Extremely upset... cats did not eat for 60 hours

I'm extremely upset so please do not make judging or rude comments.  I go out of town about every other weekend and my mom watches the cats for me.  She feeds them twice a day and hangs out with them for awhile.  This weekend for whatever reason she "completely forgot" about them and they were not fed from 8am Friday morning until tonight at 6pm.

Needless to say, finding this out was an extremely traumatic experience for me as I pictured three dead cats in my house.  I felt like I had abandoned them as I was the last person they saw before they went hungry, and this made me feel like I failed as a cat mom for not being there for them when they were scared and hungry and needed help.  On top of that I was still out of town when I found out and could not help them... luckily my landlady was home and went and fed them at 6pm tonight.  They were too upset and hungry to wait for her to put the food in bowls so they got a can each on the floor (lol... I can find a little humor in that image, at least).

I got home and they were very happy to see me and loved on me.  I picked each one up and held them and apologized.  I inspected the house and did not find anything except a few spots where I could see they had puked up bile.  But did not find poop or pee that may have arisen from distress or anything - the litterbox had deposits (it was clean when I left) so that seems to be ok.

My question is, what do I need to do to make sure they are in good health?  I fed them again the late night meal as usual (about 1/3 of a 5.5oz can each) and they ate that normally, ran the faucet for them to drink from and they drank a little but didn't seem thirsty.  They are all normal weight except for Garfunkel who could comfortably gain 1 to 1.5 lbs (don't know how to beef him up, have been trying to increase his calories but with three cats fed from 1 can it's difficult to get the numbers exact) - I know it's mostly overweight cats who are at risk for fatty liver, but is there something I should watch for just in case?

Thanks in advance for your help and please do not post judgmental comments... I am extremely traumatized by this event and cannot take any additional stress.  Thanks.

First of all, there should be no judgement made towards you. You went out of time and had arrangements in place, right? I'm so sorry this has happened.

I'm no expert, but I think the biggest concern is hepatic lipidosis. I think it is good that they are now eating though. Again, I don't know much about it. I would give your vet a quick call this morning and run it by them.

Yes, I think you need to call your vet and talk about this with him. It is not overweight cats who are at risk for fatty liver, but rather cats who have not eaten for awhile. Is your mother the person who normally feeds your cats when you are gone every other weekend. If she is, and she forgot this time, I would be concerned about her and why she forgot. I hope your cats and your mother be both be okay. I am sure a talk with your vet can give you the answer you need.

Two and a half days is enough for them to be very hungry, but probably not enough to do any permanent damage in a healthy cat.  Imagine, for example, a feral cat caught in a snow storm.  It might easily be that long before he can hunt again.
 

My neighbor's cat got locked in a chapel on our grounds for three days. He came out hungry but seems to be fine now. He is a year old so his youth probably had something to do with the recovery. Cats are very resourceful when it comes to survival. Without a usual food source, they could resort to hunting in the house for bugs and whatever. Toilet bowls are a good place for them to find water. Did you notice any vomiting when you got back? If so, it could be the result of the 'hunt'. If they are eating well and acting 'normal', they probably made it fine but used up one of their nine lives. A phone call to the Vet would not hurt.

Oh hun, I'm so sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rub: Poor babies! Thank goodness your landlord was able to feed them.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

It is not overweight cats who are at risk for fatty liver, but rather cats who have not eaten for awhile.

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It's both, actually. Overweight cats that have not eaten are most at risk, actually. It is lean or proper weight cats that are least at risk. There are cats that have been locked in sheds for three weeks that came out of it OK. A fat cat locked in a shed for three weeks would not.

And one of the first signs of fatty liver is lack of appetite, so although I would call the vet, I think your kitties are going to be just fine. :heart2: All they need is food and TLC right now (though I agree, best to give the vet a ring).

blueyedgirl5946 said:

Is your mother the person who normally feeds your cats when you are gone every other weekend. If she is, and she forgot this time, I would be concerned about her and why she forgot. I hope your cats and your mother be both be okay.

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If they had water and are eating normally now, I think they'll be OK. A call to the vet won't hurt and could set your mind a ease. If they stop eating or seem lethargic, a vet visit is definitely needed. But they're young and healthy and should be able to handle it.

Poor little guys! Buy them some extra catnip to help them forget!

Thanks so much everyone... I was so drained and tired and emotionally exhausted after the whole ordeal.  I called the vet and she said they sounded fine since like all of you said they were eating normally and that they were alert, playful, etc.  She said if I noticed any change to bring them in right away though... crossing my fingers everything stays fine!  Thanks for all your words of encouragement.