Our cat is diabetic for 3 years now and is only 7. He had seemed to be regulated and had been acting fairly normal till about a week ago. he stopped eating so we took him to the vet and they found that he has a urinary tract infection and gave us antibiotics and an appetite booster med. He hates the vet and turns into a very mean cat while there, mostly because he has been hospitalized several times due to his diabetes. He wasn't doing well last weekend, was lethargic and still not eating so we took him to the emergency vet hospital. They didn't really find much different than our regular vet, he ate a tiny bit for them there but they sent him home in hopes that he would relax and eat for us. He has only eaten a few kernels of our other cats food, and not much else. We have about 6 bowls down for him with some wet and some different kinds of dry food. We have tried tuna and he is still not interested. We stopped the antibiotic for 2 days since the doc thought it could be upsetting his stomach but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. We are giving him IV fluids at home, and now force feeding him baby food. We dont know what else to do at this point. He walks over to his food and seems like he wants to try to eat but then walks away. We feel so sad for him and hope he isn't in pain. We are wondering could it be psychological? What else can e try. We are open to anything right now and have already spent so much money on our poor kitty. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. And in regards to his insulin, we are now giving him 3 units in the AM and 3 in the PM.
cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else to do
- Thread starter jworth
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Harry and Katies Mum
Member
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
Sorry I don't really know what to suggest but we've recently been through the same thing with one of our cats Harry. He was very unwell and finished up staying with the vets for over a week as he was dehrydrated. He had cyctitis and pancreastitis and was suffering from low potassium because of not eating. The vets had him on drips with a potassium supplement as well as antibiotics to clear up the cyctitis and pancreastitis and they were force feeding Harry until he started eating for himself. They had an awful job of trying to control his blood sugar while he was there and even now its still not right.
Hope someone can come along with some suggestions for you soon.
Sorry I don't really know what to suggest but we've recently been through the same thing with one of our cats Harry. He was very unwell and finished up staying with the vets for over a week as he was dehrydrated. He had cyctitis and pancreastitis and was suffering from low potassium because of not eating. The vets had him on drips with a potassium supplement as well as antibiotics to clear up the cyctitis and pancreastitis and they were force feeding Harry until he started eating for himself. They had an awful job of trying to control his blood sugar while he was there and even now its still not right.
Hope someone can come along with some suggestions for you soon.
christina52388
Member
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
The only thing I can say is that when my cat hadn't been eating for days the vet finally gave him an appetite stimulant and anti-nausea...that was the only 24 hours that I had seen my cat go to his food dish. After that, nothing. But my cat also had cancer that we didn't know about and he was going downhill fast so those few bites he took on his own made me hopeful but I didn't know he was still nearing the end. However, if there isn't something seriously wrong with your cat maybe an app. stimulant and anti-nausea could get him back on the right foot and start eating again. But there might be something wrong if he's not eating :YMSIGH:
The only thing I can say is that when my cat hadn't been eating for days the vet finally gave him an appetite stimulant and anti-nausea...that was the only 24 hours that I had seen my cat go to his food dish. After that, nothing. But my cat also had cancer that we didn't know about and he was going downhill fast so those few bites he took on his own made me hopeful but I didn't know he was still nearing the end. However, if there isn't something seriously wrong with your cat maybe an app. stimulant and anti-nausea could get him back on the right foot and start eating again. But there might be something wrong if he's not eating :YMSIGH:
Vicky & Gandalf (GA) & Murrlin
Very Active Member
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
Cats stop eating for a few different reasons. For a diabetic cat, not eating can be a sign of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be acute or become chronic and it's important to give supportive care to help them through it. There is a blood test to diagnose it called a feline Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity test, which has to be sent to Texas A&M for processing. Ultrasound can also be used to see if there is inflammation, but the blood test is best.
Here is treatment info: http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/read.php?8,876722,876722That is from the old version of our board, and written by a vet tech.
It is extremely important that your cat continue to be treated for the UTI and continue to receive his insulin, even if it is a lesser amount. For a diabetic cat, an infection plus not eating and not receiving enough insulin can develop in to a life threatening condition diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA.
Syringe feeding or surgically placing a feeding tube can be a life saving effort for cats who won't eat. Hepatic lipidosis is also a possible event for a cat which hasn't eaten for even a couple days. In short, you need to help him eat, simply putting bowls down in the hopes that he eats is not enough.
Cats stop eating for a few different reasons. For a diabetic cat, not eating can be a sign of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be acute or become chronic and it's important to give supportive care to help them through it. There is a blood test to diagnose it called a feline Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity test, which has to be sent to Texas A&M for processing. Ultrasound can also be used to see if there is inflammation, but the blood test is best.
Here is treatment info: http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/read.php?8,876722,876722That is from the old version of our board, and written by a vet tech.
It is extremely important that your cat continue to be treated for the UTI and continue to receive his insulin, even if it is a lesser amount. For a diabetic cat, an infection plus not eating and not receiving enough insulin can develop in to a life threatening condition diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA.
Syringe feeding or surgically placing a feeding tube can be a life saving effort for cats who won't eat. Hepatic lipidosis is also a possible event for a cat which hasn't eaten for even a couple days. In short, you need to help him eat, simply putting bowls down in the hopes that he eats is not enough.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
Does your cat show any other symptoms of being in pain, hiding..?
My cat also has stopped eating for oh so long now...He also hides under the bed all day (totally unlike him)
I've had him on buprenex pain narcotic for like 10 days now and his eating is getting better.
I also for awhile had him on odens..(?) antinausea...I think that helped.
I strongly suspect cancer too.
But he is doing better than when I had to force feed him, which at some point I promised him I would not do anymore as he hated it and he has always let me do whatever I want to him.
Pain meds are worth a try.
Lori
Does your cat show any other symptoms of being in pain, hiding..?
My cat also has stopped eating for oh so long now...He also hides under the bed all day (totally unlike him)
I've had him on buprenex pain narcotic for like 10 days now and his eating is getting better.
I also for awhile had him on odens..(?) antinausea...I think that helped.
I strongly suspect cancer too.
But he is doing better than when I had to force feed him, which at some point I promised him I would not do anymore as he hated it and he has always let me do whatever I want to him.
Pain meds are worth a try.
Lori
Jen & Squeak
Very Active Member
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
Which antibiotic? Clavamox can make cats nauseous and inappetant....
Has he been tested (urine) for ketones?
You say he appears regulated but I'm guessing that you are not hometesting? It could be that he isn't regulated and that he feels like cr*p hence the inappetance...
Which antibiotic? Clavamox can make cats nauseous and inappetant....
Has he been tested (urine) for ketones?
You say he appears regulated but I'm guessing that you are not hometesting? It could be that he isn't regulated and that he feels like cr*p hence the inappetance...
Lisa and Merlyn (GA)
Very Active Member
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
Which appetite stimulant? try another. You can use either Cyproheptadine or Mirtazipine, or valium can work as an appetite stimulant too.
After not eating this long you need to start syringe feeding. Puree regular canned cat food with hand blender and use a big needleless syringe.
Which appetite stimulant? try another. You can use either Cyproheptadine or Mirtazipine, or valium can work as an appetite stimulant too.
After not eating this long you need to start syringe feeding. Puree regular canned cat food with hand blender and use a big needleless syringe.
Larry and Kitties
Very Active Member
Re: cat still not eating after a week, dont know what else t
Just make sure you get the equivalent of on 5.5 oz can a day into the cat. Syringe feed the cat as necessary. I have had to syringe two cat for 2 1/2 months before they would eat on their own. I am currently syringe feeding my Patches about half her food each day since she does not eat much. For how to syringe feed, you might want to join Yahoos Feline Assisted Feeding group.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feli ... d-Feeding/
Just make sure you get the equivalent of on 5.5 oz can a day into the cat. Syringe feed the cat as necessary. I have had to syringe two cat for 2 1/2 months before they would eat on their own. I am currently syringe feeding my Patches about half her food each day since she does not eat much. For how to syringe feed, you might want to join Yahoos Feline Assisted Feeding group.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feli ... d-Feeding/
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