At my wits ends, cat eating issues

[Tagrendy]

Since last year I've been struggling with feeding my cat. We've tested blood, kidneys, liver, urinary tract, he is dewormed, indoor cat. He has also been tested for calicivirus and the test was negative.

He just eats such small amounts that I'd have to reheat 1 packet of wet food 4 times to have him finish it.

2 weeks ago I've taken him to clean his teeth, and 2 teeth were removed. That gave me hope that the issue was with teeth and since it's been cleaned I brushed his teeth diligently every day! The first week he was finally eating like a normal cat, the full packet at one sitting and chewing the food. But now we're back to me running around trying to get something in. When I look st his teeth everything looks good, during brushing there is no blood, when I touch it he doesn't seem in pain. What am I missing?!

I've also tried many many many different flavors and brands of food, it doesn't seem to matter. Even tuna that he loves he will not eat enough. The only exception is dry food made of chicken but he has allergy to chicken, but that one he will eat with enough.

I've also noticed that he is not taking food and chewing like he did the first week after teeth were cleaned, he is just licking and missing all the meats - even when it's grounded up.

I can't figure it out - is it teeth? Is he just finicky eater? Is there another issue that doesn't occur to me.

I'm so tired and frustraited, I'm sorry.

 

[verna davies]

If you are sure it's not his teeth then it sounds like he is picky and has got into the habit of eating little each time. Have you tried a mousse cat food? Try some of these to get him started.

If he likes dry food or has a particular treat, crush a few up and sprinkle on top of his food.

Feed off a paper plate.

Hand feed him as a temporary measure.

Sprinkle bonito flakes on top of his food.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Mix tuna juice in the food.

I'm sure other members will pass on more tips.

 

[Maria Bayote]

Since last year I've been struggling with feeding my cat. We've tested blood, kidneys, liver, urinary tract, he is dewormed, indoor cat. He has also been tested for calicivirus and the test was negative.

He just eats such small amounts that I'd have to reheat 1 packet of wet food 4 times to have him finish it.

2 weeks ago I've taken him to clean his teeth, and 2 teeth were removed. That gave me hope that the issue was with teeth and since it's been cleaned I brushed his teeth diligently every day! The first week he was finally eating like a normal cat, the full packet at one sitting and chewing the food. But now we're back to me running around trying to get something in. When I look st his teeth everything looks good, during brushing there is no blood, when I touch it he doesn't seem in pain. What am I missing?!

I've also tried many many many different flavors and brands of food, it doesn't seem to matter. Even tuna that he loves he will not eat enough. The only exception is dry food made of chicken but he has allergy to chicken, but that one he will eat with enough.

I've also noticed that he is not taking food and chewing like he did the first week after teeth were cleaned, he is just licking and missing all the meats - even when it's grounded up.

I can't figure it out - is it teeth? Is he just finicky eater? Is there another issue that doesn't occur to me.

I'm so tired and frustraited, I'm sorry.

I feel you. I was about to post the same thing today but I read your post. We have the same problem, with my 2 cats.
So frustrating. Sometimes I would want to scream.

 

[di and bob]

if he prefers hard food, try to find a good nutritious one that doesn't have chicken. my cats love Hartz Delectable Lickables, you can get it in whitefish and tuna also. I get the stew, and they have never turned it down. Even when sick. you might have the vet check his teeth one more time also. I have my cats on Oratene in their water and they have done great.

 

[daftcat75]

Sometimes teeth don’t pull so cleanly and fragments get left behind. Sometimes the teeth pulled change the shape of the cat’s bite. Irritation of the lip and gum is encountered where teeth would have been to stop it.

I would discuss this with your vet and determine whether you can afford to have another dental exam with new Xrays and possible roots clean up or more extractions.

Additionally, if the extractions were caused by a chronic condition and your vet expects more in the future, start searching for a veterinary dentist or dental specialist now. For certain conditions like stomatitis and FORLs (resorptive lesions), sometimes it makes more sense to proactively extract all the teeth rather than waiting for them to go bad individually.

Start with AVDC (Find A Veterinary Specialist | AVDC.org) or call around to animal specialty hospitals to find a dentist/dental specialist. Wait times for appointments are typically two to six months. Get him on the calendar now before he really needs it and work with your regular vet in the meantime to keep him eating comfortably between now and his specialist appointment.

 

[neely]

If you are sure it's not his teeth then it sounds like he is picky and has got into the habit of eating little each time.

I agree!

Our guy is very similar and I hear you on trying many different brands and flavors. He also likes dry food so I bought a higher quality one that he will eat. However, I always offer wet food first and only give him the dry as a snack or if he hasn't eaten enough of the wet food during the day. Do you have a baby scale you can weigh him on to determine if he's losing weight? Or you can weigh yourself on a human scale then pick him up to weigh both of you and note the difference.

Just when I think I've found a wet food our cat likes he decides not to eat it again. I keep trying and offer it a different day. I was so excited because I tried a new wet food the pet store employee suggested since it was on clearance. He loved it but wouldn't you know it was on clearance because the company was discontinuing it. I called around and no other pet store had the brand or, if they did, they didn't have that flavor since it was reformulated. So I tried the new reformulated one and, of course, he wouldn't eat it. I know it's frustrating but keep trying and maybe you'll hit the jackpot!

 

[verna davies]

One of mine is picky, absolutely loves dry food but started to get UTI's because he doesn't seem to drink water. It took a while but by mixing 6/10 of the dry nuggets in with the wet food, he's now a good eater. He eats the wet so he can find and eat the dry.

 

[Tagrendy]

Thank you all for suggestions. I looked in his mouth again today and I see some redness in the inner corner of the mouth, I'll be taking him to vet to check it. To me it looks inflamed, but not sure, maybe it's normal.

It would make sense if there was painful area in the mouth, why he's been avoiding wet food, it probably irritates more while dry food he probably is able to control more in his mouth.

I'll keep updating if it solves, hopefully.

 

[Tagrendy]

I feel you. I was about to post the same thing today but I read your post. We have the same problem, with my 2 cats.
So frustrating. Sometimes I would want to scream.

Thank you so much, I feel so guilty for being frustraited. Especially if maybe he has an issue and I just can't figure out. But whole last year I've been on this and it's exhausting.

 

[Tagrendy]

Sometimes teeth don’t pull so cleanly and fragments get left behind. Sometimes the teeth pulled change the shape of the cat’s bite. Irritation of the lip and gum is encountered where teeth would have been to stop it.

I would discuss this with your vet and determine whether you can afford to have another dental exam with new Xrays and possible roots clean up or more extractions.

Additionally, if the extractions were caused by a chronic condition and your vet expects more in the future, start searching for a veterinary dentist or dental specialist now. For certain conditions like stomatitis and FORLs (resorptive lesions), sometimes it makes more sense to proactively extract all the teeth rather than waiting for them to go bad individually.

Start with AVDC (Find A Veterinary Specialist | AVDC.org) or call around to animal specialty hospitals to find a dentist/dental specialist. Wait times for appointments are typically two to six months. Get him on the calendar now before he really needs it and work with your regular vet in the meantime to keep him eating comfortably between now and his specialist appointment.

Thank you, he does seem to have irritation in the corner, and one of teeth was extracted there. Unfortunately in the country I live there are no specialized vets for dental issues, I've even had a vet who would refuse extracting visibly damaged tooth because "cats hate it".

 

[Maria Bayote]

Thank you so much, I feel so guilty for being frustraited. Especially if maybe he has an issue and I just can't figure out. But whole last year I've been on this and it's exhausting.

Hang in there. Most cats are really picky eaters. Just yesterday I bought this time Fancy feast which cost around $1.65 per small can as I thought my Graham would eat it (she used to like it when she was younger). But Nada, which almost brought me to pulling my own hair in frustration. Barley is the same too. It's ok to be frustrated. One day we will figure it out.

 

[GraciesParent]

I used to have the same problem... until I (finally) found an ACTIVITY my cat enjoyed. She gets a lot more exercise now, and also finishes all her meals.

In the past, she'd pick at her food all day, and I'd wind up having to toss out so much of it. I'd get up in the morning to see she hadn't eaten her overnight food. She was also not interested in any of the wide variety of toys I had/activities I tried. Playtime would last maybe two minutes before she'd get bored. This went on for months.

During that time, I tried so many different brands, textures, flavours, etc. of food, but it turned out that increasing her activity level was what ultimately boosted her appetite a LOT. And I discovered it by accident, when I decided to tie one of her toys to a string and drag it around (instead of throwing it). She ran after it like I'd never seen her run before. She LOVES it and chases the toy around until she finally gets tired enough to lie down -- usually about 15 minutes at a time. I've made several more using different toys, and rotate which ones I pull around so that her "prey" is always something different. Note: I'm now also getting a lot more exercise, since running around pulling a toy has also added to *my* activity level, LOL.

The all-around change was remarkable. Her appetite has now even inched a bit too far in the other direction -- she's the one telling ME (loudly) when it's time for her next meal. And she eats all the food (in terms of flavours and brands) she previously refused to touch!

 

[daftcat75]

Thank you, he does seem to have irritation in the corner, and one of teeth was extracted there. Unfortunately in the country I live there are no specialized vets for dental issues, I've even had a vet who would refuse extracting visibly damaged tooth because "cats hate it".

Can you take a picture and send it to the vet who did the extractions? I don’t suppose there’s a warranty on his work (there never is with this kind of thing ), but maybe there’s something he can still do for him. At the very least, ask for a small amount of buprenorphine (pain medicine.) If his eating returns to normal with a little pain management, then you know it’s the teeth and not pickiness.

 

[riley1]

I have not found vets to be very good with teeth! My girl has that thing where the roots are absorbed back into the body. She was in pain but eating. I took her to a small animal dentist. They are really expensive but mine treated her like a human patient.. They did full mouth x rays & saw which additional teeth needed to come out and where they had to go after parts of the roots buried in the gums. They stitched her up and sent her home with pain meds. The regular vet pulled one of her teeth and she hid under the bed for a day. The small animal dentist pulled 5 teeth and it was like nothing had happened when I got home. Unless your vet is doing x rays they won't find all the problems. good luck!

 

[MissClouseau]

Thank you, he does seem to have irritation in the corner, and one of teeth was extracted there. Unfortunately in the country I live there are no specialized vets for dental issues, I've even had a vet who would refuse extracting visibly damaged tooth because "cats hate it".

Not saying it just for now but for the future, could you search for a vet that has a special interest in veterinary dentistry? Technically most countries don't have a "dental specialist", not with that name, but there are usually vets who (only) teach dentistry at the vet schools. And vets who have a special interest in dentistry and follow it closely. They tend to be like specialists without the title. I would look for online reviews about dental operations and vets' Instagram accounts.

Good luck!

 

[daftcat75]

Have you tried different textures? He might have an easier time with pates vs shredded textures that have to be chewed. You can also stir in a little extra water to see if it’s easier for him to eat a more soupy food.

 

[Tagrendy]

Hi everyone, so the inflammation is gone and today he was able to eat a full packet of wet food, granted I had to mash it. Still progress though, as before that wouldn't help.

Meanwhile, I was looking more into FORL, and now I'm pretty positive that he has it. The lower big tooth has a gum growing on it, covering a small part of the bottom of the tooth. I read that's a sign of FORL. I also saw 2 other teeth looked like they had a starting cavity, but according to my readings those aren't cavities but what FORL does from inside the tooth. I also read that FORL attacks the lower 3rd tooth most often, and that was the tooth that he lost first a year ago. All these match up with also with toothache symptoms - food falling out of mouth, reluctance to chew etc.

Even if I'm right, he was under anesthesia less than 3 weeks ago, for dental + castration. I wish I knew this during the first dental and requested xray to make sure all teeth effected were removed. Now I'm reluctant to put him under again. I think I'll try to get some pain meds, and continue brushing teeth for the next 6-8 months before we can do dental again. Meanwhile I'll have to find someone good with teeth.

I never knew about FORL, an issue that can't be prevented or treated, and results in all teeth just dying. He is only 3 and at this rate the likelihood of becoming completely toothless by the age of 6 is real, this is so upsetting.

 

[gilmargl]

Don't upset yourself too much: Katy, a stray, had most of her teeth removed 5 years ago when she was approx. 2-3 years old due to FORL. As far as eating and general condition is concerned, there has been no looking back. Although we had problems getting her to eat for quite a while after the second op, she is now a much happier and friendlier cat since she no longer has toothache! She even crunches kibble!
She had to have 2 appointments for the extractions as the vet was hoping that it would be a few years before more teeth were affected. She still has one canine! When we next need to sedate her, I'll ask for an x-ray to be done on any remaining teeth in the hope that we will be able to detect affected teeth before they start giving her pain. It's necessary but expensive!

 

[daftcat75]

Hi everyone, so the inflammation is gone and today he was able to eat a full packet of wet food, granted I had to mash it. Still progress though, as before that wouldn't help.

Meanwhile, I was looking more into FORL, and now I'm pretty positive that he has it. The lower big tooth has a gum growing on it, covering a small part of the bottom of the tooth. I read that's a sign of FORL. I also saw 2 other teeth looked like they had a starting cavity, but according to my readings those aren't cavities but what FORL does from inside the tooth. I also read that FORL attacks the lower 3rd tooth most often, and that was the tooth that he lost first a year ago. All these match up with also with toothache symptoms - food falling out of mouth, reluctance to chew etc.

Even if I'm right, he was under anesthesia less than 3 weeks ago, for dental + castration. I wish I knew this during the first dental and requested xray to make sure all teeth effected were removed. Now I'm reluctant to put him under again. I think I'll try to get some pain meds, and continue brushing teeth for the next 6-8 months before we can do dental again. Meanwhile I'll have to find someone good with teeth.

I never knew about FORL, an issue that can't be prevented or treated, and results in all teeth just dying. He is only 3 and at this rate the likelihood of becoming completely toothless by the age of 6 is real, this is so upsetting.

Cats are tough! If he needs extractions, they should be done sooner than later. When he stops eating because he's in more pain than he is hungry, you won't get a choice in how long it's been since the last extractions. With chronic degenerative or inflammatory conditions like FORL or stomatitis, often the best and most lasting treatment is a full mouth extraction: extract all the teeth at once. This is also safer from an anesthesia point of view as you're not putting him under multiple times across multiple extractions.

It's also kinder to the cat. I unfortunately put my Krista through piecemeal extractions (taking them as they went bad) instead of getting her a dentist early on. She went through a lot of pain and misery from the FORLs. Each time we went in for extractions, it changed her mouth or her bite in some way. Even when the extractions were successful, the change in her bite was still causing her discomfort. This was beyond the skill level of my general vets to address. After a brief recovery (two or three weeks of reduced but still adequate eating), she was once more eating like a champ. She never had another dental problem. As it should be!

For now, while he seems to be eating again, look around for a dental specialist. Is there a specialty hospital or veterinary teaching hospital within a reasonable travel distance? I had to travel two hours each way for Krista's dentist. Another member on these boards traveled four hours for her cat's dentist. Expertise is worth the effort! And in the meantime, while you're waiting on your appointment with the specialist, you can practice car rides if you need to.

 

[michelle3370]

I know this is a super late reply but my rescue oriental shorthair, Hootie had 0 teeth and he was fine. So don't worry too much.