I just want my cat to eat food and drink water

W8taminute · April 18, 2012, 10:16:25 AM

This past weekend we took our pet cat, her name is Zoe (see picture below of her taken today), to the vet. We went to the vet because we noticed that she has lost a lot of weight in the past few weeks. She also has not been eating much and is staying in one room for most of the day. Zoe is a quiet, gentle, but friendly cat of 15 years old.

The vet took some blood work, an x-ray, and gave her 1000mL of liquid via I.V. The x-ray showed that her liver, kidney, and spleen are all mis-shapen. Blood work came back indicating that although her liver levels are not normal, her white blood count is not so high as to be worried about the big C.

It has been a struggle the past few days to encourage Zoe to eat food and drink her water. We've got her on an anti-biotic and an appetite stimulator as well as treating her to I.V. infusions at home. She is showing signs of getting her appetite back.

It's agonizing to watch a loved one go through this. I know I'm talking to you about a cat here, but she has been part of our family since she was a baby.

Centurion40 · April 18, 2012, 10:35:52 AM

Best of luck. Hopefully she'll start eating again soon.

Double Deuce · April 18, 2012, 10:36:05 AM

I understand where you are coming from. The wife and I have 2 cats we brought into our marriage almost 15 years ago. Both are a little over 15 and were only a few weeks old when we met. One is active as ever (and still mean as ever), the other is little more than skin or bones but the Vet says she is healthy, just old. She eats good, only one that gets canned food in an attempt to keep her weight up, but the arthritis is really setting in on her. She does get around ok for the most part and can jump as high and as far as ever but you can tell she's in pain by the stiffness in her movements.

Fortunately winter here is over so we are figuring the summer heat will help her with the arthritis but we both know her health will slowly go downhill overall from this point on. We just do our best to keep her comfortable till her time comes.

LongBlade · April 18, 2012, 10:49:11 AM

I hope yours recovers and enjoys many more years with you.

Gusington · April 18, 2012, 10:55:40 AM

Beautiful cat. Hope she gets better soon.

bob48 · April 18, 2012, 01:17:30 PM

Its painful - Tabitha, our last moggie passed away a year ago, she was 19 years old and her loss hit us hard.

Windigo · April 18, 2012, 01:18:43 PM

It could be that she is loosing her sense of smell and this is aalso reducing her appetite.
Go out and find the foulest smelling brand of canned tuna/cat seafood and see what happens with the offering.

Gussy-poo might be able to recommend a brand... :o

Gusington · April 18, 2012, 01:22:07 PM

Can't help with cats...dogs I can.

Centurion40 · April 18, 2012, 01:31:17 PM

Huh. Maybe try feeding the cat some dog food. The cat's instinctual contrary nature just might kick-in and it will eat it!

mirth · April 18, 2012, 01:36:10 PM

Zoe looks like a real sweetie. May she recover quickly and fully.

W8taminute · April 18, 2012, 02:08:51 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the well wishes and the compliments. So far things seem fine today and is eating some food. The vet told us to try stage 1 baby food which Zoe seems to like.

Windi

Our cat seems to still have a keen sense of smell because yesterday and the day before she rejected her normal wet cat food. We think it's because she picked up the scent of the crushed pills hidden in there. But just to make sure I will try that test you suggest.

bob

I feel for you and understand what you mean about getting hit hard.

Jarhead0331 · April 18, 2012, 03:34:39 PM

Glad the appetite is recovering. She sounds like a fighter! You and Zoe will be in my prayers. As a lifetime owner of cats, I currently have a gang of three, I know how you must feel. Hang in there! And my crew sends Zoe their best wishes.

bob48 · April 18, 2012, 04:15:53 PM

Mrs Bob just saw this thread, and the piccie of Zoe, and said GET WELL SOON.

Mr. Bigglesworth · April 18, 2012, 04:44:48 PM

Quote from: W8taminute on April 18, 2012, 02:08:51 PM
Hey guys, thanks for the well wishes and the compliments. So far things seem fine today and is eating some food. The vet told us to try stage 1 baby food which Zoe seems to like.

Windi

Our cat seems to still have a keen sense of smell because yesterday and the day before she rejected her normal wet cat food. We think it's because she picked up the scent of the crushed pills hidden in there. But just to make sure I will try that test you suggest.

bob

I feel for you and understand what you mean about getting hit hard.

Mackerel - smelly oily fish.

When our cat was down sick it would go for spaghetti in turkey broth. The only problem was after the good life it would sniff at, then try to cover up regular cat food with imaginary dirt. Then take a few steps away and shake it's back leg like it had crap on its foot.

son_of_montfort · April 18, 2012, 06:53:02 PM

Best wishes W8! I know if anything happens to my boy (a 10 year old Norwegian Forest Cat), I am a mess. He is a special needs cat in that his diet is very restrictive unless we want to give him terrible stomach aches and loose stool. So we have to make sure he eats regularly. But he's a member of the family, so we take care of him!