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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Grieving cat not eating

60 replies

BorahT · 07/05/2021 19:28

Hi all. I posted here last week when my cat was put to sleep after a sudden illness. It seems my trouble is not over yet.

My other cat has gradually stopped eating, prior to my other cats death, her appetite had been reducing, but she was still eating enough to get by. She’s normally a real greedy guts!

She has pretty much stopped eating now, I took her to the vets yesterday, they couldn’t find anything wrong so possibly thought she might be grieving, and gave her a jab of cortisol (cortisone? One of the two) to stimulate her appetite.

She nibbled on a couple of dreamies yesterday that’s all I could get her interested in, and now she won’t eat at all, I’ve tempted her with everything I can think of! Cat milk, dreamies, ham, fish, so in. She just sniffs and looks away. She’s really sedentary as well, she’s usually pretty active.

I’m not sure what to do now, she seems to have hit the self destruct button for some reason and I don’t know whether to take her back to the vets despite no more symptoms or signs of illness and out her through extra stress, or keep her at home and monitor, and if her number is up just make sure she has a few last nice days of cuddles at home. Any advice or good news stories from anyone else would be extremely welcome!

OP posts:
DogsSausages · 07/05/2021 19:32

Poor cat, how old is she, she will be grieving for her friend, did the vet examine her thoroughly with blood tests and feeling her tummy and mouth. Would she try a bit of warm gravy.

BorahT · 07/05/2021 20:41

She’s only 10 😣 vet checked her tummy and mouth/eyes. No blood test though. Thanks for the idea of warming up food, I haven’t tried that yet. She has been to the litter tray, so I hope at least that means she has had a small amount to drink 😢

OP posts:
DogsSausages · 07/05/2021 20:56

Poor little thing, sometimes warming up food can tempt them, lots of cuddles help,too😥

Aprilshowersandhail · 07/05/2021 21:01

One of our pair was pts last April.. Brothers aged 8..Remaining dcat was stressed and pulling huge chunks of hair out. Not eating and would sit howling in the garden..
I caved and got this...
2 weeks in they had bonded and he picked up massively..
That was December.. They are inseparable tbh..

Grieving cat not eating
Oldraver · 08/05/2021 11:45

I would go back to your vet. This happened with our girl, we had said now how brother wasn't here she may put on weight as he used to pinch all her food (obviously she did get more, just had to feed her in a different place) but she lost weight and stopped eating. Disapeared for bit was catnapped by neighbour and reappeared really thin

Vet found tumours on her kidneys and we PTS just 6 weeks after loosing her brother

I think what I'm saying is dont let grieving mask anything

BorahT · 08/05/2021 20:55

Thank you for all the replies! 🙂

She still hasn’t eaten anything, but I got worried and called the vets this morning and they asked me to bring her in, gave her another check over and found she has a high temp so has given her a dose of antibiotics.though she’s still not entertained any food I did catch her having a drink earlier and she seems slightly better this evening, she’s having some nice purrs on my lap which is hopefully a step in the right direction! I really hope that’s it now, but only time will tell now. Vet recommended warmed up sardines so that’s lined up for breakfast tomorrow.

@Oldraver I’m sorry to hear about your cats, that must have been an awful time for you, I feel bad enough just losing 1 cat!

@Aprilshowersandhail your new addition is just gorgeous! I have thought briefly that at some point a new friend might help but she’s so feisty, but also a total wimp, so another cat in the house right now might stress her out more. I do like the idea of having 2 cats in the house though!

OP posts:
SynchroSwimmer · 08/05/2021 21:07

I used to give my cat 2 to 3 mls of water a few times a day via a syringe at the side of his mouth when he was sitting...and got him through some tough times when he wouldn’t eat. Got him back on track...if that helps...

Want2beme · 09/05/2021 11:27

That's really sad. Does she like Lick-e-lix treats or tuna?

AfterSchoolWorry · 09/05/2021 11:31

That's a good update. So she had an infection I'd say (high temperature)

I hope she improves now with the antibiotics.

My cat always drinks a lot of water when he's on the mend, so hopefully that's a good sign.

AfterSchoolWorry · 09/05/2021 11:32

How is she doing this morning OP...

TheWeeDonkeyFella · 09/05/2021 12:23

Warmed food is definitely a good tip - I do this all the time with pouches, 30-60 seconds in a warm jug of water before opening but if she's off with food I also crumble up a few dreamies on top of the food. It often helps tempt her to eat the food even when its already something nice like roast chicken or fish.

Liliolla · 09/05/2021 13:03

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BorahT · 09/05/2021 14:31

She’s not great 😔 still not eaten anything though she looked a bit more with it this morning. I’ve gone to see her this afternoon and I didn’t think she had moved so I tried the syringe trick to get her to drink (thank you @SynchroSwimmer) but after she looked a bit annoyed with me and tried to move around her basket, I noticed she wasn’t using her back leg properly, and now I see her front leg on the same side isn’t working either, so I think she’s had a stroke 😢 I’ve got an emergency appointment with the vet at 5, but I don’t think it’s going to be good news.

OP posts:
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 09/05/2021 16:02

I find my cats get over their grief much quicker if I have the cat that has been PTS lying in state at home for a few days.
It sounds a bit morbid but this way they can all go for a sniff then say goodbye and it really does help because they know the other cat has died and not just disappeared.

AlmostSummer21 · 09/05/2021 16:13

Oh best wishes for 5pm x

AfterSchoolWorry · 09/05/2021 16:50

Poor baby. Fingers crossed for her OP 💗

Soubriquet · 09/05/2021 16:54

I’m sorry OP

Hopefully the news is good but my nans dog went like this

They lost one, and the other started to decline and lost the ability to put weight on the back leg

Vet found a tumour and diagnosed cancer after initially saying the dog was grieving for her friend. She ended up being pts not long after the first died.

Beamur · 09/05/2021 17:25

Oh dear, how did the vet appointment go?

BorahT · 09/05/2021 19:25

Vet put her to sleep. She deteriorated so much through the afternoon, vet couldn’t diagnose exactly what was wrong without doing more tests. She speculated that probably given the history of my other cat that they were both poisoned, but the later one to go only had a smaller dose so that’s why she lasted longer. I am absolutely heartbroken.

OP posts:
Winecheesesleep · 09/05/2021 19:28

I'm so sorry, that's so awful Flowers

Rupertpenrysmistress · 09/05/2021 19:29

I am so so sorry how awful for you. I can't imagine.

Aprilwasverywet · 09/05/2021 19:31

Ah op so sorry for your loss.
What a bloody awful time.
Flowers

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 09/05/2021 19:36

I'm so sorry - heartbreaking. That's a lot to deal with Flowers

JoanOgden · 09/05/2021 19:41

I am so sorry, your poor lovely cats Sad

Beamur · 09/05/2021 19:44

That's awful. So sorry for you.

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