Cat not eating a lot

[Snuugel]

It's definitely strange that Jade won't eat, unless you put it right in front of him.
Yet, he acts normally in all other areas, so he does have the Energy to sustain him.

Has your Jade been neutered, already?

Not neutered yet.

 

[cat nap]

So, we have visited few other vets. He got pain medication and medication which helps with nausea. Neither of them had any effect. The vet said that there really doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him but next thing we should try is getting him to ultrasound. But all the vets in town are once again not available for at least for an week. But yeah so all I know for now is that:
It's not caused because he is nauseous.
It's not cause because he is in pain.
It's not caused because he has organ damage or an infection (no fever and all blood test results normal)
It's propably not caused because he has eaten something wrong (his stool is normal)
Symptoms he has at the moment.
Not eating almost at all, I have to feed him forcefully. Treats he eats by himself.
He is drinking bit more than usually.
He is bit more tired than usually, but he still has energy to play.
What I think may have caused it
He may have gotten something stuck in his nose, like cat litter or something so he can't smell. Or he may have some stomach bug that just takes some time to get better. That's all I can really think of. I don't know what to do. I may have to bring him to other town for other vet if this does not get any better. I just don't want to stress him out too much.

Try an experiment with your Jade....

Put a tiny portion of...the smelliest type of wet cat food,...down on a flat plate.
Then a foot away, (30 cm)...place another flat plate...with his usual favorite cat food (tiny portion)
Finally, a third flat plate, (another 30cm away)...with either the a/d...or any other type of recovery cat food...royal canin, purina, etc.

If none of these entice Jade to eat...then try to slightly 'warm up the food'...by either putting it in a small bag, and running some warm/hot water...over the bag,...or placing tiny bag of wet cat food...in glass dish...with running warm/hot water...over it.
(you can also microwave the wet cat food, for a few seconds...but it might be uneven heat...and some say that it destroys the nutrients...so idk)

Repeat the above experiment, at another meal time,...but this time...use spoonful of meat baby food (no onion, no garlic).
Sardines.
Chicken breast, or chicken broth...(no seasonings)...or high calorie wet kitten food.

Anyhow,...all you are really trying to see is...if Jade will be able to 'smell the food'...and go for that particular one, first.
Even if Jade does not eat it, but does approach it, sniffs it, and shows some interest...it may give you a good indication of how his 'sense of Smell' is working.

Thank you for your kind words. Jade appreciates them . Small update on how we are doing. Jade got the antibiotics and the medication for nausea. No effect. He is still acting like his own self but no appetite at all. He eats about 2 spoonfuls of tuna or a/d vet food in the morning. Nothing during the day and at evening 3-4 raw chicken pieces. Sometimes a chicken heart too. I' am so stressed. He now fears the food bowl because he knows that I will force him to eat and hides every time I lift the bowl to put food in it. I have 1 week holiday from work and I pretty much just sit home with him and try to get him to eat 24/7. All the vets say he is completely healthy, all the other kittens from his litter are healthy (I asked the breeder). One thing the vet did say is that perhaps it's the hormones that are starting to affect his body and just make him lose his appetite. I just, have no idea what to do anymore.

He is bit more restless than usually. He play fights with my other cat more than usually. He even growls to him for time to time which he hasn't done before. (Yes I am sure it is still play fighting, they are like each other). He barely eats anything. I called the vet who actually seemed annyoed that I called. Just told me that scince all the bloodwork and x-ray pictures are fine there is nothing wrong with him. He just isn't hungry and I should stop worrying. Now I know that sometimes I worry too much, but it isn't healthy for him to only eat about 3 spoonfuls a day. And he wouldn't eat even that amount if I wasn't putting it right in front of his nose.
I am so scared because I have lost cat before to FIP. The first symptoms were loss of appetite, nausea and tiredness. Though unlike Jade, his bloodwork were abnormal and he was very tired and lethargic, Jade still acts normally, drinks normally and goes to litter box normally. I'm kinda running out of ideas what to do with him.

Not neutered yet.

I would think that Jade not being neutered, yet, would cause him to act a bit 'more wild'...and at times be a 'bit more aggressive'...but to actually 'not want to eat'...is still a bit strange,...even if his 'hormones are affecting his body'...according to that one Vet.
It would have been more helpful, if that particular Vet, told you some 'actual things to try'...to get him to 'stop and eat'.

It's true that it's not good to worry too much...but if something seems 'off about your particular cat'...and you notice it...then it's also good to be proactive...like you are doing...and monitor it, as well.
Only you know your cat the best,...far better than any Vet does.

(don't even worry about that vet that sounded annoyed, s/he was probably just having a bad day, or is terrible at 'people skills'. They probably don't teach that at vet school. )

**I would suggest...that if you can buy a 'baby scale'...and monitor Jade's weight, ..then this might give you more information...on if Jade is indeed losing weight.
(some people weigh their cats by standing on a human scale, weighing themselves,... and then standing on the scale when holding their cats...(using the difference in amounts...as the cat's weight)
The only problem is...that usually it is not very accurate, and cannot get to weights, that are under a pound, or kilogram.

That's why the 'baby scales'...or 'pet scales' are suggested.

I would not weigh him everyday,...but every week, would be okay....to see if he is able to maintain his weight, or not lose much.

Another thing you can do,...if you do notice that Jade is still not eating...and is losing weight...(but not just the usual summer weight loss versus winter weight gain)...is actually ask one of the Vets that you saw,...to refer you to an actual Vet Nutritionist.
This would be a Vet Specialist who can work with you, on getting enough calories per day, for Jade, and who actually specializes in what a cat eats.

 

[FeralHearts]

S Snuugel

I'm not sure if these have been mentioned or not, but I know when Charlie gets all "I don't wanna eat" I usually have to give him a treatment for furballs. I have to give it to him all the time now as it seems to be a regular occurrence, so you could try that?

The other thing is food toppers to try to encourage. One of my go-tos is Forti-Flora. I sprinkle a bit of that on top of the food and the cats will all eat at least a little. Enough that I'm satisfied.

 

[Snuugel]

Hello all! And thank you for your answers. I tried the "scent test" with Jade and he wasn't really interested in any of the foods. But he has started slowly but surely eat more. I found out that he really likes applaws salmon & tuna jelly and he always eats the whole pouch! Though not from bowl or from plate. I always have to give it right in front of him at the floor. He also eats brit care kitten tuna, Hill's restorative care a/d food, and those raw chicken meat balls. I do think that his sense of smell is not as good as it should be and that's why he only eats food with a strong smell and only when I place it right in front of him. I have to wipe his nose about twice a day because it's always black from all the dust he has been sniffing (he is curious and is always checking all the most dusty places, like under the bed). But anycase, he is eating better now and I'm happy about that. I have to buy a scale to check his correct weight, but I was holding him while I was standing on a scale and if I counted the weight right, I don't think there was any changes.

 

[neely]

But anycase, he is eating better now and I'm happy about that. I have to buy a scale to check his correct weight, but I was holding him while I was standing on a scale and if I counted the weight right, I don't think there was any changes.

Thanks for the update and glad to hear Jade is eating better. You may want to look into purchasing a baby scale or a small animal digital pet scale to get a more accurate weight for him.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095P1Z1QZ/?tag=thecatsite