What to Feed My Muffin Boy - In His Last Days

Thank you for the replies. I haven't thought about baby food. I know sometimes that might have additives like onions, etc. But I could investigate that option. I don't believe he is to the point to syringe feed him. I am reminded now that he was on an appetite stimulant at one time, so I have a call in now to his doctor to see if I can get that. I will try the shrimp when I can get some thawed from my freezer. I also have some frozen rotisserie chicken that I can thaw and try. I am frustrated but trying to keep calm because I know they pick up on our feelings. I really don't want to stress him. Thanks everyone.

there are some varieties of baby food that don't have onions or garlic. Just look on the label and I know you'll find one. I can't remember if it's Beechnut or not, I think so. The appetite stimulant should help a lot as well.

Did you try foods at the stinkiest end of the scale, like sardines? Or something like liver? Maybe stronger smells and flavors will stimulate his nose and appetite. 

As far as baby food, check out the Gerber 2nd Stage meats. They have a bit of cornstarch but no seasonings, just the meat. You can get them in chicken, beef, turkey, and ham.   I use them for hiding medications. The cats love them. 

I'm so sorry about your little one. I know you are spending every second you can with him and will make these days as easy for him as you can. What can I say, there's a lump in my throat just thinking about it. Wishing you all the best. 

blueyedgirl5946 said:

Thank you for the replies. I haven't thought about baby food. I know sometimes that might have additives like onions, etc. But I could investigate that option. I don't believe he is to the point to syringe feed him. I am reminded now that he was on an appetite stimulant at one time, so I have a call in now to his doctor to see if I can get that. I will try the shrimp when I can get some thawed from my freezer. I also have some frozen rotisserie chicken that I can thaw and try. I am frustrated but trying to keep calm because I know they pick up on our feelings. I really don't want to stress him. Thanks everyone.

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My heart goes out to you, it's so hard when you don't know what will capture their interest and keep them strong enough for a little bit longer.  When my Pal was really frail I would give her bits of flaked tuna in water, or tinned crab claw in water: I'd eat it at the same time as her, it seemed to help a bit and I could hand / spoon feed her if she wanted. It also meant I could get a little fluid in to her as sometimes she'd lick at the can juice. She'd sometimes have a bit of steamed white fish with me. I tried the same with  chicken and turkey but she only seemed to like the sea food which I know Muffin isn't meant to have but some food is better than none if he won't try the baby food suggestion. It also means if you open something or make it up you don't have to throw it all away as you eat it anyway - and that keeps you looking after your self too which is really hard.   

The vet called me at eight PM. He will be calling the drugstore for the appetite stimulant at nine when they open in the morning. I am going out tomorrow so will look at some of the baby food suggestions too. I opened a can of the tuna in water and that is what Muffin had for supper. At this point, I will give him what he will eat, even if it is seafood, which he really does like. Oh my, I really don't think I am ready for this.

We're here to talk to if you need us. 

When my Skittles was nearing the end, my vet suggested warming her wet food slightly in the microwave.  She said that would stimulate her sense of smell and encourage her to eat more.  It seemed to help.  

blueyedgirl5946 said:

The vet called me at eight PM. He will be calling the drugstore for the appetite stimulant at nine when they open in the morning. I am going out tomorrow so will look at some of the baby food suggestions too. I opened a can of the tuna in water and that is what Muffin had for supper. At this point, I will give him what he will eat, even if it is seafood, which he really does like. Oh my, I really don't think I am ready for this.

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finnlacey said:

We're here to talk to if you need us. 

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I hope the appetite stimulant helps.  No one is ever ready for these episodes in life, other than with their love and care to protect those they love. Take care and know that there are lots of cat people out here who are thinking of you. 

I do hope he responds well to the appetite stimulant.. We've been so lucky that with Lazlo whenever we had issues, that usually worked. We did syringe feed him here and there... but for the most part, the app stim helped.

:rub:

Oh! If he likes fishy foods, consider sardines (look for those packed in water with no salt). Most cats that like fish love these, and they have more complete nutrition than the tuna.

FYI, warm jumbo shrimp is what worked for Tuxedo. :lol3:

Oh Barb I am so sorry . We fed Toby the food that we were eating. We would bring home tuna and salmon sushi and he loved that. We would cook an extra piece of salmon for him at dinner. We got him McDonalds burgers. He also liked hills a/d bc it was easy to lap up. But just as you said, our boy did not want the same thing twice. We also did tuna packed in water and let him lap up the water. We would rejuvenate whatever cat food by primping it up and putting more water in it and stand there while he ate it. Toby also liked the solid gold tuna and whitefish products, and he liked the fancy feast appetizer tuna and the tilapia little tubs. He liked the ff fish can, I can't remember the exact name but fish is in the label name.

I know how hard this is and it is so good of you to be strong for your boy. You will know when his body is not strong enough for his beautiful spirit. Until then it is good for u to pamper him as u r doing, and give him loving, I think Toby appreciated his neck rubs and pettings even more when he was weaker and tired, it took his mind off his sickness and helped him to hang in there. I know u already know this, I just want u to know I am there thinking of you and muffin. I come back looking to see if u have posted about him as I think of him as a brother to Toby with his illness and being so brave, and you too.

Thanks everyone. I am getting some good suggestions here. I hadn't thought about sardines. I am going to look in my cabinet to see if I have some. If not, I am going to try it when I get chance to go by the store again. I did get the appetite stimulant from the vet and gave it to Muffin tonight. We ate out at lunch and had roast chicken. I brought some of that home and Muffin at that very well for his supper. This morning he did have tuna packed in water. I am basically giving him whatever it takes to keep him eating. I am hoping the appetite stimulant will get him going again. It has worked well for him in the past.

im going to suggest some stuff i gave mewlittle on her last weeks

what you can try on him on his RX food is

any wet food you can try dont matter what brand as long he eats

hamburger ,tuna.turkey,chicken,beef ,sardines.mackeral.salmon,his fav treats,if he like odd ball stuff like veggies ,butter etc put that on his food it'll most likely might make him eat you can also try KMR kitten milk on his food

i tried hamburger once she ate some

she got a hotdog every day

she got any wet food

sorry to hear your furbaby his going threw this i been threw it with Mewlittle so i know how it feels.

Mewlittle said:

im going to suggest some stuff i gave mewlittle on her last weeks
what you can try on him on his RX food is
any wet food you can try dont matter what brand as long he eats
hamburger ,tuna.turkey,chicken,beef ,sardines.mackeral.salmon,his fav treats,if he like odd ball stuff like veggies ,butter etc put that on his food it'll most likely might make him eat you can also try KMR kitten milk on his food

i tried hamburger once she ate some
she got a hotdog every day
she got any wet food

sorry to hear your furbaby his going threw this i been threw it with Mewlittle so i know how it feels.

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He is no longer on the RX food. I had to stop it because no matter what I did to it, he wouldn't eat any of it, even when I poured tuna water over it or mixed it with the Fancy Feast or any foods.

Oh okay how is he doing today? and is he eating at all ?

Mewlittle said:

Oh okay how is he doing today? and is he eating at all ?

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He ate his Fancy Feast this morning without too much coaxing. Yesterday we brought home roast chicken from the restaurant, which he enjoyed very much for his supper. There is more of that in the fridge, which I will offer him tonight. I went to Aldi's today and bought sardines in a can packed in water. I will hold those for emergency. He did get a dose of mertapazine last night which is the appetite stimulant that worked well for him after his cancer surgery last year in May.

With Toby, toward the end the appetite stimulant did not work at all but he was in kidney failure and it was a matter of keeping him hydrated. I too hope the stimulant works for sweetest Muffin Boy. Toby did well on all the foods in this thread until his kidneys pooped out and then he turned away from most things, picking at his former favorites. But he did lap at the a/d and when he would not eat anything we syringe fed him watered down a/d mixed w a little pumpkin and he did ok on that for a few days.
I took a lot of videos of me petting Toby and I look at them when I miss him a lot. I size them to full screen and pretend he is there with me, and I have some where his purr is loud.
My thoughts are with you.

BarbB said:

With Toby, toward the end the appetite stimulant did not work at all but he was in kidney failure and it was a matter of keeping him hydrated. I too hope the stimulant works for sweetest Muffin Boy. Toby did well on all the foods in this thread until his kidneys pooped out and then he turned away from most things, picking at his former favorites. But he did lap at the a/d and when he would not eat anything we syringe fed him watered down a/d mixed w a little pumpkin and he did ok on that for a few days.
I took a lot of videos of me petting Toby and I look at them when I miss him a lot. I size them to full screen and pretend he is there with me, and I have some where his purr is loud.
My thoughts are with you.

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I have a couple of videos I have taken of him. I need to get on the porch next week and do some more. Barb, hubby says we are not going to do syringe feeding. Neither of us want to see him get really bad. I guess we will cross that bridge and make that decision when the time comes.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

I have a couple of videos I have taken of him. I need to get on the porch next week and do some more. Barb, hubby says we are not going to do syringe feeding. Neither of us want to see him get really bad. I guess we will cross that bridge and make that decision when the time comes.

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Each person has to make their own decision but I don't think I would do the syringe feeding either.  I have done it for a sick cat and of course it stresses out the cat, then I start to get stressed out and it creates an escalating cycle.  This is always so sad.

I would not do it either, but in Toby's case they could not tell initially whether the lymphocytes were taking over or whether he had a kidney infection or both. We gave him a rescue treatment chemo, and antibiotics, and we had to treat him as if we were treating the infection as long as he was in remission. As soon as the vet confirmed that his kidneys were enlarged again and that his remission was likely over, we only did fluids and food he might like and nothing forced.
Unlike Muffin, Toby did not have a tumor so it was not as clear cut, other than he stopped eating and showed evidence of kidney infection and involvement. He crashed extremely quickly, once the cancer got to his vital organs it enveloped him and so even as sick as he was, he was still a large weight even on his last legs, plus still interested in going outside almost up until the end. On his final two days we were very sure.
I think you are right in Muffin's case not to force him, you know what is going on with him. I think he will cherish every minute u spend with him, as much as you will cherish it too.