before you all freak out and say "go to the vet!", he's been to the vet and the next step is to have an ultra sound which isn't going to happen until tomorrow or the next day. so, my question is statistical. how long does it take for a cat to expire due to dehydration or starvation?
2006-11-21 11:24:04 · 12 answers · asked by sstensv 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...it depends on the cats' overall health condition. On average it can be between 5-7 days if they are without food and water.
If the cat isn't drinking at all usually an intravenous line is inserted in order to keep the cat hydrated. There has to be a reason why your vet has not chosen to do this if it hasn't been done.
I hope your kitty will be alright soon.
2006-11-21 11:29:48 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
More than two days without any food can cause serious damage to a cat's liver. He won't die immediately without the food and you should definitely get something in him before that 48 hr period. You can try Gerber's stage one baby food - chicken or turkey are easiest on the stomach. It must have NO onion or garlic powder. Many cats can be fed that when they will eat nothing else. I would feed your cat small amounts from your finger to get something in his system. The meat has some moisture in it and you can also syringe a small amount of filtered water into him several times a day if you have one. Even a few eye droppers of water is better than nothing.
The vet also has a food called a/d which is highly palatable and contains a lot of protein and fat. One of the few cat foods made with pork.
2006-11-21 11:55:05 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did the vet know that cat wasn't eating or drinking? He should have given it some subcutaneous fluids, to prevent dehydration. If he did that, then you can relax, because he knows he is going to see the cat tomorrow and would have "covered the bases"... made sure to inject enough fluid. That is like basic first aid for cats not eating and drinking.
If he didn't, you could try giving your cat a bit of water with an eyedropper every hour or so. This might be enough to hold him until he sees the vets. If the vet has scheduled an ultrasound, he may suspect a bowel obstruction. I wouldn't go trying to feed the cat anything until after the ultrasound. You don't want to overload a plugged up system, if that is the case.
2006-11-21 11:33:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The longest I let my cat do that was 3 days. I didn't realize she didn't eat or drink at all until my husband told me that he hadn't refilled the food bowl for days.
I know some cats are really strong, but my cat was young, skinny and weak when she first came so I was so worried. I forced her to eat soft can food from my palm with fresh spinach then forced her to drink water a bit. For another 3 days we did this and then she started eating and drinking regularly.
I hope the vet knows what he is doing. Just wondering!
2006-11-21 11:53:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most animals can go without food for quite a while, but water... only a few days... depending of the temperature, their amount of activity and many other factors. But basically without water none of the body processes work properly.
i just did a quick search on google and a site told me cats have been known to survive for up to 10 days. However if your cats isn't eating or drinking it may be different.
http://www.paws-and-effect.com/pawsandeffect45.html
I really hope your cat starts eating and drinking again and you find out what's wrong...
2006-11-21 11:38:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat Dehydration
2016-12-15 14:48:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
my cat is refusing to eat or drink. how long do cats usually live with this behavior?
before you all freak out and say "go to the vet!", he's been to the vet and the next step is to have an ultra sound which isn't going to happen until tomorrow or the next day. so, my question is statistical. how long does it take for a cat to expire due to dehydration or...
2015-08-07 17:00:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't let a cat go more than a day without eating or drinking or I'd be very worried. Did the vet suggest appetite stimulants or bottle feeding? I hope your kitty is ok.
2006-11-21 11:28:27 · answer #8 · answered by Phoenix 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the Vet says there is nothing wrong it can mean it is hunting and killing it's food. while out side. Or maybe going over to your neighbor's and mooching food. If you also have a dog might be eating the dog's food as well.
2006-11-21 17:53:56 · answer #9 · answered by JUAN FRAN$$$ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
best to see what the vet says, but if you have already been, it may be the cat's way of wanting to leave this world
2015-02-16 08:16:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋