How do I get my cat to eat and drink?

[rumpleteaser]

My cat, nearly 2yrs old, has been ill - we didn't know exactly what was wrong with her, maybe she'd eaten something nasty, she pooed blood, this has stopped now as she has been given antibiotics and medicine for gastro-intestiney problems, injections as well as powder which we've force fed her.

She is looking a little more alert now and takes an interest in the food and milk and water in her bowls, but still makes no effort to eat or drink.

Force feeding is obviously distressing for her and I've tried all her fave foods. She's getting so skinny
Any help/advice/ideas out there?

I'm assuming you've kept the vet up to date on this and they have no suggestions/don't want to investigate further?

What are you offering her? We have just homed a stray and had her neutered yesterday. It was quite a big incision as she was pregnant and the kittens were removed [sad} which was thought to be in her best interest by the vet. The vet suggested a light meal such as steamed fish or chicken or Royal Canin's Sensitivity Control Sachets which I assume the vet sells.

yeh went back to the vet day before yesterday who gave kitty an injection of vitamins and minerals and stuff for dehydration. And some powder to mix with milk and/or water with nutritional things in it too, smells like horlicks.

I've tried her normal food, biscuits and wet food, cream, milk, ice cream, yogurt (she normally loves yogurt), bacon, nibbles of things I've been cooking for dinner.. tonight will be minced beef.
She'll maybe lick it and then ignore it.
She was sat staring at the water bowl for hourse a few days ago - she's taking small sips now.
I just don't really know what to do. She looks so sad.

Fran very sad about your kitties operation, hope mum cat recovers fast.

Thanks, she seems fine though keeps looking for an escape route. Hope your cat finds her appetite soon.

rumple when my cat wouldn't eat the vet suggested slightly warm tinned tuna, as apparently its more appetizing to a cat if it's just warmer than room temperature - it worked. Once she'd got back in the habit of eating small amounts of food she kind of seemed to remember she liked food and her appetite came back. Hope your cat is better soon, poor little thing.

Don't force feed her! If she's drinking, that's good. Sounds like she may have had some sort of cat flu/enteritis, in which case she'll be bunged up ( so nothing smells appealing), have a sore throat and a bad tummy.
Offer small, frequent meals of slightly warmed, smelly food. Sardines are good (but not in tomato sauce) or those really expensive tiny tins of cat food in the supermarket. Don't give her milk or dairy as you risk giving her diarrhoea and worsening her dehydration. Do monitor her water intake and keep the vet posted - they can go downhill very quickly if they are neither eating nor drinking.
Is she vaccinated?

Thanks, I will try that. She doesn kinda look like she's forgotten what food is all about.

It's very common when they've been this poorly - and she probably still feels rough. Cats can be so picky, even when well - just keep plugging away, little and often

yep she's vaccinated. ok, will lay off the milk and get some smelly fishy stuff.

Smellier the better!

whenever my 2 cats have had operations the vets always have supplied us with some specialist tinned food which is specifically for animals recovering after illness, operation, anasthetic etc as they are normally on dry diet only- sorry cant remember the name, but it looks like pate in a very small can.Only available at the vets,u cant buy it from shops,but it is meant to be bland so that their stomachs can digest it, usually only need to use it for a short time then appetite tends to return.def leave off the milk tho permanently.also maybe try and feed the food not straight from the fridge, some cats love fresh meat especially to be warm, i think it prob smells more appealing.Hope she gets better

Ok, last night kitty ate a small bit of warmed up cat food and this morning a small amount of warmed up tuna.
And she got into bed purring for cuddles, which she hasn't done for ages now!
Hopefully getting there and soon she will be pulling all the magnets off the fridge and hiding them again!
Thanks for all your help and advice fingers crossed now

Great news

Great news! SOunds like she's on the mend.