15 year old cat won't eat.

Princess is 15 y.o. spayed Tabby, arthritic, cataracts, and Vet says she has IBS. A couple months ago, she was vomiting multiple times a day. Was put on SD ID diet but that didn't help. Put her on baby food and she got a Cortisone shot which solved issue. Last week she started vomiting again and then refusing all food, including the baby food. Took her back to the Vet and he gave her another Cortisone shot. It didn't work like it did the first time. She's not asking for food at all. In fact, she's refusing all baby food, so we bought any and all brands of cat food that might be tempting. We bring her food 3 times a day. Sometimes she refuses it. Other times, she'll sniff it like she's hungry, eat 2-4 bites with gusto, then stop. She'll stare at it like she's hungry but then turns her head away. We have seen her drink water, although I have no idea how much she drinks in a day. The Vet checked her mouth (she had 2 teeth removed last year) so it is not a dental issue. It has been a difficult year for her as we adopted a new 15 month old puppy in July. In response, Princess remained in our daughter's room for a year because of the new dog. With her cataracts, she couldn't tell the difference between the old Sable Collie and the young Sable Collie. A couple weeks ago, she came downstairs and said "Hey, I live here and have lived here longer than all your relatives have been alive!" We were so happy. All the pets were now living in harmony together. However, I have a bad feeling that now the end is near due to kidney or liver issues from lack of normal eating and hydration. Anyone have any advice?

@Dee3546  Welcome to our site!

I am recommending a mod create your own thread so we don't hijack this thread and you will likely get more help/advice.

Dee3546 said:

 
Princess is 15 y.o. spayed Tabby, arthritic, cataracts, and Vet says she has IBS. A couple months ago, she was vomiting multiple times a day. Was put on SD ID diet but that didn't help. Put her on baby food and she got a Cortisone shot which solved issue. Last week she started vomiting again and then refusing all food, including the baby food. Took her back to the Vet and he gave her another Cortisone shot. It didn't work like it did the first time. She's not asking for food at all. In fact, she's refusing all baby food, so we bought any and all brands of cat food that might be tempting. We bring her food 3 times a day. Sometimes she refuses it. Other times, she'll sniff it like she's hungry, eat 2-4 bites with gusto, then stop. She'll stare at it like she's hungry but then turns her head away. We have seen her drink water, although I have no idea how much she drinks in a day. The Vet checked her mouth (she had 2 teeth removed last year) so it is not a dental issue. It has been a difficult year for her as we adopted a new 15 month old puppy in July. In response, Princess remained in our daughter's room for a year because of the new dog. With her cataracts, she couldn't tell the difference between the old Sable Collie and the young Sable Collie. A couple weeks ago, she came downstairs and said "Hey, I live here and have lived here longer than all your relatives have been alive!" We were so happy. All the pets were now living in harmony together. However, I have a bad feeling that now the end is near due to kidney or liver issues from lack of normal eating and hydration. Anyone have any advice?

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Did the Vet do bloodwork? Has your cat old girl been diagnosed with anything other than IBS?  You mentioned kidney or liver issues, but was she actually diagnosed with kidney disease.  Often cats won't eat much with either of these two issues, and they do drink a LOT with kidney disease, but things can be done to help them.  I have a kidney cat, so I know.   If your cat doesn't eat anything, or next to nothing, then she definitely CAN develop liver problems, which can be fatal.  When she walks away from her food, is she licking her lips as if nauseated?  Did your Vet give you an anti=emetic to give her, or an appetite enhancer?  

Hi there and thank you so much for responding to my post.

Yes, the Vet did do bloodwork on Princess when we originally brought her in with the vomiting issue. It was negative for everything. He suspected IBS at the time due to her symptoms.

Yes, he said an antacid like Pepsid may help, but it's very difficult to give her any meds.

No he did not say she had kidney or liver disease. It was due to her eating only 4 bites of cat food twice a day that brought those things to mind for me. She is drinking some water, but not an exceptional amount.

No he did not give us a Rx for an appetite enhancer or anti-emetic. I think he figured the cortisone shot would work again. I'll check for any licking of her lips next time she eats which will be tomorrow. She only licked a couple times at the wet food I brought her about an hour ago, then got up and walked away. 

The Vet mentioned things like an endoscopy, but felt they wouldn't tell us any more than we already know through physical exam and symptomology. Basically that she has inflammation of the gut which was the reason for the Cortisone shot.

Tonight my daughter is really concerned about her quality of life. She jumped off her heated bed (which is on my daughter's bed) onto the floor and has remained laying there. She seems sorta spacey. She tends to stare at whatever wall is near her. She's urinated only once and defecated only once today in her upstairs box. Considering her lack of intake, I guess this is normal.

For a cat that chowed down wet food like there was no tomorrow, it's weird and heartbreaking to see her stop at 4 bites. It's like something forces her to stop, or she forgets she's eating, or i don't know, cause she certainly can't be full. Can a cat get Altzheimer's?