Cat is not interested food at all....

nance

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Today is day 3 and she is not interested in any food I try to give her... I took her to he vet yesterday and they gave her mirtazapine and it did nothing ...she still won't eat...They suggested if she didn't eat today she needs to be hospialized ...and put on IV fluids even tho she was not dehydrated yesterday....I took her cause I thought she was in pain just from the way she was acting and sitting....The vet wasn't sure it was her pancreas because when she squeezed it she did not react...she suggested kidney failure ...but wouldn't I see other signs of that ? I will take her back today for blood work and she will stay with  there ....I can't tell you how much I dislike that idea because she HATES the vets....but I know it probably has to be done...Just wondering what they are going to do to her....They don't open for an hr or so  anyone have any idea what would suddenly stop a 12 yr old other wise healthy cat to stop eating ? Oh I should mention my daughter ( who lives with me ) has a 7 month old cat who did the same thing last week for 4/5 days she however would eat alittle food not much but the vet also gave her mirtazapine/famotidine and it worked for her ...she is back to eating fine...

Why is it I am a nervous wreck when any of my pets get sick :(

Nancy
 

txcatmom

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I'm sure the vet did this...but I'll ask anyway.  Did they look at her mouth for any signs of redness or inflammation?  Just from my own experience, mouth pain was the first thing I though of.

I hope you find the answer...poor thing.
 
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nance

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Yes they checked her teeth yesterday....she is at the vet now....got all blood work back and guess what its all normal...the vet has no idea what's causing this...she is in IV fluids and I told her to give her anti nausea shot...Well I hope this 24 hr stay at the hospital gets he back on track cause its costing me close to $ 900...after that I don't know what I will do if she doesn't eat....soon :(
 

vball91

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Please look into syringe feeding. It has helped save the lives of many cats who were temporarily inappetant for whatever reason.
 

dragulescugirl

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When my cats don't want to eat (which is rare) I have found syringe feeding baby food (meat only - no onions) mixed with non-flavored pedialite has been helpful and was what was suggested by my vet ages ago.
 

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I agree syringe feeding is far more preferable to expensive hospitalization, which will probably just stress your cat out. Here is a great thread on how to do it (http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating). Note you can wrap your cat in a towel if you do not have a bag. I have my own experience with my cat going off food here (http://www.thecatsite.com/t/259470/vomiting-bile-possible-blockage-in-ragodoll-what-to-ask-vet). I would also get your vet to give you cerenia for nausea and cyproheptadine to get him to eat. 
 
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nance

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She started to eat at the vets after the anti nauesa shot.....she was eating while there I picked he up at 4 yesterday and she ate at home yesterday....This morning she did eat but not alot so far...As far as force feeding...my vets are totally against it....saying it can cause more problems....totally turning  them  off  of food and making them fearfull....but I can't afford  another $1000 ( in 24 hrs) for her to come home and after the meds stop working not to eat again...She is drinkng and I will say nibbling at her  food....I read somewhere that it takes just a little food to fend off fatty liver....Does anyone have any knowledge about that ?

Nancy
 

franksmom

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She started to eat at the vets after the anti nauesa shot.....she was eating while there I picked he up at 4 yesterday and she ate at home yesterday....This morning she did eat but not alot so far...As far as force feeding...my vets are totally against it....saying it can cause more problems....totally turning  them  off  of food and making them fearfull....but I can't afford  another $1000 ( in 24 hrs) for her to come home and after the meds stop working not to eat again...She is drinkng and I will say nibbling at her  food....I read somewhere that it takes just a little food to fend off fatty liver....Does anyone have any knowledge about that ?

Nancy
Please do not listen to your vet! I am not sure why some vets are against force feeding. I think it may be because a lot of vets are more familier with dogs- I also think for some it is because they make more money if you hospitalize and put on an IV. Here is a link from a feline vet on the benefits of a feeding tube http://www.catinfo.org/?link=feedingtubes

My vets also did not recommend syringe feeding but it saved my cat's life and he is eating normally now. He is the finikiest eater and the syringe did not put him off food at all when he started to feel better.

Just a little food will not stop fatty liver. You need to try to replace what they were eating before. 29 cc in a syringe equals one ounce so you want to try to feed that several times a day. I aimed for a whole can of the AD. Please read Carolina's thread on syringe feeding it will only help your cat and prevent hospitalization and fatty liver!
 

franksmom

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I just wanted to add I do not think you need a feeding tube I just wanted to illustrate the benefits of force feeding from a perspective of a good feline vet.

When my guy came home from the vet he was eating a small amount of food but I supplemented with the syringe and it did not stop him from eating his treats and after a few doses of the cyproheptodine he started eating all on his own. Did the vet give you cypro? If not I would insist on it.
 
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nance

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Thats interesting...I had in my head that a feeding tube was much bigger deal...in fact only takes 10 mins to put in place....sounds way  better than  force feeding....I have had to force feed a few cats in my time and it never went well at all.....most times the food didnt' get consumed or enough to make much difference....Anyways I am wondering how far I will go with this cat....she is 12 and so far I am in it over $1000....the vet suggeted cancer and wanted xrays....but in my head the blood work was normal....my daughters cat was sick and not eating last week( we live in the same house )....I feel its connected in some way...I dont believe  right now its that serious ....So I for now will offer her  food all day....just hope she keeps eating a little each time ....

Nancy

And no she didnt come home with any meds
 
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franksmom

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For sure feeding tubes are a great option if you do not want to syringe feed and they are very simple and much better than expensive hospitalization, but because vets don't make as much with feeding tubes they are often not mentioned as an option.

I really found syringe feeding super easy following Carolina's tips. I really advise watching her video and others on YouTube about syringe feeding.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Cats can easily get hepatic lipidosis unless they consumer at least 2/3 of their normal food intake.  Just a few nibbles here and there aren't going to cut it, especially several days in a row.

This is certainly a mystery since it struck the other cat last week,now this one.  Do you have a pesticide company or anything that comes out and sprays?  I'm just trying to think of anything that could cause something like this. 

 
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nance

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Nope nothing like that ...nothing that I am aware of has changed....She ate so far about half of what she normally eats in one day....but I will try to get more into her this evening.....she is drinking fine and actually totally normal...but has been trying her  hardest to get outside to eat grass....

Nancy
 

dragulescugirl

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One of my girls refused to eat for days once. I was using pedialite and baby food but trying Fancy Feast, Purina, as well as her ususal (at the time) Wellness and Innova. Even tuna wouldn't work! Well that night my husband was making himself a sandwich with his ooh lah lah $15/lb fancy ham and she was right there rubbing up against his legs. She scarfed down quite a bit of it and then returned to her regular food. 

I know feeding cats table scarps isn't ideal but if it will help stimulate their appetite then I personally don't see any harm in feeding them "people" food. 

Is there something she craves every time you cook it/eat it that may perk her up?
 

finnlacey

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squeezing her pancreas is no way to tell if she has pancreatitis or not! The only way to tell that is through ultrasound and a PLI blood test. And they are right, fatty liver happens VERY easily and if it does, then you are talking hospitalization because it's life threatening.
 
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nance

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Well after her hospital say she started to eat.....and today she is back to eating all her food....Dunno what was wrong with her but just hope it doesn't come back....Thanks for all your help :)

Nancy
 
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