Cat flu

[sera77 35]

If the vet hasn't taken a close look at the cat after 3 days of not eating you better change vets.

Cats very quickly suffer from liver problems if they refuse to eat for days at a time.

Try baby food meat type, chicken, ham, veal. If a cat won't eat *that* something is very wrong. My 18yr old was very ill last month and still managed to get that down.

If you're truly desperate try smearing it on the top of their paws. Nice thing about babyfood is it's high in fluid content as well as nutrients.

Edited September 2, 2009 by sera77

[Nik+Heather 121]

Lets see, lots of good advice here. Mostly animals are sort of like us when they feel sick, they really want something bland. MAYBE the tuna would work because it smells strong enough to get to him. Also, antibiotics tend to make them feel sick to their stomachs as well.

When one of my foster kittens wasn't eating due to being sick, they recommended Nutri-Cal - A "High calorie and paletable nutritional supplement for dogs and cats" It's a gel that will go through a syringe, but since it's so high density, you don't have to torture the guy too much to get some energy into him.

Other things you can do if he's stuffed up is to try to give him some steam same as you would when you're sick. When you take a shower leave the doors closed and let him sit in there in the steamy room.

The chicken baby food is really good, but you have to be EXTRA EXTRA careful not to get the ONION powder (Maybe they are alergic to garlic too, but onion I am certain). There's one which is chicken cornstarch water. That's the one you want, and I second the endorsement of "they LOVE it".

Good thing is that he's older. If 4 week old kittens can make it through being sick, so can your guy. Best of luck, let us know when he gets better!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Thanks for the ideas - wife got the cat milk so at least we can try to give him something tonight, just need a syringe and some catnip.

Will call the vet again tomorrow if he's still like this.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Private Pike

[Meriem_DZ 37]

When one of my kittens was sick and wouldnt eat, the vet gave me a tube of this super concentrated nutritional stuff. It was a thick gel and I would squeeze some of it on my finger and put it in the roof of his mouth. It was suppose to give him the nutrients he needed until he starts eating again. Sorry, I cant remember the name of it. I also tried the science diet can food. Warm it up a little to enhance it's smell. It helped when I got him eating again.

Meriem

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, Meriem, that is the Nutri-cal that Nik & Heather mentioned. It is useful as well as it is a high caloric vitamin-mineral supplement. Good point about the onion powder as well, Nik&Heather - yes, that too is dangerous for cats.

Three days is the maximum you want your cat to go without eating. Please talk to your vet again if none of these solutions work. Good luck.

[Meriem_DZ 37]

Yes, Meriem, that is the Nutri-cal that Nik & Heather mentioned. It is useful as well as it is a high caloric vitamin-mineral supplement. Good point about the onion powder as well, Nik&Heather - yes, that too is dangerous for cats.

Three days is the maximum you want your cat to go without eating. Please talk to your vet again if none of these solutions work. Good luck.

Yep, that's it. Thanks

Meriem

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Can you get Nutri-cal over the counter?

[Mark&Steph 0]

Yeah, you can get it at Petsmart.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

seriously, if the cat is real lethargic you might want a vet.

I went to the vet today.

Same as a doc, get a second opinion. Gotta watch out though, they will try to take you to the cleaners. You live in a big city so the chance of getting some tool box vet is very high. Talk to freinds.

[trillium13 84]

No cat at 3 years old should be that sick. Especially not all of a sudden. You say that your vet said he has a cold-but you didn't say if he was stuffed up or sneezing or coughing. There are about a million things that can make a cat not eat. If your 3 year old cat can't even get up to walk to the water bowl, his condition is very serious. I'd find another vet, and asap.

Is he able to pee? (very important) Poo? Is he vomiting? Does he ever get into eating weird stuff like strings? Does he go outside or stay inside?

Like others have mentioned, for a cat to not eat for more than a day or 2 is very serious. I suspect that he needs further veterinary attention.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

We took the cat to the vet twice - last week for a swollen lip that was some sort of enzyme infection that some cats apparently get. He got the first round of antibiotic shots for that, and some antibiotic drops to give him by mouth every 12 hours.

He keeled over sometime on tuesday and has been lethargic ever since - watery eyes and wheezing/sneezing with dry nose.

Took him to vet today and was told it was likely an upper respiratory infection (a cold/flu basically) and got another antibiotic shot and to continue with the antibiotics. Temperature is normal and he's not running a fever.

We were able to feed him some of the cat milk and pate cat food mixed with some warm water, so hopefully that will keep him going until tomorrow.

I have seen him use the toilet.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Private Pike

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

We took the cat to the vet twice - last week for a swollen lip that was some sort of enzyme infection that some cats apparently get. He got the first round of antibiotic shots for that, and some antibiotic drops to give him by mouth every 12 hours.

He keeled over sometime on tuesday and has been lethargic ever since - watery eyes and wheezing/sneezing with dry nose.

Took him to vet today and was told it was likely an upper respiratory infection (a cold/flu basically) and got another antibiotic shot and to continue with the antibiotics. Temperature is normal and he's not running a fever.

We were able to feed him some of the cat milk and pate cat food mixed with some warm water, so hopefully that will keep him going until tomorrow.

I have seen him use the toilet.

Maybe this and maybe that aint a fvckin answer! Get some balls dude!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

** off Marc - stop using other people's problems for your jollies.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

We took the cat to the vet twice - last week for a swollen lip that was some sort of enzyme infection that some cats apparently get. He got the first round of antibiotic shots for that, and some antibiotic drops to give him by mouth every 12 hours.

He keeled over sometime on tuesday and has been lethargic ever since - watery eyes and wheezing/sneezing with dry nose.

Took him to vet today and was told it was likely an upper respiratory infection (a cold/flu basically) and got another antibiotic shot and to continue with the antibiotics. Temperature is normal and he's not running a fever.

We were able to feed him some of the cat milk and pate cat food mixed with some warm water, so hopefully that will keep him going until tomorrow.

I have seen him use the toilet.

Drinking is more important than eating at the moment. A cat will dehydrate quickly. He can go much longer without food.

[sara..... 371]

if ur cat wont take the special milk that someone told u about what i did was use a child's liquid medication dropper, it was easier to get the cat to let it trickle down his throat than to really swallow, but my cat ended up having to get one night at the vet and injections he had an infection plz try to find a different vet if ur vet that you have now does not offer any other help

sara