Elderly cat not eating - what to do?

[MuddyDog]

She’s 19, up to about 10 days ago was right as rain, going outside, active and happy.
Then she got really bad diarrhoea so we took her to the vet - they couldn’t find anything obvious but gave us antibiotics, painkillers and some paste to firm up her poos, as well as special food.
A blood test showed nothing except a possible infection.
Since then the diarrhoea has stopped but she is barely eating anything and is just drinking. She’s asleep most of the time. She’s absolutely skeletal now.
She doesn’t seem in pain although it’s hard to tell. I dont want to put her through anything, she’s so frail, and is so traumatised by vet visits.
I suppose I’m asking if it’s ok to just leave her be, make her comfortable and then presumably she will just fade out. If I thought she was in pain I would take her to the vet but really I just want my old girl to have some dignity.
I’ve had cats for many years but never lost one to old age so I just don’t know what to do. It’s so painful to go through this.

[dementedpixie]

have you tried kitten food?

[newtb]

Sorry to hear this. It happened to our Maine Coon when she was 20. The vet found a mass in her stomach and we came home without her.

Hope your cat is OK.

[blutoo]

Sometimes elderly cats can drastically reduce their food intake as they just don't need it, or be affected by the heat more than younger cats so again lose their apetite. Alternatively is it possible she's feeding elsewhere (neighbour putting out cat food for the 'hedgehogs for instance!). I think trying kitten food would be good idea. I've always found chicken gravy or tuna (not in brine ue to salt being bad for cats!) brings back a cat's apetite! I assume she's not drinking loads more than usual? That can be a sign of kidney problems but I expect your vet looked into that already. Hope she'll be back to normal soon.

[MuddyDog]

Thanks all.
She’s not going outside so definitely not being fed by a neighbour. Although she does seem to be drinking quite a bit, usually she’d get fluid from food so it might not be masses, the blood tests didn’t indicate kidney issues but I guess she might have problems.
We will try kitten food, that’s a good idea. I’ve tried tuna, her usual Felix As Good as it Looks as well as Gourmet Perle. We’ll also get some chicken to try out. I just feel so helpless, she’s a dear little thing, rescued from Battersea as a kitten and such a huge part of our lives

[Allergictoironing]

Have you tried cat soup yet? My grazing type eaters (supper lasts all night, and it's only a pouch between them) go mad for soup & polish the lot off in seconds. Same with Lik e Lix.

[emmacat]

I second the pp re soup. I had this briefly with my 21 year old the only thing I could get down her was lik e lix. She perked up after a day but it really helped keep her energy up.

[Want2beme]

Did the vet check her teeth/mouth? Maybe it's sore. When my 20 year old cat stopped eating, I was desperate and gave him Lick-e-lix, just so he had something. Hope she feels better soon.