Tempting a sick cat to eat

[Diane]

My cat got really sick last week and was rushed to the vets. He was diagnosed with anaemia and haemorrhagic enteritis (bleeding in the stomach/bowel). He has had intensive care and now seems much better and is purring again.

The vet is happy with his progress but he really does need to eat. I can only manage to get him to eat a very little, enough to stop liver problems but not enough to get his strength back. He is 17years 5 months old. Does anyone have any advice that they can give?

He will eat a little tuna, a few biscuits and a little ham. He is drinking his "cat lucozade" (lectate) but not wanting to eat even if it is in front of him except for a small mouthful. I've tried all his favourite foods as well as the A/D food prescribed by the vet.

[Bottom]

Have you tried eating your own dinner in front of him, my cat always trys to comes over to smell want we are eating, Especially if his not eating, thats the only time we give food off our plates, just so you know his ate something. I really hope he gets well soon xx  

[Diane]

I'll give this one a go tonight but he generally doesn't come to the table or ask for food. I have kept him seperate from my other 10 cats as he has been too ill to be bothered with them, plus I have needed to see if he did eat or drink and used his litter tray.

The 2 youngest girls have been washing him though. Perhaps it's worth carrying him down to the kitchen in his basket so that he can smell the other cats eating.

Thnak you so much for your response.

[FP]

Warm his food in the microwave.  Not too much though!

The warmth releases the smell from the food and temps the cat to eat.  Be careful with tuna as it contains salt. 

[FP]

*tempts.

[Diane]

Thanks FP. I don't give them ordinary tuna, it is the Sheba tuna for cats that they get. I checked with the Vet and a little ordinary tuna would also be OK but obviously you can't feed it to cats all the time due to the possibility of causing high blood pressure and possible kidney problems.

He has only had a couple of mouth fulls of food but I'll keep trying.

Thank you for the advice.

[natalie_1982]

My cat goes crazy for ham and chicken so whenever I am cooking I take a little out for him to cool down and chop it and he loves it.  Maybe if you bought some fish and cooked it especially for him.  It won't be too rich then (like normal cat food with jelly, gravy, etc) and will just be full of fishy goodness!  Hope everything goes ok X

[Diane]

Natalie,

Great minds think alike. I've just been to get some chicken breast to cook for him and a nice big piece of fresh salmon.

I keep trying my best for him but he always has been a fussy eater!

[ikefoona]

My cat has on and off days i find that scramled eggs can sometimes work if pets are ill. my dog used to have it too! Could be worth a try?!?!

[Diane]

Thanks. I'll put the scrambled egg on the menu tonight after the chicken and salmon. One of my other cats that passed away at 17 from Kidney disease loved it so it's definately worth a try. 

[FP]

Have you tried a little plain yoghurt?  My cats love to lick it from the tubs.  My vet said yoghurt was OK, although cows milk is obviously not recommended.

Best wishes with pus

[FP]

I just read my posting about warming the food.  When I said not too much, I meant don't heat too much!  Obviously you wouldn't anyway.  The warming technique is recommended by vets and works very well.

[Diane]

Thank you all so much for the advice. I'm happy to give anything a go. It's great to have so many tips. It keep me thinking and trying to help poor Sooty. He's so loving and even when he was really really ill he still purred loudly whenever he saw me. (I was alound twice daily visiting when he had to stay in the Vets!)

I know that he did like greek yoghurt as a kitten so that could be desert tonight.

I'll post to let you all know that latest on his progress. We have another visit to the Vets tomorrow to have a check up.

Tonights menu is as follows:

Chicken breast baked with butter to keep it tender. 

Lightly steamed Salmon

Scrambled eggs

Yoghurt

[FP]

Sooty has a lovely caring Mum!

P.S.  Dinner sounds good.  Can I come?

[FP]

*puss not 'pus'!!

[Bottom]

Just wondering how your cat is? Hope he is getting better

[Diane]

To all the lovely caring people who responded to my question:

I am pleased to report that Sooty is now eating, all be it a tiny amount but his appetite is growing. The Vet is amazed with his recovery and to be honest you can hardly tell that he has been so ill.

He is a really loving fur ball and it is so nice to know that there are so many caring people out there who were bothered enough to offer advice and were caring enough to send him their best wishes. I just hope that he sees the rest of his days out doing what old cats do best - sleeping and eating and getting lots of cuddles! I'll continue to do the best that I can for him.

So THANK YOU so much for all the support. Sooty send a lovely loud purr too.