Syringe feeding help needed!

My cats ended up with a cold last week (they don't go outside, so how it happened is beyond me...) and one of them, Bandit, has been turned off her food as a result of her not being able to smell anything.
I brought her into the vet to be sure, she's fine...just being fussy.
So, she was eating abit, and yesterday decided she hates it all, so I'm going to have to syringe feed her according to the vet.
I have tried to feed her chicken, Nutro pouches, Salmon Friskies, filet of sole...I tried EVERYTHING that I know she likes, but she just won't eat it!
She runs over all excited that it's food, sniffs it, and turns away!
So, I think I'm going to try A/D, if she won't eat it, than I'll have to syringe feed her.
Any advice?
Or, any other ideas?
Thanks!

A/d is great when the kids wont eat ... Just dont read the ingrediants..

Taken from an article i recently wrote:

If a cat is turning away from the food bowl, there are ways to try and tempt this cat to eat:

• Warm the canned cat food in the microwave several seconds to wake up the flavor.
• Give the cat a small pinch of catnip (an appetite stimulant) before feeding.
• Sprinkle grated cheese over the food. Dot the food with cream cheese.
• Check the cat's nostrils for crusty discharge. Cats won't eat what they can't smell.
• Acidophilus capsules- break one open, wet your little finger, dip your finger in the powder, and rub your wet finger on your cat's gum.
• Give them forced fluids (either subcutaneous or syringed liquid (Pedialyte) an hour before meals.

Ask your vet for Cyproheptadine, which is an antihistamine, and an appetite stimulant. This needs to be given when you are home to offer the food, because when it kicks in, it works! The cat wants food, and she wants it now!

If your cat stops eating for 48 hours, don't gamble with her life that she will start up again. With early veterinary intervention, the prognosis for recovery against this disease can be increased. Being aware of the dangers of having a cat with a poor or no appetite, acting promptly to stop any internal damage from occurring and getting effective treatment will enhance your cat's odds of survival against this deadly disease.

Success!
Thanks guys, I went and bought some A/D, she didn't want to eat it, so I've been feeding her some by syringe, and it's actually pretty easy! It went really well, she's now cleaning herself like she's eaten a regular meal on her own.
Hopefully, this will whet her appetite, and she'll get back to normal!

Try some chicken babyfood, it works for mine usually. Also when mine was sick with a bad URI I mixed water with the wet food and made it kind of soupy and he ate it that way.

Originally Posted by malynn

Try some chicken babyfood, it works for mine usually. Also when mine was sick with a bad URI I mixed water with the wet food and made it kind of soupy and he ate it that way.

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this is good just dont be stupid like me and not read all the ingrediants found out i had given my 16 yr old one with onion and garlic...

I found that egg yolk beaten with plain yoghurt or goat's milk is a really great way to encourage them to eat. It smells strong and it is really nourishing. You can also feed it by syringe to get them going.

I'm so relieved to hear your baby is beginning to feel better! You're taking such wonderful care of her! Please do keep us updated!

So, last night after I fed her, she seemed a little more into her food - she took a few licks of the A/D, and when I was eating MY dinner, she was sitting next to me, and had a few sniffs, and licked at some cheese. (I let her since I figure ANYTHING is good at this point!)
This morning, I offered her some warmed up A/D, but she didn't want it, so I syringe fed her again. Wasn't as easy as last night, probably because I was worried I'd be late for work!
I think tonight I'm going to buy some baby food (Without onion or garlic!! ) and maybe some really really stinky salmon flavoured food, and see if she'll eat that.
But, she seems much better, and happier. She slept under the covers with me last night... so cute!

I had to go through about a week of hand/syringe feeding...and it is definitely not the easiest thing for you or the cat. I have found that it is easier to do alone rather than with two people trying to feed the cat (one holding, one feeding). I also found that holding the cat in your lap, with one arm wrapped loosely around your cat and cupping the hind region (I am right handed so it was easier to use my left for this) made it easier to feed the cat with my right hand. My cat's head would turn away from the syringe, but then would finally rest in a position that would allow me to keep his head stationary (usually against my chest)...if that makes sense?.

Some days were easy, some days it took a lot longer. Just make sure to give youself enough time to complete the feeding and make sure to have lots of paper towels on hand : )

I mixed baby food with the A/D and that worked well; created a smoother consistency. If calories are a concern, try mixing in a little nutra-cal supplement that you can find at most pet stores.

Good luck and I hope your cat gets better and starts eating on its own.

So, I've been syringe feeding my cat Bandit for two days now. She started off with a cold, and lost her appetite - she's fine otherwise (yes, she saw the vet!) but she won't eat. NOTHING I have tried seems appealing to her...I've tried salmon flavoured food, Nutro pouches, Veal baby food, chicken, beef, A/D.
I'm at a loss.
When I go to feed the cats, she comes running to eat, but sniffs it than goes away.
She has taken a few licks at some food, but nothing like she normally would....
Is this normal that it could take her so long? Do you think I need to take her back to the vet?
In all other aspects she's fine - she's playing like normal, drinking like normal, using the litter box like normal...she just won't eat.
Intersting, she ran over for cat nip with the others, sniffed it than walked away - I guess she couldn't even smell that!
I'm getting a little frustrated...
Should I try sardines? I mean, if she can't smell those, I don't know WHAT she could smell!

If she can't smell, she won't want to eat. Try smelly cheese, or goat milk. But my guess is you will have to keep syringe feeding her until her sense of smell comes back. Does she still have the cold?

She really needs to eat- have you tried any of the suggestions i listed above?

Originally Posted by hissy

She really needs to eat- have you tried any of the suggestions i listed above?

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I know!!!! *sob* I'm getting really worried now....
I have heated up her food, all the different types I've mentioned that I've tried to feed her.
I gave her some catnip, but she didn't seem to be able to smell it...
I put some cheese on her food, she didn't care - what cheese do you suggest? I used cheddar...maybe not smelly enough?
She does not have a crusty discharge, but her nose is definatly "running" and has a discharge. But, to me, it doesn't seem blocked....
I have not tried the acidophilus capsules - where can I get them? And what does that do?
I have not tried the forced fluids either - How much Pedialyte should I give her?
I will try both of those tonight.
If not, I'm guessing off to the vet again, and ask him for the pills that you mentioned.

Try some tuna juice from a tuna can, I did that for Alex when he wouldnt eat and I put just a little tuna in with the juice and he ate that, I had tried everything on him, he is so picky when he is sick. Seems like if you can just get them to taste it sometimes it will make them want to eat. I have had several that I have had to syringe feed over the years and tried all kinds of stuff too. I had one that had an upper respiritory thing that caused mouth sores and thats why she wouldnt eat, she would act like she was so hungry and then wouldnt eat, I had to syringe feed her. One thing that she did like was Fancy Feast Sardines Crab and Shrimp in Aspic. Its a little orangish yellow can. There are a few flavors of that brand that are in aspic, kind of a jelly like substance that mine likes alot. Its very smelly too.

Another question - she loves cat grass - should I get her some, and try that on her?
Maybe that could start her eating?

Originally Posted by Lotsacats

So, I've been syringe feeding my cat Bandit for two days now. She started off with a cold, and lost her appetite - she's fine otherwise (yes, she saw the vet!) but she won't eat. NOTHING I have tried seems appealing to her...I've tried salmon flavoured food, Nutro pouches, Veal baby food, chicken, beef, A/D.
I'm at a loss.
When I go to feed the cats, she comes running to eat, but sniffs it than goes away.
She has taken a few licks at some food, but nothing like she normally would....
Is this normal that it could take her so long? Do you think I need to take her back to the vet?
In all other aspects she's fine - she's playing like normal, drinking like normal, using the litter box like normal...she just won't eat.
Intersting, she ran over for cat nip with the others, sniffed it than walked away - I guess she couldn't even smell that!
I'm getting a little frustrated...
Should I try sardines? I mean, if she can't smell those, I don't know WHAT she could smell!

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Have you tried the new meow mix pouches they are decent ingrediants but they stink and my older one loves it

So, I took her into the vet again this morning.
He was laughing at her, she was playing with his belt, running around the office investigating...
He did notice that she coughed when he touched her throat, so she is starting some antibiotics.
He also gave me some Nutri-Cal to try to get her to eat - apparantly it has lots of B vitamins in it, and that will get their appetite going sometimes.
He said to continue on as I am with syringe feeding her - she's bright, active, hydrated, no signs of any liver problems (my main concern, and his, was FLD) so basically, she's just being somewhat fussy, and he said sometimes, it can take time...
So, I am going to have to be commited to the syringe for a while, and keep trying Hissy's tips, as well as the smelliest fish foods I can find!
Thanks for all the advice everyone - it has really helped out.
I'm feeling sort of like I'm failing as a cat Mom, but I guess this can happen sometimes, right?
Here's hoping that she eats on her own soon!

Good luck with it - it sounds as if she will be OK soon. On the chees question, mine love any sort of cheese, but for a sick cat, the smellier the better. Soft goats cheese often works.