Any ideas on how to force feed a cat?

[fragrancehound]

Yet my saga continues....

Panther really needs to gain weight ASAP but he still refuses to eat on his own. I've tried several different kinds of foods including wet, dry, holistic, prescription, broth, baby food, and so on. I am also giving him a nutritional supplement paste to help with those missing vitamins and minerals. At this point I am still force feeding him with an oral syringe. I've been mixing baby food with turkey broth and the vitamin supplement and giving him that through the syringe. I've also tried mixing the wet food in there too but sometimes he has a hard time digesting it and it comes back up within 2 hours.

I don't get it. His intestine is doing better so you would think he would want to eat. Right now he is hiding in my closet and doesn't want to come out. He usually hides there when he doesn't feel good. He can't afford to lose anymore weight but he won't eat. I just don't know what else to do.

Is there any type of liquid supplement for cats that is very high calorie and is made for this type of situation? For those of you who have cats who suffer from IBD do you have any suggestions?

[dvp1636]

I'm new to this board so don't know your entire situation and as to why you are having to syringe feed but, why not ask your vet for some cyproheptadine. It is a drug that is known to stimulate the appetite, although this isn't what it was originally prescribed to do. There is an assisted feeding group at yahoogroups.com. Also ask your vet for AD which is calorie dense, smooth, and cats seem to like the taste. It can be syringed.

Are you a member of the feline ibd list?

[kb2yjx]

I have "force fed" a few of the Clan Cats, and had the food come right back up onto me!!! Sometimes I think that the cat "knows" when it is ready to eat again. When Ralph Syracuse would not eat, I learned how to make chicken soup, he ate that and eventually did start to eat on his own. Good Luck...have you spoken to your vet?

[lvpets2002]

:) Hello & Welcome to Pet Talk
I would for sure take this baby to the Vets & they can diagnose the problem & give this wittle one stimulate pills to kick in this baby's appitite & other needed meds.. I would not suggest continuing force feeding due to this will just keep upsetting his tummy for upchucks..

[fragrancehound]

Panther has been to the vet several times. There is a post about it here:

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=116702

He has been on various drugs and injections and they all seem to make him vomit more or have no effect whatsoever. At this point I'm looking at more holistic options since those options seem to work a little better for him right now.

[jenluckenbach]

Ask the vet about Rebound. it is a liquid suppliment. I have not used it yet, but it should be good for Panther.

[Freedom]

Never had to do this, so no direct experience.

I have heard "the smellier the better," and someone said to pour tuna water over whatever you are giving him. Might be an idea, to try, not too expensive.

[AbbyMom]

Two thoughts for Panther...

-Try canned mackeral. It stinks to high heaven, which might stimulate his appetite. I did this once with my RB girl Quasar when she stopped eating.

-When she continued to have appetite problems, the vet gave her a steroid shot and gave her steroid pills that I then put in her food. Her appetite was amazing after the first shot. People laughed at my "bodybuilding" kitty, but it saved her life.

I don't know if this helps, but I wish you and Panther the best and send you my prayers.

[critters]

The Feline Assisted Feeding Yahoo group, as mentioned, has LOTS of ideas. If force feeding is impossible, you might try a feeding tube. A friend just had one put into her non-eating, pukey kitty, and it's made a world of difference.