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AIBU?

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Original poster

How can I get my cat to eat.

36 replies

HadABadDay2014 · 13/03/2014 19:50

She has had a bad week. We have been to the vet and she spent 3-4 days on a drip for acute kidney faliure. The vets had her eating and drinking and was allowed home on Monday.

Since then has eaten much, but drinking.

Have a vets appoinment tomorrow, but any ideas or tips will be much appreciated.

OP posts:
SelectAUserName · 13/03/2014 19:53

Can you add a little bit of the brine / water from a tin of tuna to her food to tempt her?

Hope the appointment goes okay.

Marylou2 · 13/03/2014 19:54

Not an expert but if you repost in the Litter Tray section of the Pet thread all the lovely experts will advise you.Hope your cat is feeling better soon.

iloveny001 · 13/03/2014 19:55

Try hand feeding small amounts of tuna or chicken?

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 13/03/2014 20:10

One thing our cat is guaranteed to eat is tuna in springwater. Other than that a tip the vet gave me when ours had been poorly was to choose food that's quite fragrant such as Hi Life and to warm it a little so that the aroma is stronger and more tempting.

WestieMamma · 13/03/2014 20:16

Pilchards in tomato sauce, the one in the little red tin. It's like cat crack.

Original poster
HadABadDay2014 · 13/03/2014 20:24

Ty will get all those things tomorrow

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 13/03/2014 20:26

My mums cat is very particular and fussy but he likes freshly cooked warm chicken ,prawns and fish fingers ( with the outside bit taken off) .

springbabydays · 13/03/2014 20:28

Something bland like boiled chicken breast is a safe bet. Hope kitty feels better soon.

QueenStromba · 13/03/2014 21:02

Roast chicken, steamed fish or tuna are good bets or maybe try her with some cat milk so she's at least getting some calories into her.

Zone2mum · 13/03/2014 21:03

When our cat was ill the vet recommended food with a pungent smell to stimulate the appetite, tinnned sardines for instance

TheBody · 13/03/2014 21:06

ah poor puss and poor you.

I agree with the tuna brine.

hope gets well soon they are special arnt they.

ilovesooty · 13/03/2014 21:13

Poor little thing. Hope she improves soon.

Therupaxim · 13/03/2014 21:14

We've been advised to microwave our cat food in the past - it helps to make it smell stronger. Obviously check for any hot bits before giving to the cat!

All the best of luck, our cats kidney problems were improved for a while on specialist kidney food.

EatDessertFirst · 13/03/2014 22:44

One of my moggies was missing for five weeks. The vets suspected kidney/liver damage. He was given a special Critical Care food by the vet that helped him bulk up and rebalance his body chemistry. We had to mix the stuff with water and feed him with a syringe. 'Force-feeding' isn't ideal and shouldn't be done without the vets advice) but anything you can get into her will stimulate her appetite. PP's have great ideas with strong smelling food.

Hope she feels better soon. X

tabulahrasa · 13/03/2014 22:47

Smelly stuff warmed to body temperature is best...but, talk to your vet as diet is massively important for cats with kidney failure.

EverythingsDozy · 13/03/2014 22:47

I don't know much about cats but a friend of mines cat had leukaemia and occasionally went off her food. They used to take it to the vet who would give it an injection of something which seemed to give her a power boost and she did really well on it. Not sure if that's something worth looking in to?

Kippersbigfeet · 13/03/2014 23:39

If it is kidney problems absolutely not the brine from tuna. Warmed tuna in oil or springwater. Brine will make the kidneys work even harder. Warm chicken would be better as it is good quality protein.

3catsnokids · 14/03/2014 02:46

The one thing my cats go absolutely nuts for is 'lick e lix' (not too sure of the spelling). They're tubes of yoghurt type stuff especially for cats, by Webbox I think.You can get them in supermarkets and places like Wilkinsons. My cats totally adore them. You can squeeze them out into a bowl but my cats sit on my lap and lick the stuff from the top of the tube while I hold it.

I have one cat who isnt keen on humans and will never normally sit on my lap, but she's straight on when she sees I've got one of these in my hand.

Hope your cat is feeling better soon.

sashh · 14/03/2014 06:20

I was about to suggest ham, but not for kitties with bad kidneys.

Cat milk? Then build up to small bits of tasty food.

Mine thinks that all 'human' food is better on principle, you could try play eating the food and then giving your cat some.

TheBody · 14/03/2014 06:26

Kipper that's a good point re the brine as it's salty. sorry op was just thinking tuna but wouldn't it be ok in spring water?

IdahoGal · 14/03/2014 14:49

My cat had something called "fatty liver syndrome" once. I had been on vacation and when I returned, she was skin and bones and her skin was yellow. Went immediately to vet. Was told that in addition to the medicine, it was crucial to get her to eat or she would not make it. The vet said give her anything she would eat, just so long as she was eating. So I gave her cottage cheese, tuna, baby food and milk. And I warmed up all of those things in the microwave. Luckily, we were able to pull her through her illness and it has never reoccurred. It was scary, though, as the vet had only given her a 50-50 chance of surviving.

Hoofdegebouw · 14/03/2014 14:55

My cat was ill with kidney failure recently (though not in a drip - had an injection). She had stopped eating completely, wouldn't have tuna which is unheard of. The vet said to give her whatever she wanted - I put bowls of milk down next to her wherever she was, and she drank it, then after a couple if days had a little bit of tuna, now is eating cat food again. Might be worth trying high calorie liquids, milk, cream to stop her losing weight & get a bit of strength back? Poor kitty, hope she picks up x

Original poster
HadABadDay2014 · 14/03/2014 16:26

Bad news, he kidneys have completely failed so had to have her PTS.

OP posts:
KittensoftPuppydog · 14/03/2014 16:28

boil up some chicken breast in white rice.
Very easy on digestion and mine used to love it.

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 14/03/2014 16:43

Very sorry to hear that sad news HadABadDay. For you Thanks

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