Dyana just sent me an email to pop in. I help out on a Yahoo group dedicated to assist feeding cats. They saved Maverick's life in 2008 when he lost weight and developed Feline Hepatic Lipidosis - which is liver failure. Also called fatty liver. Cats can't lose weight like humans do - when cats process body fat to make up for a calorie defecit their livers can clog with the fat. Maverick was very close to dying and needed a feeding tube. He had this for ten weeks. The Yahoo Group - Feline Assisted Feeding - knew so much more than my vet did and saved his life. My vet almost killed Maverick recommending he lose weight without warning me of the dangers.
Here is a link to the group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding/ Please join this group ASAP. There are people from around the globe so you will have support when you need it. It is a very active group with lots of experts. When you register you will be sent about five autofiles. One of them is how to safely and effectively syringe feed. On the home page, there is a youtube video of a cat being syringe fed.
You are dealing with diabetes and weight loss. With a diabetic cat you want to ensure lots of calories to avoid diabetic keto acidosis and also to keep her liver healthy. What is the highest calorie food you have access to over there? What would you normally feed her?
Assist feeding is NOT forced feeding. Cats often go off food for any number of reasons including stress. Assist feeding is a tool to keep them healthy and happy through bouts of inappetance or get them through a crisis. It can be syringe feeding, finger feeding, active feeding (such as plopping food on the floor) or via a feeding tube. An etube is the least invasive and can be placed easily but I wouldn't have a vet with no experience place one. I'd focus on syringe feeding.
Maverick was eating 300cc's of food a day when he was recovering. Most cats can handle 20-40 cc's of food per feeding, and you can feed ever 2.5 to 3 hours. You want at least to get in a 5.5oz can of food a day as a starting point. Do you have a baby scale by chance?
Do you know how to check hydration? Hovering around the water bowl could be nausea or dehydration or kidney issues. Slippy gums (not tacky) is a sign as well as when you tent the skin around the back of the neck - if it doesn't go back right away. I am so glad to hear your vet is working with you. Do you think he would be able to prescribe ondansetron or dolasetron?
Any signs of nausea? This includes showing interest in food and just licking or sniffing and walking away, lip licking, lip smacking, teeth grinding and lots of swallowing. Any vomiting? If there is how long after eating? And is it foamy, clear, undigested food, can you describe it?
The FDMB is a truly wonderful, amazing group of people. I was blessed to have found them and FAF. I could not have imagined managing Maverick's diabetes without them and have met people I consider friends from here. I'm glad you found it.
Please do join FAF and read the files and post about Noni there. They are not the diabetes experts, but they are assist feeding experts. It would be a good idea to post answers to the questions I asked you over there also along with an intro on Noni and her health.
Sending big hugs to you and Noni.
Karrie and angel Maverick.