My 13 year old male cat has stopped eating. He's always been a picky eater, but this is a whole new level. I have been trying all kinds of food-wet, kitten, dry, etc. We took him to the vet last week. Our vet didn't seem super worried-said it could be diabetes, thyroid, kidney issues OR just a picky older cat. He says he sees that a lot in older cats. They don't need as much to eat and become more picky in what they do. He sent me home with a syringe to try to get a urine sample first. I have been unable to get a sample (he won't go in the empty litter box, even with a little litter in it) so I'm calling the vet tomorrow to just jump to the blood work. I'm so worried. He doesn't seem to be in pain, even when the vet was poking and prodding him. He's still acting the same, very affectionate and sweet. He's always been a lazy cat, though he may be a little lazier than normal. I just don't know what to do and I'm so worried the vet will tell me it's something we can't fix. I've read some sites that suggest force feeding with a syringe and I'm thinking of trying that. I've been hand feeding him a few times a day, but he barely eats that. He is still drinking, and not excessively. Have any of you had this experience? Are there any foods/treats/ways to get him to eat you could suggest? I will hopefully have some answers later this week but in the meantime any help would be appreciated!
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13 Year Old Cat Not Eating-help!
- Thread starter dwidget
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Just out of curiosity, did the vet check his mouth? Sometimes cats may have dental problems, e.g. FORL (feline oral resorptive lesion), a broken tooth, etc. I'm glad you are calling the vet tomorrow. I wish you the best of luck and hope with the help of your vet you can get an answer as to why your male cat stopped eating. Please keep us posted.
try human baby food, chicken or turkey, easy for him to eat and will get some food into him.
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- #4
He did check his mouth and teeth. The vet says they look fine-a little plague, but nothing he felt would get in the way of his eating. I personally feel his teeth have become a little sensitive and it's easier on him to eat the soft food, but that's just my opinion (he seems to eat differently with his hard food than before).
I called the vet and we are scheduled to bring him in Wednesday morning for blood work. He says they will try without a sedative first, but if he's too fussy they will use a little sedative and monitor him for the day. I'm a bit worried about the sedative, especially with his age and lack of eating. I'm just hoping he is OK and I have some answers soon. Thank you for your help. I will keep you posted!
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- #5
I did get some baby chicken food-he would lick a little of it, and now he won't even touch it. I've also tried boiling/baking chicken and salmon and he wouldn't touch it. Also tried canned tuna (which he always ran to when I'd be making it for me), and nothing
I'm losing my mind trying to get him to eat!
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I'm sorry all of your efforts have not worked any magic. Perhaps other members have some creative ideas. Fingers crossed until your vet appt. on Wednesday.
Please check back in to let us know the vet results.
Please check back in to let us know the vet results.- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
Just wanted to give an update....
I took my Dez in today for blood work. He did a great job-the vet said he was a perfect cat because he was so relaxed and calm, and didn't try to fight back at all. He had trouble finding a good vein, and after a couple of sticks got a small amount of blood (which was luckily enough to run the panel). No sedation needed which I was so happy about.
They did re-weigh him at this time. Last Monday 06/19 he was 10.6lbs. Today he was 9.6lbs So not really not good. The vet did seem worried about this but hopeful. He suggested giving him honey to keep his energy up, and also recommended force feeding a slurry of wet food and water. When we got home, he did beeline it for his food bowl, which I haven't seen him do in at least 3 weeks. He ate a few bites of dry food, and a few bites of wet food. I also gave him a cup of water and he drank a bit.
The vet called with the results. Basically, nothing is really abnormal enough to point him in a definitive direction. His thyroid, hemoglobin, WBCs, BUN, and creatinine are all normal. His glucose was slightly elevated but only at about 230. He said this could be from the stress of the blood draw, as he usually sees diabetic cats in the 500-600 range. He said his protein levels were low, probably due to not eating. His NaCl was low but not too much. He hasn't been vomiting or had diarrhea so his sodium is more than likely low due to not eating. His liver enzymes were lower-the vet said normally in liver diseases and conditions, he would see this elevated. So at this stage, he doesn't think it's any of the big three in older cats: thyroid, kidney/liver, or diabetes. He said while this test is relatively normal, obviously something is up because he IS losing weight and not eating so he recommended a specialist for me to take him too for more testing. He recommended extra fishy smelling food to entice him, and I did get syringes to try force feeding as well. I'm also trying to monitor if he's going to the bathroom at this point. It's hard to tell since we have 3 cats. I'm calling the specialist tomorrow.
I do have some good news-I made him a plate of an Iams treat I had tried (Tempting Tuna and Mackerel). I opened up a can of tuna fish and poured some of the juice into the treat and mixed it up. He ate more than I have seen him eat in weeks! He kept going back to it. He didn't eat the full plate but he did eat about 1/3-1/2 of the can which made me SO happy! He also drank some water as well. I'm going to go back for round 2 in a minute to see if he will eat without force feeding.
So no answers yet unfortunately, and a mix of bad news with the lost pound but good news with him having a little appetite today. Please put some good vibes out there for him. If anyone thinks of anything else this could be from experience, or something to try please let me know! I really do appreciate the help and support you have given. I'm just so worried and not ready to lose him yet.
I took my Dez in today for blood work. He did a great job-the vet said he was a perfect cat because he was so relaxed and calm, and didn't try to fight back at all. He had trouble finding a good vein, and after a couple of sticks got a small amount of blood (which was luckily enough to run the panel). No sedation needed which I was so happy about.
They did re-weigh him at this time. Last Monday 06/19 he was 10.6lbs. Today he was 9.6lbs
So not really not good. The vet did seem worried about this but hopeful. He suggested giving him honey to keep his energy up, and also recommended force feeding a slurry of wet food and water. When we got home, he did beeline it for his food bowl, which I haven't seen him do in at least 3 weeks. He ate a few bites of dry food, and a few bites of wet food. I also gave him a cup of water and he drank a bit.The vet called with the results. Basically, nothing is really abnormal enough to point him in a definitive direction. His thyroid, hemoglobin, WBCs, BUN, and creatinine are all normal. His glucose was slightly elevated but only at about 230. He said this could be from the stress of the blood draw, as he usually sees diabetic cats in the 500-600 range. He said his protein levels were low, probably due to not eating. His NaCl was low but not too much. He hasn't been vomiting or had diarrhea so his sodium is more than likely low due to not eating. His liver enzymes were lower-the vet said normally in liver diseases and conditions, he would see this elevated. So at this stage, he doesn't think it's any of the big three in older cats: thyroid, kidney/liver, or diabetes. He said while this test is relatively normal, obviously something is up because he IS losing weight and not eating so he recommended a specialist for me to take him too for more testing. He recommended extra fishy smelling food to entice him, and I did get syringes to try force feeding as well. I'm also trying to monitor if he's going to the bathroom at this point. It's hard to tell since we have 3 cats. I'm calling the specialist tomorrow.
I do have some good news-I made him a plate of an Iams treat I had tried (Tempting Tuna and Mackerel). I opened up a can of tuna fish and poured some of the juice into the treat and mixed it up. He ate more than I have seen him eat in weeks! He kept going back to it. He didn't eat the full plate but he did eat about 1/3-1/2 of the can which made me SO happy! He also drank some water as well. I'm going to go back for round 2 in a minute to see if he will eat without force feeding.
So no answers yet unfortunately, and a mix of bad news with the lost pound but good news with him having a little appetite today. Please put some good vibes out there for him. If anyone thinks of anything else this could be from experience, or something to try please let me know! I really do appreciate the help and support you have given. I'm just so worried and not ready to lose him yet.
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- #8
Hi guys
Just wanted to post an update. Unfortunately we had to put our Dez down on July 14th. We took him back to our vet for additional testing and they found nothing. He kept losing weight (down to 8.2 lbs) and we were force feeding him. Our vet had us see a specialist. They did their exam and felt a mass in his belly and he had fluid all in abdomen. The vet was pretty positive he had abdominal cancer, and our options were very limited. He felt that at this stage Dez didn't have much quality of life(no eating, couldn't jump and wasn't making it to the bathroom on time), and that unfortunately with something like this by the time he started showing symptoms it was probably too late to do anything. We opted to have him put down, which our vet also felt was the best choice. Dez went peacefully while laying on his favorite blue blanket with both my husband and I petting and telling him we love him. It's been a hard couple of weeks and I miss him so much.
Just wanted to post an update. Unfortunately we had to put our Dez down on July 14th. We took him back to our vet for additional testing and they found nothing. He kept losing weight (down to 8.2 lbs) and we were force feeding him. Our vet had us see a specialist. They did their exam and felt a mass in his belly and he had fluid all in abdomen. The vet was pretty positive he had abdominal cancer, and our options were very limited. He felt that at this stage Dez didn't have much quality of life(no eating, couldn't jump and wasn't making it to the bathroom on time), and that unfortunately with something like this by the time he started showing symptoms it was probably too late to do anything. We opted to have him put down, which our vet also felt was the best choice. Dez went peacefully while laying on his favorite blue blanket with both my husband and I petting and telling him we love him. It's been a hard couple of weeks and I miss him so much.
I'm so sorry you had to put Dez to sleep. There's a rainbow bridge forum here if you want to leave a memorial to Dez or just need to post. Sometimes it's just good to have others understand. 
RIP sweet Dez 
RIP sweet Dez
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I apologize for not checking back on your thread sooner. I was so distraught to read about Dez's diagnosis but completely understand your decision. I do believe we owe it to them to help end their suffering. They have given us unconditional love and devotion and sometimes we need to do what is best for them even though it hurts so badly.
Please accept my sincere and heartfelt sympathies. RIP sweet angel.
Please accept my sincere and heartfelt sympathies. RIP sweet angel.
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I am so sorry for your loss. I can guess what you are going through, as my husband and I had to put a dear cat to sleep three years ago this week, who also succumbed to a similar cancer. It is so difficult being without beloved cats, my heart breaks for you!
I'm so sorry to read this update. Sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss.
So sorry to see this news. We'll lock the thread now out of respect for your loss. We invite you to place a tribute to your friend in our Crossing the Bridge forum if you wish.
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