I lost my Mom in November, after a long illness. She died at home, with my Dad being her primary caretaker.
My parents have two cats, and Dizzle, 9 year old spayed female, was closest to Mom. In the month since Mom died, Dizzle has gone from a playful, rather rotund, friendly cat to a lethargic, depressed cat who is starving herself and hiding under a bed 24/7. A couple of weeks ago I got her to the vet, who ran blood and urine, and found nothing physically wrong except dehydration, for which she was given fluids. The vet agrees that this cat is grieving, and prescribed transdermal prozac.
To get her out from the bed a few days ago, Dad jingled her harness, as she loves (in summer) to go out back on her long leash, and catch bugs or watch birds. This actually brought her out, so I felt like we needed to follow through, and I went out with her. We've had much rain and 50 degree temps here, but it was early evening, and dark and very damp out.
She continued to decline, so I took her back to the vet Monday for more fluids, and as I put her in the carrier, she sneezed a few times. She spent a night at the vet, where she received fluids, appetite stimulant and when I brought her home yesterday, she was eating like a pig. They did give her a shot of Convenia, as she had also come in with a low grade fever, and combined with her new sneezing symptom, they were concerned.
Today I went over to give her the daily appetite stimulant, and she was hiding under the bed, with a full-blown URI. Her breathing was horribly congested, eyes matted - and naturally, she would not eat. I got her out from under the bed, and she was wrapping around my legs, looking at the food I fixed for her, but she didn't/couldn't eat.
We are now back to square one, and I'm terrified. I know damp cool weather won't cause a URI, but I now feel guilt from allowing a cat who didn't have a lot of fight in her into the back yard - she had zero signs of a cold until now, and it was 2 weeks from her first vet visit. I don't know how else she could've gotten this. The other cat, neutered 8 year old male, who was incredibly bonded with her, continually hisses at her.
My question is: has anyone dealt with an apparently grieving cat who refused food? Did anything work to get them back to wanting to live? A couple decades back I lost one to fatty liver syndrome, and a non-eating cat scares me to death.
I never in a million years would have seen this coming, and Mom would be heartbroken if she knew.
Please send vibes, advice, tips or tricks... and thank you!
My parents have two cats, and Dizzle, 9 year old spayed female, was closest to Mom. In the month since Mom died, Dizzle has gone from a playful, rather rotund, friendly cat to a lethargic, depressed cat who is starving herself and hiding under a bed 24/7. A couple of weeks ago I got her to the vet, who ran blood and urine, and found nothing physically wrong except dehydration, for which she was given fluids. The vet agrees that this cat is grieving, and prescribed transdermal prozac.
To get her out from the bed a few days ago, Dad jingled her harness, as she loves (in summer) to go out back on her long leash, and catch bugs or watch birds. This actually brought her out, so I felt like we needed to follow through, and I went out with her. We've had much rain and 50 degree temps here, but it was early evening, and dark and very damp out.
She continued to decline, so I took her back to the vet Monday for more fluids, and as I put her in the carrier, she sneezed a few times. She spent a night at the vet, where she received fluids, appetite stimulant and when I brought her home yesterday, she was eating like a pig. They did give her a shot of Convenia, as she had also come in with a low grade fever, and combined with her new sneezing symptom, they were concerned.
Today I went over to give her the daily appetite stimulant, and she was hiding under the bed, with a full-blown URI. Her breathing was horribly congested, eyes matted - and naturally, she would not eat. I got her out from under the bed, and she was wrapping around my legs, looking at the food I fixed for her, but she didn't/couldn't eat.
We are now back to square one, and I'm terrified. I know damp cool weather won't cause a URI, but I now feel guilt from allowing a cat who didn't have a lot of fight in her into the back yard - she had zero signs of a cold until now, and it was 2 weeks from her first vet visit. I don't know how else she could've gotten this. The other cat, neutered 8 year old male, who was incredibly bonded with her, continually hisses at her.
My question is: has anyone dealt with an apparently grieving cat who refused food? Did anything work to get them back to wanting to live? A couple decades back I lost one to fatty liver syndrome, and a non-eating cat scares me to death.
I never in a million years would have seen this coming, and Mom would be heartbroken if she knew.
Please send vibes, advice, tips or tricks... and thank you!