I've got Fister's results

[Randi]

That's a good idea, or I could boil the water. Who knows, it might help. Usually, I let it run for a while before I fill his glass.

[Sindy]

That's a good idea, or I could boil the water. Who knows, it might help. Usually, I let it run for a while before I fill his glass.

We Love Fister already, so please keep us posted.

[emily_the_spoiled]

This is going to sound stupid, but have you tried putting an ice cube in. I notice that my guys seem to prefer cold water rather than water at room temp. (Needless to say I give it to them )

[Emeraldgreen]

Our cat Sneakers very rarely drinks water. It is a mystery that we have been unable to solve for years now. We've tried everything from bottled water to running water. We only realized that she wasn't drinking enough water when she became quite ill and was rushed to the vet with a big hairball that wouldn't pass. It was so big the vet thought it was a tumor when looking at the xray. She was extremely dehydrated. They put her on fluids and the 'mass' moved through her system the next day and she came home. From then on we monitored her closely to learn that she barely drinks! So what we started doing to ensure she wouldn't become dehydrated was to syringe water into her every day. Have been doing it for 2 years. The odd thing is, she is very thirsty and when we syringe her with a 10ml syringe, I put it in the side of her mouth and slowly push 1ml at a time with a 1-2 second pause between each ml to allow her time to swallow, she readily sluprs it up as if she wants me to syringe her! Ridiculous but it's keeping her healthy and me busy and her out of the vet clinic. I try to syringe about 40mls per day into her. and have to use room temp water because the cold water really bothers her and she'll hold her mouth open full of water and won't swallow it. But room temp water, no problem.

Another thing we do everyday is make a small bowl or saucer morning and night of a teaspoon of wet cat food, usually friskies and I add about 20 mls of water to it and mix it. She laps up all the liquid but usually doesn't eat the cat food which I then give to one of our other cats when she's finished. My goal is usually to try and get 100mls of liquid every day into her via various methods. I had no idea that cats should get that much fluid but my vet told me that a cat can and very often drinks over 100mls each day.

Sneakers will 'tell me' when she's thirsty by standing next to the toilet bowl meowing her head off. She does like to drink from there for some reason but we don't want her to because the well water here isn't that great and it's kind of gross to let her do that I think. Or she will try and tip over one of our own drinking glasses and then lap up what she's spilled. But she won't drink from the many dishes of fresh, bottled water we have all over the house that we clean and refresh each day. Cats! I should try and find a water bowl for pets that's shaped like a toilet. :0) I think I saw one for dogs once.

But if she is going to drink out of a container herself, I have found that like Fister, she prefers a teacup! A nice, low one that is wide and full to the top. I have to watch her though to make sure she doesn't tip it which she likes to do. She will also put her paw in it and lick her paw as if she's testing it and then she'll finally settle in and drink, sometimes for a few minutes straight!

Anyway, just wanted to suggest syringing and making the friskies even more liquidy by adding water and mixing it. Hope Fister starts drinking soon.

[Emeraldgreen]

Our cat Sneakers very rarely drinks water. It is a mystery that we have been unable to solve for years now. We've tried everything from bottled water to running water. We only realized that she wasn't drinking enough water when she became quite ill and was rushed to the vet with a big hairball that wouldn't pass. It was so big the vet thought it was a tumor when looking at the xray. She was extremely dehydrated. They put her on fluids and the 'mass' moved through her system the next day and she came home. From then on we monitored her closely to learn that she barely drinks! So what we started doing to ensure she wouldn't become dehydrated was to syringe water into her every day. Have been doing it for 2 years. The odd thing is, she is very thirsty when we syringe her with a 10ml syringe. I put it in the side of her mouth and slowly push 1ml at a time with a 1-2 second pause between each ml to allow her time to swallow, she readily sluprs it up as if she wants me to syringe her! Ridiculous but it's keeping her healthy and me busy and her out of the vet clinic. I try to syringe about 40mls per day into her. and have to use room temp water because the cold water really bothers her and she'll hold her mouth open full of water and won't swallow it. But room temp water, no problem.

Another thing we do everyday is make a small bowl or saucer morning and night of a teaspoon of wet cat food, usually friskies and I add about 20 mls of water to it and mix it. She laps up all the liquid but usually doesn't eat the cat food which I then give to one of our other cats when she's finished. My goal is usually to try and get 100mls of liquid every day into her via various methods. I had no idea that cats should get that much fluid but my vet told me that a cat can and very often drinks over 100mls each day.

Sneakers will 'tell me' when she's thirsty by standing next to the toilet bowl meowing her head off. She does like to drink from there for some reason but we don't want her to because the well water here isn't that great and it's kind of gross to let her do that I think. Or she will try and tip over one of our own drinking glasses and then lap up what she's spilled. But she won't drink from the many dishes of fresh, bottled water we have all over the house that we clean and refresh each day. Cats! I should try and find a water bowl for pets that's shaped like a toilet. :0) I think I saw one for dogs once.

But if she is going to drink out of a container herself, I have found that like Fister, she prefers a teacup! A nice, low one that is wide and full to the top. I have to watch her though to make sure she doesn't tip it which she likes to do. She will also put her paw in it and lick her paw as if she's testing it and then she'll finally settle in and drink, sometimes for a few minutes straight! But if I leave the teacup out for her for the day, every day, she ignores it. It's almost as if I have to present it to her with the freshest of fresh water. Perhaps she just likes being served!

Anyway, just wanted to suggest syringing and making the friskies even more liquidy by adding water and mixing it. Hope Fister starts drinking soon.

[Randi]

Thanks for all your suggestions, Lara. I knew I could count on some good info from you.

I have tried the things you mention... giving him wet food (the Whiskas pouches with 12 in box) with a little extra boiled water in. Since it's hot water, he can smell it better and will lick up the juice, and sometimes even eat a little of the meat. It's difficult to tell which flavour he wants, though. Some days he will eat the meat ones and some days the fish ones. He will not eat the rest of a pouch if it has been open, so I try to sit with it under his nose to make him eat/drink more. I do that with his glass of water, also. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.

The syringe I have also tried, but he hates that, so it's difficult. Half of it will run down his cheek. I have used two different sizes syringes.

The vet said he was not dehydrated, so that's good. He told me that you can normally tell if they are dehydrated by looking at their gums. I do think his gums are a little pale, though.

After breakfast, he will come out when he sees his brush, so that's also good.

These two past days, he has gone to the bathroom to lick up some water from the floor. When I see him go out there, I rush out to turn the tap on. A few times I have seen drink from the Pet Mate, also, but very little.

Somehow, I have a feeling that he wants to eat, but finds it difficult to swallow. I'm not quite sure. Will take him for a check again, unless he gets better. I suppose an X-ray might be in order.

[Catty1]

JMO - I think an xray would be a really good idea...I am surprised your vet hasn't yet suggested it. It's a good way to see 'what's in there'. Prayers for Fister and you!

[phesina]

Continuing prayers and good wishes for dearest Fister.

Here's hoping you and the vet can get to the bottom of this soon and fix things up.

[ChrisH]

... giving him wet food (the Whiskas pouches with 12 in box) with a little extra boiled water in. Since it's hot water, he can smell it better and will lick up the juice, and sometimes even eat a little of the meat. It's difficult to tell which flavour he wants, though. Some days he will eat the meat ones and some days the fish ones. He will not eat the rest of a pouch if it has been open ...

Randi, are the Whiskas pouches the 'steamed' ones, Ebby prefers the fish ones over the expensive organic pouches. As for opened pouches, what I do with any I have is put them in an airtight container in the fridge and then microwave to warm before feeding her. Of course that may not work with Fister, because he will most likely work out what you are doing.It's sure not easy to outwit a cat, especially one as clever as he.

Prayers and good thoughts continuing for your special orange boy.

[Randi]

Catty1, the vet wanted to do the regular tests first, plus the T4 I suggested. He said we can do further tests later, if it's necessary (he knows I don't have much money).

emily_the_spoiled, I know about the neck fur test. Thanks anyway!

Chris, the Whiskas pouches are both the normal ones and the 'steamed' ones, it's only recently I could get those, so had to try them, and it seems Fister likes them, too. When i comes to Whiskas wet food, it has to be the ones in Gelé and it does seem he prefers meat over fish in this case.

Today he ate a little dry food - on his own! - but he didn't want to drink, and that is what worries me. I opened a can of "people" tuna in water and poured the juice into his glass with water, but he wouldn't drink it. It worked before.

When he was on my bed earlier, I lay down with him for almost an hour... face to face and my arm up along his tummy, he enjoyed that. Then he wanted to go under it and he slept there for another hour. Now he's under a blanket on a chair (kind of like a den).

I can feel his bones, so I want him to put on some weight! If I had ten different kinds of food for him, he might eat a bit more, but I can't afford that, since the bags are 2-3 kg. I buy his food at the vet, since it's healthier. At the moment he has four different kinds, one smaller bag I got for free - plus he has the Whiskas pouches. I will go to a pet shop and get some of those little $2 bags. anything new, he will usually eat. And tomorrow, I'll buy some calf liver again.

Thanks everyone for thinking of him.