For all i care he can starve to death!!!

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cyndersmom

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i have no other cats so that is no the issue. he won't even touch his dry food now. im giving up. im going to leave his wet out allllllll night, and thats all he is getting, if he chooses not to eat it then i guess he chooses not to eat it. i don't need this stress in my life right now, so what ever!!!!
 

lovemykittehs

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I don't get why you're getting so stressed out about it - just leave out some dry food for him.  Give him treats (temptations, etc) to encourage eating beforehand. 

Try some probiotic yogourt? My cat loves yogourt, lol.
 

thembcat

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My now 8 month old kitten Chacho sometimes doesn't eat hardly any of his food. I give him a mix of wet nutro kitten food and dry kitten science diet, I feed him twice a day. Once in the morning when I get home from work around 8am then again a night around 10pm. Sometimes I run out a wet so I just give him the dry food until I get the chance to buy canned. I usually give him 1/4 of a can of the wet and about a 1/3 cup of the dry each meal. If he's only getting dry, I follow what it says on the bag to give him. After his intial weight gain after we first adopted him, his weight has been a steady, healthy weight. Even though usually he eats more of the wet/dry mix there are days that he may take only a few bites when I first put it down then he'll pretty much leave it alone the whole day/night until maybe eating a few bites here and there. When he just has straight dry, like he has right now until I get paid, he doesn't even eat any when I first get home and then he won't eat any of it except for a nibble. Usually with the dry there's so much of his first meal in the bowl at night that I usually don't have to put more in before I go to work at night.   Occasionally he's like that with his wet dry mix but I usually dump out the old stuff and give some fresh because at that point it looks kind of dry and nasty.

I've never had any problems with all the cats not eating I've had in my life but I don't worry about Chacho when he doesn't touch his food. If he's hungry he'll eat. I actually perfer when he just nibbles on his food throughout the day because sometimes if cats eat too fast it can cause them to have tummy aches and/or throw up.   Sometimes he seems to stuff his face first thing in the morning and I jokingly tell him that he's going to give himself a tummy ache if he doesn't stop being a piggy.

So like everyone else is saying, don't make this a big deal, just make sure food is available for him at all times.  I would suggest that you skip any treats because that's only going to make him less hungry therefore he will be even less tempted to eat his actual food.
 
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cyndersmom

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yes i get that cats sometimes have off days, but im talking about a cat who a week and a half ago was eating 2/3rds a cup dry 2x a day to about a 1/4 cup of dry now.he was eating some wet, but now once again jus turns his nose up at it, so in reality he is only eating 1/4 cup dry throughout the day now so 1/4 cup dry in a 24hr period. he was probably about 6-7 pounds but now weighs less.. i get up this morning and he was meowing cuz he was hungry, but put the wet down and he walked away, and has had 5 pieces of kibble.
 

lokilove

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Sorry you're still going through this with your kitty. I too was getting really stressed with my cat not eating. I find it comes and goes in waves with him...I might actually start to chart it just cause.

I don't think they will willingly starve themselves, but I get how frustrating it is to throw out so much food. I've done the same. Loki was eating like a piggy...but now he's sick and Isis has stopped eating. I don't know if it's stress or they don't like the food...or what. Two nights ago I gave Isis some dry cause she was acting hungry...she ate it all. I had to be away a lot of yesterday so I left her some dry again, hasn't been touched in 24 hours! What gives??

Of note I have had much more success with the kitties eating since I cut out dry food. Isis's eating problems have started since I gave her dry again. I dunno if it's a coincidence or something to watch for. Some cats maybe can't handle the 2 options...pick one or the other? Might be worth a try
 

Willowy

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If this just started (for some reason I was thinking he was always picky) and he looks like he wants to eat but doesn't, I wonder if it's a mouth problem. If he'll let you, try to take a look in his mouth. Could be a string around his tongue or a bad tooth or something.
 

feralvr

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I really am sorry that your cat is not eating well but you are coming off very, very angry that your cat is not eating. I am sure you are upset but you do sound a bit mad at your cat over this and that is wrong. If Cynder was meowing for food this morning - you put the food down and he walk's away :confused: After this many days - that would be a red flag to me that he is trying to tell you something is wrong. I seem to just be repeating myself here - but if that what it takes then so be it. Take your kitten to the vet. A kitten of his age should be eating more than 1/4 cup of dry food a day that is only about 100 calories :( - and that is why he is losing weight. Poor Cynder :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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-_aj_-

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Just my opinion but personally I wouldn't be leaving out wet food all night!,  what is he like with tune flakes maybe try adding that to the top of the wet food when you serve it might encourage him to eat a bit more of the cat food and maybe reduce the tuna add a little bit more wet food 
 just a thought because eating something is better than not eating at all

I agree with just leaving the dry down especially only having the one cat
 

StefanZ

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i can't afford... and i do not own a scale, and am not going out to buy a scale atm.
You can perhaps borrow a scale from some neighour or relative?

It IS socially accepted, if you in time om real need do ask for help / borrowing from your neigbours.  Even neigbours with whom you usually dont talk.

So it is true in Sweden, a country wellknown for its "keep for themselves" people.  So is true surely also in your country.

I do have one idea.  Playing on nice, soft, calming music may perhaps be the trick?  It works in good restaurants. It may also work in your house.   :)

Good luck!   *vibes*
 

jcat

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I agree that he definitely should be checked by a vet for dental/health problems. Other than that, have you tried more variety? Cats in the wild don't have just one type of prey, because they'd starve if that prey became too scarce. I always have three different brands of dry open and three or four different brands of wet in a variety of flavors, because Jamie won't eat the same brand more than twice in one week (I mix the dry foods the 7th day). It's never caused him or Miezi (or our former "foster", ZsaZsa) any digestive problems and keeps mealtimes interesting. Rotating brands also makes it easier to introduce prescription food should it become necessary.

While some cats experience digestive upset when a new food is introduced, that's by no means the case for most of them, and a lot of the "you have to stick to one brand only" advice is a myth propagated by food producers, not vets.
 

ldg

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Skip the Christmas shopping, pay an electric bill one month late, or sell something. Apply for CareCredit. If he's asking for food and not eating, and hasn't eaten properly in several weeks, he needs to see a vet.
 

carolina

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Skip the Christmas shopping, pay an electric bill one month late, or sell something. Apply for CareCredit. If he's asking for food and not eating, and hasn't eaten properly in several weeks, he needs to see a vet.
:yeah:.........
I would advise you to go out and get the junkiest of the dry foods - Purina, meow mix, or whatever. Forget the wet - go straight to dry.
If this kitty doesn't eat.... Take him to the vet too....
Sorry, But IMHO it is our responsibility to do so, no matter what we have to do..... when they are sick we have to do good by them.
Think I don't understand? I do.
This month: I delayed my cell phone bill, my electric bill, my car payment so I could have Gracie to the vet she got very very sick, afford her new prescription diet, tests, vet bill, and the kitties, food, on the top of the huge petsitting bills I have everytime I travel (a LOT) etc.
I am hurting too - but hey, they will not take my car away for delaying this one payment - not cut the phone, nor the electricity - all will be paid by Friday. And that vet's visit might be saving her life......
Think not eating is not serious? Think again...... Gracie didn't eat for 4-5 days while I was out of town......... she has now Hepatic lipidosis....... which meas her liver got damaged from not eating (her body starts processing fat cells instead of food - Look up Fatty Liver Disease). We caught veeeery in the beginning, but still, it will be a long road for recover, with many days of force feeding.... and yep, you guessed, plenty of vet bills ahead of me.
So....... Here are two things: Leaving a cat without food can kill a cat - this mentality "I will just not worry about it" - doesn't work with cats....... they are very very complicated little animals....... not like dogs that simply get skinny..... Cats, instead.... can die. There are quite a few members here at TCS who have dealt with fatty liver, or have lost kitties to it, and believe me, you do not want to be on that list.
The good news is, it is a disease that can be avoided by one simple thing: feeding.

So..... please... do not give up on your kitty....... Go and get the cheapest, junkiest of the foods...... but don't give up on him...... He just needs to eat for now...... Get him eating - no matter what - treats, tuna, burger - I don't care.... But get him eating. Forget quality for now, forget wet - some cats will never get into wet, and that is ok - don't stress about that.....

And if your kitty doesn't eat..... please.... take him to the vet...... you are all he's got.....
:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
:hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs:
 
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ilovemia

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As Carolina said, feed him ANYTHING he will eat. Most cats will eat food such as Purine, Meow Mix, Friskies, etc.. Try it!

Carolinas post is good and right on. Read it a few times through. Hope Cyndr is getting better. Let us know how he's doing. 
 
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cyndersmom

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ok for all of you who think im angry at my cat. im no angry just extremely frustrated with him. second of all i put 3 oz of ff primavera down before i left for work and it was all gone when i got home at 7pm tonight, he also ate some kibble, i put another 3oz down when i got home and he has eaten half of it, so yay for cynder. the other thing is he has always been a picky kitty, i went through this 3 months ago when he went off his wet completly and only ate dry. i am and was frustrated because for his young age i know that he can die from lack of eating, and i have NEVER had a cat do this that i have owned, this is all new to me, having a picky kitty like this.. he did lose some weight but im hoping he will gain some of it back now, and his urine output is way greater now.. i really don't care anymore if he is on high quality food as long as he eats. i will continue with the ff and bb dry kiten and see how this goes... thank you for all your concern and care, and all your great ideas to get him to eat...
 

carolina

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ok for all of you who think im angry at my cat. im no angry just extremely frustrated with him. second of all i put 3 oz of ff primavera down before i left for work and it was all gone when i got home at 7pm tonight, he also ate some kibble, i put another 3oz down when i got home and he has eaten half of it, so yay for cynder. the other thing is he has always been a picky kitty, i went through this 3 months ago when he went off his wet completly and only ate dry. i am and was frustrated because for his young age i know that he can die from lack of eating, and i have NEVER had a cat do this that i have owned, this is all new to me, having a picky kitty like this.. he did lose some weight but im hoping he will gain some of it back now, and his urine output is way greater now.. i really don't care anymore if he is on high quality food as long as he eats. i will continue with the ff and bb dry kiten and see how this goes... thank you for all your concern and care, and all your great ideas to get him to eat...
Oh hun, it is not that we think you are angry about your cat.... We know you are not, and you are not taking it on him.... We can see you are frustrated..... :hugs:
We just wanted to make it very very clear the importance of eating (and the consequences of not doing so) - no matter what - junk...... really, dropping all the theory.... forgetting the whole wet/quality food...... and going back to just getting food - straight food into him for a while....
This way he will be healthier, you will be calmer..... things will fall into place.....
Each cat is really a one of a kind..... they are so unique.... some of them are just like that......

are you measuring the dry food? in the morning and at night, so you know exactly how much he is eating?

Trick: cats DO like fresh from the bag food best (dry) so you should always serve in the morning, and at night...... Keep a journal - so you know for sure what he eats every day.

What brands of junk junk dry food do you have there?

Do you know what Fish Flake is? (fish food - to put in aquariums) - get some and sprinkle it over your cat's food - some say it is irresistible.
 

sweetpea24

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In my opinion, any time a cat doesn't eat enough to sustain himself for a prolonged period of time, you should take your cat to the vet. I, like you, freak out when my pets eats less than normal. While it may be that since he was neutered,.he may.require less food, it.sounds like he's not eating enough. Go to the.vet to at least weigh him. I'm sure they would be nice enough not to charge you. Can you feel his ribs easily or is there a slight layer of fat over his ribs? Can you see his ribs? If so, then he's too skinny. If.there is a slight layer of fat over his ribs and of you can see a waistline looking at him from the top, then he's fine.

However, since.he has gone from being a.voracious eater to a cat who nibbles, I would definitely take him to the vet. Cats hide illnesses well (a defense mechanism) so his lack of appetite is worrying to me. I don't know how many foods you have tried but I wouldn't let this go on much longer. It could affect his.liver and then his.kidneys.etc. what about care credit? Any family from whom you can borrow? I don't know if you have something like a Money Mart which gives payday loans.

At the very least, get some a/d cans from your vet and s.feeding syringe.and syringe feed him 20 mls every 4 hours. He needs nutrition.
 

huyi

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i am done, my dam cat just will not eat a decent meal no matter what it is i put down. i have tried everything i can think of to get this 7 month old to eat!!! it doesn't mater how i try to tempt him, he just nibbles at his food. im tired of trying different foods, cuz nothing works. so i will put dry down and some wet in the morning, and if he chooses not to eat, then forget it, there is nothing else my patience can take, im done, im tired, frustrated and going broke trying to figure out this cats needs.

i can relate, my boy is a fussy eater aswell, i must have wasted at least £100 in wet food becasue he dosn't like a lot of foods and i don't like feeding my boy the cheap stuff, if you are in the uk try encore, it's in a small tin and is 75% meat, my boy bast likes the chicken, and will not touch the fish encore tin cans, if you are from america i wouldn't know what to recomend though.

or you can try the alternatives, buying fresh cooked chicken from the supermarket and giving him some of that, i know some cats love boiled chicken.

also royal cain is great dry food and is the best you can get, my cat loves it :)
 
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ilovemia

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I am so glad Cynder is eating better for you. I am sure you are feeling extremely relieved! I agree that sometimes you just have to give them what they want as long as they will eat. Try to enjoy him now that he is doing better. Worrying sure takes alot of energy, doesn't it. 
 

minka

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I think you are worrying too much. (which I know personally is very hard not to do.)
Don't try to judge whether he's gained or lost by looking at him. I've looked at my cat and thought he lost when in reality he gained..
Like others said, find a neighbor with a baby scale, or try to find one for free on Craigslist. Some people will even do a house pick up so no shipping charge.

Put out the food, cover up what he doesn't eat in the fridge to cut down on throwing out wet and don't worry too much. Like someone else said, he may not be eating because you are standing over him staring too much.
 
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