What to Feed My Muffin Boy - In His Last Days

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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Do spend time taking photos and videos. BarbB reminded me that I did that loads, and even more when I new time was short. I still love looking at them, and the videos are precious.   It's can be a strong reminder of those times when they were a little better, showing their personality and interacting with you other than for their care (which tends to take over in our memories).  I was looking at them a couple of days ago actually and it immediately brought a smile to my face.

You know what's right for Muffin and totally agree about not doing something that would cause any of you distress here.  

Wanted to post an update here. Muffin is holding on. But it is a real challenge to get him to eat. The vet has given me the Mertipazine stimulant again for him. Even so, it is a real issue. I thought I had found some Nine Lives wet that he loved as he scarfed it all down last night. This morning he licked it and left it. I feel bad for getting so frustrated because I love him, I really do. It just seems like it is an all day job now to take care of him. I want to cry.

I understand getting frustrated.  I would feel that way when I was vet hopping trying to get some answers about Patches and then I would feel guilty because it certainly wasn't his fault that he was sick and I wasn't finding a vet who could fix it.

I have been reading bits and pieces of Muffin's journey and trying to catch up, only having joined TCS in February 2013. I'm so sorry to hear about Muffin. In reading through these posts, even I got that sick feeling in my stomach knowing how difficult this is for the both of you. I fully understand the anxiety and heartache every time a meal is rejected. My heart goes out to you. 

I'm sorry if these were already discussed: Have you tried B12 injections above and beyond the standard dose? Fortiflora or shaved bonito fish flakes as a topper? I've read some good things about a product from Vitality Science for cancer kitties (https://www.vitalityscience.com/v/AllProducts/feline-immune/cat-cancer.asp), but it is expensive. NHV ES Clear is also one that comes up often (http://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.co...ancer-support-and-overall-immune-support-cats).

One of my cats is a kibble addict with probable IBD or lymphoma (bad combination). The only wet food he'll eat is EVO 95% Turkey & Chicken, but that's only when I land upon a good batch that is acceptable to him. I've tried every canned food for adult cats available within a 20-mile radius of me and even some online-only foods that I had to buy by the case (and then donate). The latest that I've tried that he'll eat: Fancy Feast Kitten (comes in Tender Turkey Feast or Tender Ocean Whitefish Feast). I never thought to buy kitten food before since he's not a kitten, but figured I'd try it. He loves it and I can now offer that occasionally in rotation with the EVO canned. It's my only shot at getting wet food into him.

I read in another post the idea of cooking a stinky fish in a frying pan with butter. If he'll eat something like that and you're worried about nutrients, is it possible to include a low dose of a premix used for raw/home-cooked? If he doesn't eat the fish you cook, you can make fish tacos for yourself. 

Try to keep going, your love comes across so strongly and you know are frustrated because you want him to hold on and stay with you as long as he can.      

Will he still eat any of your food, like that chicken dinner?  Can't say I fancy those fish tacos but maybe something is more appealing to all if he's sharing it with you?     At one point with my little snow leopard I could only get her to eat tiny bits of high cal' pate from the vet by her licking it off my finger. I would lay with her on the floor or have her on my lap and just hold my finger by her mouth and try to encourage her to eat by giving me little kisses. She would take little licks of water from a tea spoon as well  if I held it to her mouth.

 Fortunately the mirtazipine  helped my Louis quite a bit.     I

also gave some Pepcid AC (famotidine) to help settle his stomach

and Vitamin B12 injections -- at the end I gave that weekly.   

  What about prednisilone ?   I can't remember if  Muffin is already on something like that   but it does stimulate the appetite and it could maybe add a little extra time of feeling decent.  

 I agree  about sprinkling some Fortiflora as a topper,    the probiotics can't hurt  but it can also be used as a food attractant.   Louis actually loved raw venison and ate that pretty well until almost the end,   then  he didn't want it so much  but  I found he ate it with Fortiflora on it. 

  Or some cats are attracted to parmesan cheese sprinkled on the food. 

Baby food -  Stage 1   chicken or turkey.  usually that is JUST the meat and nothing else.   but of course read the label.  

 I know someone else who had  a sick old cat  who would eat the Royal Canin Babycat . 

Have you tried the roast chicken again?  

Heating up the food can sometimes get a cat to eat.   but probably  you already thought of that.  

 Muffin is a very determined guy, it seems , to be holding on this long,   and he must really enjoy his life with you and was in no hurry to leave it.   

. 

It is true Barb, I had the same thing with Toby. I am so sorry this is happening to you :-( :-(, and you know how bad I feel for you. It is just pure anguish, especially after you have cared for your boy for so very long and helping him each day to make things count for him. 

I took a picture of Toby (not this one below) surrounded by cans of his food just so I would remember what lengths we went to, to feed him, not that I would forget but just in case. It was hell every day, wanting him to eat and trying one thing after another. Sometimes I would open 3 or 4 cans of stuff till I got the right one. I am glad your sweetest Muffin boy is still eating a lot when he does eat. Also if you give him a few choices, he may actually go back to one of the ones he turned down at first. Toby did that a few times in his "earlier" eating less time period. 

Here he is looking good but he was actually extremely ill and not eating at all. This was taken three days before we had to euthanize him, (and for anyone not familiar w/his story, know that he had fought the long fight and was in kidney failure from his cancer involvement).

:-(. Also the mirtazapine which had worked so well earlier did not work at all once he became so ill. 

I suggest if you see more tapering off,  it might help by making it easier for him to lap at his food, add moisture to it. Also toward the end Toby did not respond to strong smelling foods, I think those made him nauseated. In the end he ate softer blander foods. He still lapped up tuna water juice but he did not like the tuna packed in oil. He would get some of the flakes in the tuna. I ground it up pretty good to make sure he got those tiny flakes. It helped. He also lapped at the Hill's A/D and I added a little water to that too. 

Also I would take a little bit of stuff on my finger and dab it to his mouth so he would have to lick it. Sometimes he just left it there and other times it would interest him and he would take a few laps. 

I agree about trying the baby food altho it did not work with Toby. I also think heating up the food, in his case you can put a few drops of hot water on it to intensify the aroma, but I would stick with mild food if you know he might be nauseated. Toby did eat salmon sushi almost right to the end, along with the tuna flakes in water. Mind you, it was hardly anything but he did have a tiny bit.

For now if you can keep him interested in whole cans, try Avoderm fish (my cats love the tuna and crab now and they are picky) and also the fancy feast fish I think it is called flaked fish, also the beef and chicken got some interest even with my most finicky cat (Lola) and the chicken classic too, altho these last two only worked once in a great while (altho Toby ate the FF Chicken for a longer time). I also got some mileage by switching textures. Everyone went for the FF grilled salmon at least once as well as the FF flaked tuna. 

I'm so sorry about your dear Muffin. I hope he finds something he likes soon!

I'm so sorry Barb. Just sending and more

Try freezing the unused portions of canned food in meal-serving sizes. At least you won't be wasting the food. When we've gone through this, we always had the ferals to eat leftovers.

You have my sympathies - I went through this earlier this year with Houdini (RIP).  It sucks, no other way to describe it - the deal we have to make with The Universe when we have pets: we will almost always outlive them.  Please know that I empathize with you.  It sounds like Muffin had a wonderful life with wonderful people.

Muffin is so lucky to have great parents. You are doing an amazing job caring for your baby. 

I want to say thanks for the support and kind words of encouragement.
LDG, It seems right now that my other cat Mattie, is glad to clean up any leftovers from what Muffin won't eat. So the food is not being wasted. Mattie has a stomach of iron and it is not bothering her to eat varieties.

BarbB I loved seeing the picture of Toby, even though he was so sick. He was a tough boy. I know you miss him. I have tried adding moisture to Muffin's food. Sometimes, yes and sometimes no. Sometimes, I pick up pieces of the wet food and he will eat from my fingers. Or he will sometimes eat it from a spoon. Muffin has already tried every flavor of Fancy Feast food. Where is Avoderm available.

Maewkaew Muffin already i on a dosage of prednisolone. He also takes methimazole every day for his thyroid. I quit Forti Flora because he would lick it off and quit.

GoHolistic - I have not tried kitten food but will look at that as something to try along with possible baby food and some more chicken.

I was at Wal Mart yesterday. They had some cans of stuff on clearance for .25 a can. I bouth Meow Mix topper with real whitefish topped with flakes of tuna. So far he loves that.
I also bought some cans of Purina One Healthy metabolism cat food which is tender salmon in sauce and he likes that too. So his last two meals have been this. This morning I gave him some raw shrimp. He always eats that and will take your hand off for it if you don't turn it loose.

I am trying hard to hold on and be strong. I don't want Muffin to pick up on my sadness.

You're going through a really rough time. Sometimes it seems everything revolves around food - will he eat, how much, etc.. I think a lot of people here have been through that and can empathize. Mega for Muffin.

I am SO glad to hear Muffin is enjoying some the shrimp and the topper with whitefish.  

 i know so much what you mean about trying to be strong and not show Muffin how torn up you are,  try to stay positive for him.    So many times I went  off and cried where I hoped he would not hear me.     It's just the same with our human and animal family members....   it can be very hard being a caretaker for a loved one who is so ill.   

I was glad to see Toby's picture too.  Beautiful even if he was sick.  

Woo Hoo, Yipppppeee. For our meal tonight I cooked stew beef with carrots and potatoes. Muffin didn't do too well eating the I bought from Wal Mart yesterday. But I found out he loves stew beef and gravy. What a supper my boy had tonight.

WOW    Go Muffin!    That is so great to hear he had a good meal and enjoyed it .....    

 Maybe your beef gravy might help make other food more palatable to him?   

maewkaew said:

WOW    Go Muffin!    That is so great to hear he had a good meal and enjoyed it .....    
 Maybe your beef gravy might help make other food more palatable to him?   

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Oh, and the gravy was gluten free. That is how I am cooking and eating now. So that is what he got. I can try some of the gravy on his food in the morning if he needs it. Thanks for the idea.

I'm so glad to hear he at the stew beef! That's great! 

And perhaps other home-cooked gravys would work, too.

Barb, I'm glad you liked the Toby pic and maewkaew you too, he did fight right up until the end. I miss him a lot and I feel so blessed that he was my boy at all. I was looking at my web cam pix a few days ago, that i had taken over time w me and him, and I found some where he was in the background peeking at me, such a funny little boy and a gem to find him doing that lol.

The avoderm is at Petco, and another good one is the royal canin baby wet food, it is called baby instinctive, first stage early start, and is the loaf form, not minced or sliced- can be confusing so make sure u have that one, although it sounds like Muffin may be up for heartier food yay !

YIPPEE!!! Muffin seems to like the good old home cooked family tea.    Long may it last.  I now see you happily slaving over a hot stove with Muffin sniffing the air behind you rather than trailing around supermarkets trying to find new cat foods.