I saw that @cat1967 has a post on this issue too - - and I read through that. But our situations are a little different - - - so I'm hoping some of the amazing people on this site might have just a few more things to try - - we're desperate.
The background: One of our kitties (Moo - a failed foster we've had since she was 4 weeks old) is almost 16, and she's always been a "keep to herself kitty." She only eats at night (we've only seen her eat - no exaggeration - probably 10 times in her life! She had a full blood work-up last year, and all was normal (the vet said she would have thought Moo was 5, not 15, by her bloodwork!). Then a month ago we noticed she was getting thin (although at 16, that's obviously not unexpected). We started to weigh her once a week (since we couldn't judge how much she was eating since she won't eat when watched) and realized her weight was coming down very fast.
We got right to the vet, and Moo's blood tests showed her calcium was over 3x normal. The vet said with levels that high, it was likely a fast-growing cancer. We decided to do one more blood draw to send to a university lab for more extensive testing. While waiting for results, Moo was put on meds to bring down the calcium, and added an appetite stimulant ("Entice"), an anti nausea drug, and fluids once a week. Right away we could tell fluids were an issue. Since I've worked at shelters, I've done fluids and so has my hubby. But Moo wanted none of it. We were supposed to get 200 ml into her 2-3x a week. We even had a neighbor that's a nurse (he often cat sits our guys, so Moo knows him) come over to help, but none of us could get more than 50 ml of fluids before someone is bitten. Even the vet - -after the first time - only got 50 ml and then was bitten!
Happily - the 2nd blood test came back - NO cancer!!! But the stress on her body from the calcium had stressed her kidneys. The vet suggested a last ditch effort was admitting Moo for a 3-day fluid flush to help her kidneys, at the end of which they'd do another blood draw to check the kidneys. The vet admitted it was a long shot - but that it does occasionally work. We barely had the money to do it -- but we felt like we had to give her this shot. The vet said they also had trouble getting her to eat -she'd only eat at night when no one was there - but she'd eaten well on night #1, about half that on night #2, and only a few licks on night #3. They redrew blood at the end and unbelievably - - when we picked her up late Saturday, her kidneys had gone back to almost normal readings!!!! We were beyond thrilled!!! Even the vet was shocked - - -she said that was an improvement way above what even she hoped for. But now the tough part....
We got her home and she still won't eat. I know alot of people would say force feed by syringe or feeding tube - we did syringe feed with the two elderly kitties (Ally at 19 & Phoebe at 20!!) that we ended up losing last year, and we don't want to put Moo through that. We also don't want to do a feeding tube - - she's definitely one that would be miserable with either of those types of intervention. Yes - we bought a bit of tie with Phoebe and Ally, but it got to the point where they both became terrified of us, and honestly, at least with those 2, they were miserable the entire time we did it. (I'm definitely NOT saying that those are bad solutions to try - but our two were miserable while we did it - - and we definitely wouldn't do it again to them to buy the time we did. But I know many cats who do quite well on force feeding). We just can't do it to Moo - - she's just too defiant about even a small syringe full of oral medication - we can't even imagine how much she'd hate force feeding.
Does anyone have ANY suggestions on getting her to eat at least something????? Here's what we've tried so far - -with decreasingly decent results:
• Her "normal" dry cat food (a prescription food) - we've also run it through the food processor to make is a little less crunchy and easy to swallow - nothing (although the other 3 cats love it!)
• Gerber's baby food chicken (like most of us who do feral work utilize when socializing - she literally turned her head in disgust at that)
• Fancy Feast canned in multiple flavors and textures
- which we've also tried pureeing it, but no luck that way either
• Whiskas pouches of chicken (which have alot of "broth" - - this is what she finally ate at the vet)
• Friskies canned (again - only other thing she even touched at the vet)
• Prescription A/D canned (won't touch it)
• Sheba pate, with water added to make it soupy (she did fairly well on that for a few days, but won't touch it now)
• Canned mackerel, both "as is" out of the can and also blendered with water
• Meow Mix in the little plastic "tubs" - - which is alot of broth with a bit of meat
• Prescription I/D canned and dry
• Canned tuna (nothing)
We're cooking a chicken tonight, and will see if she's enticed by the chicken itself at all, and we'll also mush if up with broth and offer it. We got a few other samples from the vet, and bought a few more kinds of food at the pet store.
But we're at our wit's end. It's breaking our hearts. Now that her "numbers" are good - - even the vet couldn't explain why she still won't eat?!?! And I don't want her dying of starvation - - - - what a horrid death.
So ANY suggestions?!?!?! I feel like I'm out of tears to cry over this (why can't they live to be 120????) - -- - - and my hubby suggested I reach out on here (since he knows I love love love this site - - and have learned alot from it!).
We're willing to try anything -- - so please suggest anything. I'll also read through @cat1967 's thread and see if it has any other ideas.
Thanks in advance. Moo appreciates is.
The background: One of our kitties (Moo - a failed foster we've had since she was 4 weeks old) is almost 16, and she's always been a "keep to herself kitty." She only eats at night (we've only seen her eat - no exaggeration - probably 10 times in her life! She had a full blood work-up last year, and all was normal (the vet said she would have thought Moo was 5, not 15, by her bloodwork!). Then a month ago we noticed she was getting thin (although at 16, that's obviously not unexpected). We started to weigh her once a week (since we couldn't judge how much she was eating since she won't eat when watched) and realized her weight was coming down very fast.
We got right to the vet, and Moo's blood tests showed her calcium was over 3x normal. The vet said with levels that high, it was likely a fast-growing cancer. We decided to do one more blood draw to send to a university lab for more extensive testing. While waiting for results, Moo was put on meds to bring down the calcium, and added an appetite stimulant ("Entice"), an anti nausea drug, and fluids once a week. Right away we could tell fluids were an issue. Since I've worked at shelters, I've done fluids and so has my hubby. But Moo wanted none of it. We were supposed to get 200 ml into her 2-3x a week. We even had a neighbor that's a nurse (he often cat sits our guys, so Moo knows him) come over to help, but none of us could get more than 50 ml of fluids before someone is bitten. Even the vet - -after the first time - only got 50 ml and then was bitten!
Happily - the 2nd blood test came back - NO cancer!!! But the stress on her body from the calcium had stressed her kidneys. The vet suggested a last ditch effort was admitting Moo for a 3-day fluid flush to help her kidneys, at the end of which they'd do another blood draw to check the kidneys. The vet admitted it was a long shot - but that it does occasionally work. We barely had the money to do it -- but we felt like we had to give her this shot. The vet said they also had trouble getting her to eat -she'd only eat at night when no one was there - but she'd eaten well on night #1, about half that on night #2, and only a few licks on night #3. They redrew blood at the end and unbelievably - - when we picked her up late Saturday, her kidneys had gone back to almost normal readings!!!! We were beyond thrilled!!! Even the vet was shocked - - -she said that was an improvement way above what even she hoped for. But now the tough part....
We got her home and she still won't eat. I know alot of people would say force feed by syringe or feeding tube - we did syringe feed with the two elderly kitties (Ally at 19 & Phoebe at 20!!) that we ended up losing last year, and we don't want to put Moo through that. We also don't want to do a feeding tube - - she's definitely one that would be miserable with either of those types of intervention. Yes - we bought a bit of tie with Phoebe and Ally, but it got to the point where they both became terrified of us, and honestly, at least with those 2, they were miserable the entire time we did it. (I'm definitely NOT saying that those are bad solutions to try - but our two were miserable while we did it - - and we definitely wouldn't do it again to them to buy the time we did. But I know many cats who do quite well on force feeding). We just can't do it to Moo - - she's just too defiant about even a small syringe full of oral medication - we can't even imagine how much she'd hate force feeding.
Does anyone have ANY suggestions on getting her to eat at least something????? Here's what we've tried so far - -with decreasingly decent results:
• Her "normal" dry cat food (a prescription food) - we've also run it through the food processor to make is a little less crunchy and easy to swallow - nothing (although the other 3 cats love it!)
• Gerber's baby food chicken (like most of us who do feral work utilize when socializing - she literally turned her head in disgust at that)
• Fancy Feast canned in multiple flavors and textures
• Whiskas pouches of chicken (which have alot of "broth" - - this is what she finally ate at the vet)
• Friskies canned (again - only other thing she even touched at the vet)
• Prescription A/D canned (won't touch it)
• Sheba pate, with water added to make it soupy (she did fairly well on that for a few days, but won't touch it now)
• Canned mackerel, both "as is" out of the can and also blendered with water
• Meow Mix in the little plastic "tubs" - - which is alot of broth with a bit of meat
• Prescription I/D canned and dry
• Canned tuna (nothing)
We're cooking a chicken tonight, and will see if she's enticed by the chicken itself at all, and we'll also mush if up with broth and offer it. We got a few other samples from the vet, and bought a few more kinds of food at the pet store.
But we're at our wit's end. It's breaking our hearts. Now that her "numbers" are good - - even the vet couldn't explain why she still won't eat?!?! And I don't want her dying of starvation - - - - what a horrid death.
So ANY suggestions?!?!?! I feel like I'm out of tears to cry over this (why can't they live to be 120????) - -- - - and my hubby suggested I reach out on here (since he knows I love love love this site - - and have learned alot from it!).
We're willing to try anything -- - so please suggest anything. I'll also read through @cat1967 's thread and see if it has any other ideas.
Thanks in advance. Moo appreciates is.