Tough Love?

Hi Everyone, this is my first post here, I decided to join after reading several gut wrenching posts here and decided to post what I too am going through.

I bought my cat back in 2005 from a rescue shelter, she was estimated to be 2 and a half years of age (so sad I will never know her exact age) I will have to say by going with what I was told from a very high reputable rescue shelter, she would now have to be about 11 or 12yrs of. I was told when they first found her, she was approximately 2 lbs (now 19 lbs)

just up until a week or so ago, she was eating and drinking normal, that began to slow down where it was just bites here and there and still drinking tho (not now) that concerned me and I wasn't waiting to take her in to the Vets incase things got better. I did take her in Thursday which was a day after where her food eating became less almost to a halt (but still was drinking)  since the Vets visit, they Did run blood tests, palpated her stomach, blood came back normal while sedated (she can be aggressive)had her teeth checked (great shape for her age) Since bringing her home with 2 Meds (Mirtazaphine and Laxatose -sorry not sure of spelling) She hasn't had a bite or drink.

today is the first day Force Feeding her (which is why I say Tough Love, cause I feel if I don't she will die) I called the Vets, they suggested I give her a Can of A/D per day (she hates being force fed, can't say as I blame her but its so hard to do it thinking im hurting her) because of the long weekend, he has also suggested I do this, until Tues because of the long weekend to see if anything changes, if not to bring her in Tues morning for x-rays and feeding tube. 

The Vets told me she was in no pain or discomfort and doesn't show it ( I know cats hide it well) I could tell you everything with my cat is normal and she is acting normal, because thats partially true, whats not Normal is as mentioned her eating and drinking Habits.

Sorry for so long winded, just wanted to share my story.

This is definitely a tough situation! Since the blood work has come back normal, it might be food related.

I'm not an expert or anything, but what if you tried to offer different foods? Does she eat wet or dry? I'd try to offer some wet (if you don't already), and maybe offer a variety of flavours/proteins to encourage her to eat something. You could also boil a chicken breast and give that to her to see if she'll take it. I have also heard of people giving baby food as a supplement while cats are sick, as it's mushy so easy to swallow and helps with staying hydrated.

Sending some good vibes your way 

Thanks for your reply, its very difficult to feed her this way, seeing her and physically, especially because she has a bit of aggression to her. The way I see it is if I don't do this, she could die or contract liver disease. If anything happens to her or I have to do the worse everyone dreads, I wanna know I have done everything in my heart to help her, hearing her cry and yowl in anger doesn't make me feel to good, but I feel its the lesser of the 2 evils.

Thanks

I definitely understand that when it comes down to it, you need to force feed your poor kitty! I didn't mean to offend, just wanted to offer some ideas and thoughts.

Hopefully other people can offer some other suggestions

Nora1 said:

 
I definitely understand that when it comes down to it, you need to force feed your poor kitty! I didn't mean to offend, just wanted to offer some ideas and thoughts.

Hopefully other people can offer some other suggestions

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Hi nora1. I was no where near offended by your reply, sorry if I sounded that way, I appreciate all feedbacks, good or bad, as thats what its all about

Your cat's behavior isn't normal and simply getting food into her doesn't get at the root cause of the problem which is likely an illness (or blockage) of some kind assuming you haven't changed her diet when this started.  The medicines given was an appetite stimulant and a stool softener.  On palpation did the vet say how much stool was in her?  Has she been constipated?  I would be worried about an obstruction (either artificial like an object, or a growth) and that more diagnostics and imaging needs to be done asap.

Hi Stephen, she will be going back in Tuesdays for X-rays, thats for sure.

 I spoke to her vet on Friday and he suggested I continue to give her meds and feed, until then I will keep up with Medications, she started drinking again, using her litter box as thats not changed, to urinate and found 2 tiny like rabbit stools in her litter box, which is more then I can say as of 2 days ago..

But your absolutely right, it is something to worry about, its all I have been doing, and will continue to do so until Tuesday, she is still remaining active, meaning jumping up on the bed, which is a fair height and wondering around like she always does (not to say nothing is wrong tho thats for sure)

thanks

So, first things first. With the syringe feeding:

What size of a syringe are you using? I would use a 1cc or a 3cc.

You can get Gerbers blue and white label baby food in beef. chicken. turkey. The ingredients should have; meat, water, cornstarch, and sometimes citric acid as a preservative. Nothing else or it can make him sick.

When you syringe feed him you cannot approach it in a normal fashion. Not with a cat. Most people like to just get set up and then go get the cat and put cat on a counter or table and syringe feed them while holding them down. They want to do the feeding part as quick as they can because it is  always a source of anxiety for people as well as cats/

Try offering a teaspoon amount of the baby food on a plate for him. Just put it down and leave him alone. Wait 30 minutes and if still no interest then pick it up,

put it or something new down about  30 minutes later. Don't offer large amounts. Just a teaspoon or so to begin with.

As for syringe feeding get the food into the syringe and when he is looking out a window or doing something just approach him from the back and give him any where from 1 to 3 cc slowly. Then leave her alone for a while. Then go back and do the same thing. You dont' want to be holding her when you do this. Anything you do with her should be very short and sweet. No big battles.

You are right to be concerned about hepatic lipidosis. She is a prime candidate being 19 lbs. Does she show any tint of yellow on her ears?

It is going to be impossible to syringe her all she needs to sustain life. You should speak to your vet about a feeding tube. Have they thought it could be pancreatitis? Any grumpiness could be pain. Even though the vets say she is not painful doesn't mean she isn't. The mirtazapine makes some cats really weird.

Ok please keep us updated.....

Quiet said:

 
So, first things first. With the syringe feeding:

What size of a syringe are you using? I would use a 1cc or a 3cc.

You can get Gerbers blue and white label baby food in beef. chicken. turkey. The ingredients should have; meat, water, cornstarch, and sometimes citric acid as a preservative. Nothing else or it can make him sick.

When you syringe feed him you cannot approach it in a normal fashion. Not with a cat. Most people like to just get set up and then go get the cat and put cat on a counter or table and syringe feed them while holding them down. They want to do the feeding part as quick as they can because it is  always a source of anxiety for people as well as cats/

Try offering a teaspoon amount of the baby food on a plate for him. Just put it down and leave him alone. Wait 30 minutes and if still no interest then pick it up,

put it or something new down about  30 minutes later. Don't offer large amounts. Just a teaspoon or so to begin with.

As for syringe feeding get the food into the syringe and when he is looking out a window or doing something just approach him from the back and give him any where from 1 to 3 cc slowly. Then leave her alone for a while. Then go back and do the same thing. You dont' want to be holding her when you do this. Anything you do with her should be very short and sweet. No big battles.

You are right to be concerned about hepatic lipidosis. She is a prime candidate being 19 lbs. Does she show any tint of yellow on her ears?

It is going to be impossible to syringe her all she needs to sustain life. You should speak to your vet about a feeding tube. Have they thought it could be pancreatitis? Any grumpiness could be pain. Even though the vets say she is not painful doesn't mean she isn't. The mirtazapine makes some cats really weird.

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Thanks Quiet,

took your advice, left a spoonfull of food on the floor in a different location (seems she goes there for her water, as thats a 2nd cats spot, that was brought back in 2013 to my home, they don't or never have gotten along, we have to have them seperated my cat will have all of the home except the living room and thats where she seems to wanna go to drink the other cats water 9of course not with the other cat nearby) so I put the spoon there in which she licked it off) and has drank more water today.

It was a big step today and to see that was nice, not saying she is out of the clear, and will still be going to the vets tomorrow, but I just wanted to let you know that your spoon thing worked, I am hoping that stimulates her appetite again. I do a tiny portions of dry food on a plate for her to see if she likes any of them, im hoping if she decided to eat it, or thinks about it, I am not confusing her by the 3 types offered in tiny tiny portions of course..

thanks