Not Eating?

I noticed today our almost 1-year old female River was making herself kind of scarce. I had to work most of the day so I asked hubby what's up with her. He said she laid on the bed and slept for most of the day away from everyone. She's still kitten-like and she likes people (even strangers) so she doesn't usually seclude herself for very long, if at all. She's not necessarily a lap cat, but she definitely likes to be in the same room as you, beside you on the couch, on the end table, whatever. I noticed she didn't come out to eat when I put food out and that's when hubby mentioned she'd slept in the bedroom ALL day. He said he assumed she was just tired. Uhm? Lol tired for the first time in her whole 1 year life? Probably not. He also mentioned it being hot. But it's been hot for weeks and we have the ac on now just as we have all summer.

The worst part is that there's so much going on right now that I don't even know where to begin with diagnosing her problem. We brought in an outside kitty almost 2 weeks ago. He was/is sick, but is on antibiotics and his shots and was given vet approval to mingle with our other cats. She hissed at him a lot, but they seemed to be doing a lot better over the last 1-2 days. I never witnessed them actually fight, so I don't think he's hurt her or anything. Also I've been trying to switch their food over the last week or so. So she could just be on a hunger strike because she's not so crazy about the food? Or a hunger strike because she's mad about the new cat? 

I put some of her old food on a plate and brought it in to the bedroom were she was and she barely even sniffed at it before walking away. I don't know if she's using the litter box - I haven't been home from work long enough to know for sure and hubby isn't overly observant. She didn't seem to like it when I picked her up and she actually meowed at me to let he down. She usually likes being held. So I don't know if she's in some kind of pain? I'm just worried about her, please advise!

To recap: Usually friendly kitty has secluded herself in the bedroom alone all day and hasn't eaten all day. Could be because she does't like new food (but won't eat old food either) or because she doesn't like our new cat.

River has always liked hubby better than me so he just pulled her out from under the bed (very unusual) in an attempt to get her to eat or drink something. She walked away and was very light on her back right leg. At least now I think we know what's bothering her - she's in pain Must be a lot of pain for her to not want to eat or drink, right? I'm tempted to go to the store and get her some really crappy food or treats she might like just to get anything at all in her system. She hasn't eaten in *at least* 18 hours for sure. I worked 4p-1a on Tuesday then went in again at 10a today (only 9 hours off time) so I really haven't been home much to know when she stopped eating. And like I said, hubby isn't overly observant. 

If she was mine I'd take her to the vets.

She's definitely going to the vets, was just looking for advice in the meantime. Her leg is even worse this morning - barely putting any weight on it at all. The vet's office first told me they had no appointments today, then told me 3pm, and finally 10:30am with choice words like "a lot of pain." Anyhow, I really appreciated that, even though 3 more hours still seems like a LONG time to wait.

I don't know what could be going on.  It's great that you were able to get her in for this morning.  Please keep us posted if you can   In the meantime sending good vibes!
 

Back from the vet. He couldn't feel any broken bones in her ankle, so he thinks it's just a sprain, strain, or hairline fracture. He gave her a shot for the pain and some IV fluids since she's dehydrated from not eating or drinking for 24+ hours. She still hasn't eaten or drank anything since coming home, but you can tell she feels a lot better. Really worried about the not eating/drinking thing though, so she needs to start up soon!

Yes, you might need to "force feed" her, which is really more like assisting in eating.  Do a search on here and you'll find suggestions, methods, and even recipes of food you can feed her.

I'm surprised the vet didn't give her something for the pain and possibly a steroid (like prednisone) to increase her appetite.
 

I think it's time to kick-start her into eating on her own again by giving her a few syringe feeds. She wont' like it, and you won't enjoy it, and your kitchen floor will be a mess, but I've found over and over again that once a cat (who isn't REALLY ill) has something in their stomach they want to start eating again. I think they must feel nauseated after not eating for a while and that puts them off trying. If River doesn't start eating on her own after a few syringe feeds, it will be time to contact the vet again. The sprains my cats have had have gone away within 3-5 days.
 

They did give her a shot to help with the pain. I put her favorite kind of food on a plate and put it in the room with her and left. When I went back in, it was mostly gone. Then I realized Miles had snuck in the room with her too. He was already fed today and isn't prone to overeating, so I still think *she* ate it, and not Miles, but I can't be sure. Since then, she has laid in the exact same spot on the floor. It's been 3 hours or so and she hasn't moved an inch. Totally not like her - as I said, she's only 11 months and still kitten-like. It's very sad to see her this way. I'm going to refill that plate, too. Oh well if the other kitties get a little extra food for a few days, it will be worth it if I can get some into her.

The doc said if it's still bothering her big time on Monday to bring her back in. He said it should only last 3-5 days - like Simka said. Her pain shot will last 3 days he said. So if she's better for 3 days and then gets worse, it's because her shot wore off.

RIccaDawn said:

They did give her a shot to help with the pain....Her pain shot will last 3 days he said. So if she's better for 3 days and then gets worse, it's because her shot wore off.

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I suggest that you also find out exactly which drug was used for this "shot". It might be detailed on your receipt or, you could phone the clinic and ask.

IF it was Metacam/Petcam (chemical name is meloxicam), I'd suggest that you think long and hard about your cat receiving it in future.

This class of drugs is known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and cats are one of very few animals that cannot metabolize them in the liver...the drug, therefore, goes directly to the kidneys - and it kills kidney cells. Now, normal/healthy cats are born with lots and lots of kidney cells - enough "in reserve" to last throughout their lifetimes (because kidney cells naturally die off over time and are replaced from that reserve). So, there is no safety in using these drugs in cats...the only question is "how much kidney is one willing to destroy?"

Now for the 'catch'. The injectible  form of this drug IS approved for use in cats in North America. That said, some Vets are smart enough to realize that it really doesn't matter HOW a nephrotoxic drug is administered, that it will do its damage whether it's swallowed or injected...here's one example http://www.askavetquestion.com/metacam.php

I did a search in some veterinary archives using the keywords “Meloxicam renal failure” and found a very large number of posts...what surprised me were the number of cases where the vets did everything right – preanesthetic blood and urine tests, intravenous fluids during surgery, blood pressure monitored, correct dosage given – and STILL had a cat go into renal failure after a single injection of Metacam injection was given!
I do think we have some cause for concern when it comes to INJECTABLE Metacam use.     http://www.askavetquestion.com/metacam.php

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There are other, safer drugs for pain control in cats. Yes, they may make for a little doziness (they are narcotic) but, used in tiny amounts, personally I'd prefer a little of that to a lot of grief. As well, short-term steroid use will counter inflammation safely

It's on the receipt. I looked at it, but was too lazy to type it out lol. It wasn't that one though, it was one of the narcotics.

Sending good vibes your way for your little girl.  I hope she starts eating, & feeling better soon! Keep us posted!

Oh! My most exciting part of the vet visit was when they weighed her. She hasn't been to the vet since she was a kitten and my digital scale here at the house apparently isn't sensitive enough to get an accurate reading on her. I weigh myself, then weigh myself and River. It says she weighs 10 pounds. Then I weigh myself and Miles. It says he weighs 10 pounds too, even though he is absolutely heavier! So I knew that wasn't accurate. Anyhow, they weighed her in at 8.6 pounds! Looking at kitty weights that's pretty healthy. (And it certainly LOOKS healthy on her!) But reading about all the people with 12, 15, 18, 20+ lb cats, it seems tiny lol Even though Miles is definitely heavier than River, he's definitely lighter than Mike, who weighed in at 11.4 last week at his vet's visit. So all my cats are small? Where do people find these 18 pound beasts? I think if one came into my house I'd think it was a lion!

Aw, I'm so sorry to hear about River! :rub: I hope she's eating. :cross: !!!!

As to the size of your cats... "most" domestic short hair cats should weigh between 8-10 pounds. Several of ours have large frames, and they weigh 11-12 pounds. My Billy, at 16 pounds, is VERY overweight. There are some large breeds (Ragdolls, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat). But your kitties sound like they're normal, healty-weight kitties. :lol3:

River came limping out of the bedroom when she heard me open a pack of lunch meat turkey to make myself a sandwich. I know she likes the stuff and I was so excited to see her that I fed her as much as she would eat lol. Ended up being about 3 little slices. I'm sure it's terrible for her, but she turned down every other kind of food we offered her today, and I was just excited she was eating. She stood up eating with her right rear leg completely held up off the ground (pointed backwards). We then got her to lay down on a blanket beside hubby while he was watching tv. A few minutes later I heard her meow and went out to see what was going on. Hubby was in shock and said she meowed in pain when he touched her left front foot. (It was her right rear foot that we took her to the vet for...) We petted that left paw again to confirm, and sure enough, she meowed out in pain. So now she has TWO injuries?! How could this possibly have happened? River and Miles aren't prone to fighting at all...of course they play, but it's not what I would consider "rough." And then there's Mike. River's been hissing at him for 2 weeks and he has on occasion batted her away, but I've never seen them fight either. Even if they *did* fight, his breathing is just absolutely terrible and because of that he doesn't get around too quickly and I know she could run away from him in an instant. Anyhow, she seems to still be in serious pain despite her shot of painkillers. She did eat that little bit of turkey but nothing else, and she hasn't drank anything.

Still worried I kind of feel like taking her back to the vet tomorrow would be overreacting, but at the same time, Monday seems like such a long time away.