Lack of Appitite

Well hello there everyone, I'm new to the forum so forgive me if this is in the wrong place

I've got a two year old black tom cat named Jupiter. We rescued him from a bad situation about a year and a half ago where his owner had died and he'd been left with the body for a few days before she'd been found, he'd been abused and was very skittish when we first took him in, but soon warmed up to us.

He's a loveable sort, lazy and laid back. Has gone on a couple of adventures over the last year, disapearing for a couple weeks / months at a time, but always finding his way back to us. Although since the last time he disapeared, plus the fact that we're renting and not supposed to have an animal (oops ) He's become a housecat, not going outside at all.

However over the last two weeks he's stopped eating and has had significant weight loss. I'll admit I'm quite worried about him, as he's always been a good eater, and for as long as we've had him has been bordering on a little bit fat. He isn't showing any signs of illness besides the lack of apetite, and is just as loveable and lazy as ever.

We've switched his food a couple of times as of late, because we only live in a small part of town and our corner shop doesn't always stock the same brand of food. But we've always made sure he's had a good mix of meat and dry biscuts.

If anyone has any advice on what to do, or what could be causing the lack of appitite I'd be most grateful!

Take him to the vet quickly! That is the best advise I can offer. It is possible because he was gone from you for awhile, that he was unable to eat on a regular basis, and when that happens you need vet intervention quickly./

Originally Posted by hissy

Take him to the vet quickly! That is the best advise I can offer. It is possible because he was gone from you for awhile, that he was unable to eat on a regular basis, and when that happens you need vet intervention quickly./

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He's been home now for over six months without going out, and has been eating just fine until about a week ago, which is why I have left it as long as I have. If I 'd thought it was a case of him not getting proper nutrition while being away, or having caught some disease he would have been at the vets the moment I'd noticed his not eating!

He'lll eat bits of food if I hand-feed him (bad habbit I know), or eat bits of food if I put it in his dish, but not nearly as much as he used to, and not on a daily basis.

Yes, please hon, take him in and get a CBC - Complete Blood Count immediately. Also ask for a Snap test for FeLV/FIV. My concern is the time he was "away" - he may have recived a small puncture wound from other cats or exchanged bodily fluids in a way you can't see and the lack of appetite and weight loss signals there is something wrong, especially for an otherwise big healthy boy. There is an "invader" of some sort in his body. Cats just don't stop eating and lose weight. I know from experience.
Is his face warm? watch for signs of fever, make sure he has fresh water, and you might try a little warm natural chicken broth to help him eat. If not, a can of tuna, low sodium kind, and the juice works wonders.

Welcome to the Board, you are definitely in the right place.

Please keep us posted.

Originally Posted by sashacat421

Yes, please hon, take him in and get a CBC - Complete Blood Count immediately. Also ask for a Snap test for FeLV/FIV. My concern is the time he was "away" - he may have recived a small puncture wound from other cats or exchanged bodily fluids in a way you can't see and the lack of appetite and weight loss signals there is something wrong, especially for an otherwise big healthy boy. There is an "invader" of some sort in his body. Cats just don't stop eating and lose weight. I know from experience.
Is his face warm? watch for signs of fever, make sure he has fresh water, and you might try a little warm natural chicken broth to help him eat. If not, a can of tuna, low sodium kind, and the juice works wonders.

Welcome to the Board, you are definitely in the right place.

Please keep us posted.

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Thanks very much for the advice (the both of you) I'll try the chicken broth and tuna Unfortunatly bringing him to a vet has to be a last restort as the vets are close friends to our landlord, and we're not supposed to have a pet. As well neither me nor my husband drive, so finding a vet further away is also difficult.
It kills me not being able to get him proper care right away. And I shall, indeed, keep you posted.

Perhaps there is a public animal agency/shelter in your area that is non-profit and could see him, thereby circumventing a vet in private practice ~?

Originally Posted by Rayen

Thanks very much for the advice (the both of you) I'll try the chicken broth and tuna

Unfortunatly bringing him to a vet has to be a last restort as the vets are close friends to our landlord, and we're not supposed to have a pet. As well neither me nor my husband drive, so finding a vet further away is also difficult.
It kills me not being able to get him proper care right away. And I shall, indeed, keep you posted.

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Is this a vet who has seen your cat before? Do you have a friend who would go with you and pretend that it is there cat, and you're just along for support? That way, the vet wouldn't know that it was your cat, and it wouldn't get back to the landlord.

I've popped out and gotten him a can of tuna, he seems to be eating that alright, although he doesn't seem to want to chew it, but rather lap up the little bits. I may ask my mother-in-law to take him to see her vet when she gets back at the end of the week. Thanks for the support everyone!

Rayen,

If you can possibly avoid waiting 'til the end of the week, please take him now. I was waiting for today, WITH my vet's supervision and lost my boy anyway.

If he is lapping and not eating he may have some dental trouble so it hurts him to eat. There are so many things it could be. But I agree with the others - find some way to get him attention as soon as possible.

I've decided as soon as my mother in law gets back I'll get her to take him to her vets. There's no way that I can go to the vets near us without losing our house, which just isn't an option

I'll keep everyone updated as I know more.

Thanks

I agree with the advice you've been given. Please continue to try to get as much food as possible into your boy. Lack of enough food can cause a life-threatening condition in the liver called hepatic lipidosis. Syringe feed him if necessary. This website, www.assistfeed.com, will help you.

I am going through similar stuff with my favorite cat Loco, he has lost a ton of weight in the last couple of weeks too. He is eating but has lost most of his muscle mass so fast I didn't notice it happen until it was too late. We have an appointment Thursday at the Vet too. I am scared to death so I am with you on this too. I can't figure out where Lolley could have picked this up as he is an indoor cat, his inner eyelid is showing in the corner and all I hear is that is not good news either. It is so scary when they get sick isn't it.

I understand your lmitations, and I understand the difficulties. Been there done that.

One thing I might suggest in the meantime (it may not help, but if you don't call you don't know) is to call some of the no-kill rescue groups near you and explain your situation.

These are people who love animals, and volunteer a lot of their time to them. You might find someone sympathetic enough to your situation to help you out by either bringing the cat in for you, or taking you to another vet who would not know of your situation.

If you go to www.petfinder.com, in the upper right hand click on "shelter & rescue groups" then put in your state. You'll get a list of all the shelters, spca's, and rescue groups in your area. Call the rescue groups.

They may not be able to help, and you'd be no worse off than you are now (other than a few phone calls). But if someone is willing to help, then you can save yourself the worrying and the risk of waiting, and get him seen by a vet earlier.

Sadly, although getting some food into him might keep up his strength, if there is something wrong, it will not stop that from worsening.

Good luck.

Oops, just noticed you were in the UK. petfinder is for the US and Canada.

So instead, check out this link (scroll down, but also on the top are two other links, one is Cat Rescue, one is Recreation: Pets: Cats: Rescues and Shelters)

I hope perhaps someone can help.

http://dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/Unit...Shelters/Cats/

Well we've bit the bullet and gone in today to the vets at the end of our road. We tried to conceal my poor little guy in a cardboard box (which he didn't appriciate) and when we got there we were told that we had to register first, which took between eight and twelve WEEKS before they could do anything.

The vet, as well, was the most sour, cantancerous woman on earth! And I wouldn't trust her to de-flea my cat, never mind anything else!

So we're calling my mother in law tonight and we'll get her to bring him to her vets. He's a private, and far more expensive than anywhere else in the region, but I know he does good work, and I'd rather shell out a bit of money we don't have to make sure my baby's ok, then put my faith in chance (or that horrible horrible woman) and risk it.

Wish me luck everyone, and cross your fingers for me that it's not anything too bad/ too expensive!