All 6 feral cats have stopped eating

detmut

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In my opinion, the avoidance of the usual dry food could very well be due to association.

If that is the food they were eating while possibly eating something that made them feel sick and lose their appetite, they will assume it was caused by their dry food. You see?
good point. i had to switch foods after my cat recovered from vomiting/diarrhea. 
 

ondine

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In my opinion, the avoidance of the usual dry food could very well be due to association.

If that is the food they were eating while possibly eating something that made them feel sick and lose their appetite, they will assume it was caused by their dry food. You see?
I am wondering if they were eating when the dog startled them all.  Worth exploring.  Certainly worth talking to the dog's owner, if that's possible.
 
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snugglecat

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They had just finished eating when the dog came around but I had already picked up the dishes and they were cleaning themselves on the porch when the dog appeared. I do not know who owns the dog, I ran out in the yard trying to chase it off. I have never even seen this dog in our neighborhood before.

This morning I gave them all the Merrick dry food with a different flavor of Friskies that they have only had a couple of times. They all ate and licked bowls clean. Maddie ate very slow but she was stopping and looking around a lot as if she was looking for a dog to appear.

The only one who would not touch the dry food was Mama cat, I have to feed her canned first and go out when everyone is done and give Mama her dry food. She eats way to slow when I give it to her together and the girls steal it from her. She went to eat it but then kept spitting it out and finally walked away.

I  went out with a little handful of my cats dry food and she ate it all gone.
   I think mama cat is just being picky right now.

They all seem to be doing a little better. I have not found any throw up in the driveway since last week. Tiger is getting her feet cleaned up and the sister's are not avoiding her anymore. I still have not seen Mama cat get close but she will now get on the porch with Tiger there.

I might just go and buy a little bad of the junk food dry that they like just to add as a little topper and see if Mama cat will start eating again.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, it has really helped me understand the situation with Tiger. This morning Tiger even did her usual stepping in the front door and rubbing up against my leg crying for her food.
 

catwoman707

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Sounds like for the most part things are getting better.

I do think it's a very good idea to offer some junk food, just to see that everyone is eating again, no harm in that!

The only time I have EVER seen ferals get picky about which food they will eat is when they are overfed. Just fyi.

Of course not including lack of eating due to not feeling well, whether due to ingesting something bad/harmful or needing vet care/meds.

Also just a mention, but did you know that by the time kittens are 5-6 months old they no longer know they are siblings/daughter/son, etc?

This is why there is inbreeding so much. Moms and sons, sister/brother, etc.

By the time they reach sexual maturity they don't remember who is who :) Only male/female.
 

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Sorry to come so late to the conversation-particularly now that you've possibly got the mystery (s) solved-YEAH!!!!

I do bet that a big part may be association with the dog terror incident. We had one Foster that had a horrible eye surgery -& a food he'd loved ever since he'd comein the shelter...post surgery he suddenly stopped eating it. We though he was sick/dying...turned out he was associating that food with the pain of returning from a rough surgery. My vet actually recommend we get him excited about food again with a smelly (re:cheaper) hard food. As he said "we can put him on something with the best nutrition-but I guarantee he'll be more excited by a Frisky 's etc. So let's get him back making good associations with food---then we'll ease him back into the 'good stuff.' " And it worked!!!ive had that happen with a few cats (feral & non-feral)over the past few years! So don't feel guilty about trying a less expensive food -if it's what they'll eat -that's what's important!!!!

The chances of every single one having the same allergy (since not all are related)Id bet on it being either (or a combo of) avoidance based on a fear of the dog &/or getting into a little (probably accidental )poison. Tis the season now for antifreeze to be in puddles they can all walk thru, or if the neighbors poisoning for snails etc, it would have been easy for them to all walk thru a little he left:dropped....or they could have eaten grass he spilled on, or even the snailsthemselves,etc. They obviously werent exposed/ate a ton or they'd all/most be gone. So good for you for monitoring this and fixing it quickly! And in my opinion (I understand the money considerations too!!!) just -for now-- keep trying the less expensive"high smell/flavor foods"...and keep us posted!
 

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Efficient Way to Use Slug Bait (and Protect Cats & Birds Too)

Take an empty, clean, dry 2 liter soda bottle

Cut at the top of the cylindrical portion

Invert the top so it nests into the cylinder - it will look like a funnel

Staple together

Toss some slug pellets inside and lay container down in a shady damp place in the garden. Nestle it into mulch etc so it won't blow around

Slugs climb in to get the bait. Not being terribly intelligent they cannot figure out how to climb out

When it gets nasty inside, just toss into trash and make a new one.

Make one as a gift for your neighbors across the street. Just tell them you understand they're having a problem with slugs. Here's a handy-dandy way to use their slug bait, protects bait from breaking down when it rains, tidy cleanup, etc. Don't even need to mention the cats and you come across as a sweet thoughtful neighbor.
 

msaimee

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Also just a mention, but did you know that by the time kittens are 5-6 months old they no longer know they are siblings/daughter/son, etc?

This is interesting. Can you please post a link to a site that has this information? Does it apply to siblings that have been raised together, neutered, and always lived together? My neighbor adopted 2 feral kitten brothers a few years ago and they are still very close and inseparable. Also, my outdoor feral and his offspring son that I took in a few years ago seem to still know and recognize each other through the sunroom windows and when I open the front door. I've read that cats who are related always recognize each other by their unique scent from when they were in the nest together. When an unfixed female goes into heat, I always assumed the unfixed male relative had sex with her because the hormones take over and trump family relations, not because he forgot she was his daughter or sister.  
 

catwoman707

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Also just a mention, but did you know that by the time kittens are 5-6 months old they no longer know they are siblings/daughter/son, etc?

This is interesting. Can you please post a link to a site that has this information? Does it apply to siblings that have been raised together, neutered, and always lived together? My neighbor adopted 2 feral kitten brothers a few years ago and they are still very close and inseparable. Also, my outdoor feral and his offspring son that I took in a few years ago seem to still know and recognize each other through the sunroom windows and when I open the front door. I've read that cats who are related always recognize each other by their unique scent from when they were in the nest together. When an unfixed female goes into heat, I always assumed the unfixed male relative had sex with her because the hormones take over and trump family relations, not because he forgot she was his daughter or sister.  
U.C. Davis symposium on cat behavior by Dr. Niels Peterson and Dr. Kate Hurley.

Just because a bonded pair were originally siblings or related continue to stay bonded does not indicate they know they are blood related, but because they are companions and trust one another.

Question: Will Littermates ... Mate?

This question has come up for both dogs and cats. Viewers want to know if once littermates reach puberty, will they ... mate? Or will they "know" they are brother and sister and refrain?

Answer: The short answer is no, they won't know or care that they are littermates, and will breed once they reach puberty and the female is in heat.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/doghealthfaqs/f/Will-Littermates-Mate.htm

I don't know that there is any actual proof of this, since you can't dissect a cat's memory, but the fact is, unlike humans, the bond of relations between say a mom cat and her litter, once she has cared for them and they have become weaned, in a very short time, literally days of being separated she will no longer recognize them as her kids.I have personally seen this many times. The first 2 days of separation they miss each other and whine, by day 4 try putting them back in with mom and she will NOT have it, treating them as complete strangers, growling and demanding they are removed from her space. This shows a very weak bond, as her instincts are to move on and be ready to mate again.

The bottom line is, their natural instincts to mate once they become sexually mature means siblings or other family recognition is meaningless at this point, whether they remember or not, but it is considered that they don't recognize them as siblings.

Even fixed, sexual maturity is not simply able to reproduce, it is major changes in behaviors, dominance, etc. 
 
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snugglecat

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UPDATE on the eating situation.

I bought some Iams Naturals dry food and they all love it so what's the problem you ask.

Two of the cats cannot eat this food without chin swelling up and looking infected. This is the problem I have with two of the cats on every food I buy. They can only eat the Merrick dry food with out having this issue.

I tried returning them back to the Merrick yesterday and the 2 that have issues would not eat the food. The others are eating but real slow or won't finish the food. Tiger got so bad on the Iams that she was making her paws bleed and her mouth is so swollen, it looks really bad. I have little blood paw prints on my porch. Snickers has a swollen chin and staring to break out with acne which is what she does with all the different foods I've tried.

I just don't know what to do anymore, I'm in tears writing this. I cannot afford the expensive food anymore and I am running out of foods to try that I can afford. My rent was raised out of the blue $300.00 just like that as the place I live in was sold. I'm trying so hard to stay here so I can continue to feed my little colony of cats.

They all started out on Purina Cat Chow but was always itching so I was looking into other foods. I had money to afford a better food when I started this search. They can't even go back on any Purina product with out the chin swelling thing going on.

List of some of the dried foods I've tried that I can remember, I'm sure I have left out a few foods as I know there are a few more I have tried.

Royal Cannin

Solid Gold

Several Purina products including Friskies dry food

Nature's Recipe

Authority

Acana

Iams in different flavors

Taste of the Wlid

Simply Nourish Protein Source

Canidae

All of these foods either make the cats itch and pull fur out or they get swollen chins with the exception of the Merrick dry food. Tiger and Snickers are the worst when dealing with this problem.

I have tried finding them homes since 2011, it's just getting so hard to care for them. I live on a small fixed income. All I do is cry daily because I don't know what to feed them anymore.

Thanks for listening
 

catapault

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I have seen people here mentioning dry cat food from both Tractor Supply and Costco in favorable terms. If you have a friend with a Costco membership perhaps you could get a bag to try.

Can you go to a pet supply store, explain your situation, and see if they would sell you close to expiration date Merrick food at a good discount.

Too bad there's no way to just feed only Merrick to the sensitive two cats and something else to all the others. I cannot imagine how.
 
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snugglecat

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I don't think it's just the food right now that is the problem with Tiger (the one that was missing)

Tiger had been hiding in the tall grass and sleeping a lot the last 3 or 4 days. She has not eaten much the last couple of days. We just had a rain storm go through and she laid out in that pouring down rain. She finally made her way to the box of straw on my porch but looks very sick.

I went out to feed and she would not get out of the box. She is soaking wet and looks really sick. I tried to get her to eat but she got out of the box and went back over to the tall grass and is curled up sleeping.

I think I'm going to lose her. I don't have money to find out what's wrong.

A lady who lives down the road is bringing me a trap and I'm going to see if she will use it to curl up and sleep in it so I can just close the door. I keep going out and she is still curled up in the wet grass.
 

catwoman707

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I don't think it's just the food right now that is the problem with Tiger (the one that was missing)

Tiger had been hiding in the tall grass and sleeping a lot the last 3 or 4 days. She has not eaten much the last couple of days. We just had a rain storm go through and she laid out in that pouring down rain. She finally made her way to the box of straw on my porch but looks very sick.

I went out to feed and she would not get out of the box. She is soaking wet and looks really sick. I tried to get her to eat but she got out of the box and went back over to the tall grass and is curled up sleeping.

I think I'm going to lose her. I don't have money to find out what's wrong.

A lady who lives down the road is bringing me a trap and I'm going to see if she will use it to curl up and sleep in it so I can just close the door. I keep going out and she is still curled up in the wet grass.
That sounds awful!! See......there's something going on here..............are they getting food anywhwere else at all?

Do you think you might have a cat hater nearby?

Do people have the need for snail pellets around there?

Something is up. Why would she suddenly be so sick, and with what?! Poison, somewhere, somehow, there is something out there.

Even if you trapped her and could see what she does for 1/2 a day, poison will cause vomiting and lack of eating. Sometimes drooling too.

Can you start a quick 3 day gofundme account? If you can trap her it won't cost that much to get her seen and tested, you can raise that pretty fast.
 
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msaimee

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Have you tried talking to any of your neighbors to see if someone's been complaining about the cats or making statements about wanting to get rid of them? It really helps to have a friend or two on your block to alert you about those things. It sounds like your cats are getting into something that's upsetting their stomachs. I hate to think someone's poisoning them, but it happens, and if that's the case, you want to know about it. It's illegal to poison someone's cats.

You mentioned that you used to feed them Purina Cat Chow, but they seemed to itch. I've fed different versions of Purina food to numerous cats over the years and none of them have ever had an allergic reaction to it, and it's odd that all of yours would. Perhaps something else has been going on with your cats, like fleas, ticks, or ear mites, which can make a cat itch and pull its fur out. Stress can also cause those symptoms.  If I were you, I'd go back to putting out the Purina Cat Chow, which is not nearly as expensive as your other brands. If you still have other brands, put out that food, too, so the cats have a choice for a while. The important thing is to get them to all eat again. You're doing everything you can, and that's all you can do. If you can get the sick cat into your house, in a room by itself, maybe she will recover with food and shelter. If she's skinny, she may have parasites, which is treatable with Drontal, which others have said you can get over the internet (my vets just sells them to me when I need them, without my having to make an appointment for my cat) . Parasites can make a cat very ill if their systems aren't strong to begin with. I understand your struggle with finances and taking care of multiple cats. All we can do is the best we can do, and at least we are doing something. Hang in there. 
 

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Hi,I'm new here and am very sorry you're dealing with this.  

    I also take care of many cats some who will not let me get close and we are low income as well but onething I have found works great with food is a whole boiled chicken and/or fish. Only boil with water no salt or anything. 

   Whole chicken is only $3.50 here and the fish my husband just walks to the bayou and fishes a few hours a week so they are kind of free so I don't know if this will work for you.    

     One day a week I boil a big pot of chicken and a big pot of fish to keep in the ice box. Then I feed chicken one day dry cat food the next fish the next and repeat. 

     You are doing great things for those cats and they know they are loved. Please remember that!  You can only do what you can and you do without so that they will have their needs ,they know that too and love you for it. 

      I hope things get easier for you and them soon.

 Please let us know.
 

kittychick

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God I feel for you. I think we all know the feeling of trying all you can and still feeling like it's not enough. Those darn furry things work their way into your heart even when you can't touch/feel. You're obviously going above and beyond the call of duty - - which I know, until everyone's feeling good out there, doesn't make you feel better -- but it should. They couldn't have someone who loves and cares for them more - inside or out!

I'm swamped with work right now - but will try tonight to do some research. Not sure if I can find anything that helps - but I'll do what I can. 

Are the two still having issues that truly seem food-related physically related? As in - brother/sister, etc? I know the whole colony isn't related (and that you may not know anyway) but curious about those last two, since it does seem that their issue is allergy. Just curious. 

You are helping….try to keep that in mind. None of them would be as comfortable in many ways without you.
 

kittychick

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And sorry - somehow missed those last 5 or six posts….and all that about poor Tiger. It does sound like something's gotten to the poor guy - and after rereading it does sound like they all got into something, and perhaps Tiger got into it either to a greater extent or has done it more often. Even if not an intentional poisoning, it does sound like poison. It does sound like you can get close to Tiger - is there a possibility of getting him without taking the time it can take to trap? I know that then there's the issue of where/how to take Tiger because of expense. I do understand…believe me. Do you have any neighbors that are sympathetic who might go in on any kind of vet visit?

The GoFundMe is a good idea if you can. Do you have any rescues in your area that also do inexpensive vet work? The only one in our area that works with ferals does no vet work other than spay/neuter and anything associated with the cat only at time of spay/neuter….but a lot of cites do have associations that will help inexpensively. I know even "inexpensive" is  a matter of degrees unfortunately. 

Keep us posted…we're all thinking about you.
 

catwoman707

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@Snugglecat  what is going on? How is Tiger now?

If possible, you can save her from whatever is happening if you are able to get her inside, away from what it is that's causing all of this, 

If it is D-Con or snail pellets, it will make them feel sick but if stopped consuming it, in time her system can work it out actually.

But it takes lots of fluid, canned food is helpful, chicken or turkey baby food is excellent, it can be watered down half and half and warmed, which makes them more eager to eat it.

Bottom line is, to do what you can do to prevent her eating any more of it so she can get through it.

If D-Con, they actually bleed to death slowly, as it is an anti-clotting agent, but even that, until it gets to the point that internals will simply start to bleed, this can be worked out of her system too, just as long as she doesn't get any bleeding type cuts, which will cause major hemorrhaging. 

Please let us know how she is doing, as well as the rest.

I think it's critical now to do some real investigating, find the source.............ugh.
 

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They had just finished eating when the dog came around but I had already picked up the dishes and they were cleaning themselves on the porch when the dog appeared. I do not know who owns the dog, I ran out in the yard trying to chase it off. I have never even seen this dog in our neighborhood before.

This morning I gave them all the Merrick dry food with a different flavor of Friskies that they have only had a couple of times. They all ate and licked bowls clean. Maddie ate very slow but she was stopping and looking around a lot as if she was looking for a dog to appear.

The only one who would not touch the dry food was Mama cat, I have to feed her canned first and go out when everyone is done and give Mama her dry food. She eats way to slow when I give it to her together and the girls steal it from her. She went to eat it but then kept spitting it out and finally walked away.

I  went out with a little handful of my cats dry food and she ate it all gone.
   I think mama cat is just being picky right now.

They all seem to be doing a little better. I have not found any throw up in the driveway since last week. Tiger is getting her feet cleaned up and the sister's are not avoiding her anymore. I still have not seen Mama cat get close but she will now get on the porch with Tiger there.

I might just go and buy a little bad of the junk food dry that they like just to add as a little topper and see if Mama cat will start eating again.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, it has really helped me understand the situation with Tiger. This morning Tiger even did her usual stepping in the front door and rubbing up against my leg crying for her food.
Great news , I am glad things are getting better ...
 
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snugglecat

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Thanks so much for everyone's help.

Tiger has stopped eating. Last night she went into one of the shelters and did not come to eat this morning. I had to run a few errands this morning and when I came home she was not in the shelter but back over in the tall grass. I know now I won't be able to get her into the trap. I haven't been able to find anything to keep the trap door open so that maybe she would go lay inside.

I slowly walked over to her but I can't get close enough, she is one I cannot touch and I don't want her running around trying to find a place to go. She looks so sick. I do not have any friends or family that can help me, I don't even have a car.

The rest of the cats are all eating fine. I went out last night and used the Merrick food as a treat and they all ate but Tiger. She wants the food but just sits in front of it. I was able to get her to eat a very small amount of chicken baby food last night. She will not eat any canned food or dry.

Now she won't even come to the porch so I can try the baby food again.

Do you think because she went 4 days without eating could be why she has gotten sick? She seemed to have gotten sick not long after trying to five her the Iams dry food and her chin started swelling.

I have an older couple who live across the street but they had a cat that passed away last July and they have always used stuff in the flower beds and garden area. None of the cats have gotten sick before. I have a new neighbor who is not friendly but doesn't seem like they would hurt cats on purpose. The had left their garage door open for a couple of days and they could have gotten into something in there.

The only good news is everyone else is fine and eating normal. Tiger is the only one that is real sick. Something was just off since her return.

I would like to at least help her cross to rainbow bridge and not suffer anymore. She acts like she is waiting to die in that tall grass.
 
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