Adopted cat has pain when eating

I grew up with cats my entire childhood, but never owned one as an adult until now. Last week, I adopted a 2 year old cat from a local shelter. They said she had only been with them for a couple of days, that she was given vaccinations and spayed, and had no health issues as far as they knew. They said she was likely a stray when she came to them.

She was wary of my two small dogs at first, but didn't hiss when they were introduced a couple of days later.

I set her up with a water bowl and some dry cat food in her space. I watched her drink some water at the shelter, but she ignored it at home. I assumed she was still getting used to her surroundings, so I didn't worry. On the second day, I checked her food area. I could tell she was drinking the water, but it looked like the food hadn't been touched.

I tried feeding her a couple pieces by hand, and she ate them, but it looked like she was swallowing them whole without chewing. After the third or fourth piece, she made a pained sound, hissed and went to hide. I thought maybe she had choked on a piece that was too big. I went out and bought some wet food to keep her from choking. It was the same reaction. She would eat a little and then cry out, hiss, and hide.

She is very loving, and will curl up on my shoulder as we watch tv. I noticed a bit of drool sometimes, but I asked a few friends and they said their cats all drool sometimes. She had a runny nose the first couple of days, but I haven't noticed any discharge in the last two.

Yesterday, her new cat tower came in and she loves being in the high cubby, watching the room and cleaning her coat. Last night I tried a different kind of wet food. She came over to the food immediately and starting eating. But after a few bites, it was the same reaction as before. At this point, I have no idea what is wrong with her. I am scheduling a visit to the vet tomorrow, but if anyone on here has heard of a situation like this, and knows what it might be, that would do so much to put my mind at ease.

Possibly a broken or infected tooth. I'm not sure, its good that she's going to the vet tomorrow. I hope they can fix whatever it is thats bothering her. Until tomorrow, it might be best to stick to canned food, especially the pate, smooth kind as she won't have to really chew it.

A dental or other mouth issue sounds most likely. Great that you're getting her to the vet...it sounds like she needs it. In the meantime, try pureeing some food in the blender - maybe adding a little water to make a consistency she can lap up. It's important to get some food in her, and it sounds like she's hungry.

Let us know what the vet says.

She has oral pain. As to the root cause, unknown without a veterinary exam.

Many cats will eat even with a broken or infected single tooth. The reaction of surprised acute pain as she swallows is suspect for stomatitis, an inflammatory condition of the gums (oral mucosa) that is often immune-mediated, and often juvenile related.

If juvenile related, usually it passes after 6-12 months age. Perhaps, they have her age estimate wrong, and she'll outgrow it, if she does indeed have stomatitis. If she is too old for it to be age-related, then seeking the cause begins. Your new veterinarian will be able to distinguish which one, and seek the cause.

If it is stomatitis, it is not merely treated by brushing the teeth, oral rinses, or antibiotics. It's much more complicated than that. Oral corticosteroids are a starting point, but only in a patient whose infectious retrovirus history is negative. If it isn't stomatitis, she could have multiple teeth infected and painful, that has caused her gingival tissue at the back of her palate/throat to be infected, inflamed, and painful when she swallows. It is not uncommon for cats to swallow dry kibble whole. It is uncommon for kibble and canned food to cause pain when swallowing.

Since they spayed her, they may have intubated her trachea as part of her anesthesia. If she was intubated too fast or coarsely, they may have irritated her upper trachea/esophagus and vocal folds. This can make swallowing a bugger, painful as hell.

Did the shelter test her for FeLV and FIV, a single SNAP test, prior to investing in vaccinating, spaying, and adopting her out? This is first and foremost in any rescue organization or shelter's protocol, even in kittens, as any intake is tested immediately, then repeat tested 6 months post initial negative result.

If tests positive on the SNAP test, depending on the organization's protocol, the infected cat is isolated from other cats while processed, and any associated disease processes are treated symptomatically or the cat is culled from the population entirely. Special education to the adopter/foster is started, to set up the specific needs and management of an FIV/FeLV positive cat.

In the mean time, your cat will continue to associate the act of voluntarily eating and swallowing with pain. It feedbacks to the point cats avoid food for days, try again, feel pain, stop again for days.

Update:

The pureed food worked like a charm. She ate so quickly at feeding time, it was a huge relief. on the other hand, the vet visit was bad news. They do believe she has Stomatitis and have given her an injection of steroids. The shelter I adopted her from didn't test for FeLV or FID, but the vet took some blood and is going to get back to me with the results. They mentioned possibly removing all teeth, but can't guarantee that will resolve the condition. Right now, we are looking at lifelong injections. I'll talk to the vet more about additional care, but they weren't forthcoming with possibilities earlier.

She's a very sweet cat, and there really isn't any option but to get her help as far as I am concerned. I just don't want to think she's in pain. The difficult part was hearing there's no cure, I want her to be able to get better. She still seems so loving and relaxes comfortably, it's hard to know that she's actually in pain.

Thank you guys so much for responding. It definitely helped.

I hope she is negative for Feline Leukemia Virus and Immunodeficiency Virus. Then, she may just outgrow this stomatitis. Steroids are a big help.

Pureed or pate diet can be very nutritious, calorie dense, and permit more water absorption systemically as the cat consumes more water in the diet.

Supplemental anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapy is a good adjunctive option. Fish oil (prefer loose oil Welactin, 1.5-2mL daily for immunocompromised or infected cats) and VetriScience AntiOx 100 as well as their DMG suspension are great options to add to the pureed food. LOVE the Bullet for breaking down the food and supplements, mixing together, without destroying or compromising their integrity.

Good luck with her!

Becky