Cat hungry but can't eat - any ideas?

[Karia]

Our cat has an abscess in his mouth as a result of an injury, and he's finding it really hard to eat and drink at the moment. He will take food in his mouth but it causes him pain and he can't eat it. :(

He was seen by the vets yesterday and given lots of fluid, his pee doesn't smell awful so I'm not too worried about him being dehydrated, but of course if the situation doesn't improve tomorrow then he'll be straight down the vets again.

We're going to try and give him some fluids and food tomorrow in the hopes he might feel a bit better by then. Does anybody have any ideas what we can give him that will tasty AND easy to eat? He's wise to Nutri-cal and I think watered mushed up senior cat food might be too hard for him to eat.

Thanks :)

Sorry, but I think it's going to be the vets again. I had an old cat who had this and she was given liquid cat food by the vet. Yep, really.

Sadly, she loved it and was most put out when she had to go back to normal food!

scrambled egg

Cooked rice

Weetabix with warm water to mush it to slop

I second the liquid food.Good news is that the abscess should heal pretty quickly once the antibiotics kick in.Get well soon kitty!

My cat has been poorly lately and gone off loss of his usual food, but will scoff down the Hill's Science Diet A/D tinned food eagerly. It's pate-like stuff, easy to eat. Our vet prescribed it but you can buy it online and at Pets at Home and places like that. Hope yours gets better soon.

Can you try chopping up something tasty into really small chunks? Thinking prawns or chicken.

I know you say watered mushed up senior food might be to hard to eat but it could be worth getting a small tin of the pate type food (something like hilife or applaws) and adding water. In fact thinking of it a lot of applaws stuff is small chunks. Although pricey it might get him over the infection.

If you have a blender you could try blending up some of his cat food with some proper meat gravy (ie. not Bisto!) and let it cool before giving it to him. This, coming from a vegetarian, I'm afraid I have no clue how to make it! Or meat stock which I think you can buy in jelly form from the meat dept of supermarkets.

Farley's rusks with milk! Had to give my dog that when she was ill. The cat should like it as it is mixed with milk.

If you do that, make sure you use the special Whiskas/Felix cat milk. Cat's can't have normal cow's milk. It's bad for their kidneys.

Thanks for the advice guys :). Pate like food is a great idea, will be checking out the Hills Diet food tomorrow, that sounds like a plan. Especially if it stinks!!

He's going back to the vet tomorrow morning. I hope they can drain or lance the abscess on his cheek. I have been worried about it bursting because it will cause him more pain than he's in now and he might swallow some of the gunk and get more ill. I feel so bad for him. He got bitten by a dog, and he's been to the vet twice already this week, he isn't a happy chappy at all. He is in pain and he is very reluctant to let us give him his painkiller and antibiotic because obviously his face and mouth is so sore. I just keep thinking this must be so stressful for him but unfortunately it needs to be done. Just wish he was well again. :(

Just a quick update - my cat is so much better! Thanks for all your help everyone. Watered down senior food did it, he was eating it at 4am the same morning I posted! :)