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

Original poster

Cat isn't eating

13 replies

PompomDahlia · 01/08/2021 20:47

I need some advice about my 14yo indoor British Shorthair cat. She's been off her food a bit in recent weeks - not unusual for her during the heatwave and we've also had a bit of change in routine with decorators coming in last month and moving some furniture around and having people in to view the house.

Her lack of appetite seemed to worsen though and I took her to the vet on Thursday. They said she seemed a bit sore around her kidneys when touched and did some blood tests which I'm still waiting on results of. She also had a bit of an ear infection/blocked ear but vet didn't think antibiotics were needed. Over the weekend her appetite has worsened. She''s managed around 10 Dreamies yesterday - only thing she'd go for, and a couple of small sips of water and a small nibble of wet food.

I'm going to call the vet first thing tomorrow morning as an emergency but wondering what else to do in the meantime. There is an out of hours vet around 20 mins drive away but I'm not sure if it's more distress for her to be carted around or if she can wait until morning. I've even put out a bit of lactose free milk - we have it in our cereal and she normally goes mad trying to steal some.

OP posts:
Catfox1 · 01/08/2021 20:58

Have you tried chicken? It’s the only thing ours will eat when he’s —faking— poorly. Then he suddenly miraculously perks up.

Hope all is okay & you get results soon

Original poster
PompomDahlia · 01/08/2021 21:09

Thank you @Catfox1 - we have some plain chicken breast actually so that could be an option. She doesn't usually go for meat too much - she loves butter, cheese, milk, pastry! But the chicken could be worth a go. I might try a bit of grated cheese as well. Really hoping it's psychological and she's just a bit unsettled Sad it's the most ill and withdrawn she's been in the 5 years we've owned her.

OP posts:
Original poster
PompomDahlia · 03/08/2021 23:04

Update from the last couple of days - cat spent much of yesterday at the vet getting IV fluids and had an antibiotic injection. She had a temperature - which tallies with her having very animated dreams on Sunday night like a fever patient. She’s back home with a week of antibiotics and eye drops - seems to be a sinus flare up.

We are giving her smelly food like tuna and liver based soft foods to encourage eating and she’s managed a few small bites today.

Anyone’s cat been through similar?

OP posts:
bravotango · 03/08/2021 23:16

Mine is going through something very similar - disturbed environment due to bathroom refurb and off his food a bit because of the heat. I'm just going to monitor him for the few days after the builders finish but he's drinking water and coming for cuddles so I'm not super worried just yet. He actually really liked a (disgusting) ice cube made out of tuna brine so you could try that to keep fluids up if the weather is really warm.
I think they can just be a bit stroppy when we disrupt their lives and give us all the fear!!! Hope yours perks up soon and is back to normal Smile

Gingerkittykat · 03/08/2021 23:22

I've read about Felix changing their recipe and making a lot of cats ill. Does she eat that?

Original poster
PompomDahlia · 03/08/2021 23:44

@Gingerkittykat she doesn’t - she has Hills food. Thankfully none of the foods that were on the recent watch list either. We’ve been trying her with various wet foods to encourage her but not having much luck. She had a few bites of Wiskas and a liquid treat earlier. She loved the paste you put around pills though so she’s taking the antibiotics easily thankfully.

She’s been off for a few weeks since it got hot, but we had our carpets cleaned about 10 days ago though so that could have flared up her sinuses

OP posts:
Original poster
PompomDahlia · 04/08/2021 12:20

Woke up this morning to see that she’d been sick overnight - frothy fluid, and not looking at all well, so she’s back at the vets to be given some fluids and have an x-ray to check for pancreatitis or something else Sad so worried about her. She’s 14 and I’m worried this might be it

OP posts:
GoodVibesHere · 04/08/2021 20:15

How is she now?

Original poster
PompomDahlia · 04/08/2021 20:52

She’s back from the vets - they don’t have overnight facilities currently but thought she was well enough to come home. The x-ray didn’t show anything obvious - no masses visible or anything off. She’s been given antacids, appetite stimulant, an anti nausea drug, fluids as well as antibiotics! Poor thing. Will be keeping a very close eye on her. The vet hadn’t ruled out pancreatitis.

Has anyone experienced similar and had a cat recover? I’m a first time cat owner and she’s never been properly ill in the 5 years we’ve had her

OP posts:
Cassie71 · 14/08/2021 15:41

How's your cat doing? Has she got her appetite back? My cat (15) is not eating also.

Beamur · 14/08/2021 15:44

Poor kitty.
Being at home is probably better. Keep trying her with little bits of appetising food. It's a worry when they're ill.

Mumsgirls · 14/08/2021 19:48

Have u tried Lik-e lid.?
If mine won’t eat that it’s genuine
Hope all goes well

Mumsgirls · 14/08/2021 19:48

Sorry Lik-e-lix

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