Traumatize cat not eating

This is a really tough one for me. I have worked with wild animals in captivity and have calmed stressed bears, cougars, lynx etc. but this cat 

is stressing me more than any!!! Poor Swiffer has had so many traumas that she is not wanting to eat. She was lost in the woods two years ago and came back skinny and scared. She lived with her two siblings in a nice shed with a small cattery outside for the past 4 years.Their human Mom is allergic to cats so they couldn't be in the house. She loved them and gave them lots of attention.

Her  Mom got cancer and as things progressed, she wasn't able to care for them. I tried to find homes but after two months, we decided to take them to the Humane Society where they have better resources. When gathering the cats up to take there, Swiffer was so frightened she hid where no one could get her so she was left behind, trauma number two! They were very bonded, slept and played together. Then her Mom died and Swiffer was trapped and taken to the local animal shelter, trauma number three! I got her out and she is living in my small writers studio that I had a cattery built onto the back, trauma number four! I have had her two weeks and she has not eaten much .

The interesting thing is, we have become friends as I have been sleeping on the floor with her. She is a night cat ( think because she didn't live in a house where they usually adapt to human hours so she changes behavior as the sun goes down. During the day she basically stays under the futon in one spot. I go in and pet her about every 2 hours. She purrs and relaxes but doesn't move. At night, she explores the studio, plays in the cattery and snuggles with me in my sleeping bag! I have been syringe feeding her 40cc's two times a day which she and I both hate!! She has eaten some dry treats sometimes a good handful and two or three bites of food (half can of Fancy Feast) not every day maybe every other day but no more. 

Any ideas how to increase her desire for food? I have talked to my vet, it doesn't seem she is sick, no symptoms. I am at wits end. I will get one of those Fel-a-way (?) pheromone sprays. It is just so interesting that she seems happy and normal at night. She grooms and drinks water too. 

Help!

Bless you for caring for this poor kitty. If the vet gave her a clean bill of health take it day to day and keep encouraging her. I am sure she will come around and her appetite will increase now that she is in a loving environment.

Thank you, that is what I am hoping. I haven't had any blood work done because of her normal behavior, playing, drinking etc. But maybe I should just to make sure?Thanks again for your encouragement!  

Have you tried giving her a piece of boiled chicken? Most cats cannot resist it. As far as having blood work done it wouldn't hurt but if she is grooming herself that is a very good sign she is comfortable. Has she been checked for worms?

I just saw I didn't press "submit", sorry!

Yes I have tried boiled chicken, tuna, salmon, even sardines which she did take a couple bites of. I think I have bought nearly ever brand and flavor of cat food. That is why I am at wits end![emoji]128522[/emoji] I have not had work check yet. Thanks for the suggestions [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]128570[/emoji]

I often get a barbecue chicken and sit and eat while feeding some to my 1yo female.
I've read cat bond while eating together and it really helped me and my once feral cat bond. That and it gets her a high dose of protein which a lot of cat foods lack.
I used to feed another cat that frequented my backyard. It never came close until I cracked out the bbq chook. All of a sudden I was hand feeding it. Maybe it's the smell or the meat but they always seem love it.

Have you tried chicken baby food?

Maybe try mixing some high calorie gel in with the food so the little she does eat goes a bit longer? My cat stopped eating when we brought a new cat home, he barely licked at wet food, but I put some chicken and liver pate out and he inhaled it. 5 years and I've never seen him actually eat wet food before! Heat it up so it is,more aromatic.

I think she'll come around now that she's safe. I tried everything to get my cat to eat again and in the end, he started eating when he wanted to. A cat is a cat. It doesn't sound like your cat is starving herself, so I think she'll be fine. I've read that after not eating due to stress it takes a long time for them to get back up to their full appetite.

Swiffer said:

I just saw I didn't press "submit", sorry!

Yes I have tried boiled chicken, tuna, salmon, even sardines which she did take a couple bites of. I think I have bought nearly ever brand and flavor of cat food. That is why I am at wits end![emoji]128522[/emoji] I have not had work check yet. Thanks for the suggestions [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]128570[/emoji]

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Even though it's not good to give cats too much fish-oriented food too often, I have found one particular cat food which has helped me to get my cat to eat when she is either too stressed or her tummy is upset. It is irresistible to her. It is Weruva's Best Feline Friend [B.F.F.] Tuna & Duck Devour Me Recipe (there are other flavors too but I think all of them likely have tuna). The packets I buy are only 99¢ each.

Here is a breakdown of its ingredients:
http://bestcatfoodforcats.com/best-feline-friend-cat-food-reviews-and-ratings/#11

I buy it at Mud Bay, and do not know what other stores may sell it. I'm sure you can purchase online at Amazon, if a store near you doesn't carry it.

(By the way, I've never had a cat that will eat "people food" salmon or tuna out of a can... and yet this particular goopy/gravy cat food with tuna has been invaluable at times for a finicky or ill cat, to get them to eat.)

You can give her 1 or 2 ounces of it with water in her dish. Or you can even just coat some of her regular food in a dollop of the BFF Tuna & Duck, and maybe she'll eat more of her normal food. But, again, I use this type of fishy food only to get a cat over the hump of an "I'm-not-eating" phase.

Good luck!

I think you are soooo right. I just get anxious when I need to relax and let it take as long as it takes. She has had a lot of trauma so it will take a while to 

overcome this. She has come a long way as far as bonding. She now loves to cuddle with me at night and when I come to her studio to spend time with her.

Before this, she would just stay under the futon. Thanks for your advice!

Great story! I have tried many kinds of meat but so far, not much luck. But she is coming around so I think it won't be long before she will be eating! 

I have been making my own with chicken but I did try some baby food chicken in the syringe last night and she did seem to like it better!

So I put a dish of it out for her to try today! Thanks!

By the way, I did put the high calorie gel in her syringe food for extra nutrition!

This looks good! I will see if I can find it, Thanks! I too have found that cats don't like that "people tuna" but will eat the cat food chunky tuna!

Funny cats! 

I am so glad I came to this site. Great suggestions and encouragement! I am sure Swiffer will be fine in time.

Thanks again to all who responded!!

Swiffer said:

This looks good! I will see if I can find it, Thanks! I too have found that cats don't like that "people tuna" but will eat the cat food chunky tuna!
Funny cats! :catguy:

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Just be forewarned, it's a very stinky/fishy-smelling food! That's probably why cats like it.

It might also be something simple. Maybe she doesn't trust you yet, so if you around or nearby it might spook her off eating as eating leaves her temporarily vulnerable.
Maybe try putting food out before you go out and see if there's any left when you get back.
My cat still refuses to drink water if I'm nearby. I only know she's drinking by less water in the bowl and the presents she leaves in the litterbox.

I was just thinking of something like this only the opposite. She is now calm and friendly with me there with her but gets

insecure when I am not. She has always been with other cats. I first thought since she lived in an out building away from her

person (human was allergic) that she is OK with being alone in my studio. But then I thought that because she was with her siblings,

she isn't used to being alone. Now I guess the next task is wait for her to be safe and secure in her new home when alone.

She has food and water near her all the time. When I am with her at night, I can see when see is nibbling on crunchies. I have offered 

can food too but she hasn't eaten as much of that. Perhaps just haven't found the "right taste" yet.