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- #21
Thanks very much for all the advice and info, Chloespriestess. And I don't think I can use the "my cat is sick" excuse since I used it for both my cats before, and this is a thesis, so I don't think I've got as much leaning room. It has to be done and in their hands no later than the 24th and I'm already very far behind on it, not sure if I'll even get it done as it is.
I feel bad, Kip seems worse since I began the syringe feeding, which I think is due to the feeding and not his illness. Before yesterday, he was happy and perky despite eating very little. I began force feeding him and now he seems depressed, out of it, he hides from me, and doesn't even try eating or drinking on his own, and he shakes a lot when I feed him. The vet is now saying that she isn't 100% sure Kip has fatty liver disease, but she said that's what it probably is based on his blood tests. I am to bring him back on Tuesday to get his liver values re-tested, but that seems much too soon to see any results from force feeding. I almost want to just quit with the force feeding and let him love however long he can with his current eating habits if it means he'd be happier.
And I also have to consider the possibility that Kip won't get better, and I don't feel as sad as I think I should feel. But losing two other cats only months ago might have de-sensitized me to another possible loss.
I also asked the vet how much a small meal is for him, and she didn't really say. First she said a tablespoon of catfood/water slurry, but then said that wouldn't be enough to sustain him. She said that there really is no way I could feed him too much given that the whole reason he's got this problem is because he wouldn't eat. I tried sticking my finger in his mouth, but it just makes a bigger mess because the food falls right back out again. The syringe gets more in, but I also have to thin out the food more, meaning longer feeding times.
Also, he is not vomiting. He might toss up an occasional hairball or food he ate too fast, but it's definitely not an every day or even every week thing. Maybe 1-2 times a month? If that? RIght now he's got meat baby food, a few cans of A/D and this stuff called EnerCal. I tried putting the EnerCal on his paw and he licked it off, but not before running and hiding in the basement where I couldn't find him. Honestly, I find his behavior now more concerning and I'm convinced it's from me force-feeding. He doesn't understand why I'm doing that, just that someone he trusts is doing something he doesn't like. He still purrs, but he's no longer cuddly or perky, most likely because he's now afraid of me. But he won't eat on his own and he needs something in his belly. I don't even know if this will work. If his liver is worse, it may not even be fatty liver disease.
I feel bad that I just want to throw in the towel, but experience has shown me that I can spend thousands of dollars I don't have trying to help my cats, nothing I do helps and they just get too sick to live anyway. I don't know where to draw the line for Kip if force-feeding doesn't help; I don't want to subject him to loads of invasive tests and overnight stays if it will do nothing at all for him. Knowing my luck, Kip probably has some kind of bizarre condition that cannot be treated or he has terminal cancer. It's never just as easy as something that can be cured, sadly. I want him to live, especially if he can be helped, but another part of me wants to just not even bother with force feedings and let him eat whenever if it means he'll be happier.
I feel bad, Kip seems worse since I began the syringe feeding, which I think is due to the feeding and not his illness. Before yesterday, he was happy and perky despite eating very little. I began force feeding him and now he seems depressed, out of it, he hides from me, and doesn't even try eating or drinking on his own, and he shakes a lot when I feed him. The vet is now saying that she isn't 100% sure Kip has fatty liver disease, but she said that's what it probably is based on his blood tests. I am to bring him back on Tuesday to get his liver values re-tested, but that seems much too soon to see any results from force feeding. I almost want to just quit with the force feeding and let him love however long he can with his current eating habits if it means he'd be happier.
And I also have to consider the possibility that Kip won't get better, and I don't feel as sad as I think I should feel. But losing two other cats only months ago might have de-sensitized me to another possible loss.
I also asked the vet how much a small meal is for him, and she didn't really say. First she said a tablespoon of catfood/water slurry, but then said that wouldn't be enough to sustain him. She said that there really is no way I could feed him too much given that the whole reason he's got this problem is because he wouldn't eat. I tried sticking my finger in his mouth, but it just makes a bigger mess because the food falls right back out again. The syringe gets more in, but I also have to thin out the food more, meaning longer feeding times.
Also, he is not vomiting. He might toss up an occasional hairball or food he ate too fast, but it's definitely not an every day or even every week thing. Maybe 1-2 times a month? If that? RIght now he's got meat baby food, a few cans of A/D and this stuff called EnerCal. I tried putting the EnerCal on his paw and he licked it off, but not before running and hiding in the basement where I couldn't find him. Honestly, I find his behavior now more concerning and I'm convinced it's from me force-feeding. He doesn't understand why I'm doing that, just that someone he trusts is doing something he doesn't like. He still purrs, but he's no longer cuddly or perky, most likely because he's now afraid of me. But he won't eat on his own and he needs something in his belly. I don't even know if this will work. If his liver is worse, it may not even be fatty liver disease.
I feel bad that I just want to throw in the towel, but experience has shown me that I can spend thousands of dollars I don't have trying to help my cats, nothing I do helps and they just get too sick to live anyway. I don't know where to draw the line for Kip if force-feeding doesn't help; I don't want to subject him to loads of invasive tests and overnight stays if it will do nothing at all for him. Knowing my luck, Kip probably has some kind of bizarre condition that cannot be treated or he has terminal cancer. It's never just as easy as something that can be cured, sadly. I want him to live, especially if he can be helped, but another part of me wants to just not even bother with force feedings and let him eat whenever if it means he'll be happier.