Please help, my cat won't eat!

My cat Mookie is about 16 years old, weighs 4.5 pounds, and I can't really get her to eat much of anything. I took her to the vet about two weeks ago and she was showing signs of kidney failure which the vet said is affecting her appetite and is also causing a fair amount of constipation. About four different times, he has given her vitamin B shots to which she responds to very well, is alert, eats better for about a day (including, to my shock, even eating some of her regular hard cat food), and then promptly falls back into her weak, not-eating, non-water drinking state. One visit and a vitamin B shot costs me about $150 a pop. Also, the foods she will eat are really hit and miss. She'll eat something one day and turn her nose up at it the next. This, again, the vet attributes to the kidney ailment. The vet has me giving her meat baby food, but there are only so many kinds out there. When she won't eat on her own, I've been having to force-feed her the baby food 3ccs at a time. I've put her in a cage in the kitchen with a litter box and food/water because she doesn't realize how weak she is. I don't want her to jump off of or onto anything like she normally could and get hurt.

I care a lot about Mookie, but I'm starting to think this is the beginning of the end. I don't want her to suffer if she can't even eat or poop on her own. I thought I'd give things one more shot and make an appeal to Reddit (and a few cat forums around the web) to see if anyone has any tips or knows of a way I could get my cat to start eating/drinking again. I think if I could just do that, she would at least get some energy and may be able to turn things around. Any ideas? I'm desperate here.

Thanks, Kyle

Pic of Mookie in her cage today -
Pic of me and Mookie on her 15th birthday when she was healthy -

Your Mookie is beautiful! I'm sorry she's sick.

Does she like Tuna, or chicken? You could try offering her that. You could try canned pumpkin. As long as she eats something.

You could also talk to your vet about a feeding tube?

What a beautiful girl! I'm sorry the CRF is attacking her body. I lost my 14 yo girl to CRF in December, so I know how you're feeling.

Did the vet give her fluids to help her? What about an anti-nausea shot? She's most likely got an upset tummy which is why she's not eating or wanting to eat.

I pray this isn't the beginning of the end, but I trust you'll make the right decision for her when it is time.

Praying for your Mookie. I had a Mookie myself who passed from kidney failure.

God bless.

Oh wow, 4.5 pounds is really skinny. How much did she weigh when she was healthy, or has she always been a pretty petite girl? i'm so sorry you're going through this, I am constantly worrying about whatwill happen when my own cats reach that age, and they're both still kittens/young adults.

When my parents cat wouldn't eat the vet suggested baby food, pumpkin because it is full of fiber, bonito tuna flakes - from whole foods and super smelly foods. I will say a little prayer for Mookie. What a beautiful luttle one you have,

How is Mookie today.

Kyle,

It more than likely is time for you to say goodbye to her. At her age things just start to happen her system begins to shut down and little can be done to reverse this. It is sad, but unfortunately, they don't live as long as we want them to. They hide pain so effectively- even purring as they pass away. I hope you can be strong and do what needs to be done fairly quickly. If you love her, you will let her go even when you feel that a miracle might be around the corner. You may be able to reach that corner, but she might not. She is a beautiful kitty and you have done good by her in her life, don't fail her now.

Cornell has a really good test to use in situations like this. You need to ask yourself the following questions about your cat and go from there.

is acting normally; seems active and in good spirits

does not tire easily with moderate exercise

does not have seizures or fainting episodes

has a normal appetite

has had no significant change in weight

has a normal level of thirst and drinks the usual amount of water (about an ounce per pound of body weight per day, or less)

does not vomit often

does not regurgitate undigested food

has no difficulty eating or swallowing

has normal appearing bowel movements (formed and firm with no blood or mucus)

defecates without difficulty

urinates in normal amounts and with normal frequency; urine color is normal

urinates without difficulty

always uses a clean litter box

has not developed any new offensive behavioral tendencies (such as aggression or urine spraying)

has gums that are pink with no redness, swelling, or bleeding

does not sneeze and has no nasal discharge

has eyes that are bright, clear, and free of discharge

has a coat that is full, glossy, and free of bald spots and mats; no excessive shedding is evident

doesn't scratch, lick, or chew excessively

has skin that is not greasy and has no offensive odor

is free of fleas, ticks, lice, and mites

has no persistent abnormal swellings

has no sores that do not heal

has no bleeding or discharge from any body opening

has ears that are clean and odor free

doesn't shake its head or scratch its ears

hears normally and reacts as usual to its environment

walks without stiffness, pain, or difficulty

has feet that appear healthy, and has claws of normal length

breathes normally without straining or coughing

I went through a very similar episode with Annie a few years back - she was 17. I am praying that Mookie can pull this off and make a turn for the best...

I'm so sorry you and Mookie are going through this. It is very, very, very, very hard when they reach this point and their little bodies are shutting down.

I hope you and her have some more quality time still. If it is time to let go, I hope you realize that to do so is the most loving thing. She has had a good, long cat life, longer than her life expectancy. You've been an excellent cat parent to take her this far. Please take comfort in that, and that this stage is the natural course of life, as difficult as it is.

It is so hard to lose them. It's the worst part of having them. I don't take it well, and I've lost quite a few in the last 50+ years that I've had cats. In some ways, I've never gotten over the loss, of at least some of them. It is my view, that some, the most special ones who we loved the most and loved us, never actually leave our sides - their spirits remain with us as a comfort and companion through the rest of our lives. Call me a kook, I don't care, but I believe Mookie will always be with you.


Robin