Finicky eater won't eat

[Furballsmom]

Try putting a little food on the floor, other members have found this worked, or a flat paper plate.

 

[daftcat75]

My Betty used to paw her food off the plate. She would also sniff it and walk away. This became such a regular occurrence, I called it the sniff and snub. When she would do this, she would often eat if I took the food off her plate and put it on the floor. I would do this a few morsels at a time and she would tell me when she was done. Betty takes ondansetron for nausea and that helps. What we also discovered by accident is that her appetite improves with gabapentin. In fact, since I’ve been giving her gabapentin, she has stopped pawing food off her plate and the sniff and snubs have almost disappeared. A little bit of A/D “cake frosting” on top of her food—her “starter strips”—and I don’t have trouble with her eating anymore. She is also on a half dose of steroids to manage IBD inflammation. And I’m somewhat convinced that she needs all three meds. In Betty’s case, I think the gabapentin is helping with possible dental pain. She just had an exam and at least one of her teeth had resorption. There was no roots left and the remaining tooth was fusing with the bone. Nothing to extract. But maybe it was still causing some discomfort after being burred down below the gum line. Or maybe there’s another tooth or teeth that have yet to raise to clinically actionable. I often wonder if her desire to eat off the floor was a pain response like a painful tooth that hit the plate. With gabapentin, this hesitancy and scooping behavior went away.

Sometimes their finickiness is a tricky combination of factors.

 

[Astragal14]

My Betty used to paw her food off the plate. She would also sniff it and walk away. This became such a regular occurrence, I called it the sniff and snub. When she would do this, she would often eat if I took the food off her plate and put it on the floor. I would do this a few morsels at a time and she would tell me when she was done. Betty takes ondansetron for nausea and that helps. What we also discovered by accident is that her appetite improves with gabapentin. In fact, since I’ve been giving her gabapentin, she has stopped pawing food off her plate and the sniff and snubs have almost disappeared. A little bit of A/D “cake frosting” on top of her food—her “starter strips”—and I don’t have trouble with her eating anymore. She is also on a half dose of steroids to manage IBD inflammation. And I’m somewhat convinced that she needs all three meds. In Betty’s case, I think the gabapentin is helping with possible dental pain. She just had an exam and at least one of her teeth had resorption. There was no roots left and the remaining tooth was fusing with the bone. Nothing to extract. But maybe it was still causing some discomfort after being burred down below the gum line. Or maybe there’s another tooth or teeth that have yet to raise to clinically actionable. I often wonder if her desire to eat off the floor was a pain response like a painful tooth that hit the plate. With gabapentin, this hesitancy and scooping behavior went away.

Sometimes their finickiness is a tricky combination of factors.

This is an excellent point daftcat75 . Dental pain is another common cause of a picky palate. I think the fact he's begging for food and treats indicates a probable medical issue.

 

[Susanna72]

I like the term “sniff and snub.” That’s it! He’s definitely hungry because he’s meowing at me. He will eat treats but everything else is “eh. No.” Calling the vet again tomorrow.

Not sure if this is part of it, but he has mild CH and pecks at his food. He has always struggled with picking up food and treats. I thought maybe it was the dish so I switched to a plate. It’s hard, though, because his microchip feeder doesn’t accommodate a plate. It is a wide dish, though. He’s been eating out of it fine for over a year!

 

[lisahe]

I think Astragal14 is probably right about nausea... it can do such odd things to cats. Lip licking is another sign of nausea.

That said, as I mentioned above, one of our cats really, truly went on strike with her delicious, nutritious wet foods (even the lovingly prepared home-cooked food!) and refused to eat much at all until we started feeding her primarily the dry food (fortunately a good one) she loves. She had signs of apparent nausea but probably because she just wasn't eating enough. I have no idea how long this was developing before we realized what was going on -- there was probably a vicious cycle of hunger and nausea. She even vomited stomach acid a few times, something she had never done. Several weeks later, on almost exclusively dry food, she is clearly happier, energetic, and less stressed, eating very well, and showing zero signs of nausea. I think it also helps that we got her a microchip feeder so she can eat on her own schedule -- she has always been a grazer. I guess I mention this again because it isn't always true that a cat will eat something it doesn't want if it gets hungry enough! I don't like feeding so much dry food but she has to eat. To paraphrase the surgeon who operated on our other cat last summer, strange things can happen with cats.

Does Oliver ever vomit stomach acid, Susanna72 , clear or yellowish pools of liquid that don't look like much?

 

[Susanna72]

I think Astragal14 is probably right about nausea... it can do such odd things to cats. Lip licking is another sign of nausea.

That said, as I mentioned above, one of our cats really, truly went on strike with her delicious, nutritious wet foods (even the lovingly prepared home-cooked food!) and refused to eat much at all until we started feeding her primarily the dry food (fortunately a good one) she loves. She had signs of apparent nausea but probably because she just wasn't eating enough. I have no idea how long this was developing before we realized what was going on -- there was probably a vicious cycle of hunger and nausea. She even vomited stomach acid a few times, something she had never done. Several weeks later, on almost exclusively dry food, she is clearly happier, energetic, and less stressed, eating very well, and showing zero signs of nausea. I think it also helps that we got her a microchip feeder so she can eat on her own schedule -- she has always been a grazer. I guess I mention this again because it isn't always true that a cat will eat something it doesn't want if it gets hungry enough! I don't like feeding so much dry food but she has to eat. To paraphrase the surgeon who operated on our other cat last summer, strange things can happen with cats.

Does Oliver ever vomit stomach acid, Susanna72 , clear or yellowish pools of liquid that don't look like much?

He threw up the little bit of food he ate yesterday morning, but no acid after that. He just can't keep the food down. I tried to give him the chicken stew Hills Biome yesterday morning and he ate a little bit, threw it up mid-morning. Then I gave it to him again for dinner and he wouldn't touch it. I give him a while to think about it, and then I give him a Churu and some Greenies just to get something in his tummy. I'm probably making it worse, but he's gotta eat. He's got mild CH, but he's a little more wobbly than normal right now and he's really getting thin. Just feeling his skin, I think he might be dehydrated. He has a vet appointment in the morning. I'll try some other food tonight. It's so frustrating because he BEGS for food! He's hungry! I wish it was possible to reason with them. LOL.

 

[Astragal14]

I'm so glad you have a vet appointment scheduled soon. Definitely ask your vet if it's appropriate to administer sub-q fluids and a B12 injection. They work quickly because they're injections so he'll start feeling better very soon, and they're also inexpensive. I also recommend asking about anti nausea meds (Cerenia, Ondansetron, etc). Cerenia is available as a pill and injection, one option could be for your vet to administer the injection and then you can continue the pills at home.

One of my cats had GI issues and food avoidances similar to Oliver. He was eventually diagnosed with IBD and I'll share his story in case any of it helps Oliver during his vet appointment.

My cat had been having GI issues for a little while and our regular vet thought it was IBD and the specialist thought it was food allergies (my regular vet was ultimately correct). We kept doing food trials but they never went well because he always ended up refusing to eat the food due to nausea (and lots of vomiting and regurgitation along the way). Among those we tried included Purina EN, Hill's GI Biome, Hill's z/d, Royal Canin PV and Hill's w/d.

In his case, it ended up being IBD and his trigger foods are filler ingredients (like gums, peas & pea-derived foods), potatoes & potato-derived products, and a few other things. All of the prescription foods we were giving him were full of his trigger ingredients! And it was those ingredients that were making him feel ill and causing his vomiting and nausea. What made him feel better quickly was removing those problematic ingredients and adding regular B12 injections. What has helped manage his symptoms long term was working with our regular vet as well as a veterinary nutritionist to determine the best foods, supplements and inflammation management routine.

 

[Susanna72]

I'm so glad you have a vet appointment scheduled soon. Definitely ask your vet if it's appropriate to administer sub-q fluids and a B12 injection. They work quickly because they're injections so he'll start feeling better very soon, and they're also inexpensive. I also recommend asking about anti nausea meds (Cerenia, Ondansetron, etc). Cerenia is available as a pill and injection, one option could be for your vet to administer the injection and then you can continue the pills at home.

One of my cats had GI issues and food avoidances similar to Oliver. He was eventually diagnosed with IBD and I'll share his story in case any of it helps Oliver during his vet appointment.

My cat had been having GI issues for a little while and our regular vet thought it was IBD and the specialist thought it was food allergies (my regular vet was ultimately correct). We kept doing food trials but they never went well because he always ended up refusing to eat the food due to nausea (and lots of vomiting and regurgitation along the way). Among those we tried included Purina EN, Hill's GI Biome, Hill's z/d, Royal Canin PV and Hill's w/d.

In his case, it ended up being IBD and his trigger foods are filler ingredients (like gums, peas & pea-derived foods), potatoes & potato-derived products, and a few other things. All of the prescription foods we were giving him were full of his trigger ingredients! And it was those ingredients that were making him feel ill and causing his vomiting and nausea. What made him feel better quickly was removing those problematic ingredients and adding regular B12 injections. What has helped manage his symptoms long term was working with our regular vet as well as a veterinary nutritionist to determine the best foods, supplements and inflammation management routine.

I have the same situation! Two vets in the practice and they have both seen him. One thinks it's food allergies and the other thinks it's IBD. He's the one we are seeing in the morning.

I tried Biome chicken stew this morning and he gave it the sniff and snub. I didn't think about him having nausea. I'll mention to vet. He meows and meows for food, though, so he's hungry. He just wants treats.

 

[jencat]

How long was he eating the Hills before he stopped liking it? If it was for a decent amount of time, I would be concerned that there is potentially something else medically going on. Can your vet give you a referral to a gastroenterologist? I had a finicky cat with severe food intolerances/allergies who would stop eating after having certain medications/antibiotics etc. She apparently would associate the food with not feeling well and we would have to find her a new food which became nearly impossible as we exhausted the limited options. She would eat something for a few days and then turn her nose up at it. The last time she did it. it turned out to be because of a completely unrelated medical issue.

 

[Susanna72]

How long was he eating the Hills before he stopped liking it? If it was for a decent amount of time, I would be concerned that there is potentially something else medically going on. Can your vet give you a referral to a gastroenterologist? I had a finicky cat with severe food intolerances/allergies who would stop eating after having certain medications/antibiotics etc. She apparently would associate the food with not feeling well and we would have to find her a new food which became nearly impossible as we exhausted the limited options. She would eat something for a few days and then turn her nose up at it. The last time she did it. it turned out to be because of a completely unrelated medical issue.

" How long was he eating the Hills before he stopped liking it? "

Like ONE meal that he didn't even finish. He ate a little bit of it and later on, threw up that and the treats I gave him.

 

[jencat]

" How long was he eating the Hills before he stopped liking it? "

Like ONE meal that he didn't even finish. He ate a little bit of it and later on, threw up that and the treats I gave him.

Has there ever been a food he was particularly fond of in the past?

 

[Susanna72]

Has there ever been a food he was particularly fond of in the past?

He used to love the Hills Senior Vitality. He might still eat it. I guess I could try again, but the vet assumed the chronic diarrhea and vomiting was a food allergy so she took him off of it and we've been on this fun journey through every prescription food on the planet. Can't wait to hear what they say tomorrow. I'll try to give him some Senior Vitality tonight.

 

[lisahe]

In his case, it ended up being IBD and his trigger foods are filler ingredients (like gums, peas & pea-derived foods), potatoes & potato-derived products, and a few other things. All of the prescription foods we were giving him were full of his trigger ingredients! And it was those ingredients that were making him feel ill and causing his vomiting and nausea.

This!!! We, too, have always (at least thus far) found that it's not the proteins but rather the fillers and thickeners that cause digestive issues. Potato and agar-agar are our two worst. And most likely green-lipped mussels, too. Figuring out what ingredients are causing problems takes time, patience, and record-keeping, as well as creative thinking from the cats' humans and the vet. Which is why I'm especially glad it was dumb luck that told us that Edwina can't eat potato.

It's just insane that prescription foods have so many of those ingredients: it's simple foods, without fillers and thickeners, that make it easy to sort out sensitivities, not foods with corn starch or carrageenan.

 

[Susanna72]

Okay. Spent a fortune at the vet this morning. Oliver still won't eat but begs for food. They did bloodwork, x-rays, sub q fluids.

X-rays show slightly inflamed or enlarged lower intestine. Could be IBD or could be cancer. Next step is looking at bloodwork results tomorrow. Then abdominal ultrasound.

As a side question: Has anyone put their cat through chemotherapy? What does that usually entail? I've always thought I wouldn't do that, but I wonder now. He's 12.

Based on the fact that he has done this several times over the years and has always had chronic diarrhea on and off, I wonder if it's IBD.

 

[jencat]

Okay. Spent a fortune at the vet this morning. Oliver still won't eat but begs for food. They did bloodwork, x-rays, sub q fluids.

X-rays show slightly inflamed or enlarged lower intestine. Could be IBD or could be cancer. Next step is looking at bloodwork results tomorrow. Then abdominal ultrasound.

As a side question: Has anyone put their cat through chemotherapy? What does that usually entail? I've always thought I wouldn't do that, but I wonder now. He's 12.

Based on the fact that he has done this several times over the years and has always had chronic diarrhea on and off, I wonder if it's IBD.

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully it is inflammation from IBD and not cancer. Since you asked about chemo, I had a kitty with lifelong IBD that turned into intestinal cancer. She had an at home chemo pill and prednisolone. She handled it really well (vet told us kitties in general usually handle it really well). Honestly the only side effect I ever noticed in her was irritability at times (likely from prednisolone as I have had 2 other kitties on prednisolone at times in their lives and had that symptom as well.) Follow up testing showed the thickening of her intestines had completely resolved. Unfortunately, her spleen went not long after. Vet couldn't tell us for sure what was the reason for that as she was doing so well after her treatment. She was around 13 years old at the time. I know another person whose young dog underwent chemo for intestinal cancer as well (he also handled it exceptionally well) and was told it wasn't intended to be a cure in their case. The dog went on to live well into his senior years cancer free. I wish you and your kitty well.

 

[Susanna72]

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully it is inflammation from IBD and not cancer. Since you asked about chemo, I had a kitty with lifelong IBD that turned into intestinal cancer. She had an at home chemo pill and prednisolone. She handled it really well (vet told us kitties in general usually handle it really well). Honestly the only side effect I ever noticed in her was irritability at times (likely from prednisolone as I have had 2 other kitties on prednisolone at times in their lives and had that symptom as well.) Follow up testing showed the thickening of her intestines had completely resolved. Unfortunately, her spleen went not long after. Vet couldn't tell us for sure what was the reason for that as she was doing so well after her treatment. She was around 13 years old at the time. I know another person whose young dog underwent chemo for intestinal cancer as well (he also handled it exceptionally well) and was told it wasn't intended to be a cure in their case. The dog went on to live well into his senior years cancer free. I wish you and your kitty well.

Thank you. That's good to know. I had pictured it being like HUMAN chemo. Good to know it's basically a pill. What food did your cat eat for the IBD?

I'm sorry about your kitty.

 

[jencat]

Thank you. That's good to know. I had pictured it being like HUMAN chemo. Good to know it's basically a pill. What food did your cat eat for the IBD?

I'm sorry about your kitty.

Yes it was just a tiny little pill. Just have to wear gloves when handling it and be watchful as kitty was crafty and would hold it in her mouth and spit it out later on occasion. Not something you want other pets/household members to come into contact with. I remember the vet telling us kitties in general do so much better with chemo than humans do. It was actually a quality of life booster in her case. I believe she ate RC gastrointestinal. My female Maine Coon with severe food and environmental allergies/ intolerances did her best on Instinct LID Turkey.

 

[daftcat75]

Krista, my last cat and the one in the avatar, had IBD that progressed to lymphoma. She handled the chemo quite well. The only side effect I saw in her was that she was a little sleepier on the chemo day. She still ate her meals and still interacted with me. It's definitely not like chemo in humans. Not only do cats tolerate it better but the doses are more reasonable for cats. Krista was impossible to pill. I didn't know about the A/D trick with her. And in any case, she couldn't have it because chicken was a flare-up food. She ate Rawz pate in the turkey flavor until turkey became an issue. Then she ate the Rawz rabbit pate. It's too bad she passed before Mouser came out. She probably would have loved Mouser. But yeah, Krista wouldn't take pills. I got her chemo compounded into a highly concentrated anchovy flavored oil. I only had to give her one tenth of an mL. I mixed it on a plate with an equal amount of salmon oil for about a dime's sized oil puddle. She licked that up with no hesitation every time. Then she got her meal directly after in case there was any "off" flavors in the chemo oil. I usually tasted her liquid medicines to know what I was asking of her. I thought better of tasting this one. You have to wear gloves when handling the medicine. But the precautions on the other end are overblown. Your cat does a pretty good job of diluting it in the waste. As long as you don't have a poop eating dog, you're probably fine if you scoop once or twice daily.

 

[Susanna72]

I have a totally different idea about chemo now. I was thinking it would be like human chemo and I’d have to haul him to the vet for an IV. A pill is much more manageable and doesn’t seem as painful. Thank you! I told my vet today that I probably wouldn’t do chemo and he’s probably thinking “why not??”

 

[Susanna72]

Ooohhkayyyy. Bloodwork results are in. I always struggle to take notes when they call. CBC is elevated (no idea what that is). Neutrophil is high. Monocytes elevated. High is normal and his are 6498! So there's inflammation somewhere but we don't know where. Can't give him steroids because if there's an abscess somewhere it'll make it worse. I made an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound but I have jury duty next week so it's delayed a week. I also have a call in to an internal medicine specialist to get an appointment so we can start to see if this is cancer or IBD or what.

I really wish I had bought him insurance when he was a kitten.