Hungry but not eating

Hi again,

I am seeing this with Calvin from the afternoon meal on Sunday. When Calvin gets hungry, he screams for food -it is very predictible and he's actually rather adorable when he does that. That is still going on but he is no longer going crazy when I open the can. And that's not him - he loves to eat and is a little on the chubbier side. It's almost like he loses interest instantly. I have tried many of his favorite flavors and it's all the same. However, with Hobbes, he runs to the room where I feed them and starts eating but even before finishing 20% he's done. I try coaxing him a little and try to feed him with a spoon and he'll have some more but not too much. Hobbes finishes his food and tries to eats Calvin's, who will hiss and protect his food but in a bit will walk away. So since he was not eating his wet food, I gave him dry and he ate it (they LOVE their dry food). However, he is the one who does not do well with dry food and he has soft poop and gas on it. But I could not have him not eat. He was having upto 7-8 oz of wet and now having about 3-4 oz.

His poop yesterday was softer (that is before he ate any dry food). The changes I can think of is: a) he had pumpkin on Sunday and LOVED it. I have him 1 tsp but that should do the opposite, right? b) they got new litter. I was not aware that we had to change it slowly and 1 litter box had the remainder of the old (tidy cats) and the new (precious cats original) and the other had all new. He was curious about the new litter first and tasted a little.

I will call the vet's office but it is a rather conservative clinic and they do not suggest you bring over your cat very often. I really like the ladies at the front desk and I have received some great great advice from them but at other times I feel that they give you advice and you cannot reach the vets (eg, when the vet called I told him about Hobbes's hairball issues and he had no idea that I had called about the hairball issues. I was adviced to give him vaseline by the front office and the vet preferred fibre)

So I am a little concerned about Calvin. Any of you experience anything similar or have any idea what can cause the loss of interest once food is served?

Nothing jumps out at me other than maybe hairballs, if he's been having an issue. If he's got one stuck in his tummy, it makes him feel "full" (or mostly full, which is why he'd still be eating some but not his normal amount).

If he had some vaseline, that would contribute to soft poop. The pumpkin helps regulate the amount of water in the colon, but it takes more than one serving - I think. I could never get any of our cats to eat pumpkin, not even mixed into their food - not even a very small amount.

it's just a hairball and he's able to get rid of it!

Thanks Laurie. I hope it's hairball too.
Calvin's tummy seems ok today but he's still not eating much. The same story - he seems hungry, wants food but cannot really eat. I cannot also leave out food because Hobbes has no self control and is a bottomless pitt - he eats up everything.
The vet's office wants me to wait. See, this is the issue I have with them, though they are actually really nice and try to be as helpful as possible. What they repeatedly said was Calvin just may be a slower eater, needs to eat a little at a time etc etc. But why would that be the case since SUnday afternoon? Before then he had about 8 oz in 2 larger meals and 1-2 smaller snacks. Now he is perhaps having a total of 4 oz. The only way I can give him more calories is through dry food, since those are more calorie dense and he can fill himself up with little. Not happy and very concerned. They want me to wait for a couple of more days and it may be tummy related and resolve or else I told them I am calling on Thursday and will talk to the vet or take Calvin over.

Well, I just realized the other concern could be he ingested something he shouldn't have. X-rays can sometimes see stuff that may be stuck and causing a blockage, and sometimes can't. If he's not otherwise acting stressed, and playing/cuddling normally, then keep an eye on the litter box to make sure he's peeing/pooping normally. Other than that... I think there isn't much to do for the next day or two other than wait and see. Maybe others will have some more productive thoughts!