Anonymous
Post 01/02/2021 13:45     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Anonymous wrote:From years of rescue work -

1. Cats need to smell to eat, which is why respiratory ailments are so worrisome in cats.
2. Buy the cheapest, most offensively names good you can find (whiskas ocean catch or whatever). Warm it in the microwave for maybe 10 seconds, then let it cool enough to eat.
3. At the other end, buy fish. Get captain high liner fish stickers, cook, and remove the breading.

There are meds that stimulate appetite if you need to, but really, try to get her to eat something. Get cat milk supplements if you have to. I had one rescue we fed cat milk and a tiny bit of fish sauce (no joke) as a vet approved emergency measure until she could be seen.

For those who don’t know, yes, a cat WILL starve itself to death. Cats need to eat, nor their bodies will start to destroy their liver and muscles. A cat who is not eating is actually a medical emergency. It’s not “pickiness” even if it is.
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Another rescuer here - Agree with all the above, although I always gently warmed food in a toaster oven, so I didn't get hot spots in the food. Like a PP, I also used Gerber chicken, turkey, and beef baby food to entice eating.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2021 12:29     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

From years of rescue work -

1. Cats need to smell to eat, which is why respiratory ailments are so worrisome in cats.
2. Buy the cheapest, most offensively names good you can find (whiskas ocean catch or whatever). Warm it in the microwave for maybe 10 seconds, then let it cool enough to eat.
3. At the other end, buy fish. Get captain high liner fish stickers, cook, and remove the breading.

There are meds that stimulate appetite if you need to, but really, try to get her to eat something. Get cat milk supplements if you have to. I had one rescue we fed cat milk and a tiny bit of fish sauce (no joke) as a vet approved emergency measure until she could be seen.

For those who don’t know, yes, a cat WILL starve itself to death. Cats need to eat, nor their bodies will start to destroy their liver and muscles. A cat who is not eating is actually a medical emergency. It’s not “pickiness” even if it is.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2021 22:55     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

We keep bland "meat" baby food on hand for foster kittens that don't want to eat (also easier to squirt in their mouths).
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2021 18:29     Subject: Re:Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Refrigerated food? Maybe the cold helps the mouth?
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2021 18:01     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Tuna
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2021 17:59     Subject: Re:Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Anonymous wrote:Did your vet check her teeth for stomatitis, an inflammation of the mouth where they don't want to eat anything? They are in so much pain, they want to eat, but can't.

What I've done in the past is mash up some cat wet food, tuna juice, and human chicken/turkey baby food and syringe feed a bit of a time. Always with the go-ahead from the vet. The consistency of the baby food is very palatable. Good luck!


+1 make sure you have ruled out all mouth issues especially stomatitis. I know this from experience.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2021 17:53     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

My cat likes to lick the pan after I’ve cooked bacon. And she also licks the top of my olive oil bottle. Yes, she’s a very naughty cat. Could you smear a little bacon grease on a plate?
And do you have any cat grass that she can snack on? I buy wheat grass from Harris Teeter for my cats.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2020 19:14     Subject: Re:Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Bumble Bee canned chunk tuna in water not oil. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2020 18:57     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Geez op. Just put the cat down.
Harsh post.

But OP, won't the cat eat when it's hungry. I can hardly imagine it starving itself to death.


Not OP, they experience liver failure before they starve to death. Cats have surprising delicate systems.


Our cat stopped eating for about 5 days and that was a sign she was at the end of her life (but she was much older than OP's cat).
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2020 18:55     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Put wet food on your finger and let her lick it off.

But, if things do not improve quickly, seriously consider euthanasia and whether you are keeping her alive for you or for her.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2020 18:54     Subject: Need help getting cat to eat - urgent!

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Geez op. Just put the cat down.
Harsh post.

But OP, won't the cat eat when it's hungry. I can hardly imagine it starving itself to death.


Not OP, they experience liver failure before they starve to death. Cats have surprising delicate systems.