desperate for food suggestions

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jamies

jamies

Member Since 2016
My cat will not eat anything.

I have tried fancy feast, friskies, dry food(hills m/d) soulistic, tiki, weruva, natural balance, wellness core wet and dry

I am desperate over here.

Any suggestions for dry or wet?

I do not know what to do anymore. He is going to the vet tomm.
 
Right now I'd try any sort of food including dry like Meow Mix or similar. Doesn't matter that it's not the best - he needs to eat. Have you tried meat puree baby food - plain, no seasonings like onion or garlic?
 
Smoky eats Nine Lives and Applaws canned food when he gets tired of his regular canned food. Have you tried giving him Sheba or any of those foods that comes in individual pouches? I have to give smoky those on occasion although not the best for his diabetes.
Does your cat appear to be nauseous?
 
I have him meds for that yesterday plus An appetite stimulant nothing is working
 
The vet gave me cerenia for smoky but I don't think it is helping him much. Smoky had lost 6.5 pounds when he was diagnosed in Sept of this year. He went from 14 lbs down to 7.5 lbs. I know how you feel about your kitty not eating. He is 8.3 lbs and losing weight again.:facepalm: hopefully your vet will figure out what is going on with your boy tomorrow:bighug::bighug:
 
I have read on here that members have given their cats poached chicken to entice them to eat. Chicken is eaten by some cats as their regular diet. I would give it to him if he will eat it, anything you can try to get him to eat
 
I feed Sheba a homemake diet and she gets poached chicken every day as part of her food. Try it in a little of the juice it is cooked in warmed. Also you can try minced meat or an egg scrambled, or raw chicken hearts. You could give this for a week or two without any trouble but longer term you would need supplements.
Have you had him tested for pancreatitis? Or he may have an infection.
If he is not eating I would test for ketones in the urine.
You may have to resort to syringe feeding if he will not eat anything for you.
 
He was eating chicken but won't now.
Had a super hard time giving him his pills
He just doesn't want to eat
 
Has he been pooping regularly? If so, you may need to syringe feed him. If not then he may be constipated. Have you checked for ketones?
 
Have you checked him for ketones? How is he acting besides not wanting to eat? Does he seem interested in the food and then sniff or lick and then just walk away?
I remember many times going to the grocery store, and buying a little of this and a little of that (a little steak, some chicken, a can of tuna, some deli roast beef lunch meat, some cooked shrimp, a couple jars of all meat baby food, some canned cat food with gravy, a small bag of dry cat food, some enticing cat treats).
My cat had a temporary feeding tube when he was recuperating from DKA. And later in life as he got very old, I assist fed him with a feeding syringe when he didn't want to eat using his own canned cat food blended using a Magic Bullet.
 
Yes he is pooping. He does sniff takes a her and walks away he is on anti nausea meds so not sure what else will help.

He ate a can of ff this morning with chicken on top.
We aren't sure if a feeding tube is an option he is a severe puker always has been and occasionally passes out so not sure it's right for him
 
jamies said:
Yes he is pooping. He does sniff takes a her and walks away he is on anti nausea meds so not sure what else will help.

He ate a can of ff this morning with chicken on top.
We aren't sure if a feeding tube is an option he is a severe puker always has been and occasionally passes out so not sure it's right for him
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Mirtazapine for appetite? Sorry to sound like a broken record but I'd ask the vet about cyproheptadine. FYI - my mom's elderly cat just got mirtazapine for appetite and it's making him very weird.
 
I wasn't giving him anything at all per the doctor because he was acting lethargic. he is going to the vet today
 
jamies said:
His glucose was at 410 and he wants to increase. His units
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High blood sugar can certainly make them feel unwell and lethargic. If I recall, Willy is on Vetsulin, 2 units twice a day? What dose did your vet suggest today? Have you been able to get any BG tests done? I know we keep nagging about testing but it's SO important in knowing how a dose is affecting Willy. I know you want to do what's best for him and testing has to be part of that.

Have you given any thought to setting up a spreadsheet like the one we use here so we can see Willy's numbers? It would be much easier for us to give you advice.
 
Yes and yes. I will be on top of it this week.

This is so very stressful :( I feel like I'm not helping him at allnb
 
jamies said:
Yes and yes. I will be on top of it this week.

This is so very stressful :( I feel like I'm not helping him at allnb
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You are helping him, Jamie. You're here looking for help and you're willing to do the testing and record keeping that will keep him safe. Don't be too hard on yourself. This is a challenging disease for cat owners to manage but it's possible, not impossible.
 
Yet again I second the recommendation to ask your vet about cyproheptadine for appetite instead of mirtazapine. In your posts I see that the mirt is weirding Willow out. I've been prescribed the stuff myself and from my first-hand experience I can attest that if that particular drug doesn't agree with you it can have an awful effect on both mind and body. I stopped taking it after the third dose because the side effects were unbearable.

Cyproheptadine at the right dose tends to be calming and you don't get that 'crazed hunger' response.

Are you giving anti-nausea meds, Jamie? The appy stimulants won't work if the cat gets nauseated as soon as it eats.


Mogs
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I am and. Nothing is working or helping him.
He puked all night ate some now. It eating eat all
 
jamies said:
I am and. Nothing is working or helping him.
He puked all night ate some now. It eating eat all
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Mogs has given you her recommendation to ask for cyproheptadine for Willy's appetite. I've described that drug's effect on my mom's kitty - made him very weird, unsettled, agitated, etc. An antinausea drug on its own sometimes isn't enough. Please don't say that nothing is working or helping him even though it's easy to feel that way when you've been through so much.

Have you given any thought to asking the vet for cyproheptadine? Has your vet ever suggested a feeding tube for Willy? It sounds a lot scarier than it is, by the way, and is often the very thing that gets a kitty moving forward.

We're not trying to harass you, Jamie, just give you the benefit of our experience with sick kitties. Please take our feedback in the spirit in which its intended.
 
I already responded about the feeding tube.
He has a history of vomiting a lot and also passing out. Discussed with the vet and that might not be the best option for him.


Both the vet and the internist said to use the mirtazapine if needed for now.

I know you aren't harassing me but there is only so much I can do. I cannot take him to the vet every day I cNnot afford to hospitalize him again.namd I can't take off
Work every other day
It was $2000.00 that I don't have.
 
I'm sorry, Jamie, i'd forgotten about you mentioning the feeding tube. If you have mirtazapine at home could you try giving a partial dose? Maybe it would help a little but not have as many adverse effects.

Believe me, I understand that there's only so much you can do and that there's a limit to what we can afford.
 
jamies said:
He does sniff takes a her and walks away he is on anti nausea meds so not sure what else will help.
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Can you let us know which anti-nausea medication Willow is receiving, Jamie.

jamies said:
Both the vet and the internist said to use the mirtazapine if needed for now.
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Some vets are not (as) familiar with cyproheptadine (certainly the case in the UK; I had to ask for it specifically for Saoirse. I have to get a written Rx for it.)

I've been through eating wars and I really and truly feel for you, Jamie.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
.
 
He is on zofran. He had cerenia and it doesn't suit him but I did give him one today as I won't be home

I couldn't even get his heart meds and I had to shove homeowners his mouth which isn't ideal as he usually freaks out and pukes but that can turn into an even bigger issue.

What happens if doesn't get a shot at all?
He had zero food in him so I couldn't give him anything.

At this point I have now worry every time I leave the house and there is limited to what I can do. So now all I can think of is that something is wrong because he's not eating and I really can't afford the er later
 
What weight is Willow and what dose of Zofran are you giving him?

Also when you do give Cerenia what dose do you give?

jamies said:
What happens if doesn't get a shot at all?
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Are you testing for ketones, Jamie? If not, please can you get some ketone test strips and test Willow ASAP? If Willow doesn't get enough insulin and he isn't eating enough he will be at risk of developing ketones. I can't stress strongly enough how important it is for you to do this testing.

Also if you're home testing please can you post BG levels.

It would help a lot if you could add to your signature the type of insulin you're using and also if you're home testing the BG meter type you're using. Also if you could add the names of the meds you have available at home to the signature that would be helpful, too. (I hope you don't think I'm being awkward here; nothing could be further from the truth. I have a very, very good idea of how stressed, exhausted and scared you are likely to be feeling right now because, like many members here, I've been through similar. I'm only asking for things that will help us to try to help you better - and it'll save you having to keep answering the same questions on different threads :) ).

Another thing; is Willow getting any fluids at all? If he's dehydrated it will make him feel lousy and that won't help the nausea and appetite issues.


Mogs
.
 
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You don't sound rude at all, Jamie; you just sound understandably very worried. We understand how very stressful this is for you both and I just wanted to you to know that by asking for information I'm not trying to add to your worry and stress. :)

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
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jamies said:
Long story short I'm going to a new vet

I'm going to the er hospital for them to help me with home testing
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I hope you get on OK, Jamie. Ask them to check Willow's ketone levels and also whether he's dehydrated. If yes, if the vets give him some fluids it could help him feel a lot better.

Sending prayers for you both. Be sure to let us know how you get on.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
.
 
jamies said:
Long story short I'm going to a new vet

I'm going to the er hospital for them to help me with home testing
Click to expand...
Good luck, Jamie. I hope they have more to offer you and Willy. Mogs has mentioned ketones and dehydration - good idea to consider those along with addressing the appetite issue.
 
My vet whomi have been going to for his whole life said there is nothing more they can help me with. I was like what if he was dying you couldn't help me?
I'm so pissed off right now
I talked to the interniat she said I did what I should have and I'm calling her tomm
 
jamies said:
My vet whomi have been going to for his whole life said there is nothing more they can help me with. I was like what if he was dying you couldn't help me?
I'm so pissed off right now
I talked to the interniat she said I did what I should have and I'm calling her tomm
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That's very insensitive of your vet. I suspect it's because he/she doesn't know what to do and rather than consulting some colleagues, he/she just dismissed you. Very unprofessional. There are others on here who have been disappointed at their vet's lack of knowledge of FD even though that vet had been wonderful for all the other health-related stuff.

Is the internist at the ER hospital? A veterinary specialist like this should be more on the ball with FD but the proof is in the pudding as they say. You can see that many of us here think that you can get help for Willy.
 
:(

Please, please test Willow ASAP for ketones, Jamie. Can you get him to the specialist for an emergency appointment today? I really think that is the best and wisest thing for you to do.

Will he eat plain chicken for you? Try anything he might eat.

Sending more prayers for you both.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
.
 
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