Calling in the experts--urgent please

Hopefully  he starts eating again soon.  My vet is very hesitant with appetite stimulants as well.  In fact she won't send a cat home with one.  She will use them to try to get a cat eating again while hospitalized so they can go home.  When Patches had flares it was always a struggle to get him eating again.  I think they connect eating with being sick so they avoid it.  

I understand your concern.  I hate the way it affects some of our babies. can you force feed with a ketchup bottle with purreed food like A/D? There's a few videos on youtube to show you how. You need to get food into that cat otherwise liver problems will cause more issues...so up the amount of treats..it says you can feed those instead of food on the bag..each treat has 2 calories..the min calories daily needed 150 I believe. Even if today you get him to eat 40 treats and some other food...it's a start. So the cat doesn't have a runny nose or sneezing? It almost sounds like he can't smell his food....

Denice said:

 
Hopefully  he starts eating again soon.  My vet is very hesitant with appetite stimulants as well.  In fact she won't send a cat home with one.  She will use them to try to get a cat eating again while hospitalized so they can go home.  When Patches had flares it was always a struggle to get him eating again.  I think they connect eating with being sick so they avoid it.  

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My vet explained to me as well that he would give him something like that if he had a chronic illness or disorder that required it, like ongoing kidney issues, but for an acute illness he would not give me the cyrpoheptadine to administer at home.  He was really worried because he takes a daily antihistamine, and he explained that it was an antihistamine too--I didn't know that.  I had always considered those two fairly harmless meds since I know so many folks that have to give it to their cats, but apparently they don't think of them that way.  I started off practically begging for an appetite stimulant, then he started explaining, and I came away not feeling so great about asking for them.  That mirtazapine stuff is totally off the table with him since he had that reaction, but I was thinking surely there were other drugs that he could take.  He said if we get to that point he gives him a stimulant, he wants him in there as an inpatient, not at home.  I tried...but I have a greater understanding of his decision not to now since I learned more about the drugs, and in combo with what he takes now.

He had several cerenia injections while he was there at their office, and an injection of it and an injection of famotidine for the road right before he went in the carrier to come home.  He really isn't showing signs of nausea now since he will gobble those treats.  Just being very, very funny about what he eats.  He will sniff things, lick on it, and take his own sweet time before he decides whether or not he wants to eat it.  BUT for those nasty treats.  He just gobbles them if you put them in front of him.  We learned last night he will eat about 5, then he doesn't want that anymore.  If you offer a different flavor, he will eat about 5 of those.  Swap flavor, he will eat more.  It's weird.

Now for a bit of good news----

He ate SOME of his normal wet cat food this morning.  Not like normal, but he ate probably 1/4 of a can of fancy feast.  Plus some more treats and the dollop of nutrical.  Hubby is staying home with him today and he has texted me pictures, I nearly did a dance.  Hubby is offering him food of various sorts about every 30 minutes, and he eats a bite or so every time.  Yesterday he just got pissed at me I was aggravating him so much and wouldn't eat at all after a while, not even treats, but today he is accepting it when offered.  He also ate a bite of hot dog bun last night for me, weird for him, but hey...I would have fed him whatever he wanted.

I observed him on camera footage from overnight doing his usual cat business--he explored my kitchen, opened cabinets and looked in, went to all 3 perches by windows and patrolled, drank water quite a few times, and visited his litter box a few times.  No poo, but he pees the same amount he normally does from what I saw this morning when I scooped.  I guess no poo since he was cleaned out from rooter to tooter, as they say, and not much has gone in to have anything to come out yet.

He hasn't scooted his butt on the floor since early yesterday morning, and has quit washing it all the time.  I got him to let me look at it this morning and it looks back to normal, not red and angry looking.  He appeared in a much better mood this morning, but what do I know.  He is a strange cookie as far as cats go anyway, and he's hard to read.

@hbunny  WOW, this comprehensive site contains a wealth of information, which may prove invaluable!  I'm not saying he's suffering chronic kidney disease, but the exploration of symptoms, underlying causes, treatments etc are relevant to any cat owner.  The more you read, the more you're led to click on links that open up whole new avenues of advice.  I highly recommend it  

http://felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm

Brian007 said:

 
@hbunny  WOW, this comprehensive site contains a wealth of information, which may prove invaluable!  I'm not saying he's suffering chronic kidney disease, but the exploration of symptoms, underlying causes, treatments etc are relevant to any cat owner.  The more you read, the more you're led to click on links that open up whole new avenues of advice.  I highly recommend it  

http://felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm

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Thanks so much.  I've been using a lot of information from that very page for ideas.  I pretty much ran the entire listing trying to get him to eat over the last few days.  He has been thoroughly worked up for kidney issues and that was ruled out (after many, many blood tests, ultrasounds, etc.)

My only problem with that site is that many of the links come up only in Spanish. 

My vet is familiar with that webpage as well, and he urged me to follow the advice on tempting him to eat, but also said to remember every cat is different and to not get paranoid over things I read.  He said just because it's on the internet....doesn't necessarily make it true....and cats are as unique as people.  So I have tried not to get freaked out over every symptom on the site that relates to something they have ruled out.

Back in September we ran him through a gamut of tests, which were repeated in December, and they think as far as kidneys and liver he is about as good as a young cat.  We ran every endocrine test as well.  X-rays and ultrasounds were done back in the fall, and he has had a gastric biopsy in the past too.  I figure to date I could have probably purchased a new car with what I have spent on testing

It's like my vet said---cats are mysterious.  It could be something horrible and systemic that can't be detected by bloodwork or seen on a scan or x-ray.  I asked him for the worst case scenario and his first response was lymphoma.  He said that even though his bloodwork is absolutely textbook perfect, he has seen pets with the same great blood counts go south in a week from lymphoma.  He said it is a sneaky killer.  But right now he is optimistic due to his high energy level and overall just how he looks and acts.  He said he tries to treat the patient and not the machines (meaning the lab results and x-rays and tests).  I believe he is encompassing the entire picture, although my tendency is to go all paranoid and read up on lymphoma after that discussion.

So far---he is eating today.  Not a lot at one time, but starting to graze and eat a bit, go prowling the house, come back and eat a bite or two, go do something else, come back and eat a few more bites.  Hubby reported about an hour ago that he has gone to the spare bedroom bed and is napping now.  But over the course of the morning he has eaten about an entire can of wet food!!!

Oh yeah---more good news---after all his nibbling around and consuming nearly that entire can of food---no vomiting so far!!!!!!!! 

Blimey, he is doing well, congratulations on your vet nursing!  

How old is he?  It might be that the older he gets the more he wants to eat smaller portions but more often.  I know that humans do.  

I know the answer will be yes, but have his mouth, tongue, taste-buds, throat etc been investigated thoroughly?  

Because he eats from your hand, I'd try raising his bowl, as it might be causing him problems bending down.  That and separating his water bowl from his food bowl, as cats like to eat and drink in different places.  Fussy felines! 

Well done, again!  I'm impressed with you all   

That's great news that he is eating something other than treats. Hopefully as long as he's drinking enough water, he won't get constipated. "Fingers & paws crossed!" It's a good sign in the right direction to see him eating. [emoji]128077[/emoji]

Brian007 said:

 
I used to leave powdered catnip out in a bowl for Brian to self-regulate feed upon.  It reduces gas, indigestion, cramps, insomnia, and anorexia, amongst other things.  Brian didn't get the zoomies when self-regulating, he just had a mouth-full as and when he needed some.  I could get out a catnip filled toy and he would still go bonkers over it.  I don't know how you'd do this in a multi-cat household but it's worth looking into though.

Sounds like he has haemorrhoids to me.

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I use catnip the same way. My Mook is a stress puker. Thank you for sharing that catnip isn't just a recreational drug.

My cat loves the temptations too... they are an appetite stimulant.... she sure gets hungry when she hears the baggie pop open. 

I used to worry that I was giving my cats too much catnip because of different places I have read about cats getting "drunk" on it, or too much giving them a headache.  Now hearing how others use it for health benefits, I think maybe my cats do better when I give them more... Guess they are getting fresh catnip treats tonight and we will see!

MollyBlue said:

 
My cat loves the temptations too... they are an appetite stimulant.... she sure gets hungry when she hears the baggie pop open. 

I used to worry that I was giving my cats too much catnip because of different places I have read about cats getting "drunk" on it, or too much giving them a headache.  Now hearing how others use it for health benefits, I think maybe my cats do better when I give them more... Guess they are getting fresh catnip treats tonight and we will see!

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I can't remember who told me but looking it up it is excellent for your cats digestion.

@Kittens Mom  And thank you for backing me up!  Most people think I'm bonkers and don't believe me but we both know that if you leave a bowl out as standard, cats will self-regulate from it.  And it treats a multitude of common cat ailments and cats know it.  Brian was driven to distraction by his ravishing appetite, and sometimes when it was obvious I was having none of it whilst standing in the kitchen, he would turn around a have a mouthful then go off into the living room to chill out.  I miss the noseprint his snuffling would leave in his bowl, revealing the fish pattern underneath.  Dudley's the only cat I've ever known to be immune to catnip.  He's the polar opposite of Brian 

Onwards and upwards, hey.............................................

Thanks everyone!  So far....still eating....he's not eating a "normal-for-him" amount at a time, but he is eating a few bites very often now.  It's a challenge since we don't want to leave the wet out to dry out, so it has been about every 2 hours popping open another can for him.  The outside ferals are getting quite a feast of a buffet from all the leftovers LOL

He is eating wet, maybe 1/8 to a 1/4th of a can at a time, and about every 30 minutes he takes about 3 bites, leaves, he might turn around and come right back and eat another few bites, leaves, then it might be 30 minutes or so before he comes back and eats some more.  I offer him treats too every time I see him strolling up and down the hallway, sometimes he eats them, sometimes not.  I'm still pissing him off shoving dollops of nutrical in his mouth every so often too.  It's not really nutrical, the name of it is enercal....I guess it's about the same thing.  Still gets pissed over his Pepcid too.  He bit at me this morning with the Pepcid.  His little bum looks back to normal.

For those that wondered, he is 13.  And...he has not been an indoor kitty all his life, he was a yard/barn cat up until he was 7 or nearly 8 years old, until he lost his toe somehow outside.  He is now deaf as well, which contributes greatly to our difficulties in treatment because he gets very stressed now in environments outside the home.  Up until his hearing went, he didn't get stressed or fearful over much of anything.  He was like the Chuck Norris of cats.  He loved the vet's office, and they would let him explore in the office area.  Now he gets stressed easily and will run to get back in his carrier.

This is a very odd observation we have made---he eats about a 1/8th or a 1/4th of a can, like I said, but then if I offer him a different flavor, he will eat another 1/8th or 1/4th of a can.  It's like he eats a little of this, and he is done with it, but then something new, he eats again with gusto.  Ugh.   This morning he ate bites of so many various things I was pretty satisfied with the amount combined, he probably ate the equivalent of a half can of food, but of different kinds.  So I'm happier with that.  Still drinking very well.  He isn't dehydrated at all, he is all slobbery in his mouth if I stick my finger in there and there's no skin "tenting" at all.  He pees his normal amount.

He chased Shortstack down the hall this morning while he and Tina were playing--he just joined in for one run--and literally ran after me down the hall once as well.  He's frisky, active, and very alert.  But I know cats are very, very deceiving in their behaviors and display of pain--so I am still continually worrying.

1st question of the day---do you think it would help if I offered him something raw?  He is a huge fan of having raw chicken organs as treats.  As gross as this sounds, he has been known to get in the trash and lick blood off of meat packages when I cook dinner--and we swear he used to kill mice just to drink their blood (was a running joke, we would find mouse carcasses, 4 or 5 of them on the porch, beheaded and gutted, with no blood anywhere). 

2nd question of the day---should I be adding something in to prevent constipation??

I called the vet office again yesterday evening just to update.  Their main thing is his intake, and told me to keep trying.  Tomorrow morning is our day to go back in for recheck.  My lingering fear is alimentary lymphoma.  But, like the vet said, his hematocrit and all other blood levels look A+, which is a good sign, and no sign of thickening of his intestines or stomach and no organ enlargement.  BUT--the vet also told me he has had many pets go down fast with alimentary lymphoma after having stellar bloodwork and no signs/symptoms on x-ray or ultrasounds, and he told me he honestly couldn't tell me he doesn't have it.  So that is my huge worry.

Would you insist on an ultrasound when there is no guarantee of finding anything, with all other tests being normal?  Tomorrow he will get repeat bloodwork, and depending on what they find, other interventions.  I'm just wondering if it is worth insisting on an ultrasound (cost-wise).

And P.S.--the catnip does seem to help.  He rubs his nose in it and ate right afterwards.  My other 2 cats could care less about catnip, but fortunately he loves it like an addict.

Yay! That all sounds like good news, on the food front! Will he not eat it later, if you put the rest of the can's in the fridge & rewarm it later, or for the next day? That way you wouldn't be having to open & go through so many can's.
Others will have to advise you on weather to add anything in for constipation, it's not my area of expertise so to speak, but think it couldn't hurt.
As for an ultrasound, I always think they are a good idea. I just feel like they can see & detect things x-rays do not. I know Angel had a lot of them with the cystitis he had a couple of times, to check the bladder. I don't know about your vet, but here, they were only around $45.00, & my vet is a full hospital.
Not sure if it depends on how many, or how large an area it done, or if it's a flat rate?

Praying that things continue to get better!

Angels mommy said:

Yay! That all sounds like good news, on the food front! Will he not eat it later, if you put the rest of the can's in the fridge & rewarm it later, or for the next day? That way you wouldn't be having to open & go through so many can's.
Others will have to advise you on weather to add anything in for constipation, it's not my area of expertise so to speak, but think it couldn't hurt.
As for an ultrasound, I always think they are a good idea. I just feel like they can see & detect things x-rays do not. I know Angel had a lot of them with the cystitis he had a couple of times, to check the bladder. I don't know about your vet, but here, they were only around $45.00, & my vet is a full hospital.
Not sure if it depends on how many, or how large an area it done, or if it's a flat rate?

Praying that things continue to get better!

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Thanks so much....our vet charges $96 for an ultrasound. 

Sounds good about the food.. perhaps he is getting fussy with the food also...and wanting a new can?? A new can has that freshness smell which dissipates after a while.. that is why we were thinking about his sense of smell...

But great on the eating!! treats, anything.. can you crumble up the treats ontop of the food?

A tiny bit of food at a time is a good way to start to stretch their stomachs.. also helps not to overeat and get nauseous....poor baby...

but hooray!!

Glad things are improving. If it was my cat, I would have to wonder if maybe I was being trained to open food on demand ... but hey, they have me wrapped around their little paws.  Not sure if you warm the food or not, but heating it up the tiniest bit sure does bring out the aroma of the canned goods we use. we just put the can in a hot water for a minute or too, but we don't refrigerate any of it as 2 cans gets spit between 4 cats and we just dump leftovers, if any there be

MollyBlue said:

 
Glad things are improving. If it was my cat, I would have to wonder if maybe I was being trained to open food on demand ... but hey, they have me wrapped around their little paws.  Not sure if you warm the food or not, but heating it up the tiniest bit sure does bring out the aroma of the canned goods we use. we just put the can in a hot water for a minute or too, but we don't refrigerate any of it as 2 cans gets spit between 4 cats and we just dump leftovers, if any there be

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LOL! Yep, they do love to "train us" don't they?

 Sammy eats 1/2 of a 5.5 oz can for breakfast, then the other 1/2 for dinner, so the 1/2 gets put in the fridge until dinner time. I have a gas stove, so the stovetop is always warm. I try to remember to take the can out of the fridge about 30 minutes before she is ready for dinner, & set it up there, then it's nice & warm by time she eats. If not, I just stick it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. I have an old microwave, so that many seconds seems to be enough once stirred, so there are no hot spots.   

Other than that, she also eats some that come in 3 oz cans, so on those days, she gets a little more, having a 3 oz can for both meals. Most of the time she eats it all, she takes her time, eats about 1/2, then goes back later for the rest, & sometimes she leaves a little. She does that either way. If it's left for a little while, I just set it back up on the stovetop to keep warm w/ a piece of foil over it to keep from drying out. Then when she goes to the kitchen to finish it, I get it for her.   ..........Yep, my kitties get spoiled. I did that for Angel too.   Of course they want warm food, just like us. 

Haha!  Glad I'm not the only one who feels that I'm "trained".  He already had us this way long before this episode.  He is the most spoiled cat in the house.  He already had us opening cans one after another some days, and we cave and do it.  We are well trained by him, I'm sorry to say.  But you know how it is when you are desperate.

Hubby just gave me another update...he is doing like he did last night.  He has napped, got up and immediately went for a drink, then litter box and peed, then went and ate--he said quite a bit this time, over half a can--and now he is on patrol at one of the windows.  He said after he ate the wet, he ate a few bites of the dry that was out on top of it. 

Is it possible it has taken him this long to get over the constipation episode, stress from the enemas and vet stay?  Because his appetite is picking up more and more, just slowly.  MUCH slower than I ever expected.