Cat not eating

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DavesMom

DavesMom

Member Since 2017
hey guys! Dave was diagnosed about a month ago. We instantly switched his food to fancy feast classics/friskies pates. My vet convinced me to also get the hills weight control prescription food, and I’ve been trying to give it to him sparingly but he used to mostly have dry food, so I sometimes sprinkle it on his wet food. For the first few weeks, he was eating the wet food like crazy, and absolutely loved it. I started out with fancy feast classics, but then tried friskies pates about a week ago. He didn’t seem to like them, and was barely eating, so I switched back to fancy feast classics. The past few days, however, he barely eats it, usually just licks the moisture out of it and then leaves it all day. He hasnt pooped in probably a week, and is barely urinating. He sometimes goes in the litter box, contracts like he is trying to poop, sometimes lays down in there, and then nothing comes out. I’m getting concerned, but not sure if I should call the vet over something like this? Since his diagnosis, im quite paranoid about him. He used to eat all the time, but now seems uninterested.
 
DavesMom said:
hey guys! Dave was diagnosed about a month ago. We instantly switched his food to fancy feast classics/friskies pates. My vet convinced me to also get the hills weight control prescription food, and I’ve been trying to give it to him sparingly but he used to mostly have dry food, so I sometimes sprinkle it on his wet food. For the first few weeks, he was eating the wet food like crazy, and absolutely loved it. I started out with fancy feast classics, but then tried friskies pates about a week ago. He didn’t seem to like them, and was barely eating, so I switched back to fancy feast classics. The past few days, however, he barely eats it, usually just licks the moisture out of it and then leaves it all day. He hasnt pooped in probably a week, and is barely urinating. He sometimes goes in the litter box, contracts like he is trying to poop, sometimes lays down in there, and then nothing comes out. I’m getting concerned, but not sure if I should call the vet over something like this? Since his diagnosis, im quite paranoid about him. He used to eat all the time, but now seems uninterested.
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I'd get him to the vet ASAP if he was my cat. There are so many complications that can arise in cats that don't eat and more so in a diabetic cat. He might be severely constipated, is probably dehydrated, etc.
 
Update: vet said he was severely dehydrated, which can cause constipation, which in turn makes him not want to eat. She said it’s semi common for a cat after starting treatment for diabetes, because they start to feel better, aren’t drinking as much water, and end up drinking too little. She gave him some fluids and sent me to get the hairball gel that works as a bit of a diuretic to help things “flow” better.

She also said if I notice he’s not drinking as much water as normal, to give him some tuna water to increase his fluids in the future, so I don’t have to call her and pay money for a visit just to get him to increase his fluids. Hopefully this works!
 
DavesMom said:
Update: vet said he was severely dehydrated, which can cause constipation, which in turn makes him not want to eat. She said it’s semi common for a cat after starting treatment for diabetes, because they start to feel better, aren’t drinking as much water, and end up drinking too little. She gave him some fluids and sent me to get the hairball gel that works as a bit of a diuretic to help things “flow” better.

She also said if I notice he’s not drinking as much water as normal, to give him some tuna water to increase his fluids in the future, so I don’t have to call her and pay money for a visit just to get him to increase his fluids. Hopefully this works!
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Another helpful thing is to add extra water to all wet food meals, as much as he'll tolerate. Many cats don't drink enough from a water bowl. Do you feed him dry food? It can be dehydrating.

Thanks for the report. We worry about all the kitties who show up here. :)
 
Next morning, still no poop :( if he doesn't poop today, I will have to call the vet to come back and give him an enema tomorrow, which I really don't want to have to put him through. Hopefully he is able to push something out today. He did at least eat a little something this morning.
 
He ate a little bit this morning, but still not much. Just a few bites, and some freeze dried treats last night and this morning, because I want to make sure he's eating SOMETHING. I was rubbing his belly last night, and could feel that he definitely had poop in there (the vet pointed it out to me earlier yesterday) and I was trying to massage his stomach to get things moving, as silly as it sounds, but I just feel so bad and I want him to feel better.
 
He BARELY took it. Lots of the reviews said the cat will just lick it off your finger, but I had to force it into his mouth, which he obviously wasn't too pleased about.
 
Now after doing some more reading, I am worried that it may be pancreatitis. And I'm equally worried about how expensive this is getting for me :( all these vet visits are adding up and it all seems so overwhelming.
 
DavesMom said:
Now after doing some more reading, I am worried that it may be pancreatitis. And I'm equally worried about how expensive this is getting for me :( all these vet visits are adding up and it all seems so overwhelming.
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If it is there's a quick yes/no test your vet can do to verify (SnapfL or similar name). The treatment is aimed at symptoms - sometimes subQ fluids, antinausea meds (Cerenia is a good one) and pain meds like buprenorphine. This can be dealt with at home and the flare can take a while to subside. Eating is important even if you have to syringe a pureed version of his wet food or some plain meat and broth baby food into him.
 
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Vet just left after giving him an enema. She said she could feel the very large piece of poop that he is trying to pass. He tried to poop right afterwards, but still struggled. She left the stuff with me and said I could try to give him another enema later tonight if he still has not passed anything. I just want so badly for him to poop so he can feel better. My poor baby. He is at least eating a little bit here and there but without anywhere for it to go, I fear for his digestion health.
 
Does anyone know how long it should take him to poop after the enema? It has been almost two hours at this point and he has tried to poop twice but still nothing. If he has this large piece that he cannot get out, what the heck else am I supposed to do?
 
I hope he gets to poop soon sending you :bighug::bighug::bighug:

To handle the fur balls latter on when he gets better since one of my civies won't have it (just like yours) and Babu can't have it because they add syrup to it I've just discovered ( haven't used it much but so far it worked ) that SEB (sliperry elm bark) works really nice in helping them pass them and can help with light constipation too
 
He’s definitely still not himself, very lethargic, and lots of watery poop leaking out. Still hasn’t eaten or drank anything, but hopefully after a good night sleep, he will start feeling better.
 
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Yay Dave!
 
Ask your vet about metoclopramide (Reglan). It's not good for long term treatment as it has an icky side-effect profile (can adversely affect the nervous system) but acute constipation treatment with metoclopramide over a short period (1-3 days) can help to restore normal gut motility. Mixing a small amount of pumpkin plus a couple of teaspoons of water into each meal of wet food is good for ongoing maintenance treatment (or Miralax + added water if pumpkin doesn't do the trick or if it bulks up the stools too much).

FYI lethargy, vomiting, inappetence and liquid stool are often observed in cats with bad constipation: resolution of the constipation should see any such symptoms resolve fairly quickly.

Note: common feline appetite stimulants (cyproheptadine, mirtazapine) and anti-nausea meds (ondansetron, Cerenia) are typically useless for constipation-associated inappetence issues; metoclopramide is a much more effective treatment. Also neuropathy issues can adversely affect gut motility as well as limb function. If you're not already doing so, ask your vet about supplementing Dave's diet with B12 methylcobalamin (Zobaline is a diabetic-friendly brand - available online). Resolution of neuropathy issues should also hopefully improve gut function.

I second Sharon's recommendation to visit www.felineconstipation.org and I hope Dave feels much better very soon.


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
Ask your vet about metoclopramide (Reglan). It's not good for long term treatment as it has an icky side-effect profile (can adversely affect the nervous system) but acute constipation treatment with metoclopramide over a short period (1-3 days) can help to restore normal gut motility. Mixing a small amount of pumpkin plus a couple of teaspoons of water into each meal of wet food is good for ongoing maintenance treatment (or Miralax + added water if pumpkin doesn't do the trick or if it bulks up the stools too much).

FYI lethargy, vomiting, inappetence and liquid stool are often observed in cats with bad constipation: resolution of the constipation should see any such symptoms resolve fairly quickly. (Note: common feline appetite stimulants (cyproheptadine, mirtazapine) and anti-nausea meds (ondansetron, Cerenia) are typically useless for constipation-associated inappetence issues; metoclopramide is a much more eff. Also neuropathy issues can adversely affect gut motility as well as limb function. If you're not already doing so, ask your vet about supplementing Dave's diet with B12 methylcobalamin (Zobaline is a diabetic-friendly brand - available online). Resolution of neuropathy issues should also hopefully improve gut function.

I second Sharon's recommendation to visit www.felineconstipation.org and I hope Dave feels much better very soon.


Mogs
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MOGS!!!!!:bighug::):bighug:
 
A quick update, because I know you all hate unanswered threads!

Dave ate all his food last night right when I first let it down (which was huge, seeing as he had mostly been picking/licking at it but not really eating much of anything previously). I mixed some Miralax and water into his wet food and he ate it right up. Then, after eating, he came to hang out with me in the living room instead of retreating right back to his bed in the bedroom, which was a big step for him. Two normal bowel movements overnight, and he ate his food right away again this morning too. Noticed him drinking some water this morning as well. This morning, he came and did figure 8's between my legs when I got ready in the bathroom, one of his old habits that he hadn't done over the past week. I'm thinking he is definitely slowly getting back to his normal self!

I will be continuing to add Miralax to his diet, and may add pumpkin as well. Looking into Methyl B-12 for his diabetic neuropathy, I saw some at GNC that was cheaper than the Zobaline...would that be okay to give him?
 
DavesMom said:
A quick update, because I know you all hate unanswered threads!

Dave ate all his food last night right when I first let it down (which was huge, seeing as he had mostly been picking/licking at it but not really eating much of anything previously). I mixed some Miralax and water into his wet food and he ate it right up. Then, after eating, he came to hang out with me in the living room instead of retreating right back to his bed in the bedroom, which was a big step for him. Two normal bowel movements overnight, and he ate his food right away again this morning too. Noticed him drinking some water this morning as well. This morning, he came and did figure 8's between my legs when I got ready in the bathroom, one of his old habits that he hadn't done over the past week. I'm thinking he is definitely slowly getting back to his normal self!

I will be continuing to add Miralax to his diet, and may add pumpkin as well. Looking into Methyl B-12 for his diabetic neuropathy, I saw some at GNC that was cheaper than the Zobaline...would that be okay to give him?
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I got the bottle from GNC the other day. It does not have the folic acid in it (which the folic acid is supposed to help with the B12 absorption). When you crush the GNC brand to mix with food the inside is pink/red. It has this exterior coating on it which doesn't like to crush either. It will kind of dissolve. I wasn't real happy with it and the bottle was around $20.

I will be buying the Zobaline.
 
Dave is doing really well! He's had a couple normal bowel movements now. He had a stressful weekend (I moved into a new apartment) but he did great. I was worried about him with all the other stuff also going on, but he sure is a trooper! He seems to be getting acquainted with the new place pretty well.
 
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