[QUOTE=Simkie;7944828]
Wow, that is SO little. I’m glad she ate a whole can last night!! Hopefully it’s a trend and she will continue like that :)[/QUOTE]
I know! I can’t believe she’s still alive eating so little! Of course, all she does is sleep, so it’s not like she’s running around using up calories.
I am HOPING she continues the upward trend! It’s actually double what she WAS eating - she started at about two bites a day, then finally got up to 0.75 oz, now up to 1.5 oz.
You could try a little baby food with the wet to try to stimulate eating. It’s what we would use at the vet office I worked at for the anorexic inpatients. Also, try some dried bonito flakes as a topper. Our grocery carries them in the asian foods section. And sardines. 
My dad used to eat them when we were kids and every time he popped open a can, cats came running. Which was really funny because my dad hated cats!
YMMV, but I’ve had great luck with any of the Earthborn Holistic flavors. They have one that is chicken only and my “stinky fish only” cat will happily scarf down the chicken. The other flavors are all fish although one has veggies in with the fish. I foster and so periodically I’ll get a picky eater. They don’t stay picky long. 
It’s a mid-range priced food, but definitely shop around. There is a 30 cent/can difference between the local shops here. Or, I’m happy to mail you a can of each to try if you want. Just pm me your address.
[QUOTE=Snowflake;7944942]
You could try a little baby food with the wet to try to stimulate eating. It’s what we would use at the vet office I worked at for the anorexic inpatients. Also, try some dried bonito flakes as a topper. Our grocery carries them in the asian foods section. And sardines. My dad used to eat them when we were kids and every time he popped open a can, cats came running. Which was really funny because my dad hated cats![/QUOTE]
I did try the baby food route - that went uneaten. I also did canned tuna - she did eat a little, but less and less each day until I just quit. As for whole sardines - gross! I will try them, though! Worth a shot! My other cats will appreciate them if she doesn’t!
Is she on Cerenia, JumpQH? Might help.
[QUOTE=jen-s;7944986]
YMMV, but I’ve had great luck with any of the Earthborn Holistic flavors. They have one that is chicken only and my “stinky fish only” cat will happily scarf down the chicken. The other flavors are all fish although one has veggies in with the fish. I foster and so periodically I’ll get a picky eater. They don’t stay picky long. It’s a mid-range priced food, but definitely shop around. There is a 30 cent/can difference between the local shops here. Or, I’m happy to mail you a can of each to try if you want. Just pm me your address.
http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/us/cat_formulas/[/QUOTE]
What a nice offer! Thank you! I did check, and the Pet Club I’m hitting after work carries this line. If they don’t, I saw that another place on the way home is supposed to carry it as well.
[QUOTE=Simkie;7945042]
Is she on Cerenia, JumpQH? Might help.[/QUOTE]
She was at the point where she was vomiting all the time, but since I’ve been able to get her to eat, no more vomiting (thankfully!). She did receive a Cerenia shot each vet visit, but they didn’t give me any to take home.
Actually, I take that back. She loves to eat flowers/leaves, and I got some Christmas flowers that she vomited up yesterday. Flowers are in the trash now.
[QUOTE=JumpQH;7945044]
What a nice offer! Thank you! I did check, and the Pet Club I’m hitting after work carries this line. If they don’t, I saw that another place on the way home is supposed to carry it as well.[/QUOTE]
Yay! I joke that it’s my super secret, majikal, go-to food for the picky eaters. And if your local place only carries it by the case, I’m totally serious that I’ll mail you some tomorrow. The fish is STINKY but they love it.
Another super stinky fish option is Evanger’s Catch of the Day. It’s whole sardines. Whole. WHOLE! OMG is it awful and when I open it first thing in the morning (pre-coffee), I want to hurl it out of the house. But the cats come RUNNING and there is never any left. However looking at dead eyeballs squickes me out enough that I had to stop buying it. Earthborn is chopped and diced and while you can clearly tell it’s real fish, there are no identifiable body parts.
[QUOTE=jen-s;7945142]
Another super stinky fish option is Evanger’s Catch of the Day. It’s whole sardines. Whole. WHOLE! OMG is it awful and when I open it first thing in the morning (pre-coffee), I want to hurl it out of the house. But the cats come RUNNING and there is never any left. However looking at dead eyeballs squickes me out enough that I had to stop buying it. Earthborn is chopped and diced and while you can clearly tell it’s real fish, there are no identifiable body parts.
http://www.evangersdogfood.com/?p=20088[/QUOTE]
Excellent! Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll look for it tonight as well (supposedly the same local stores carry it). I’m resigned to the yucky, fishy smells at this point…
[QUOTE=JumpQH;7945162]
Excellent! Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll look for it tonight as well (supposedly the same local stores carry it). I’m resigned to the yucky, fishy smells at this point…[/QUOTE]
It really is horrid, but they love it. Keep me posted!
My cats have been on the exact same brand and flavor of canned cat food for more than two years and they still scream for it every meal and are healthy.
Sorry your kitty is so young and sick, lots of good ideas already posted here to try on her if/when she stops on current food that is ok for the moment. Obviously anything goes when it is eat-or die-point and this is when “longterm” is all relative to situation. But unless underlying condition that is causing her to feel so crappy is resolved, unfortunately the reality is that she’s going to continue mark every single food off her list in some short amount of time. It’s classic food-adversion behavior phenomenon that is an endless cycle, often part of ultimate downward spiral, sadly, when there is something very wrong with the animal that isn’t or cannot be “fixed” to change the pattern. If you already have an idea of what is wrong and the cat has a fighting chance to turn around with medical management and if she’d EAT enough to fuel recovery in meantime, then placing a temporary feeding tube has absolutely facilitated the direct nutrition that many cats (and dogs!) need to get through the worst part and then pulled out when they start really eating on their own, sometimes only days or weeks, and trauma/pain etc is very minimal. I have no idea what your situation is, so this might not be helpful, but something your vet may or may not have already suggested or veto’d already anyway. There are obvious risks associated with tube placement, which requires short anesthesia, and expense associated with all this + rads to check placement and reality that tube can/will be displaced during care at some point and need replacement, etc, plus dedication of owner to learning to use/manage feeding, etc. But totally worth in some cases.
Just throwing it out there in case it helps. I’m sorry you and your kitty are in this situation, just hoping for the best for both of you…
our 18yo female (who passed this OCT)
pretty much ate the same brand/flavor cat food her entire life
the first flavor they discontinued - then we tried individual cans of other stuff til she found one she liked
ended up with fancy feast shrimp and salmon morsels in gravy
she really liked the GRAVY - morsels were often left and she would almost never go back and finish up
current 3 cats are all eating the same pate type
they did not like the salmon in gravy so the leftovers got donated
we would also buy the expensive fancy pouch varieties
FF makes and something in BROTH - she oved that but would leave the bits
a friend gave us some kind of holistic fud for xmas - cats ate the meat but carefully sorted out and left the veggies
why why do they bother putting PEAS in catfud - I have NEVER had a cat eat them - carefully sorted out and dried by the next meal
and BTW - long ago when we were trying to replae the discontinued food - an article in a cat vet magazine was recommending that most cats really do not like variety so find what they like and stick with it - most are nutritionally balanced regardless of the flavor.
UPDATE-I tried almost everything suggested above (had to stop at three stores to find it all!). I could not find Nutrical anywhere. As for the foods…
Bought, but didn’t try the Earthborn yet.
Tried Meow Mix Savory - she never even touched it.
Tried the Evanger Catch of the Day - don’t think I’ll ever recover from the smell! She did lick the juice, but didn’t touch the fish. My other cats LOVED it, lol!
Couldn’t find any gravies or toppers, except crunchy ones, and forgot about oyster juice.
I gave her Savory Salmon again, but last night, she only ate 1.5 oz instead of the whole 3 oz can again.
Freshman - yes, we are stuck in THAT cycle. I’ve been to two completely different vets/clinics, done full body xrays, bloodwork (including thyroid), everything was checked. We know she’s not diabetic. Everything came out perfect, except liver damage was indicated. Vet didn’t know if it was there before she quit eating, or was caused by not eating. Both vets said she needs to eat and that was the “cure”. Neither vet had any idea what underlying cause was. The last vet said if she doesn’t eat on her own, they’d have to keep her for a week or so on a feeding tube. Honestly, I’ve spent my limit on vet bills (my horse colicked New Years, of course) and just can’t put out the money right now for her to stay at a vet clinic for a week.
I am extremely frustrated, to say the least.
JumpQH, how many times a day are you offering food? Does she ever seem hungry?
When I have a cat off of food, I offer a gazillion times a day, even if it’s just a small spoonful. And anytime at all they even hint at perhaps being hungry, food is down for them. Can you do something like that?
I’ve also found regular Cerenia helpful. I think it’s an every four day dosing schedule? It’s been awhile, so I might be off there, but worth a conversation with your vet?
Best of luck, and I really hope she starts to feel better soon.
She gets locked in the bedroom every night (so she can sleep with me) and sometimes during the day and has access to food the entire time she is separated from the others.
When I was off work for the holidays, if she followed me into the bedroom, I closed the door and gave her food. Yes, she does act hungry and definitely let me know when I was at home all day.
Yes, maybe it’s time for a call to the last vet. I’m just afraid they’re going to tell me to bring her in. I can’t get any more time off work until February, and this place is an hour away, and is only open the same hours I work. : (
What a tough situation 
Does offering a buffet help?
One more food to try–and it should be pretty easily available at Target and some grocery stores–is this stuff:
http://freshpet.com/products/freshpetselectroastedmealsforcatschicken/
It’s my hail mary food. I’ve never had one turn it down.
I’ve also tried this:
(Juliet wasn’t interested but BOY did the other kitties think it was awesome)
And PetSmart carries a NutriCal knock off you can try:
It sounds like it really maybe it’s time for a feeding tube, or some force feeding
I will pick some up on my way home.
: (
[QUOTE=JumpQH;7946135]
Tried the Evanger Catch of the Day - don’t think I’ll ever recover from the smell! She did lick the juice, but didn’t touch the fish. My other cats LOVED it, lol![/QUOTE]
I know! shudder
Bless you for trying everything possible. (((((((hugs)))))) And I’m jingling for you both!
At this point getting her to eat is essential, if she likes the Fancy Feast Salmon then feed her that. I have one cat I keep on one particular food, also a fancy feast brand, though she does get different flavors; she gets very loose stools when switching foods, does good if she is kept on a single food/food brand. Have you tried other flavors in the Fancy Feast, especially the gravy ones? Is there any reason she can’t have some dry food in addition?
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