Question about Cat Not Eating

[NJCher]

She seems unable to masticate her food. I have to use a syringe to feed her. While she is able to get it down her throat, she is unable to clean her mouth, so I have to do it for her. She drinks water OK.

She is listless and mostly just sits round the house in a little fur ball. She is still responsive to things that have always interested her, like the sound of the lid coming off a can of cat food, or a chipmunk scurrying across the ground. She doesn't go outside but I take her outside everyday and she sits on my lap.

This has been going on for about six-eight weeks. It started when she would eat and get her entire nose in the food. It graduated to not eating at all.

She had blood tests about three weeks ago and the vet said everything checked out. The vet said the next thing is X-rays, but I don't know what that's going to show me. I'm calling the vet today for that appointment.

I have a very good vet. The fact that she can't figure this out surprises me. I'm putting it on the table because there is a vast array of cat experience here. Maybe someone else has run into this problem and can tell me what I might expect.

She is about 13 years old and has always had stellar health.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Gums. Could be stomatitis.

[soothsayer]

2. Ugh. I feel for you.

We recently lost our also never-been-sick little cat with similar symptoms, which turned out to have stemmed from chronic liver disease.

We were hoping for something more like a toothache or something that was turning her off from food.

I hope yours gets a better prognosis.

We did weeks of syringe feeding and medicines (hoping for a miracle) but she eventually lost the battle.

Good luck to you and your kitty.

[spooky3]

3. Could you ask you vet to check for oral cancer?

Sometimes the cat must be heavily sedated. Cancers can occur far back in the mouth and are easily overlooked.

Good luck to you and your dear kitty.

[SharonClark]

4. Get the xrays pronto.

A 'very good vet' wouldn't let this go for more than 3 weeks without taking further tests such as xrays. Your vet should be able to figure this out but she needs to continue diagnostic tests to do so.

I would ask her why she didn't require xrays immediately once the original tests came back inconclusive. You say you don't know what an xray would show you. An xray could show any number of issues that wouldn't show up on blood work and your vet should have explained that to you so you can make an informed decision.

[NJCher]

6. hi sharon

the vet gave her this drug called Mirataz for a 10-day treatment, but I'm not completing the 10 days because I can see it's not doing anything.

Thanks for the responses upthread. Not good news but at least I am a bit more prepared for what's ahead.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. If Mirataz isn't working there's something else going on.

I have a sick cat, too. So far his appetite is OK (Mirataz jump-started it quickly when he wouldn't eat) but he has a tumor in his nasal cavity and nothing can be done about it considering his age; he's almost 17. It's just a matter of time now, and I hope to be able to keep him comfortable as long as possible. I hope for a better outcome for your kitty.

[mrs_p]

5. I'm a vet. Xrays are looking

For any abnormalities like cancer, fluid, or obstructions.

[NJCher]

9. thanks

x-rays are on for tomorrow at 6 p.m.

[SheltieLover]

7. I would get xrays & a 2d blood panel

I have read that cats develop severe liver issues of they don't eat regularly.

Not sure where you live, but maybe get a 2nd opinion from holostic vet? They are required to be licensed first, them opt for additiomal certificatioms.

Here is website tto find one:

https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/

Personally, I would select a homeopathic practitioner for a good physical.

Vibes to you & kitty! 💓💖

Please keep us posted!

[Fla Dem]

8. My cat eats mostly dry cat food.

My cat is 14,, She's been a dry cat food eater her entire life. Mostly because whenever I'd give her canned/wet food she would just lick the moisture from the food and leave the rest to dry up in the dish. Lately, because she is older and as a treat, I stated to give her canned cat food, but only the pate'. I'll put about a teaspoon of the food in her dish and then drizzle water over it and mash it up really good. Not so it's soaking wet, but so that when she licks it she doesn't just get the "gravy" but the food as well.

When I open a can of tuna, I'll save the liquid to use instead of water. She loves it.

[NJCher]

14. that tip really works good

for loading up the syringe. It made it about 90 per cent easier for her to get the food down.
Very helpful!

[Fla Dem]

16. Good, glad I could help.

[Tree-Hugger]

11. Her mouth

The fact that she is responding to cans opening, but cannot chew sounds to me like she's still interested in food, but cannot eat it effectively. Coupled with the inability to clean her mouth it sounds there is an oral disease process or injury.

The vet should do a thorough exam of her mouth. This can be tough in kitties since their mouths are so small, which makes it difficult to visualize. Sedation would help the vet get a good look.

Some oral issues that can cause what you describe are dental abscesses, fractured teeth, severe gingivitis, stomatitis, and squamous cell carcinoma. Those things won't necessarily show up in routine bloodwork and can be fairly difficult to visualize in an exam without sedation.

I'm surprised the vet didn't want a more thorough oral exam in addition to chest/abdominal radiographs, but that is neither here nor there at this point since you're getting a work-up done tomorrow.

Lots of luck to you and your kitty!!

[NJCher]

12. this all makes sense

I am going to consolidate the comments on this thread and give them to my vet. She's down to earth and a good listener.

I can see how the oral exam might have been given the short shrift on the last visit a few weeks ago. I couldn't observe because of Covid and was sitting outside in my car. Yep, those kitty mouths are small and probably quite hard to examine.

[NJCher]

13. she had a few nibbles!

On her own! I put a bowl out for another cat and she nibbled some! Not nearly enough, but it made me happy.

Now she is sitting by a door, hoping a mouse comes in.

[Bayard]

15. Teeth are a good place to start

She may have one or two abscessing. Very painful.

[NJCher]

17. lymphoma

My little baby crossed the rainbow bridge tonight.

Thanks to everyone who helped me out with information. It did help, if only to prepare me. Some of the advice made her life a little easier at the end.

[LisaL]

18. My cat died from cancer recently.

But he went very quickly. From eating like a little piggy to dead in a matter of days.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. So sorry!

We were all hoping it wouldn't be anything so serious, but I'm glad that at least you were able to make her a little more comfortable. One of my own kitties has cancer of the nasal passage (adenosarcoma) and I know he doesn't have a lot longer, although he's pretty alert and is still eating - for now. Making him comfortable is all that I can do but it counts for a lot, I think. Sometimes that's all we can do. My condolences.

[irisblue]

20. 🕯️I am so sorry Cher

[SharonClark]

21. I'm so sorry to hear that.

But I bet she had a wonderful life with you.

[WestLosAngelesGal]

22. I'm so sorry about your cat

My condolences on the loss of your sweet kitty.

[NJCher]

23. thank you everyone

I think I received a sign from my kitty. I will write it about it later.

------------------

I was in my kitchen early this morning, making up food plates for my other cats. All of a sudden a cat raced by me on the way to the litterbox. A black cat, and so fast she was a blur. I have two other black cats. However, the cat who whisked by me this morning did not come out of the litterbox. I even went to the box and looked in. No kitty there.

I think it's my crossed over kitty's way of saying she's feeling GREAT!

Later, when I returned from the gardens, the RG told me about the other cats racing through the kitchen to get to the litterbox. It's odd because he never talks about that.