I'm sorry about Sam.  Before you try the feeding tubes, ask your vet
for cyproheptadine (periactin), an appetite stimulant.  I have used
this drug very successfully with 2 of my cats, one repeatedly over a
several year period.  Sometimes vets also prescribe one of the
benzodiazipines but I would try the cypro first.  My cats always begin
eating within half an hour of taking this drug.

Candace

I'm sorry about Sam.  Before you try a feeding tube, ask your vet about
cyproheptadine, an appetite stimulant.  I have used this drug
successfully on 2 of my cats, one repeatedly over a several year
period.  They always begin to eat within half an hour of administering
it.  I only give 1/4 tab because it works so well.  My late cat would
get sort of restless if I gave him more than that.

Vets also prescribe benzodiazipines for appetite enhancement and,
apparently, that usually works quite well, too.  I read that by giving
those IV, the cat becomes ravenous within a couple of minutes so food
must be available immediately.

Some vets don't seem to think of appetite stimulants unless you suggest
it, I've found.  Often a cat just needs to be "jump-started" to begin
eating again.  That's how it was with my late cat.  I usually only gave
him one dose and then he would eat fine for a couple of months.

As for the feeding tube, I admit it sounds kind of yucky but I have
read of cats on this ng who have responded well to them and they only
have to have them in temporarily.  You do have to worry about hepatic
lipidosis (fatty liver disease) in a cat who is not eating and that
just further complicates whatever condition they have causing them to
not eat to begin with.

I would try an appetite stimulant ASAP.  If you're going to the vet
anyway, I would ask for the IV administration of a benzodiazipine (the
valium family).  Otherwise, get the cyproheptadine and give right away.

Candace