Help with a cat too stubborn to eat

[jenluckenbach]

I have a new foster. She has lived on our shelter building from the time she was captured at about 3 months of age and is now 6 1/2 years old and knows no other life. She was adopted and returned twice because she could not adjust to life outside the shelter. I took her home to give her a chance to know family life in a REAL house. She is adjusting but refuses to eat. I will begin to force feed today but any suggestions on item she might not be able to resist would be helpful.
Tried different dry food, different canned food, tuna, can salmon, mealtoaf (this is what finally got Calvin to eat after 5 days with me), milk, cat milk, velveeta cheese, a canned catfood with whole sardines in it.........sheesh.........what else is there?? I've given her some nutri-cal as a suppliment, but not nearly enough. She doesn't prefer to be held so the force feeding will not be easy.
Today is the 4th day and she has only eaten tiny amounts of the meatloaf and dry cat food. She has drunk some water and she has used the litter box to do both things (so something must have been inside her).
Pray for her to have the courage to start to eat soon or she will have to go back to the shelter for her own well being. (And I do not want to give up on her)

[K & L]

Jen
Has she been checked for any illnesses such as a URI where she can’t smell or taste, diabetes etc.? Does she have any teeth or gum problems preventing her to eat? Also have you tried baby food?

[catcrazylady]

I have no idea!! Poor baby. I don't blame you for not wanting to give up on her. Living her whole life in a shelter is really sad. She must be a very emotional kitty.
I have heard others here on PT talk about baby food and yogurt. They act like the cats really like it. With everything you have already tried I doubt her reaction woud be any different. Does she respond at all to nip? I know most of my cats eat the heck out of it. Maybe if she does like to eat it then you could sprinkle some on her food. Other than that I would be at a loss too.
I know one time when one of mine was sick the doctor gave me some kind of liquid vitamins and he said it would also encourage my guy to eat. I don't have any idea what it was because it was some years ago. Maybe there is something that the vets have that could help.
I know one thing that works wonders...PT PRAYERS!! She will be getting prayers from me. Don't give up yet Jen. If anybody can do it it will be you! Please keep us posted.
What is her name?

[jenluckenbach]

She has not been to a vet. No symptoms AND she ate at the shelter. She has quite the full figure (OK, slightly round )

And sorry........Sally is her name.

I am home sick from work today and Charlie is picking up baby food on his way home tonight. So I'll be trying that tonight.

I'm going to go find the catnip right now!!!!!!!

[slick]

Poor Sally, I know just how you feel. We had a kitty at our shelter that was a feral and brought in at the age of 2 months. Pixie lived her whole life at the shelter just huddled up against the ceiling and absolutely no one could touch her at all. Finally when she was taken in for spaying, she was a he. After neutering he came back to the shelter for about 3 yrs. The whole time we tried and tried so socialize him. Then he was sent to a foster home and the same thing happened. Finally he was sent out to a farm to be an outside kitty and is thriving.

Prayers on the way for Sally. I sure hope the baby food help. Prayers to you too Jen. Hope you're not down with that ugly flu that's going around.

[K & L]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
She has not been to a vet. No symptoms AND she ate at the shelter. She has quite the full figure (OK, slightly round )

And sorry........Sally is her name.

I am home sick from work today and Charlie is picking up baby food on his way home tonight. So I'll be trying that tonight.

I'm going to go find the catnip right now!!!!!!!

A vet check never hurts (except the pocket book). We had NO clue Spike had such a teeth/gum problem until we were giving him meds for fleas and his mouth started bleeding. Before giving up on her I would have her checked out to make sure there is nothing wrong medically! Just like us, one day they can be fine and the next day sick. Good luck and keep us posted on Sally.

[sirrahbed]

Hey Jen - Sorry to hear you are sick and also about Sally. Let's hope that the baby food will tempt her. The people at the cat show tell me it is irresistable - I noticed mostly veal for some reason?? - and I did try it with mine and they all went crazy for it - even Eliot who refuses all treats. Please let us know!!

[jenluckenbach]

Hopefull Charlie will remember that I asked for veal .

For a split second I thought the catnip was going to work. She licked some off the top of a "slurry" I made, but stopped after 3 to 4 licks.

As for Sally's personality, all the people who feed at the shelter say she is very people friendly. And she has already started to come out to me for pets. Even so close to bump heads together. So she IS relaxing.

[catlover4ever]

I have had success with Purina's Kitten Chow, mixed with a little milk to make it soft. I have also found that Fancy Feast's flaked trout and the one that has the mini shrimp in it (sorry I don't remember the exact name of it). I have done the baby food thing as well.

What about calling the shelter and asking what Sally's eating habits were like when she was there....like did she prefer to eat alone or in a box, hiding somewhere etc....


I have to agree with K&L about the teeth thing, even though she may have eaten at the shelter mayber here teeth are bothering her. My mom's Cucumber and Ma-Gee both have gum problems which causes them at times to not eat for a while. Ma-Gee actually has lost almost all of her teeth (she is only 6 or 7 years old) and momma Cucumber has 4 infected teeth that have their good days and their bad days.

I will keep both you and Sally in my prayers, and please keep us posted. --- Meg

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Jen, sorry you're not feeling well, but at least it's giving you more time with Sally. Maybe just spending more time with her and getting her more comfortable with be the breakthrough she needs in the eating department - along with veal baby food.

Good luck and please let us know how things go and hope you fell better too!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Hi Jen,

Bless you for trying to work with YET ANOTHER "problem child".

I have no experience with this at all, but I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

PS when Ally is off her food she can always be tempted with some ham!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[CatDad]

I wish I had another suggestion, but I don't.

There are some pretty good ones that have been made however, hopefully one will work.

I just wanted to write and say keep up the good work and sally will be in my prayers. I hope she eats and doesn't have to go back.

Let us know what happens.

Also, I am sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon also.

[kimlovescats]

I'd say that once Sally is really hungry, she will start digging in ... but I would try all the tempting things everyone has suggested as well! I think it is definitely a good sign that she is coming around for your love .... she'd be crazy not too!!!

Jen, you are doing an incredible job, and I KNOW in time Sally will be fine in your care. You get feeling better yourself, and thank you for helping sweet Sally!

Oh, and ummmmm.... just as soon as YOU are feeling better, how about some Sally pics???

[Felicia's Mom]

Once in a while Beau won't eat. When that happens, (and I know he isn't sick) I sit on the floor and hand feed him.

[jenluckenbach]

http://www.petfinder.org/fotos/PA02/PA02.1154-1-pn.jpg

Still nothing. Waiting on the baby food. I did get a few syringes of "slurry" in her, so that's something.