How to use Chicken Essence as part of helping a cat convalesce

[IwantToRetire]

I have a cat who has had quite radical surgery to reduce a (probably cancerous) tumour in its mouth.

So apart from the shock of the surgery, eating is now a problem.

In the past (based on childhood memories) I remember Brand's Chicken Essence being given to help cats get protein as it is in liquid form.

In fact, it used to be sold in chemists as an option for human's convalesing, but no longer is. Still available direct or via Chinese Supermarkets, and lately web sites for body builders. ie it is pure meat in a thick almost jelly form.

I cant find any guide lines on how much to administer ie so much per body weight, or do not exceed X amount per day.

Is anyone familiar with this.

And whilst I appreciate anyone adding suggestions about try this and try that to get them to eat, I have tried everything. And probably spent more on cat food in one week than I usually do in a month. Warmed food, liquidised it, mushed it, etc..

Currently having daily doses of Metacam.

Many, many thanks for anyone who has knowledgeof this.

Not heard of it. But you can. Get recovery formula that might be worth a try.

Not heard of it!

But if google is to be trusted the recovery liquid is for use via a tube.

I just want to give the cat the high protein liquid to keep his weight up until his appetite returns.

I just need a guide of how much to give a day.

Thanks

Just to add in case anyone is thinking I am trying to force feed a cat that just wants to curl up and die, this isn't the case.

He sits by his bowl waiting to be fed, and it is almost like he doesn't recognise it is food.

I am wondering if he has lost his sense of smell.

So despite surgery in his mouth he will chew on Dreamies, but doubt this provides a well balanced diet.

I wonder what the smell is that the put on Dreamies that so many cats go wild when they smell it!

If I knew I could sprinkle some on his ordinay food.

I haven’t heard of the thing you are talking about, but when you said about stuff to sprinkle on food, Katkin do a “topper” which is a jar you sprinkle on their raw food if you are trying to transition your cat onto it. Ours wouldn’t touch their fancy food, but god he LOVED the topper and still wanted it when we abandoned the expensive raw food and went back to Sheba.

I had this with my last old boy and tried many foods.

Royal Canin Senior Ageing is quite Dreamies-like, with soft centres so it's easier on their mouths but still has crunch for those who prefer biscuits.

A drizzle of salmon oil can tempt some (and probably serves a similar purpose to the chicken essence, but with a bonus of it being good for their old joints).

Thanks everybody.

Will try these suggestions, and approach vet to see if they can prescribe the recovery formula.

If only he could talk!

He can lick.

He can crunch.

But nothing tempts him.

Wrong smell?

If nothing is working, you could get the vet to give him an appetite stimulant. I think it's Mirtazipine

Liquivte sounds very similar to the stuff you were originally talking about. It's a thick liquid that smells like chicken soup. It's designed for sick /elderly cats and tempts Elton to eat when nothing else will. We give him about 1/4 can a day for a few days to get him back on track

I couldn't get the recovery formula before Christmas, and neither could the vet, as it was out of stock everywhere.

She spent her last couple of weeks on kitten milk and lick-e-lix.

Thanks again.

Still the same today.

Will be seeing vet later.

He is still so perky and interested.

If only he would eat!

Many years ago when one of my cats was really ill with cat flu (couldn’t smell, hardly ate) my vet recommended Brands essence of beef, which sounds to be the beef equivalent of what you’re talking about. As I remember, we just gave her as much as she wanted, to get her over the immediate issue. We took her to the vet on a Friday and he said to bring her back on the Monday if she was still hanging on ☹️! She went on to live another 10 years…

That's great.

Yes there used to be a Beef Brands Essence but no longer seems to be made.

And as with it no longer being favoured for human convalescence it seems that modern Chinese supermarkets no longer see it as a basic necessity.

And unfortunately having ordered direct from the maker on Sunday I haven't even had a confirmation email to say the chicken version I ordered hasn't even been dispatched.

You could try
Catnip
Salmon oil
A tiny bit of tuna
Roast chicken (like the hot counter rotisserie ones)
Royal canin baby mousse (it's literally mousse they can lick
Lick e lix
Cat soup

I empathise, mine refused boiled chicken at the vet and looked at them like "why don't you roast it like my mum?"
They had to go to Morrisons and get a bloody chicken leg which he demolished

Cats eh?!

Was thinking of going to the fish and chip shop and see if he fancied a nice piece of cod (batter removed of course)

Of the list above he is only, occassionaly, agreeing to Lick e Lix.

I think he just cant smell them. So puts his nose near the food, gets no nice smelly messages and walks away.

But does respond to Dreamies and Bonkers

The vet has managed to give me one Royal Canine Recovery Liquid, and thinks maybe the stiches in his mouth are infected.

He doesn't like it so having to use a syringe.

But unfortunately she has also confirmed that the tumour is cancerous, and there is no treatment.

Just need to focus on giving him best end of life.

My cat had to have all his teeth removed (one massive surgery 😢) so as you can imagine he was really sore afterwards.

Tried so many foods and finally found the solution for him... He absolutely loved raw skinnless chicken breast fillets cut up into tiny slivers - He didn't chew, just swallowed it down. He likes it best cold from the fridge.

It is gross but it works! 🤢

So sorry it's cancer

If you don't have one already, get a plug in heated mat for him.