Expert: Becky - 5/26/2006

Question
I have taken my cat to the vets, had x-rays, blood tests, mouth exams... and they cannot find any reason for my cat to have suddenly stopped eating.  He is only 8 years old, and I don t believe age suddenly hit him overnight.  They want to give him an appetite enhancer, tho I know he s hungry and still won t eat.  Is there something specific I should maybe have them looking for?

Answer
Hi Angel,
I am so sorry that your cat won't eat.  I know that is very stressful for you.  It looks to me like you have done everything you can as far as veterinary medicine goes.  Have you tried to force feed him? Maybe once he gets some food in his system, he will regain the will to eat.  If he isn't eating, he has to be getting weak.  Go to a pharmacy and ask for a large syringe, without the needle. Ask for a large tip, or if you can't get a large one, cut it.  Tell the pharmacist what you are going to use it for, and maybe he/she can suggest the best kind.  You are going to use this to feed your cat.  
Take a good dry cat food and moisten it just a bit and let it sit long enough to get mushy. Be careful not to overdo it, or it will be too liquidy.   Add cottage cheese, some canned cat food and even some beef or chicken baby food is good.  Put all of this together in a blender of just stir it up really good. It needs to be mushy enough to go into the syringe and squirt out easily.  Put the syringe in the very back of your cats throat and squirt it in.  If he resists,  hold him by the scruff of his neck and force him to take it.  Do not get your fingers in his mouth,as you could get accidentally bitten.  This works as I have done it many times.  I really hope that once he starts eating,that he will feel better and begin to eat on his own.  Good luck and God bless.
Becky