Getting a cat to eat again after major gastrointestinal surgery

So Billy's home again! For those who aren't up to speed, Billy ended up at the vet's after he completely stopped eating. We found out that he had an obstruction in his small intestines through exploratory surgery, and he's finally home today, shaved belly and all.

The vets were hoping he would start eating today (surgery was yesterday, Friday June 10, morning. When he turned his nose up at all their attempts to eat, they sent him home hoping that he would eat here. So far, I haven't had any luck. He even turned his nose up at cheese, and that's unheard of.

They gave him an appetite stimulant today and I have more for in a few days if necessary, so maybe this will all be moot tomorrow. And I'll call his vet tomorrow if I can't get him started.

But for those of you with experience with this, any tips? When do I need to start really thinking about force-feeding him? I don't think he's actually eaten anything since Sunday evening. They gave him IV nutrition while at the vet's and he is so much more perky today than when I brought him to the vet's on Wednesday morning. I know not eating can be a very dangerous cycle for kitties, so any help is really appreciated!

24hrs is not supposed to be an issue, and I assume thats from the point of the last IV.

Force feeding isn't that big a deal though if done right. There are vids online, its all about speed as long as you don't have a biter.

I'd first try getting some junk food like treats and some canned Friskies (seafood flavors are popular) and sprinkling some FortiFlora on top though, and put it in a quiet room where Billy can feel chillaxed.

I'm probably going to go pick up some tasty things at the store tomorrow if the appetite stimulant doesn't start kicking in over night. Maybe leave him in the spare bedroom with a little bit of wet and dry and see if he goes for that. I don't trust him in my place overnight without supervision right now - it's a two story place and he's already attempted to jump up not just on the sofa but on the sofa arm. I guess the painkillers are working...

Thanks for the tips!