Beyond frustrated: Civie problem

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Squalliesmom

Squalliesmom

Member Since 2015
I am just about at my wits end with one of my civies. She is a three year old who is a from a hoarding situation; she has IBD and has always been underweight. She has also always had eating issues. She is on cypro (appy stimulant) but it doesn't seem to do much good. She never really eats more than about half her food, and lately it's all I can do to get her to take a few mouthfuls. She has decided she doesn't like any of the foods that are okay for her to eat. I used to be able to tempt her with toppings but she's decided she doesn't like many of them anymore, and has gotten very proficient at skimming them off the top of the food if she does like them. It's gotten to be such a struggle that I put her in another room (my room) to eat so the other cats don't eat her food, and now she hates being in my room and hides at mealtime. I am out of ideas and, frankly, tired of the struggle and the worry. She isn't eating more than about 2 ounces a day, if that, and I'm looking at having to syringe feed her next. That is a true nightmare for both of us - I am disabled, and she fights like a tiger. I am daunted just thinking about it. Any ideas are really appreciated!!!
 
Have you tried giving her a probiotic? Chuck always had very soft stool. Pumpkin helped but on http://www.ibdkitties.net/probiotics/ it discussed S. boulardi for it's anti-inflammatory effect. (If I'm remembering right. It's worth checking out the site to read about the different probiotics)
He responded well to it. Not many "cow plops" in the box anymore. How eating was never a problem though. Hopefully you can find something to help.
 
StephG said:
Have you tried giving her a probiotic? Chuck always had very soft stool. Pumpkin helped but on http://www.ibdkitties.net/probiotics/ it discussed S. boulardi for it's anti-inflammatory effect. (If I'm remembering right. It's worth checking out the site to read about the different probiotics)
He responded well to it. Not many "cow plops" in the box anymore. How eating was never a problem though. Hopefully you can find something to help.
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She stays on a maintenance program of s.boulardii to keep her diarrhea in check. The problem at the moment is that she just won't eat.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Sounds like she might be nauseous. Have you ever tried giving her cerenia? Eating so little she could get fatty liver quickly.
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I wondered about nausea, too, but I think she just doesn't like any of the foods that it's okay for her to eat. I am very worried about fatty liver disease, too. If I have to I will syringe feed her. I'm calling her vet on Monday and I'll ask him about giving me some cerenia. Thanks, Elise!
 
StephG said:
Tiffmaxee has a good suggestion. I would call the vet and see if it's something you can try with her.
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That's one of the things I want to ask him about on Monday. She has always been a picky eater and finding foods that she can eat without triggering an IBD flare has been challenging, to say the least. Now she just seems to not like any of those foods; it's so frustrating!
 
Squalliesmom said:
I am just about at my wits end with one of my civies. She is a three year old who is a from a hoarding situation; she has IBD and has always been underweight. She has also always had eating issues. She is on cypro (appy stimulant) but it doesn't seem to do much good. She never really eats more than about half her food, and lately it's all I can do to get her to take a few mouthfuls. She has decided she doesn't like any of the foods that are okay for her to eat. I used to be able to tempt her with toppings but she's decided she doesn't like many of them anymore, and has gotten very proficient at skimming them off the top of the food if she does like them. It's gotten to be such a struggle that I put her in another room (my room) to eat so the other cats don't eat her food, and now she hates being in my room and hides at mealtime. I am out of ideas and, frankly, tired of the struggle and the worry. She isn't eating more than about 2 ounces a day, if that, and I'm looking at having to syringe feed her next. That is a true nightmare for both of us - I am disabled, and she fights like a tiger. I am daunted just thinking about it. Any ideas are really appreciated!!!
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One of mine barely eats too. Weighs maybe 5 lbs. I've been focused on her the last few months......... She eats maybe 3 ounces a day too, but may eat a little dry here and there. She does love FortiFlora, so what I've been doing is
1. Feed her with no topping: she will eat a few bites.
2. When she is done and won't eat more I add the FortiFlora (about 1/4 packet) and she will More and then leave.
3. I wait about an hour, then add another 1/4 packet and I can usually get her to eat more.

Repeat in the evening.

She is eating a lot more then she was since doing this, and has had no diarrhea at all in two months since starting. She had it on and off for months. She seems to have gained a little weight..... Her spine isn't poking out as much when I pet her back, and her sides aren't as sunken in.
 
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JanetNJ said:
One of mine barely eats too. Weighs maybe 5 lbs. I've been focused on her the last few months......... She eats maybe 3 ounces a day too, but may eat a little dry here and there. She does love FortiFlora, so what I've been doing is
1. Feed her with no topping: she will eat a few bites.
2. When she is done and won't eat more I add the FortiFlora (about 1/4 packet) and she will More and then leave.
3. I wait about an hour, then add another 1/4 packet and I can usually get her to eat more.

Repeat in the evening.

She is eating a lot more then she was since doing this, and has had no diarrhea at all in two months since starting. She had it on and off for months. She seems to have gained a little weight..... Her spine isn't poking out as much when I pet her back, and her sides aren't as sunken in.
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I thought about Fortiflora. I used to use it for her, to get her to eat, and to help with her diarrhea. But after a while it seemed like it began exacerbating her diarrhea, so I stopped using it. I may try it again. I also thought about getting another bag of YAZC, she loves that stuff, and I make a powder with it in the food processor and use that as a topping - might help her to eat.
 
Sharon14 said:
What foods do you feed her? Is she interested in other foods?
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She has a fairly limited diet, unfortunately, because of her diarrhea, but I've tried to give her as much variety as possible. She is definitely interested in foods that are not good for her, of course! But even then she only eats a couple of teaspoons before walking away, and they end up giving her diarrhea again. She also can't turn down a treat, lol, she'll gobble them right up.
 
@JanetNJ I just found a coupon for $5 off Fortiflora here, thought I'd pass it along to you, too, since you use Fortiflora. Unfortunately, it's a one-time-only coupon, but every little bit helps!:):)
 
I truly empathize with what you're going through. I think I went through just about every canned cat food on the market including prescription ones that Leo could/would eat on a regular basis. He has confirmed mild IBD. I finally had to settle on HillsDD duck grain free limited ingredient single protein canned food. I don't believe it's low in carbs though but he did end up going into diabetic remission even while eating it. He has never gotten tired of it and absolutely loves it. It smells awful. When I have to make sure he eats all of it because his blood thinner med is mixed in I sprinkle the Forti Flora on top. I believe he loves the Forti Flori as much if not more than the duck food. Maybe your kitty's IBD has worsened? Maybe the inflammation has increased and is making him too nauseous to want to eat?
 
Squalliesmom said:
Thank you! Hugs gladly accepted!:):bighug::bighug::bighug:
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Thinking about you and your reluctant eater this morning as I watched Radar gobble up his plate of raw food. Have you ever tried raw food with her? Radar has had far fewer episodes of reluctant eating since I started giving him raw foods. It used to be about every two weeks or so that I'd have to follow Radar around with a spoon trying to get him to eat. Now it's only occasionally that he'll have a brief episode and usually a day or so of eating baby food only will get him back on track.

In addition to the raw food,which is probably about half of his diet, we give Radar a weekly injection of B12. It helps stimulate him to eat and according to our vet is a common treatment for IBD cats who have a thickening of the intestinal wall so they can't absorb B vitamins well.

I hope some of this information will be useful to you. Here's some more :bighug::bighug: for you.
 
If she was from a hoarding situation, then maybe she was fed cheap food. If that's what she likes, then use that, gradually adding the good food until she transitions. Does she use the litter box when she has diarrhea? If so, have some litter on hand to immediately cover it well and maybe use incense or a candle to disguise the odor.
 
Lucy, I hope you can figure out why Candy has become picky to her acceptable foods :bighug::bighug::bighug:. Hopefully, one of the suggestions will get her through today :cat: Your little drama girl, for sure :smuggrin:
 
Jan Radar said:
Thinking about you and your reluctant eater this morning as I watched Radar gobble up his plate of raw food. Have you ever tried raw food with her? Radar has had far fewer episodes of reluctant eating since I started giving him raw foods. It used to be about every two weeks or so that I'd have to follow Radar around with a spoon trying to get him to eat. Now it's only occasionally that he'll have a brief episode and usually a day or so of eating baby food only will get him back on track.

In addition to the raw food,which is probably about half of his diet, we give Radar a weekly injection of B12. It helps stimulate him to eat and according to our vet is a common treatment for IBD cats who have a thickening of the intestinal wall so they can't absorb B vitamins well.

I hope some of this information will be useful to you. Here's some more :bighug::bighug: for you.
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Thanks for the ideas, and the hugs! I have thought a lot about going to raw, but to feed my whole crew raw is too expensive.:( I don't know if this little tiger will willingly let me inject her but I'd certainly give it a try if it helps!
 
Candy actually ate about 1/2 her lunch today, 3-4 hours after I offered it.:woot: So she probably won't eat dinner!:banghead: Couldn't tell if/how much she ate for breakfast, had to feed her with the other two civies and they eat out of any available dish, even though they're supposed to stay at their own, little piggies, lol.
 
Lillie said:
I truly empathize with what you're going through. I think I went through just about every canned cat food on the market including prescription ones that Leo could/would eat on a regular basis. He has confirmed mild IBD. I finally had to settle on HillsDD duck grain free limited ingredient single protein canned food. I don't believe it's low in carbs though but he did end up going into diabetic remission even while eating it. He has never gotten tired of it and absolutely loves it. It smells awful. When I have to make sure he eats all of it because his blood thinner med is mixed in I sprinkle the Forti Flora on top. I believe he loves the Forti Flori as much if not more than the duck food. Maybe your kitty's IBD has worsened? Maybe the inflammation has increased and is making him too nauseous to want to eat?
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When I first had her I tried duck (Nature's Variety, and it was really stinky, too!), she ate it for about a week then decided she hated it (after I'd bought a case of it, of course!). I may try Fortiflora again.
 
She ate about half of her dinner!!!! This is the most she's eaten in three days, I am dancing a jig!
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She may not keep it up but at least she's got some groceries on board for a bit!
 
Squalliesmom said:
Thanks for the ideas, and the hugs! I have thought a lot about going to raw, but to feed my whole crew raw is too expensive.:( I don't know if this little tiger will willingly let me inject her but I'd certainly give it a try if it helps!
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IMO it's worth asking the vet if you can get some prefilled syringes of B12 to try for a few weeks. As for Candy cooperating with you... you might need a friend to help hold her still as the needle for B12 is ginormous when compared to an insulin needle. :eek:
 
Jan Radar said:
IMO it's worth asking the vet if you can get some prefilled syringes of B12 to try for a few weeks. As for Candy cooperating with you... you might need a friend to help hold her still as the needle for B12 is ginormous when compared to an insulin needle. :eek:
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Trying to hold her is like trying to hold onto a greased weasel, lol. It will definitely take at least two people! But worth it if it helps her. :):bighug:
 
Kris & Teasel said:
Sounds just like Teasel's sister. She's like trying hold on to a slippery fish. :rolleyes:
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Isn't it a nightmare?!?! Candy is long and lanky and I think she was an eel in an earlier life, lol. I have never in my life had such a slippery, twisty kitty, and she'll fight me every step of the way! :banghead::banghead::banghead: More often than not, she wins the fight!:rolleyes:
 
Squalliesmom said:
Isn't it a nightmare?!?! Candy is long and lanky and I think she was an eel in an earlier life, lol. I have never in my life had such a slippery, twisty kitty, and she'll fight me every step of the way! :banghead::banghead::banghead: More often than not, she wins the fight!:rolleyes:
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And she's an itty bitty kitty, isn't she? Those little ones can be tough as nails. My first kitty a long time ago might have been 6 pounds soaking wet and she was so feisty she needed a warning sign on her cage when she had to stay at the vet's. Also needed the occasional wearing of oven mitts on the bean ... :eek:
 
Kris & Teasel said:
And she's an itty bitty kitty, isn't she? Those little ones can be tough as nails. My first kitty a long time ago might have been 6 pounds soaking wet and she was so feisty she needed a warning sign on her cage when she had to stay at the vet's. Also needed the occasional wearing of oven mitts on the bean ... :eek:
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Yes, she's tiny, somewhere between 5-6 pounds; we can't get a good weight on her because she won't hold still long enough! I know all about feisty and oven mitts, lol!
 
I am pleased to report that Candy ate almost all her dinner last night (took her a couple of hours, but that's okay) and about half her breakfast this AM-not unusual for her to only eat half, and I'm content with that. She also ran to my room quite happily to eat there, away from the marauders, lol. I figure she must have been reading over my shoulder all the threats of more meds and syringe feeding as I was "talking" to all of you, so thank you all very much!:):):) This is the first day in a couple of weeks that meal time hasn't been an issue or a struggle, and that she has eaten well!
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Squalliesmom said:
What manner of sorcery this be??? Lol. Candy ate all her lunch today!!! All the good appy, eat your fuds vines really worked their magic! If she finishes her dinner tonight, that will be the most amount of food this cat has EVER consumed in one day in the 2 years I have had her!
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This is such excellent news. Apparently she was reading over your shoulder and decided that syringe feeding and more meds was unacceptable to her. Hoping that the good eating continues.
 
Oooh the pods took over your cat!!!!!!! But in a good way. Whatever was bothering her must have now passed. My babes go through periods of not eating. PJ now is not eating like she use to. But I think hubby lets her fill up on dry left from Tripper which pisses me off because she was a dry free until now.
 
Woodsywife said:
Oooh the pods took over your cat!!!!!!! But in a good way. Whatever was bothering her must have now passed. My babes go through periods of not eating. PJ now is not eating like she use to. But I think hubby lets her fill up on dry left from Tripper which pisses me off because she was a dry free until now.
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LOL! :joyful: Yes, I think they did! Candy has always been a picky, problem eater. She would probably eat dry, too, but for now, we are a "dry-free" zone, lol.:joyful::bighug:
 
Well, the real Candy is back. It's dinner-time and there is no sign of her, she's hiding again to avoid going into my room to eat. She may genuinely not be terribly hungry, since she ate so well earlier in the day. But she had an appy stimulant, so I'd think she'd be a little hungry?
 
How is Candy this morning? Now hubby is working for few days, Tripper ate 1/4 can wet overnight, didn't touch her dry. YEAH she is eating more wet finally after 13 yrs but still primarily dry addicted. Just can't get hubby on board with it.
 
Candy is back to her usual disinterest, lol, but at least she is eating a little bit; that is normal, for her! A little bit at every meal (more than just a bite or two) I can live with! Thanks for asking, Paula.

I'm sure all my cats would be delighted to be back on their beloved dry food! What is it about that dry stuff??? You would think the wet would be so much more appealing!
 
Squalliesmom said:
Candy is back to her usual disinterest, lol, but at least she is eating a little bit; that is normal, for her! A little bit at every meal (more than just a bite or two) I can live with! Thanks for asking, Paula.

I'm sure all my cats would be delighted to be back on their beloved dry food! What is it about that dry stuff??? You would think the wet would be so much more appealing!
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It's probably like potato chips versus yogurt. :confused:;)
 
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