How can I get Sandy to eat better?

[Sandy96]

Sandy isnt eating well and when I weighed her last night (I held her on the scale) it showed she had lost another 2 oz. My poor baby cant afford to lose much more seeings how shes a decent sized kitty (build wise) and has gone from 16lbs to 8.4lbs in the last yr and a half, the last 2 in the last month. I have tried giving her her favorite treat (cream cheese shes never had trouble with lactose) she ate that and a bit of the food i was offering with it and then refused any further cream cheese. I have tried watering down the food into a slurry, she will drink the liquid and push the food around, she also isnt taking food from my hand anymore or from an offered spoon. I'm not sure what else to do? Does anybody have a suggestion or ideas I can try?

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Hi there! I don't think I have visited your condo before. You have done a good job of getting up to speed fast, a new meter, testing, a better dose.. All good. Looks like she is bouncing since her low yesterday.. All typical.

Now food, how much has she eaten today and of what? Not sure cream cheese is the best treat to give her but if she's not eating anything then better than nothing. What lc canned are you feeding her? Have you tried the low carb fancy feasts ? My boys both love it! And especially if you sprinkle freeze dried chicken on top!

Once we get her regulated she will start to put weight back on. Good idea to keep weighing her.

 

[Misty&Bast]

At one point I put food with tuna juice on a spoon and held it under the cats nose. when he licked I kept lowering the spoon into the bowl and until he was licking the bowl.

I admit I had to shop around for foods Bast likes. When all else fails and he won't eat- it's Trader joes Tuna for cats.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Dani:

Please get Bug checked by your vet. There can be any number of reasons that a cat isn't eating -- a dental problem, pancreatitis, etc. Ruling out a medical problem can be important.

I'm going to include a post from a long time member who discusses a variety of "enticements" to interest a cat in food.

Enticing a Cat to Eat

Here are some things you can do do entice your cat to eat:

-sometimes in order to get a cat to eat you even have to resort to dry it is more important that they eat. there are a couple low carb / grain free brands -- EVO and wellness core.

-making a buffet to give him choices
- heating food

sprinkle food with :

• forta flora -- a probiotic you can get at vets or online. is very smelly and cats love the taste of it.
• parmesean cheese
• smashed crumbles of dry food
• bonito/tuna flakes (Can be found at Asian markets or sometimes in the Asian food section of a large grocery store.)
• halo chicken treats (freeze dried chicken) -- crumble into dust over food -- my Wolfie loves this stuff.
• pour a little water from tuna in water over food (I use low sodium/no sodium added as other kinds in water has veg. broth in it and I assume that means onions, which are toxic to cats and it shouldn't contain soy -- check labels)
• powdered oregano. yep sounds weird . but some cats like it and it will entice them to eat.

other ideas of foods to offer your kitty to stim appy:

• trader joe tuna for cats
• baby food -- beechnut or Gerber Stage 2 -- you want a baby food that is only a protein + broth (although the Gerber contains cornstarch). It should have no onions or other additives. some babyfoods have onions . please read labels if you can't find beechnut.
• kentucky fried chicken
• deli turkey /chicken
• plain cooked ( boiled or baked ) chicken breast
• canned chicken for people (watch the label that their are no onions)
• chicken broth -- low sodium

If enticements don't work, you should consider:
-assist feeding ( syringe or make little meatballs and place in mouth)
-and/or talking to your vet about appetite stimulents ( mirtazapine or cyproheptidine)

 

[Sandy96]

Thanks again. I'm hoping it isnt her liver that is causing her not to eat esp since her numbers are bouncing all over the place, that was posed as a potential cause or effect (the vet didnt know which) when she was diagnosed... her liver enzymes were elevated, serum bili and cholesterol especially. Will try your suggestions, I have some FF classics and wellness core and the Natures Variety instinct alll of which she likes so hopefully she'll chow on one of them She likes cheese so will try the Parmesan cheese tonight, she will eat deli turkey so will see about getting some more of that too.