Asking for advice. I have a 17 year old neutered cat who suddenly stopped eating and drinking.

[Midnight Writer]

After a couple of days, I took him to a vet, concerned he was having a health crisis. He has lost weight from his last visit one year ago, from 9.5 pounds to 7.8 pounds. She did a full blood panel and found nothing wrong. Kidneys, liver, thyroid, pancreas, glucose, everything is normal. She sent me home with a potassium supplement.

A couple days later, I went to another vet to get a second opinion. Same test results, no treatment recommended, but they did give him some fluids because he is dehydrated.

I have him at home and he is eating very small amounts, and I have found some small amounts of urine in his litter box, but I can see he is not getting nearly enough food and water to sustain him. As for the cat, I see no great distress. He is active and social and seems happy, purring when he is petted and walking around with his head and tail held high. No vomiting, but very loose stools. And thin. I can feel him getting thinner and bonier. He shows an interest in food, runs to get fed, but when I put his food down, he sniffs at it, maybe takes a nibble, then walks away. I've tried his favorite foods and lots of treats, but can't get him to eat more than a few bites.

Any ideas? I'd appreciate any suggestions. I am at my wit's end.

[nature-lover]

1. My elder cat had that issue and it was her teeth. They looked okay, but she couldn't chew.

[Midnight Writer]

5. Thank you. I wondered about that, too. Both vets say his teeth are fine.

I have offered him pureed food that he can just lick off his plate (I even tried a little baby food), but he isn't going for that, either.

[Siwsan]

2. There is a medication that you can rub inside of their ears to help trigger their appetite

I'm pretty sure it's called Mirtazapine. You could ask you vet about that.

[Midnight Writer]

6. Thanks. I'll try that.

[SheltieLover]

3. I'd have vet check teeth.

Healing vibes on the way to you both! 💓💓💓

[Midnight Writer]

7. Thanks. I thought of that, but both vets say his teeth and gums are fine.

[SheltieLover]

8. Maybe have teeth xrayed?

Dunno. But I'll keep sending healing vibes.

[Big Blue Marble]

4. There are prescriptions to encourage eating.

Did the vet mention these. Do keep giving him fluids. You can do it yourself.

[Midnight Writer]

10. Thank you. The only meds mentioned was a potassium supplement. He is short on potassium.

But that deficiency is probably from not getting enough food or water. One vet said I could bring him in for fluids, but didn't mention any home treatment.

I did have a cat years ago that I administered fluid to myself. It was pretty easy.

[Big Blue Marble]

9. Get an Ultrasound of his abdomen.

He could have a sarcoma. Also get a second opinion, possibly a online vet.

[Midnight Writer]

12. Thanks. I discussed that with the vet, but frankly, if he has a sarcoma, I will just let him go.

He seems comfortable here at home, and I would rather him spend his last days here than going through surgery and chemo.

At his age, even if treatment was successful, I would only be buying him a short bit of time.

[Big Blue Marble]

11. Also I have found with older cats.

it can help to switch to human foods like free range chicken. Boil it and give him the broth too.
No salt.

[Midnight Writer]

13. Thanks. I did that once with an old dog that had cancer, and it did help for a while.

Couldn't hurt.

[packman]

14. Damn, that's rough

I fear hard days ahead for both you and your cat. My darling calico, Annie, stopped eating and regardless of attempts and a variety of foods just stopped. Took her to the vets, tried pastes, tried tuna soup, fed her water and food thru an eyedropper until I felt I was just prolonging the inevitable. Left her outside on the porch glider till she passed . Still miss her, still love her.

God bless both of you .

[Midnight Writer]

16. Thanks you. I have initiated a "Quality Of Life Watch" on him.

If he gets miserable, I will ease him out of this world as gently as I can. In the meantime, I'll do my best for him.

It's never easy to lose a friend, especially one we feel responsible for.

[Tetrachloride]

15. Saute some liver. Drain off oil. No salt whatsoever.

give a tsp and see what happens.

[Midnight Writer]

17. Thanks. I'll give that a try.

[bamagal62]

18. Has the vet tried mirataz?

It’s an appetite stimulant you rub on their ears.

[Midnight Writer]

19. Thank you. I will look into that.

[femmedem]

20. I hope the potassium supplements help.

They sound important: https://www.ctvsh.com/services/blog/geriatric-cats-special-needs

When a family member's cat was near the end of her life due to kidney failure, she loved Fancy Feast lil soups. They're probably junk food so I'd check with a vet, but if you are thinking quality of life you might give them a try. I took in an emaciated older stray a few months ago and he loves them, too. He is up to a normal weight now.

[Midnight Writer]

22. Thank you. Good information.

I am getting some of the potassium supplement down his throat, but I don't think I am getting the amount into him the instructions call for (1/2 teaspoon). The first couple doses were pretty easy, but after that he started fighting it and I think I got more on me than in him.

I will redouble my efforts.

[CousinIT]

21. The appetite stimulate applied to ears is a good idea. Also try some Nutri-Cal.

It's malty tasting gel high in fat, calories and nutrients that is made for older or sick cats. https://www.amazon.com/Nutri-Cal-Calorie-Dietary-Supplement-4-25-Ounce/dp/B00542UWGG?th=1

[Midnight Writer]

23. Thank you. I am surprised out of two vets neither mentioned the stimulant or the supplement.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

33. When my Fricka was passing she

Lived on nutrical.
The decision was made after she had a really long seizure. She was epileptic she took meds the vet thought it was the result of a head injury and she was 18 years old.
The last night she was with me before the vet she actually walked on the waterbed(she hated walking on the waterbed without a pillow under her feet) and she hugged me for 21/2 hours she would put her paws around my neck and rub her head on my chin look into my eyes directly than go back to hugs. I was fighting back tears all night.

She was the cat I stole/rescued from those awful abusive assholes.

Oh,Bast how I miss her.

[yellowdogintexas]

24. we are going through the same thing with our 19 year old cat

eats very little except in the early morning. Turns his nose up at food we offer him, but does drink plenty of water.

He has thyroid issues and we are using a thyroid cream in his ears.

He doesn't appear to be in pain, begs us for attention, cuddles with one of the other cats.

We are sort of in a wait and see mode. He loves cream so we got him some; he now has decided he doesn't want that.

He did have a bad round of fatty liver syndrome about 8 or 9 years ago which required a feeding tube. I won't do that this time.

Same as you; just keeping an eye on him and paying him lots of attention

[Midnight Writer]

25. Thanks for responding. "wait and see mode" is just where I'm at, too.

However, I am encouraged by some of the suggestions here.

I'm getting some ideas that I would not have thought of on my own.

[Karadeniz]

26. Go buy some raw beef liver... Calf's, if you can find it. Cut it into pieces for the food processor

or whatever you use. I try to eliminate the gristly bits. Puree. Mix a spoonful with water to whatever consistency kitty wants. Years ago. I had a rescue literally oozing pus from eyes, ears, nose, mouth. You could hardly see his face. This concoction truly saved his life. He was crazy for his liver punch and hydrated himself so well, he cut his recovery time in half. Find a way to freeze the excess amount.

[Midnight Writer]

27. Thank you. I will try that.

[niyad]

28. Sending vibes for best possible outcome for all of you. Here if you need us.

[Midnight Writer]

29. Thanks. He is having a good day today. He's eating better, but not nearly enough.

He's following me around the house as usual, is active, social. But he is looking really thin.

[niyad]

30. Glad he is having a good day. Have you tried getting him to eat off your fingers?

[Midnight Writer]

32. Not until I read this. I got some wet food on my fingers and offered it to him.

He sniffed at it, then he walked off.

[Donkees]

31. There might be a hairball blockage somewhere in the digestive tract causing discomfort

or inflammation (?) These can interfere with absorption of nutrients, slow down digestion, and negatively affect the gut microbiome. If your cat is dehydrated, it makes it much harder to move any undigested clump along. You might consider adding cat probiotic liquids such as the goat milk formulas for overall digestive health and immune support. Hope things improve quickly.

[yellowdogintexas]

34. How is your cat? We ended up at the vet;

he had extremely high kidney labs. So he spent the night so they could monitor his intake and output. He also had a UTI so he got antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory injection, and his thyroids were out of whack so we upped his meds. He also got an IV hydration drip. So he was eating, drinking and pooping when we went to get him. Vet suggested we go to Royal Canin kidney formula instead of the Hill's.

He has been eating like a house afire and begging for food - often!!! Best part, he really is feeling better.
We take him every day except Monday for a Sug-Q infusion then he sees the vet again for a new set of labs.

[Midnight Writer]

35. Glad to hear he is doing better. It really eases your mind when they show a healthy appetite

My boy is doing much better. I haven't been back to the vet, but I've been coaxing him with treats and wet food. I've been taking pate-style Fancy Feast and pureeing it, and he eats that pretty well. He ate a little more day by day, and yesterday was his best day yet. He's not eating as much as I would like, but he seems to have broken out of that "wasting away" cycle. He seems happy enough, he is active and wants attention.

I still don't know what the problem is ($500 in tests and they found nothing wrong), but I'm hoping he will pull through again and have some more happy days in his life. He seems headed in the right direction.

Good that your boy is accepting the special diet food. Sometimes that can be a problem. Hope things work out for you all.

[yellowdogintexas]

36. Thank you and a Very Merry Christmas to you

Our kitties will enjoy it also.

So glad yours is doing better too