Cat problem - help needed

[Bellefoy]

Hi, all.

One of my cats has been not eating her usual amount lately. I got her fresh food, tossing out the rest of the open bag in case it was stale (I check constantly and her food, Science Diet adult dry, hasn't been recalled), have given her a bit of my other cat's special canned food for sensitive stomachs (a Hill's prescription diet, so I check that for recalls at the same time as their Science Diet brand, and this particular type is ok), put her in a quiet room to eat because she's a bit nervous...everything I can think of. She shows no behavioral changes, is drinking, just barely eating. She looks at the food like she's hungry, but won't eat it. I suspected it might be a dental issue, because she's had dental problems before, which is why I was hoping she'd eat the canned food, but she didn't eat much of it.

I have a vet appt that I'd already scheduled for this Friday am for her, and just called and left a message to see if I can bring her in tomorrow am because of not eating. Any idea of something I can try that she might eat? Usually her appetite is good. I'm debating bringing her to an emergency facility, but would prefer to take her to the regular vet tomorrow am.

[Catiana]

How long has the non-eating been going on? Has anything changed in your home that would stress her out?

[Bellefoy]

She's been decreasing her food intake for just under two weeks now. She had a little extra weight to begin with, and I figured it was just a seasonal appetite change. As far as what might be stressing her, the only thing I can think of is that my downstairs neighbors (I live in an apt) are temporarily taking care of a young daschund for a friend and he/she arrived around then. I don't even know if they still have it in their apt, though.

ETA: I would think that would make her hide, though, and she hasn't been doing that at all -personality is normal, shy but very affectionate.

[Pinion]

I'm glad you are taking her to the vet! And glad she is still eating something. Once they go completely off their food it can be a long hard nightmare to get them eating again.

The following are some of the "Tried and Trues" from the cat boards:

Something to try that is also good for settling their tummies: Boiled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast. Cut it up in tiny pieces after it's cooked--boiling makes it nice and tender any way so she should be able to chew it. You can also offer her the broth and/or pour it over some canned food to entice her. (I actually keep a couple of them cooked and frozen in case somebody goes off their food or gets an upset stomach--that way I can just microwave them as needed)

OR

Tuna juice (drained from a can of water packed tuna) poured over food sometimes works.

OR

Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over her food.

OR

Plain yogurt

OR

Vanilla Ice Cream

OR

Canned Salmon

OR

Long John Silvers fish, McDonald's cheese burger (order it plain), Arby's roast beef (order it without sauce)

The point is to make sure she keeps eating.

Please keep us posted! I am saying a special prayer to Bast for your little girl.

[Bellefoy]

Thanks. I have a can of water-packed tuna, that just might work to get something more into her. :-)

[Catiana]

good suggestions, I agree.

[Bellefoy]

Thank you both - she was in the kitchen before I got the can all the way open. :-) I put a little of the water on the food, and mixed in a little of the tuna, and it worked. She ate a bit and now is pacing around the kitchen debating eating some more. I'll see if I can get her to eat a little more before I go to bed and then try again in the am.

[Shanti]

I sure cant add to anything here.
But I can send well wishes for your fur child.
Let us know how it goes.

[Cat]

You've already gotten some great tips, all I can add is jarred pureed baby food--the meat only kind.

[Pinion]

Bellefoy, what did the vet say???

[Bellefoy]

Pinion, thanks for your follow up posting. :-) I just got back from the vet, and unfortunately she's much sicker than I suspected. :-( I feel badly that I didn't just go ahead and bring her in two days ago, but it probably wouldn't have made much difference. Her kidneys are in terrible shape: the lab #s were about the worst my vet has ever seen. I admitted her for treatment until Monday. The other option was to try to give her treatment at home (needles), and given her condition I felt that was not an option for this weekend. The vet said she's a bit young - not quite 10 - for her kidneys to start failing like this, but it's not so terribly young. Basically, everything hinges on this weekend, and whether or not she improves, and my vet made sure I understood that the long-term outlook isn't good either way. Feh. :-(

[Pinion]

(((Bellefoy))) I'm so sorry to read this! Keeping your girl in my thoughts and prayers!

My Asp had Very Bad Renal episode when he was only two. He did manage to pull through and (KNOCK WOOD AND ANIT_JINX!!!) had not had problems in the years since.

If she has Cronic Renal Failure (CRF) I will PM you links for support groups and info.

HUGS...

[Pinion]

In light of my post today in the Recall Thread and the information contained in the link I included...I am sick wondering if her food may have caused this.

Apparently some of the subcontractors for the food companies are changing ingredients without telling the parent company. We all keep reading ingredient lists that may be incomplete. We all keep checking recall lists that are being added to almost daily. I am so upset about this I am literally sick to my stomach!

Keeping your baby in my thoughts and prayers...
and I sent you a PM with some renal failure info.

[Cindlady2]

Good Luck to both of you.... hope she gets over this soon!

[Sacreligioushippie]

Bellefoy, I'm so sorry.
Healing energies to your little one.
:hugz:

[Bellefoy]

Thank you all for your posts. My little one (Yoshi) apparently is responding very well to treatment, and the vet, who is wonderful and contacting me regularly, was much more optimistic this am than she was yesterday morning based on how Yoshi is looking and behaving. She won't draw lab numbers until Monday am when treatment is done, though, so that will tell the real story. I am hoping for the best, and have learned the hard way to be much aggressive about addressing the slightest change in one of my cats' appetites from now on.

[Shanti]

Has she had any of the recalled cat foods or treats in the last 2 months?
The recalled food goes back a way and I wonder if the side effects don't always show up right away?

Jope your cat continues to respond well.

[Bellefoy]

Just a follow up. She's home. :-) This whole experience obviously traumatized her, but she is sooo happy to be back home and is more affectionate to me than ever before. It's sweet. :-) She's on Hills' k/d (kidney diet), with a powdered medicine I add to it. She didn't eat all of it tonight, but I think she's just in ecstasy to be home since she did initally attack it with good appetite - due to the other cat and the fact that it's 'bug season,' I can't leave any food out for her overnight.

She's also supposed to get 200 cc's of sodium chloride solution 2x a week, from what is really an IV bag. I simply can't bring myself to do that, but the vet is only about 2 miles from me, so I am going to do my best to wrestle her into the carrier for that. Those shouldn't be a continual thing; only a few weeks. I think, and hope! She has a follow-up appt in 30 days.

The final word is that it's CRF, but I am still not 100% sure of that. Since she's almost 10, it's possible, though. I'm going to check out the info you sent me, Pinion. :-)

[Catiana]

:hugz:

[wolfjan1]

:hugz: AH, bless you and your kitty!
The Hills diets have worked very well for some of my pets down the line.
Healing energy for your stress,
wj

[Willow Rosette]

So glad she made it home!! :hugz:

[Bellefoy]

Again, let me say thank you to all who replied and offered advice and support. Unfortunately, I ended up saying my goodbyes to Yoshi yesterday, letting my vet humanely end her suffering - her condition deteriorated extremely rapidly and she was terribly sick. Yoshi had a quiet but extremely strong personality, and I truly believe she had decided not to fight this illness from the beginning. I admire her "catitude" and am so glad she shared 9 1/2 years of my life. :-)

[Shanti]

So Sorry. :(

[Athena-Nadine]

:hugz: I am so sorry for your loss. :(

[Sacreligioushippie]

I am so sorry for your loss. :hugz:

[Bellefoy]

Thank you, everyone. Her "adoptive sister," Jezebel, my other cat, is giving me lots of extra affection these days and keeping my spirits up. :-)

[Old Witch]

I'm so sorry for your loss....