Cat won't eat

osubsu

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I have a ~14 yr old mixed male cat. He has always been very healthy and healthy for his age. 3 days ago he stopped eating. Ate like a horse that morning then by afternoon would not touch food. Nothing happened in between. After 2 days I took him to the vet who did a bunch of blood tests, an exam, cancer test, etc. Everything came back normal. He has some minor issues but ones that are typical for his age and nothing serious or that would explain his lack of appetite. They even did an x-ray. So that vet gave me a pill to try that might kick-start his appetite but it did nothing.

Yesterday I went to a different vet that only does cats and came highly recommended.  They got the lab results from the other vet and did a very thorough exam. Still could not find a thing The sent me home with another appetite stimulant but nothing is working. The only thing they could think of to do next was an ultrasound which would cost me $480.

He is an indoor/outdoor cat and he's still going outside to pee and such and is still drinking water but will not touch any kind of food. Normally he is all over me for food each day and I doubt very much finding enough food outside to fill him plus he doesn't go out for that long. He is alert, purrs when petted, but just won't eat. It is now day 3 with no food. I did get him to lap up a little CatSure yesterday (like Asure for adults) but none today.

Anyone ever seen something like this before? It is so odd. Every possible cause the vet could think of for loss of appetite he showed no signs of. Many would have thrown something off in the blood work. The vet did not seem to think this was just a normal prelude to dying of natural causes. I'm wondering now if the ultrasound could find anything they can address. I love my cat and want him to live but at this rate he will starve to death and there does not seem to be any answers.
 
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osubsu

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He's got a very minor kidney disease but had that for years now and his blood levels did not indicate any issues with the kidneys. He has a mild heart murmur (also old) and his heart rate was a bit elevated. That's it.
 
 

peaches08

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CKD can cause nausea in cats; does he lick his lips a lot lately? That's a positive sign for nausea and most cats need a med specifically to address nausea rather than just an appetite stimulant.

I'm terrible with heart stuff, hopefully someone else will chime in on that.

Is it possible he just doesn't want that food anymore?
 
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osubsu

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No he has not been licking his lips. He's had CKD for several years now and lived just fine with it. The vet said that if his kidneys were the cause of this she would have expected to see some signs of that in the blood test results. I am surprised they did not try a med for that just to see or an antibiotic. Or a thyroid med. At this point what do you have to lose?

The sudden disinterest in food was so sudden (morning to afternoon) that it's hard to believe it's just lost interest in food. The last several months he drove me crazy meowing to be fed. Would wake me up at 5:30am wanting to eat and frequently throughout the day was on me. He ate well too often chowing down. That was the case 3 mornings ago then starting later that day he hasn't touched food since. Something has got to be up...
 
 

peaches08

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Were his kidney values within normal limits? Sorry, just a little confused about your cat's CKD diagnosis.

It's possible that you just have a bad batch of food.
 
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osubsu

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His kidney values are a bit elevated but not enough to explain what is happening. His kidney condition is very mild. If it were bad enough for him to have no appetite then his values should have been much higher.

I've tried all kinds of food with him including fresh meat that he would normally take my finger off to eat. He turns his nose up at everything. For whatever reason he must not be feeling well internally. That's all I can figure. Maybe he is dying and this is his way of ending life. He still gets up and goes outside to pee and such and was very active at the vet yesterday checking out the room. At home he sleeps a lot but that is normal. He's just not eating and now meowing at me to eat. Normally if he sees me with food he comes right over to me (or if he smells it). Now the same foods that would rouse him in an instant before he just lifts his head slightly sniffing the air then puts his head back down with no interest. It is so odd.
 
 

peaches08

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Gotcha on the lab work now! With humans, we don't need a big change in CKD patients to see a new lack of appetite. It might be worth calling and asking for an antinauseal.

Did they check his teeth?
 
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osubsu

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Yes they checked his teeth and no problems.
 
 

kitty girl

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So sorry to hear about your kitty not eating.  I have been going through exactly the same problem with not eating with my kitty Missie and when I first posted yesterday she was starting her 3rd day too. She has a litter tray so I could see she had really bad diahrrea. After being on here and peeps calming me down enough to think I decided to try her with mineral water instead of plain old water and within an hour and a half after having a big drink she started to eat again. I have no idea whether it was a coincidence or the mineral water kick started her appetite but it could be worth a try if he will drink it.

Missie is making progress even though she went way over 24 hours without food and I wish the same for your kitty.
 
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osubsu

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Thanks to everyone for their questions and ideas. I'll keep trying. The vet will be calling me in an hour. I will be sure and post any updates.
 
 

leapoffaith03

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I know this is a few months old, but did you ever find out what it was? The exact thing happened with my Sam and it was pancreatitis. Hopefully your kitty was tested for it. Let us know how it turned out! :vibes:
 
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