My sick cat won't eat anything, please help!?

Question

I started fostering a cat on Tuesday night. He came home with a cold(stuffy nose, sneezing) and is on antibiotics until Saturday. He hasn't eaten anything since we brought him home. He has drank some water, but hasn't touched his food at all. He is a huge cat (we're talking 30 pounds) and isnt in danger of immediate malnoruishment but I'm very worried about him. The worker at the shelter said to call if is cold wasn't better by the time the antibiotics were gone but I'm thinking I should call sooner if he doesn't eat. Please help.

Answer 1

when my cats wont eat any thing . i feed them chicken and rice with broth, they eat it all up.

Answer 2

A cat with a stuffy nose isn't prone to want to eat much of anything because cats won't generally eat what they can't smell first.  When we were treating sick cats such as this at the vet we would warm canned cat food ever so slightly to make the smell stronger.  Sometimes that would make it easier for the cat to smell the food and it would eat.

One of the first thing our vet tells us NOT to do is try to force a sick cat to eat, but it does need to be consuming water.  As long as he's consuming water then he'll be ok for two three days without eating.  But I wouldn't let him go beyond that without contacting your vet.

Some antibiotics can make your cat sick at his stomach as well.  But you won't know if that is the case until the antibiotics are gone, but if your vet thinks changing the antibiotic might improve the cats appetite then he can do that, OR give your cat a B-12 injection that will not only make your cat feel better temporarily, but also increase his appetite.

If it were me, I'd give him another day as long as he's drinking water, don't stop offering food (avoid tuna and fish as these can upset a cats stomach more. The only benefit is that they smell strong and your cat isn't really off diet long enough to warrant the risk of making him sick because of food he isn't used to possibly)

One thing you might try is boiling some boneless, skinless chicken breast in water, and chuncking it up and seeing if your cat will eat it.  You can also open a can of simple chicken and rice soup (like you would eat if you were sick with a cold) add water as directed on the can and warm it to comfortable temperature and set it down and see if your cat will drink or eat it.

These are things that our vet has suggested to our clients, with sick cats, and things that I do at home to help our own cats (and dogs) get through their minor illnesses.

Answer 3

He probably can't taste his food, like us humans when we get a bad cold. If he's not eating in a day or 2.  I would call the shelter and let them know. In the meantime, give him lots of fresh water as that will keep him hydrated. As long as he is drinking he should be fine very soon.

Answer 4

the person who said that cats were like people when it comes to being sick and having no appetite is right! Try a little bit (like maybe a teaspoon full) of warm milk mixed in with food or try draining the water from a can of tuna onto the kitty's food. If he's still turning his nose up, call the vet. I hate to say it but loss of appetite could be indicative of a more serious problem..... But be patient! You know how crappy you feel when you are under the weather! Good Luck from a serious cat fanatic!

Answer 5

I would call just to make sure he is okay.

Answer 6

I would contact a vet and see what a vet says.  It is normal for a sick animal not to eat until it starts feeling better.  Does the shelter have a vet on staff?  Really they shouldn't have fostered the cat out sick without a vets approval and instructions for care on the sick cat, in which the vet should have had written instructions sent home with you and a number in which you could contact in case the poor cat got worse.  The shelter is responsible for that cat and its care so you need to contact them!!!!

Answer 7

try a few different foods, flavors, brands. if that doesn't work, try coaxing him with tuna in tuna juice from the can, a little cheese, milk (just know that too much milk is bad for cats, it can give them worms). keep the cat happy and away from anything bad for it to eat (plants, grass). if the cat does not respond to anything, call your foster worker for advice and the vet visit (if necessary) should be paid for. sometimes a move into a new house can be traumatic, even not always immediate. be persistent and give the cat time. if extreme hunger doesn't make it eat after a couple of days, consult your worker/vet. plus it always helps to keep a short diary of since he last ate, what he ate, and how he is acting.

Answer 8

Let him go until the anitbiotics are done.  Cats are like humans: they don't have the apitite to eat when sick.

When my cats are sick, and they don't want to eat, I force fed them.  I bought smooth wet cat food added water and used a feeding syringe to feed them.  I did this about twice a day with about six tablespoons (ml) of food.

Answer 9

Offering a little healthy treat to tempt your cat or putting a little bit of meat jelly onto its gums just might persuade it to have a little something. You could try offering a taste of something your cat really does like, to see whether it's turning its nose up at what's on the menu or if there are other reasons for its reluctance to eat.

With cats accustomed to receiving titbits and carbohydrate rich food, a switch to a more health conscious diet could be the reason for its disinterest in food. A refusal of food may be a cat's attempt to show its displeasure in being denied its desires. Your cat may be under the mistaken impression that if it waits long enough you may relent and give in.