02/25 Ivana BG=79 Weird eating habit developing

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

Last post

Ivana has been a bit funny lately. Almost as if she's off her food, but not really. When we serve her meals, she will usually hook into it straight away, but lately she's been looking at her bowl and then walking away. The funny thing is, when we put her infront of her food and kind of hold her there (not really hold her, but put our hands either side of her body so she can't walk away), she turns her face to the right, left, right, left, then finally puts her nose into her food and starts eating - then doesn't stop. It's almost as if she's losing her sense of smell, and unless she's got her nose over her bowl for 30sec then she doesn't smell anything so doesn't want to eat it. It's not every meal though, for instance for lunch today I left her mince in her feeder, and when I came home it was all gone - mince doesn't smell much (to me, anyway) but she managed to want to eat that. It's weird. We're keeping an eye on her...

Today's Banana photo is in side-portrait, just for something different. I think the flash blinded HRH as she was doing slitty eyes at me right after haha. She's starting to go a bit brown in her old age, particularly under her ears as you can see here. It's like a stripe down both sides, looks kinda strange!

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Brown fur notwithstanding, Princes Ivana looks pretty good.

I'm sure it's possible that she's losing her sense of smell. Just like with people, cats' senses dull with age. It's good that she does eat well, even if she needs some encouragement.

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

It's good that she does eat well, even if she needs some encouragement.

Yes this is what we're pleased about. It's no issue for us to 'hold' her infront of her food if she doesn't eat right away, just a bit concerning that she may not eat if we're not home to do this. Might have to make sure she gets stinky food in her feeder if we won't be home.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Might have to make sure she gets stinky food in her feeder if we won't be home.

Yeah, it might require some experimentation to find a food she will eat without "help".

 

[carfurby (GA)]

She's still beautiful even with streaks of brown. It sounds like she could be losing her sense of smell. I'm glad she's still eating once she realizes the food is there.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I'd experiment. If you don't do so already, add warm water to her food. The warm water may increase the smell of the food.

It's possible she may have a slight cold. At some point before a meal, put her in the bathroom and run a hot shower so it gets steamy. If there's anything that clogging up Ivana, that may help.

If you do think there's something going on, I'd also have your vet check her out. There can be issues like nasal polyps that could affect breathing/smell.

 

[Gill & George]

Yet another lovely photo of Ivana, she looks very distinguished in this one.

Hope you figure out why the new food 'habit' and that it is nothing to worry about.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

I would suggest you heating up her food a bit to make it more aromatic. Hope she continues to eat for you without too much fuss.

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

Thanks for the tips everyone, great idea to warm her food to make it stinkier. We've tried adding some water previously (not warm water for smell, but just to generally increase her intake for the CKD) and she refuses to eat anything that's been watered down. We might have to just heat it on the stovetop - time to shop for a special cat food saucepan! Nasal polyps, ergh... there's always something that can go wrong isn't there?!

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

Love the highlights!
how is her eyesight Tara?

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

how is her eyesight Tara?

She's been losing her night vision for a while :-(

So after discussing with hubby this arvo, we worked out that when we feed her a fresh tin/pouch from the cupboard she eats it fine, but when it's from the fridge she doesn't. So it's definitely a smell thing it seems. Will be buying Ivana her very own saucepan tomorrow.

 

[Laura and Gremlin (GA)]

Glad you have sorted the smell thing out. One of my mum's cats needed to have her sinuses all flushed out as she wouldn't eat at all and suffered from poor breathing. After the flush she gobbles everything in sight!
Ivana is still stunning as always!

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

If Ivana has sinus problems, then she really is her mother's daughter - my sinuses are shot to pieces and I'm always having trouble. What was your mum's cat's symptoms of sinus trouble? Ivana doesn't appear to have any trouble breathing, but who knows...

 

[Laura and Gremlin (GA)]

Mostly she was never interested in food as she had basically no sense of smell. She coughs a lot but that is asthma and unrelated but at first they thought it was all one big respiratory issue. She was slightly snuffly/blocked through the nose and sinuses as well. I'm unsure what prompted the vet to flush her sinuses (via the ears mind you!) but it definitely worked as she is a whole new kitty these days!

My sinuses are also shot. I'm on a strong nasal spray for the rest of my life and semi-regularly flush them as well. The headaches are probably the worst part about it!

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

I agree with the headaches being the worst part. Sometimes it's so bad that I can't even wear my glasses to drive, and can't lean forward which I need to do for work. It's awful! I really hope that's not what my little Banana Girl is going through...

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

I'm glad you figured out how to get her to eat. But why a sauce pan? Can't you just heat it in the microwave?

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

But why a sauce pan? Can't you just heat it in the microwave?

We don't have one - I know I know, we're in the minority!

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

We don't have one

Wow. I think I might have seen that on your condo once before, but I'd forgotten. Well, another solution is to take the container of food and set it in a larger container that has hot water in it. It will heat the food and container without watering it down.

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

Ahh yes, that's probably easier than a saucepan. We shall experiment and see how she goes!

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

I have a lot of practise at this stuff - Harvey would not eat "left over" food, and this was the only way to make it palatable. Microwaving it would sometimes get it too hot.

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Rusty has the same problems. He isn't much interested in food, but will eat if we hold the bowl. I water down his food with warm water to make a soup, because Rusty only has 5 teeth and therefore "snuffs" up his food. I think this contributes to his congestion (which was awful last night). I'm going to ask my vet about the sinus flush. Thanks for the tip, Laura (@Laura and Gremlin ).

Ivana's picture is beautiful. What a gal!

Hugs and scritches,

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

I'm sure you already do this but Dre eats much better when the food is raised almost to his nose

 

[Tara & Ivana (GA)]

I'm sure you already do this but Dre eats much better when the food is raised almost to his nose

Yep, Ivana's food (and water) is raised too. Whatever we've got to do to make it easy for them, hey