definitely not drinking much. It really stinks when your cat decides not to eat, it's so frustrating. Thanks for the suggestions, I will have to try that other one someone mentioned about the baby food. The chicken smells super strong.

carolina · Feb 13, 2010

Originally Posted by lindalee

I bought some Fancy Feast food as I noticed my cat has taken to that in the past and the Ocean Whitefish was finally the one to entice him into eating a little bit this morning. I noticed it was very smelly so it must have proven iresistable to him

I'm hoping he will continue nibbling here and there.
In his litterbox, there was only a little bit of urine but he's definitely not drinking much. It really stinks when your cat decides not to eat, it's so frustrating. Thanks for the suggestions, I will have to try that other one someone mentioned about the baby food. The chicken smells super strong.

Hi there...
Please if he doesn't eat, make him eat... There is nothing that hurts the liver more in a cat than stopping eating... It can lead to Hepatic Lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, which is most of the times a lethal disease. So please, don't let let it up to him to eat it... I know you offering him different foods, but he has been not eating for a while now, and I hope that this "angry" liver is not the beginning of HL. If it is, the medicine for it, is eating.
Sit next to him, put a dab of fancy feast, or Science Diet A/D on your finger, and put it on the roof of his mouth. Do this as many times a day as you can.... For HL, think Calories.
The Science Diet A/D is a great food to give it with a syringe... Mix it with a bit of water, and slowly feed it to him.
Also, I would ask your vet for an appetite stimulant.
Whatever it takes, keep him eating... For now, put food in his mouth. Once he gets better, he will start eating on his own again, but until then IMO you need to really force him.
You can also get some freeze dried raw meat - cats LOVE that, and shred it over the food... That often helps them eating...
Good luck

lindalee · Feb 13, 2010

Originally Posted by carolinalima

Hi there...
Please if he doesn't eat, make him eat... There is nothing that hurts the liver more in a cat than stopping eating... It can lead to Hepatic Lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, which is most of the times a lethal disease. So please, don't let let it up to him to eat it... I know you offering him different foods, but he has been not eating for a while now, and I hope that this "angry" liver is not the beginning of HL. If it is, the medicine for it, is eating.
Sit next to him, put a dab of fancy feast, or Science Diet A/D on your finger, and put it on the roof of his mouth. Do this as many times a day as you can.... For HL, think Calories.
The Science Diet A/D is a great food to give it with a syringe... Mix it with a bit of water, and slowly feed it to him.
Also, I would ask your vet for an appetite stimulant.
Whatever it takes, keep him eating... For now, put food in his mouth. Once he gets better, he will start eating on his own again, but until then IMO you need to really force him.
You can also get some freeze dried raw meat - cats LOVE that, and shred it over the food... That often helps them eating...
Good luck

Thank you so much for your post. I will have to make him eat then. I did have another cat years ago that got that Fatty Liver disease when she began hiding out in one of the bedrooms and I didn't realize she wasn't eating much (we had a bunch of cats at that point).
My thinking has been that it's 'unnatural' to force a cat to eat, as if that's nature dictating what they need but I can see that's not a good idea.
Also it bothered me at the idea of manually forcing the food into him, as if it would add further stress and really make him even worse. Saying that sounds almost ludicrous now because not eating will make him far worse off. I will dilute some Science Diet AD with a little water and try to syringe some into his mouth with the help of my sister to hold him. He's VERY stubborn and resistant to being messed with. A sweet cat but he absolutely hates having things put into his mouth. Just getting the medicine in is a major feat. So I'm feeling kind of nervous that I won't be able to get food in. But I will make a go of it when my sister comes home from work.
Thanks for your concern and I appreciate your advice

the_food_lady · Feb 13, 2010

Ask the Vet for an Appetite Stimulant. The one I've used over the years with good results it Cyproheptadine (aka Periactin). I believe there's another one out there now that's prescribed as well (don't know the name of it, I'm sure someone here does?). If you can get your cat to eat on his own, it will be a lot less traumatic and stressful than syringe-feeding (though that latter is necessary if the former doesn't work).

With the Cypro, it comes in 4mg tablets. I always had success in just giving 1/4 of a tablet (Vets usually advise you start out with 1/2 a tab. I give only what's needed and 1/4 tab has always worked well for us, though every cat is different). In some cats their appetite is stimulated in 30-45 minutes after, in some others, it can take 2-3 hours, strangely enough. In my old diabetic cat Taco, he was the strange one who it took 3 hours for him to have a voracious appetite. I used this with him back when he was newly diagnosed with diabetes and I had to get him used to a strict twice daily feeding schedule (to coincide with his twice daily insulin shot), as he'd been used to years of free feeding.

They say, too, that warming up canned food (and adding a little water like you're doing) is a good idea, too. Whether it's a fresh can or refrigerated (never for more than 1 day), warmed up canned food is 'smellier' and therefore more palatable to a cat that doesn't want to eat. I learned this trick from my Vet clinic years ago.

Just pop the plate into the microwave for as long as it takes so that the food is WARM (test it first!!!!!)....usually 15-30 seconds is enough but this varies with microwaves and the amount of food you're warming up so ensure you test it, don't want it too hot!!!

lindalee · Feb 13, 2010

Originally Posted by the_food_lady

Ask the Vet for an Appetite Stimulant. The one I've used over the years with good results it Cyproheptadine (aka Periactin). I believe there's another one out there now that's prescribed as well (don't know the name of it, I'm sure someone here does?). If you can get your cat to eat on his own, it will be a lot less traumatic and stressful than syringe-feeding (though that latter is necessary if the former doesn't work).

With the Cypro, it comes in 4mg tablets. I always had success in just giving 1/4 of a tablet (Vets usually advise you start out with 1/2 a tab. I give only what's needed and 1/4 tab has always worked well for us, though every cat is different). In some cats their appetite is stimulated in 30-45 minutes after, in some others, it can take 2-3 hours, strangely enough. In my old diabetic cat Taco, he was the strange one who it took 3 hours for him to have a voracious appetite. I used this with him back when he was newly diagnosed with diabetes and I had to get him used to a strict twice daily feeding schedule (to coincide with his twice daily insulin shot), as he'd been used to years of free feeding.

They say, too, that warming up canned food (and adding a little water like you're doing) is a good idea, too. Whether it's a fresh can or refrigerated (never for more than 1 day), warmed up canned food is 'smellier' and therefore more palatable to a cat that doesn't want to eat. I learned this trick from my Vet clinic years ago.

Just pop the plate into the microwave for as long as it takes so that the food is WARM (test it first!!!!!)....usually 15-30 seconds is enough but this varies with microwaves and the amount of food you're warming up so ensure you test it, don't want it too hot!!!

Thanks for your note, I'm surprised the Vet didn't suggest the appetite stimulant but it's good to know about this. My sister and I have started force feeding Gizmo with a little watered down Science Diet AD sucked into a syringe. It's pretty messy and he's awfully skittish about letting us squeeze food onto his mouth but whatever it takes. If she squeezes out a little blob at a time right above his mouth, the tongue comes out and licks it into his mouth. I hope this will be enough for his body to get back to normal. I wonder how much food we should be giving him? It feels like he couldn't take more than a couple of tablespoonfuls of the wet food. At least it's rich in calories and nutrients. Hopefully he'll start eating on his own real soon. Thanks for your support!

carolina · Feb 13, 2010

Originally Posted by lindalee

Thanks for your note, I'm surprised the Vet didn't suggest the appetite stimulant but it's good to know about this. My sister and I have started force feeding Gizmo with a little watered down Science Diet AD sucked into a syringe. It's pretty messy and he's awfully skittish about letting us squeeze food onto his mouth but whatever it takes. If she squeezes out a little blob at a time right above his mouth, the tongue comes out and licks it into his mouth. I hope this will be enough for his body to get back to normal. I wonder how much food we should be giving him? It feels like he couldn't take more than a couple of tablespoonfuls of the wet food. At least it's rich in calories and nutrients. Hopefully he'll start eating on his own real soon. Thanks for your support!

Aim for 150 calories a day at least - that number seems to be the average to keep kitties safe from HL... (again average). So check how many calories are in a can, and aim for 150 a day at least.
You might need to feed him many times a day to get to this number... But this will probably save your little guy... Once his blood sugar is leveled, and he regains his strength, he should get his appetite back too...
Sometimes when kitties stop eating their sugar levels go low, and with it their appetite, and it creates a vicious cycle... Luckily it is weekend and you have tomorrow to feed him... I would go to the vet first thing Monday to get some Appetite stimulant for him.

lindalee · Feb 13, 2010

Originally Posted by carolinalima

Aim for 150 calories a day at least - that number seems to be the average to keep kitties safe from HL... (again average). So check how many calories are in a can, and aim for 150 a day at least.
You might need to feed him many times a day to get to this number... But this will probably save your little guy... Once his blood sugar is leveled, and he regains his strength, he should get his appetite back too...
Sometimes when kitties stop eating their sugar levels go low, and with it their appetite, and it creates a vicious cycle... Luckily it is weekend and you have tomorrow to feed him... I would go to the vet first thing Monday to get some Appetite stimulant for him.

THANKS so much for the advice. I was just worrying about it because I had no idea how much I should aim for. I spoke to my Vet today and she insisted like you did, that I make sure Gizmo gets food in him, that I had to step in and force feed him at this point. Guess she thought he could eat on his own which didn't happen. I held him while my sister gently squeezed the food onto the top of his mouth forcing his tongue to lick it off. He didn't seem too happy about all this but we felt so much better knowing he got at least some food into his body. I am going to look at the syringe to see how much we ended up giving him today, I betcha it's not nearly enough. Yes, I'm glad tomorrow is still the weekend and we will make sure Gizmo gets the adequate amount however many feedings it may take.
He seemed to really not want the second helping (we used half a syringe and then went for another half), my sister almost sensed he'd had enough.
Do you think it's hard for him to get back into eating, would he feel full sooner than usual? Thanks so very much for your concern and for sharing your knowledge. Your post helped convince me to do this and I showed my sister when she came home. We both foolishly felt that force feeding was some bizarre and mean thing to do (crazy as that sounds) and thought maybe it was extreme. Something only the Vet could attempt for instance.
I hope we got to him in time with this food. The verdict is still out. He's kind of tired but has brief periods of almost seeming like his old self.

Now to see if our relationship will ever be the same with Gizmo after suffering such indignities

Older cat not eating...how long to worry?

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter