My 5 Month Old Kitten Is Not Eating.

[Whitefire05]

My kitten had roundworms vomited them up. Was treated 3 days ago and also got his last vaccine. I've tried dry, wet cat food. I can tell he is hungry but he won't it smells then walks away. Should I be concerned. He is still active.

 

[Jem]

Are you feeding him the same food as before he was sick/treated? Sometimes they will associate feeling sick to their food and not want to eat it anymore. I have a cat who is often nauseous because of kidney disease and have 6 different wet foods and 4 different dry that I rotate thru so he does not associate feeling sick to one specific food. Sometimes he will, so I keep it out of rotation for a couple of weeks then re introduce it, he'll eat it again eventually.
Try getting different foods of different flavors (wet is usually more appealing). Also if he is still feeling unwell, you may need to change up his food every feeding until he feels better.
Try some plain baby food (meat only, NO onions, NO garlic), cats seem to really like it. See if he'll eat sardines or tuna. Although the baby food and fish are not appropriate for long term feeding, it's better to have any food over nothing.
Mixing the baby food or fish in his food (or leaving it on top), might be enough to entice him. I have also had to smear just a bit of food on my cats mouth for him to lick up when he's been "stubborn", and after he's tasted it, he'll eat it.
Hand feeding can also be effective. I have found that sitting with them while they eat helps too.
If trying different foods or toppers does not work, then a trip to the vet is going to be needed. Cats can't go long without food before the liver gets affected.
Hope something works for you!
Also, I'm tagging Furballsmom , (at least I think it's her ) she has a long list of things that can help entice a not eating kitty. She will be very helpful I'm sure.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi! Welcome!!

Jem has some great suggestions for you, also you could try a little honey on your finger and smear a bit of it on his gums, that might start him eating again.

Regarding the baby food, Gerber stage 2 or beechnut baby food - try the ham flavor if you can get it, and eggs.
Homemade Pedialyte can be a lifesaver;

tent test for dehydration and home-made pedialyte recipe - The Daily Kitten

Kitten Glop Recipes - Supplementing Cats and Kittens with nutritious formula you make at home: presented by Bengal Cat breeder Foothill Felines. --This website has a number of kitten glop recipes, with ingredients that you may very well have in your house.

I don't know what you have access to, so I'll go ahead and post my entire list;
These can be used on their own or combined with food. Also, if you heat the food a little - stir it so there aren't any hot spots from the microwave. Or you could heat some water, about a tablespoon, and add that to canned food. A shot glass works to stir it all up.

• Chicken, beef or ham flavored baby food such as Gerber Stage 2 - make sure there is no garlic or onions in the ingredients

• Tuna and/or the juice, a low mercury/low/no sodium brand is called SafeCatch

• Salmon, mackerel

• Sardines (make sure there are no bones)

• boiled cut up chicken or turkey with no seasonings

• canned kitten food any brand - it's usually smelly. See if it's eaten on its own, then maybe mix it in or put on top

• Try mixing in Kitten Milk Replacer - there are recipes on the internet or store bought

• Fish, tuna or BBQ flavored canned wet food (I personally have never seen BBQ flavors, but...)

• Lickable cat treats or pouch treat 'gravy' poured over the food

• kitten glop (recipes in website link above)
• Bonito flakes
• fortiflora
• fish oil
• green beans, asparagus mushed up

• goat milk, or no lactose cow milk
• whole cooked eggs (the white must always be cooked) or raw egg yolk now and then
• broth with no salt and no garlic or onion or seasonings of any kind
• There are also commercial toppers, Applaws is a brand that can work well as a topper
  
• Some good treats would be freeze dried Purebites, Orijen, Meowtinis, Meowables

• There are also Lickimats that you could spread types of soft food onto, even plain unflavored yogurt, and even freeze it. Licking something can help a cat to feel better emotionally The LickiMat - Food Puzzles for Cats
• shredded cheddar cheese

 

[Furballsmom]

Should I be concerned.

If after attempting these things your kitty still won't eat, definitely take him in to a vet. If your vet is closed this weekend, try calling the regular clinic number. The greeting that you hear should include an emergency number, because the not eating situation isn't something where you can wait.

 

[Whitefire05]

Update on my fur baby...He is eating again!!! Tried some tuna and that sparked his interest. Thanks for all the advice!!

 

[Furballsmom]

Whew!
This is awesome news, thanks ever so much for the update !