How to get a sick skinny cat to eat?

Hi
Good job on force feeding your kitty! The key for me, is the less you dilute the food, the better. Remember, the more you dilute it, the more you have to feed. I use large syringes - 1/2 oz, and feed 3 syringes at a time.
Don't look at how much food he needs now at 7lbs - look at his optimum weight, and how many calories he needs to maintain that weight - that is how many calories you want to feed a day.
Divide that in several meals - 4-5 a day, so it is not overwhelming on you or your kitty.
For me, the best way to have them back eating is with dry food - get several different small bags/brands and quality levels - from junk to high, and offer to him. Leave it out for him to eat... If he chooses the junk, it is not the best, but you can transition for a better one later on. You can then just supplement the calories with force feeding.
The most I had to force feed 100% before my kitty picked up eating on her own was 3-4 days. Dry food worked like a charm.
These are the syringes I use - the brand is Four Paws, and you can get them at PetSmart for cheap

Oh I am so so sorry!

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with renal disorders. But I do know you need to build up your kitty's strength as soon as possible so he can have the dental work needed done. It is certainly contributing to the eating problems - and for all I know, the kidney problems. I think worrying about his diet comes after that, but hopefully someone with experience with kidney problems will chime in here.

The first thing that jumps out at me is that if your vet doesn't know how bad it is, then it's because you haven't told him/her. Your baby is probably dehydrated, and most certainly needs subQ fluids - which is something you can do at home, but your vet would have to give you the supplies and show you how to use them.

If you don't think this vet is giving your kitty proper care, or giving you good advice, or isn't taking the situation seriously enough, then get to another vet for another opinion asap!!!!!

But first and foremost, you must build up your kitty's strength so he CAN have the dental work he needs done.

I don't know if steroids will help him - or it that's something that can be used in a kitty with renal problems.

I don't know if he would benefit from an appetite stimulant - or if maybe he needs an anti-nausea medication.

But you definitely need to be syringe feeding him. It sounds like your mom gave you a/d, which I have no idea if it's best for a kitty with renal problems, but it is a food given to cats in critical care that need to build up their strength, and it is designed to be used with the syringes, and that is what he needs.

I know you're scared. We just found out three weeks ago our cat has cancer. It's scary. But you have to take a step back, take a deep breath, and find the strength you need to help your kitty, because he can't do it on his own.

I will keep you and Moe in my thoughts and send you lots of vibes!

I'm so sorry to read this about your cat. Not eating can lead to liver failure. If he's still refusing, then you have to continue force feeding him. You could also talk to your vet about putting in a feeding tube.

First off I would say please DONT take him off the Purina NF. He's on it for a reason, he needs to have the appropriate food for his kidneys. Blend it up like you had been, add some tuna water if he doesn't like the taste and feed as often as you can. If possible, get to the vet and have a feeding tube inserted. Then he won't even be able to taste the food and you will be assured that all of it is getting down.

Minka - the kitty might be too weak to have even a feeding tube inserted....
To the OP - I agree with Laurie.... If it was my cat, I would be dealing with the crisis at hand. I would take the kitty to the vet at once first of all...
Getting this kitty stronger, no matter what food it is eating, to me is your number one priority so it can go through the surgery and get the tooth removed. As Laurie said, being fragile like this puts him in great risk of not making through surgery. The tooth situation is not helping with him eating, and can also further damage his kidneys. It is important to come out.
The Kidney diet is a lifetime change, and if skipping it is not going to be life-threatening for the time-being, by all means, I would put this kitty in a food that he will eat, that will be nutritious and will get him back into shape first - THEN I would think of this change later. Probably Sub-Q will help you to do it safely.
He is wasting away, and that is the first thing you have to stop IMHO.
Because he is so so fragile, please, I urge you to not delay a vet visit - vet first, no matter what route you take, I would say. If you are not comfortable with your vet, consider going for a second opinion.

From Dr Pierson's website: "Feeding tubes do require a short period (~10 minutes) of general anesthesia to place and this is often a concern when the patient is very debilitated. This is why it is better to put a feeding tube in an anorexic patient sooner rather than later."

Obviously if the cat is too weak to put one in, the vet won't do it. But as of right now, the cat can still walk around, so I don't think it's too late to put one in.

Nonay, apparently the dental problems your kitty has can be causing the kidney problems. Given that your vet doesn't know how bad off your kitty is, I think it is imperative you get your kitty back to the vet as soon as possible.

The vet can decide if he's strong enough to have a feeding tube inserted. He/She can also decide if he's strong enough to be anesthetized for the dental he desperately needs.

please take this kitty to the vet ASAP..... :vi bes:

nonay, where are you in Texas? Anywhere near Dallas? Would you consider another vet?

Well, one of my concerns would be that he's sick and skinny partially because of his teeth. So I'd be wondering why they didn't think treating that was of primary importance in getting him back on the road to health.

Hi nonay, let's see what happens tomorrow... Discuss the SubQ, the A/D diet, the renal diet... If you need a vet here, I have a top notch vet and a wonderful dentist as well.... Maybe we can figure something out. My vet is fantastic - let me know if you need something

Let's hope that the vet has a better idea of what it is next time - there are tests that can be done to find out exactly what it is - if it is heart, you definitely want to be on the right medication, and the same for "cancer or something else" whatever that might be....
A/D doesn't need to be diluted from the 3rd day on. On the 2nd day, you just dilute a little bit. It is PERFECT just off the can. Remember: the more you dilute, the more you have to feed.
Feed her the amount she would eat at her healthy weight - I believe it was 8lbs? They have the feeding guide on hills website. If she can take it, I feed 1 1/2oz per meal, and do several meals. If she can't eat that much, do less per meal, but more feedings. It is important that she eats though.
I knew A/D would be ok.... that was a very wise decision on your vet's part....

Hills A/D Critical Care - wet food in the can. It's a prescription diet that is used for cats or dogs with dietry issues, poor weight gain or health issues. You'd need to talk to your vet and buy this from your vet. It's well worth it.

It will smell good to your cat, it will taste good, it's easy for him to eat, and because it has a high Calorie/KJ content it will help him gain weight if used regularly until he is well again. It works like a charm every time, that stuff tends to be irrissitable to cats, even the picky ones.

Alternativly, royal canin hypoallergenic, wet food in the sachets and then graduating to the dry food is good for a long term diet in situations where the cat has dietry issues and sensitive tummies.

I recommend Royal Canin for every day, long term use for both cats and dogs. You will see a difference in days. It's not cheap, but it's well worth it for your pets health and wellbeing.

The bright side, is that although not cheap, your pet needs less of it as it's so high in nutrients and calories that they don't tend to need to eat as much of it.

This is an approximation. A 3.5kg (7.7lb) bag of Royal Canin dry food will set you back about $50US, and for a cat that weighs 5kg (11lb) the feeding guide is 66 grams (2.2 ounces) per day.

That means theoretically if that's all your cat wants to eat each day (and it could be more) the bag can last one cat up to 52 days or 7 weeks and 3 days which works out to be $5-6 a week for fantastic quality food.

Hypoallergenic where I am is only available from Vet Clinics but isn't prescription. In some countries, it may be available at pet stores or online, I'm not sure, but I would recommend it either dry or wet. It's good for their teeth, their digestion and other things as well.

It also tends to include Lysine, which is in my opinion a miracle vitamin for cats. It surpresses nasties in a cats system, boosts their immune system and helps them cover from illness.

It's like super-charged vitamin C for cats. Also, vitamin paste for cats and dogs doesn't go to waste either, it gives them an added edge to a full, healthy recovery.

I am so sorry you and your kitty are going through this, Nonay.

You're already getting a lot of good advice, and I don't know if any of this will help since your kitty seems to not want to eat at all, but just in cause, here's a list of things you can try putting on top of his food to entice him: A bit of tuna juice dripped over it, or some sprinkled cat nip, Parmesan Cheese, Forti Flora flakes, fish food flakes (weird, but it works), or some crumbled up freeze-dried meat treats (Whole Life's chicken has worked in many other circumstances).

Sometimes, too, if you put a little bit of the food and the "enticement" on your finger and either rub it on his gums, or rub it on his paw, it works to get the kitty eating again. Or simply offering it from your fingertip.

Hopefully, this new diagnosis and treatment will work to get your boy back on a healthy track ASAP!!

AC

Autumnblueangel, the kitty is already on A/D... IMHO it is not a good idea for this kitty to be on dry food after the crisis, unless it is the recommended kidney diet, as this kitty has kidney disease.... It should be on either prescription or on wet diet - preferably kidney wet IMHO. I am not certain why the recommendation for hypoallergenic.... The kitty is not allergic or food sensitive
It is now on A/D because it is severely malnourished
To the OP: try wrapping him in a towel like a burrito - that should help you a lot. Feed him small meals, several times a day.... My syringes are 1/2oz, making it easy to feed... I do not need a lot of syringes for each feeding - also, I would aim now for a can a day - you can add a bit more later. But if you can feed him a can a day, he will be getting some good nutrition to start off. After a few days you can start to feed a bit more. As you can see on the feeding guide from Hills, from the third day on, you should not dilute it anymore - remember, the more you dilute the food, the more you have to feed.
Feed him about 1-2ccs at a time, wait for him to swallow, then do it again. Do not shoot it on the back of his mouth - he can aspirate it.... aim the food on his tongue, on the side of his mouth, or on the roof of his mouth. Never on the back. If you get a firm, good grip on his head with your hand, and go with the syringe on the side of his mouth, he will open it - squeeze a bit in - do not wait too long before doing it again. Keep a nice, steady rhythm, from start to end - feed, wait to swallow, feed again, wait to swallow, feed again.... All the while, of course, praising and soothing him with calming words
To make it easier on him, make sure you have all your syringes ready when you start feeding.
Also, before you start feeding, take a deep breath, calm down, and be confident. You are in control, and you are doing this for him - do not stress out or freak out... He will pick up on your stress
One feeding at a time... one day at a time.... Just think that every feeding he is getting better

I think this baby needs syringe feeding for a while, but the above are great tips
To add to it, here in my house what works great is a spoon - That's actually how I get Bugsy to eat his wet food... the boy will not eat it unless it is fed from a spoon What is a mom to do? Hey, whatever it takes to make sure he gets all his wet for the day!! A spoon is a great tool for non-threatening assisted feeding

Ah, I knew there was someone here who did that - I even started to mention it - but I couldn't remember who it was. Whatever it takes, indeed.

AC

RIP Moe, you were loved more than anything.

I'm so sorry to hear this. My best friend just went through a very similar thing with her oldest cat...the hiding, weight loss, anorexia, fluid in chest, lasiks etc. Sally Ann (the cat) had congestive heart failure, but at first cancer was a consideration as well. With treatment, she lived for another good couple of months, and felt well (and was incredibly spoiled) during that time. My friend did do syringe feeding during that time. In addition to AD food, Sally Ann would eat quite a bit of chicken baby food, usually warmed. In fact, I think at her sickest point, before the Lasik started to help, it was the only thing she would eat. But she would eat quite a bit of it. I've always used chicken baby food in the darkest of times with sick cats, orphaned sick kittens etc, and I've never had it turned down...

I'm so sorry to hear the news. But sometimes letting them go is the best gift we can give them, even though it is so hard for us.

Fly free now, Moe.