How to get kitty back on solid food???

mustangmelissa

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Hello there!

I have a kitty that has been on syringe feedings for about two months now. He had originally gotten so skinny that he was near death. The doctor did blood tests and could only determine that his liver values were way up. He also was exhibiting signs of neurological damage, as he was walking with a head tilt and was having problems keeping his balance, along with partial paralysis on that one side of his face. The doctor suspected possible Toxoplasmosis (I have no idea how he could have been exposed as all my kitties are indoor only). Anyways, he was started immediately on a very strong course of clindamycin as well as appetite stimulants and vitamin B injections. My mom is a vet tech so she has been able to help with the daily home care. After being on the antibiotics for about 48hrs, he started to improve drastically and has been improving every day. I would say that he's gained at least 2lb and is starting to develop muscle tone back in his hindquarters. He still has a bit of a head tilt, and my mom said that may never go away. He also seems a little more "simple" than before...if that's a word? He's still my baby and is back to acting like he would in the past...like quite the troublemaker in opening drawers, doors, and running around like a nut. 

So, he's on the road to recovery - great. But now how the heck do I get him back on solid food? The doc put him on meat baby food (he only likes Gerber) via syringe because that's the only thing I could get him to take and she said that whatever he would eat is what we'll go with. Now that he's stronger, he still only wants that (but he won't eat it off a plate). I've tried Science Diet AD since we have ready access to it with my mom working at the office - he doesn't like it. My elderly cat LOVES the stuff and that's what I always used to add weight. My "sickie" wants nothing to do with it. I think I've tried every type of canned food out there. He seems really interested in people food and goes nuts every time we eat dinner (something he never did in the past). I've tried cooking him kitty friendly food and pretending that it was my dinner - no go. My normal dry food is 4-health all-life stages (no by-products and an all around great food for the price - I love Tractor Supply!) - no interest. I tried buying the "bad for kitties" food that they oh-so-love from the grocery store - he goes bonkers when he hears the bag but no go as soon as it hits the bowl. Does anybody have any suggestions on getting him off the syringe? He won't even eat the meat baby food off a plate! I forgot to mention that he gets daily large doses of kitty multi-vitamins since he's not getting what he needs from the baby food. 

He's a 5 year old Seal Point Himalayan.

Thank you!
 
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vball91

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Wow, once cats start feeling better, they generally start eating on their own again. Is he still on appetite stimulants? If not, he may need them to kick start his eating on his own again. Which people food did he express an interest in?
 
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mustangmelissa

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Thank you for the response. He is still on the appetite stimulants, as well as the Clindamycin. He will be on the antibiotics thru Halloween. He goes nuts over most of the people food we eat, but he really seems interested in pizza and pork fried rice (we were on vaca last week and didn't eat so well, lol). The rice prompted me to try boiling some white rice with hamburger, but he picked at it and then walked away. I even pretended to eat it so he would think it was my food! There are times when he seems absolutely ravenous. He even jumped onto the stove (eek!) the other day to knock off a cookie sheet that had crumbs on it, just to get at the crumbs. He meets me every morning as soon as I get out of bed for his morning jar of baby food. He also gets one in the evening (2 a day) as well as a 6cc syringe full of nutrical. In the beginning, he was on 3 jars a day, but my mom suggested cutting out some to help nudge him in the direction of eating on his own. I'm just so afraid of him crashing again if I don't feed him.

I've tried watering down some of the finer pate cat food (AD mixed with water is fine enough, and I can suck up Nutro cans directly without water) but he doesn't really like it. He usually ends up spitting some of it out. 

The one thing that he has started to do on his own is drink. While he was ill, I was giving him fluids ever day, about 100cc worth. I haven't had to give him fluids in a couple weeks, so he has to be drinking on his own. 
 
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vball91

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Have you tried finger feeding him the baby food? Maybe if you can get him to eat it off your finger, you can then progress to wiping some on a plate for him. Then you can try putting some of the baby food on top of the wet cat food you would like him to eat. Are there any treats he really likes? If so, you can try crushing some and putting it on top of the food.
 
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mustangmelissa

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He goes nuts when he hears the treat bag, but won't take them. He just "head butts" them while I'm holding them for him. I will try making him take the food by finger, but he absolutely flips out when anybody tries to stick a finger in his mouth. I have to give him nutrical via syringe. 

The doctor did say that his teeth look fine and my mom has checked them several times as well. 
 
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