Cat stopped eating

My cat  just stopped eating for 4 days and is now at the vet again for blood tests, he has no interest in food except might eat a couple of dry crunchies. How easy is it to syringe feed? I don't won't to risk choking him and when I try to pop some soft food in his mouth he just struggles to get away.

Anna Leslie,

How old is your kitty?  What is your vet telling you that he suspects?

Forced-feeding isn't difficult but it does require a gentle hand (so that you don't force too much food), and patience (need to go slow to allow kitty to swallow small amounts and reduce stress).  Forced-feeding, or, syringe feeding should only be done as your vet advises - since it generally should be a consistent approach (timing between meals), and a consistent amount each feeding. It can be stressful for cats because it is foreign to them and uncomfortable.

He's 11 and was recently on oral antibiotics for an ear infection. Now after reading some other threads I wonder if I have put him off food by mixing the pills in it. The vet can't find anything wrong but he will have blood tests today and I will pick him up later so will ask the vet if syringing is suitable

It's possible he's associating his food with medicine, but it may not be that at all.  Not eating for 4 days signals something more serious. 

Not recommended to syringe-feed unless absolutely necessary.  Your vet can prescribe an appetite stimulant to help get him to eat.  Depending on what the lab work shows will depend on treatment and how to get him eating again.  Ask the vet if he saw anything unusual on his oral health (diseased teeth for example, infection). 

The vet just rang and they can't see anything wrong with his teeth, his urine tests were good for kidneys and not diabetic, they are going to keep him overnight and check his poo. He licked some gravy off wet cat food but nothing else. I will pick him up tomorrow and ask them about an appetite stimulant. I will try to gently give him some wet food, just smear it around the mouth. Thanks for your replies, I really appreciate them and while there is no answer yet it made me feel a lot better about options and it was informative. Also my neighbours cat just unexpectedly was diagnosed with a mouth tumour and put to rest on Friday. Didn't make me feel any better!

Ask them for a couple of cans of Science Diet a/d.  That stuff seems to entice kitties to eat like nothing else.  Feed small servings to begin with.

Will do, thanks!

Do you think the ear infection has cleared up?  If not, ask vet if it's related - if the infection is still brewing, and/or if flushing, or too rigorous ear-cleaning was done, the ear can be inflamed and painful, or, the eardrum could be damaged and therefore affecting his ability to eat.  It's unlikely this is the problem, but you want to have your bases covered.

That's a good question and I did ask that, the not eating seemed to happen after the last ear clean which made me wonder if it had an effect. But I trust the vet and for many years he has been very good and thorough. Also there were 2 vets involved in the last few days,

At this time I just want to get my baby back home and look after him, he weighted 6.1 kilos 10 days ago and now is 5.6. Looking quite gaunt.

He must eat. If he's not eating, he needs to go back to the vet immediately and recieve some IV nourishment and fluids.

He stayed the night with the vet who thinks now he has a tummy bug as he had lots of loose motions but apparently has eaten some food since and seems more comfortable, He is now on medication and special food and fluids, the vet wants him to stay until he is eating properly. I will go and see him this afternoon. It seems maybe he is getting better but I wish it hadn't taken so long.

Hello Everyone, my cat is now back home and eating heaps, hugely improved and I am very relieved. He had some sort of tummy bug and we don't know what caused it but he seems to have recovered.

Thanks everyone for your helpful posts.