Thanks for all your replies everyone. Merlin has been eating well up until this morning. He's on Hills A/D which is a very smooth pate and when I add warm water to it, it seems to go down well. This morning Merlin didn't eat that much and I'll be out all day but will monitor it tonight. I've promised him that I will be with him forever and that he won't be alone when the time comes and I will move mountains to make sure that happens.