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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat doesn't want to eat and has diarrhea.
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Question
I found a cat in my neighborhood that is really thin and I can feel his spine. He has no owner and I decided to take him into my home. I have try feeding him and does not want to eat. I try giving him wet food and he will lick the juices for a little bit, but mostly he does not finish it at all. I try dry food and does not eat it. He seems very tired and recently he has diarrhea. I do not now if this was cause by him eating wet food. help....
Alma,
Take the poor kitty to the vet if you can afford to. He probably is dehydrated and needs to have fluids in an IV.
Try a fish variety of Fancy Feast or Friskies canned food. Once they stop eating, its hard to get them back. I've had to force feed cats using canned food mixed with water and a syringe. The cat will get diarrhea if it has not had any food in it's tummy for awhile. You need to give him very small amounts at the time. Also try giving him Swanson's Chicken Broth to get him to drink.
If a cat loses his sense of smell (from an upper respiratory infection, nose stuffed, etc. he will not eat because he can't smell the food. You need to try strong smelling food but food that will be easy to digest at first.
Also, LOTS of love and attention helps too! *smile*. That is a nice thing to do to try and him the poor kitty. I wish you well with him. Keep me posted on how he is doing.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
***********
Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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