Cat with gastroenteritis not eating..

Hello all,

My cat Tripper (the same one with the cystitis and bladder surgery issue 2 months ago), was diagnosed with gastroenteritis today.  Last Wed, I found scraps of paper towel that was dug out of my trash can (usually latched, but I forgot to latch it that night).  I had no idea how many pieces he ate, but figure he would barf it out like usual.  Usually by next day,  he barfs it right out.  I didn't see any vomit the next day or the day after and assumed he didn't consume much of it.  Sunday morning, he started backing away from his food dish, which is highly unusual for him.  He ate just a bit and walked away.  That evening, just before dinner, he vomited out a chunk of paper towel.  I was really surprised to see it several days later.  After that, I fed him dinner, and he ate about half of it.  Monday morning at 4:50am he vomits out dinner.  I call the vet and they schedule to have me take him in today for ultrasound (they use a traveling ultrasound technician.)  There was nothing in his GI track, but a lot of fluid in his intestines which the vet thought was odd.  She determined it to be gastroenteritis and sent Tripper home with Metronidazole and cerenia.  He drinks a lot of water but refuses food.  I am worried that he isn't taking in enough food and did call and ask the vet.  They said once the drugs kick in, he might show interest in food, or he may be prescribed appetite enhancers.

It is so strange to see a cat that usually likes to wolf down food, refuse food, and it worries me.  Do any of you have cats that experienced this and how long did it take for the cat to show interest in food.  He's at least drinking.. I'd be worried if he didn't do that, but still, he's only had maybe 1 meal in the last day and half?

Thoughts?

- Grace

And just got some baby food mixed with a little water and syringed it into his mouth.  Hopefully it stays down for him.  Something is better than nothing.  Sad when he doesn't even want to eat the baby food, usually that'd be crack for him.  

Peeka, I started a thread with two cats who are refusing to eat too.  So I'm in the same boat you are in.  One of them is sleeping and only wakes up to growl and vomit.  I also brought a couple of jars of baby food and syringing.  I'm hoping it's a passing virus but I'm now wondering if it may be a massive hairball that won't come up...

Yeah, after I posted mine, I read your's and immediately head out to get a jar of baby food.  At least something he can swallow easily.  He usually eats pate-style food, but unsure if it will be too chunky to syringe for now?  It's scary seeing a cat that usually eats everything in sight refuse food. 

Vet thinks it might be related to the paper towel ingestion, but don't know?  He's had odd reactions to food in the last couple of months, that when I asked the vet, she had no idea what it might be.  He'd eat his food, then run away, groom himself, and then come back and continue eating.  Had the vet check his teeth, all fine.  So very odd, and who knows, maybe he's had this issue for a while and was never detected till now?