I have a medium-ish sized cat, usually weighs about 14-15 pounds (currently at or a little under 10) and I think he is maybe 7? He used to be a stray and so we don't know exactly, but he is definitely fully grown. I believe he is a Maine Coon.
I spent a minimum of half the day with him for a while after we got him, playing / holding / petting etc, then I spent a few months out, leaving him in my brother's care assuming he would be ok with my brother and his cat. Evidently I was wrong, though, and I came back to a much lighter cat. His back legs have very little muscle, and he wobbles quite a lot when he walks. I help him around and with the litter box, ensuring he doesn't fall in it, and bathing him in the event he does. He doesn't groom himself anymore, and is mostly uninterested in eating. We've switched to wet food rather than dry, which helps, but we have also been force-feeding him kitten formula in order to get more calories into him. For a few weeks he had diarrhea, though now it's partially solid again. He seems a little more alert, and interested in dry food, but I'm sure there is still a long way to go before he is really truly well again.
My question, I guess, is should I be doing anything different? Has anyone encountered a situation like this?
Also, how should I keep his nose clear? He tends to get it plugged with snot, and when he can't smell food he doesn't eat it. He does drink water, but mostly just in big batches all at once a time or two a day, which doesn't seem healthy. Healthier than no water, obviously, but still.
Sorry if this is jumbled or whatever, written on a phone, no proper computer. Help?
I spent a minimum of half the day with him for a while after we got him, playing / holding / petting etc, then I spent a few months out, leaving him in my brother's care assuming he would be ok with my brother and his cat. Evidently I was wrong, though, and I came back to a much lighter cat. His back legs have very little muscle, and he wobbles quite a lot when he walks. I help him around and with the litter box, ensuring he doesn't fall in it, and bathing him in the event he does. He doesn't groom himself anymore, and is mostly uninterested in eating. We've switched to wet food rather than dry, which helps, but we have also been force-feeding him kitten formula in order to get more calories into him. For a few weeks he had diarrhea, though now it's partially solid again. He seems a little more alert, and interested in dry food, but I'm sure there is still a long way to go before he is really truly well again.
My question, I guess, is should I be doing anything different? Has anyone encountered a situation like this?
Also, how should I keep his nose clear? He tends to get it plugged with snot, and when he can't smell food he doesn't eat it. He does drink water, but mostly just in big batches all at once a time or two a day, which doesn't seem healthy. Healthier than no water, obviously, but still.
Sorry if this is jumbled or whatever, written on a phone, no proper computer. Help?
