She turns 11 on Monday, eating very little, won't touch cat milk, just drinking water. Is there anything we can do to increase her appetite and build up her strength for the operation? Or a supplement we can put in her water to give her some nutrients?
2006-06-14 22:40:11 · 19 answers · asked by n 5 in Pets ➔ Cats
Nothing worked , she's been eating a little cat food here and there. I even tried cod and chicken and rice. She didn't have her op as she has fluid on her lungs.
2006-06-22 10:39:28 · update #1
I didn't take her my sister did, she's her cat, she moved out to live with her fiancee last October, and took her with her. The vet did give advice, but my sister didn't tell me all (usual). As far as food, he said white fish and chicken and rice, I already told my sister to give her those , she only took notice when he said it. She stayed here a couple of days when I asked the question (work going on outside my sister's noises stress her), I tried the suggestions and chicken and rice and cod, she sat up and looked at everything I put in front of her, but only licked cat food. She ate 2 lots of crab yesterday and purred while eating it. We have 3 cats, they always have whiskas or felix milk for cats, not cows milk. She only drunk milk occasionally anyway, won't touch it at the moment.
2006-06-25 23:12:45 · update #2
She ate some crab on Sunday and purred while eating it. She's started eating cat food again, and even ate some cat biscuits too. Still not had the op, she is going to a specialist as the vetthinks there may be another tumour behind that one. If they can't help her then the vet said she can carry on and have her lungs drained when needed, when it gets too much she will have to be put to sleep.
2006-06-28 14:16:36 · update #3
I had a 11 yr old cat who sadly developed a lymphosarcoma that wasn't diagnosed until it was too advanced for surgery. The treatment he was on combined with the cancer caused him to totally stop eating.
My vet had me try sprinkling a little bit of cat nip or a tiny bit of garlic powder on his food to help stimulate his appetite.
It did help some, especially the cat nip, but i've found that with both of my kitties (Rocky, the 11 yr old who passed away from cancer four years ago and Cheska my 15 yr old that i have now) i can always get them eating again when they lose their appetite by putting some warm/hot water in a shallow bowl and sprinkling some dry food in the water, making a kind of a broth. When it became too tiring for Rocky to eat when he was sick i would also buy baby food - usually meat flavored like chicken or ham - and heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds.
Works like a charm every time for me and my vet gave me the stamp of approval to feed them baby food. I do it now whenever Cheska is feeling poorly just to get her appetite going again. As soon as she is eating again i switch back to her regular food.
When Rocky was sick my vet also gave me some concentrated liquid vitamins that i gave to him everyday with an eyedropper. Helped keep his strength up, and combined with the broth and baby food, helped keep his electrolytes in balance.
I hope Poppy's surgery goes great and she is back to normal in no time.
2006-06-14 23:57:35 · answer #1 · answered by Teresa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a cat is not feeling well, it's completely normal for it to lose its appetite. As long as it is drinking water and not vomiting, she should be fine. You can try Hill's Science Diet a/d formula, but I wouldn't try to force her, or she just may end up throwing up, which could cause bigger problems. Don't offer cow's milk, either. It's a common myth that they should have cow's milk, because it's really not good for them.
Also, keep in mind that she should have no food, anyway, 8 - 12 hours before the surgery, because the anesthetic will make her stomach queasy.
2006-06-24 23:39:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you are. HEB food stores carry a vitamine/mineral supplement for cats that not only helps give them nutrition, but also increases their appetite to eat more. It is $2.99 and is in pet section and comes in a box like a toothpate tube. You just put a small(about one forth inch) on her foot, leg, or nose, she will lick it off. But if it freaks her out to much then add to alittle wet can food. If she eats all then give her more food. There is a VIONATE mineral/vitamine supplement that is excellent. The only place I have seen it is in one of my pet supply catalogs. They use it in zoos, willdlife parks,etc. It is either in Jeffer's Pet Supplies or Care-A-Lot Pet Supplies. If you would care to get in touch with me I can give the phone#s or mailing address's. Poppy's birthday is already pass now, but tell her happy birthday for me . Say a prayer to GOD for her recovery. Taz was 20 years this pass March.
2006-06-28 23:47:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds really odd but many cats have a reflex where if you scratch their back just a few inches above the base of the tail they have the urge to eat whats in front of them. I'd say it works 3 out of 4 times. Stinky food seems to wake up the appitite. Canned sardines mushed up are pretty good. I wish you the best of luck.
2006-06-28 13:37:50 · answer #4 · answered by Laura B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try a can of Mackerel [Jack] its about 75cents and gives you half a fish. Very gross but the cat loves it. We put it in a plastic tupperware and break it into pieces, just use the can turned upside down, the edges do the chopping. You can feed this off and on several times a day. I keep in the fridge if he stops eating.
GOOD LUCK
2006-06-28 18:47:14 · answer #5 · answered by Deb B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry about your cat and I hope everything works out for you and the cat. I know for kittens when the mom stops feeding them you mix clear pedialite and go to your pet store and get a cat powder that is full of nutrients. I just forget the name of powder from the pet store but I know they have it and I am sorry I can't remember the name:(
2006-06-27 01:58:28 · answer #6 · answered by bizzymed2 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish your kitty a speedy recovery hon, it hurts when you love an animal and it seems like you cant help, but just do as the vet says and make sure she gets all her meds. My sister has a cat named "Little Bit " that just turned 21years old and she looks and gets around beautifully.
2006-06-28 14:56:13 · answer #7 · answered by Yakuza 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really feel for you, my cat died of cancer and lost his appetite before the end, we fed him foods that he loved - tuna, chicken and also soup from a spoon, he didn't eat a lot but at least he ate some.
I hope your cat makes a good recovery.
2006-06-15 05:45:14 · answer #8 · answered by gail_hurd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give her a sugar water/formula with an eyedropper if you get really desperate. Or try giving her her favourite food! Most of the time it works!
2006-06-15 06:05:39 · answer #9 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a cat with melanoma --who had this problem during treatment. The Vet gave me an appetite stimulant--I believe it was an antihistamine.
~Becky
2006-06-28 21:03:44 · answer #10 · answered by beckychr007 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋