cat wont eat

[samandkat]

My 17yr old cat is not eating at all

A quick medical history
She has had half thyroid removed
She recently had dental surgery
She does suffer with cystitis

She has lost weight and her coat has become oily and clumpy her breath smells and I'm at a loss as to what to do

Do I try to fix her or let her go

[Hoppinggreen]

Sorry but it does found like the end - my cat was the same and we had to let her go. Always said with my old cat that as Long as she as eating and wasn't distressed I would keep her going. When she stopped eating I knew it was time
It's a rare and wonderful vet that will suggest this so unless you have one don't be surprised f you go to the vet and they suggest treatment instead.
Best wishes xxxxx

[cozietoesie]

It doesn't sound too good, I'm afraid. I have an old and desperately fussy cat who has had some problems eating. He has bad arthritis and the pain meds help a lot to cheer him up. I've also bought him some vitamin paste which he seems to adore. (Big surprise there.)

The most important thing I found though was that I eventually reached the conclusion - from analysing his behaviour - that his vision was almost gone and that this was making him anxious and reluctant to leave his safe place (his bed with his electric blanket.) As a result, he was getting out of the habit of eating regularly and to help him over this sticky period, I started taking him to his food and sitting him in front of the bowl with some loving words and strokes to get him going.

That seems to have done the trick and he's now back in the habit of his nosh - plus his vitamins seem to have perked him up a lot although it's early days on that. He'll now actually ask for breakfast although I still have to 'encourage' for later meals.

Is she drinking do you know?

[samandkat]

She's hydrated but not drinking Much

[chockbic]

It's hard to be 100% and assuming the vet can do no more, then it may be time.

You can try on different, tempting foods. Wet food will have some water content, to give hydration.

[thecatneuterer]

If the dental was within the last week or so then I would say this is a reaction to the anaesthetic, and could be fatal if not promptly treated. Whatever i would get her to the vet straight away, and then take it from there.

[cozietoesie]

When did she last actually eat, samandkat ?

[cozietoesie]

PS - sorry, is she using her tray at all?

[samandkat]

Her dental surgery was a week ago

She last ate something the night before her surgery

And last littered last night

[thecatneuterer]

She's need to see the vet right now then.

[shovetheholly]

Get her to the vet, pronto.

She's quite elderly, and they bounce back less quickly than younger cats on the whole. It may be that she still has pain and is in need of some anti-inflammatories/painkillers, and some very soft food (there is some high calorie food that is basically like pureed kebab).

You may need to try lots of different kinds of food and lots of strokes while feeding for a while. The stroking stimulates their appetite (mother cats lick kittens when they are feeding).

[cozietoesie]

I agree. To the vet directly.

[samandkat]

She has an appointment this afternoon and she has had a tiny bit of food

[bettyboop1970]

Have you tried some tuna? I hope she will be OK.

[samandkat]

Yeah tried tuna chicken soft cat food her normal food eggs and even her favorite kippers but she seems not to want any of them

[cozietoesie]

Good that she has an appointment, samandkat. They seem to have a habit of reserving their most serious problems for late evening/weekends etc - at any rate, some time when it's not so easy to get veterinary help - so this way, you'll get her seen before the weekend which will ease things.

Let us know how she gets on.

[cozietoesie]

How did she do?

[samandkat]

Been to the vets and they have given her some antibiotics and painkillers to last her the weekend and to go back on Monday

If there is no change by then it may well be the end of the road for her I shall post back on Monday night to let you all know how it went fingers crossed all turns out ok

[cozietoesie]

Have they actually diagnosed what's wrong, sam ?

[samandkat]

They first thought that it was her teeth that was stopping her from eating but since she is still the same after her surgery they are not sure if anything is underlying and because of her age there is only so much they can do so if they did find anything they would not be able to do anything about it

[cozietoesie]

That all sounds a bit defeatist to be honest. I'm not one for undertaking 'heroic' treatment if the time has come and things are winding down but I do like to know what's probably up and be able to make a reasonably informed decision.

I guess I'm lucky in my local vet practice - they're very active for older animals and not at all dismissive of problems because a cat is old. (It helps that my own boy is a great favourite of course.)

Hey Ho. Best of luck to her over the weekend.

[samandkat]

Thankyou and I will update you on Monday as to how she is doing

[samandkat]

She has passed away vets couldn't control the infection in her mouth and she lost half a kilo in weight so we thought with her age and situation to help her to sleep

[chockbic]

You did the best for her.

[cozietoesie]

I'm so sorry.

Take care.

[samandkat]

Thankyou for your support and messages it is most appreciated thankyou