My cat lost his appetite

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lucas - 02 Aug 2004 20:09 GMT

Hi,
I adopted a 4 month old cat at the SPCA 3 months ago. The first 2 or 3
weeks I had no idea how to feed a cat. The little fellow had a ferocious
appetite. I then red the feeding instructions on the packages of cat
food and realized that he was eating almost twice what he should have
been eating and this without taking into account the fact that he was
only 4 months old and I was feeding him like an adult.

I usually work from home but the past 2 weeks I was out. I’m wondering
if he’s just a bit depressed or is he just becoming a picky cat who
thinks that if he holds out long enough I’ll give him something else.
Everything else is the same, his behavior hasn’t changed; he’s still
very playful and affectionate and he seems very healthy. He’s had all
his shots and he doesn’t go outside.

He eats just a few spoonfuls of dry food a day. I give him some caned
food but not everyday and he barely touches it or I’ll just lick the
sauce and leave the food…he used to inhale caned food. Yesterday I tough
I’d try something different so I got him some tender vittles and he wont
go anywhere near the stuff!

Any ideas.

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Camilla Baird - 02 Aug 2004 22:44 GMT

> Hi,
> I adopted a 4 month old cat at the SPCA 3 months ago. The first 2 or 3
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Any ideas.

Cats will often not eat food they cannot smell. I would have his sinuses
checked out by a vet... if they are clogged, he cannot smell his food
and will not be inspired to eat much if anything at all.
Camilla

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Becks - 03 Aug 2004 00:35 GMT

> I adopted a 4 month old cat at the SPCA 3 months ago. The first 2 or 3
> weeks I had no idea how to feed a cat. The little fellow had a ferocious
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Any ideas.

Try him on a piece of cod or salmon fillet. Stick fish in the microwave and
just the smell of it will attract his interest. If that doesn't work, or if
you want a cheaper alternative, buy some canned fish - the stuff fit for
human consumption like canned sardines or pilchards. Wash most of the sauce
or oil off, avoid anything in brine. I'm only going by what I can
successfully tempt my Siamese with when he occasionally goes off his food.
I give him canned skippers in tomato. It's nice and smelly and he goes mad
for it, but perhaps you can't buy that where you are.

Once you've got his appetite back he might start showing interest in regular
cat food again. Buy him the better brands - both dry and moist food.

Another thing you can try is share your meal with him. Make him feel he's
getting a treat. I know alot of cat owners will frown at this suggestion,
but hey, isn't that what you do with a pet, indulge them?

Don't let your cat go for more than two or three days without eating a
decent sized meal. Best to take him to the vet if he's not eating as he
should. Is he constipated?

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Becks
http://www.toontalents.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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lucas - 03 Aug 2004 18:14 GMT

> Try him on a piece of cod or salmon fillet. Stick fish in the microwave and
> just the smell of it will attract his interest. If that doesn't work, or if
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> decent sized meal. Best to take him to the vet if he's not eating as he
> should. Is he constipated?

I shared a can of tuna with him on the living room coffee table, where
he knows he's not suppose to hop on while I'm eating. He ate a few
chunks and then lost interest. He's not constipated, there's not much
coming out obviously beacause there's not much going in but it's comming
out. Maybe it's a sinus problem like camilla said. Maybe it's a weather
thing; it's very hot and humid these days aroud here. I have an air
contitionner, one of those vacum type ones that I move around from room
to room and he always follows me and his in the same room as me.

I guess I'll ride with it for a few more days. He has an appointment to
get neutered next week, I'll have him check that problem at the same time.

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Judy - 03 Aug 2004 01:48 GMT

> Hi,
> I adopted a 4 month old cat at the SPCA 3 months ago. The first 2 or 3
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Any ideas.

What type of dry food and canned food were you feeding?

At the age your cat is now, 7 months, he/she is still growing and should be
allowed as much to eat as he/she wants, despite what it says on the labels.
Between the age of 3 and 9 months my cat was eating up to four 3.5oz tins of
Nutro canned and 24/7 Wellness dry.

How much does this cat weigh?

Tender Vittles is "junk food" so it doesn't surprise me in the least that
your cat rejected this. :c)

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~*Connie*~ - 05 Aug 2004 18:01 GMT

while considering the fact that not much was said about his activity and
other general health, im just going to state that most kittens at the SPCA
don't eat well, despite the attempts of the staff. Its due to the stress.
When they come home, they pig out on all the food available, then once they
feel satiated and are up to their normal weight, the eating tends to
decrease. Make sure he isn't loosing weight.

If the cat is acting fine, not sneezing, is eating and drinking, then I
wouldn't worry about it too much. He is probably due for a vaccine or two,
so a trip to the vets isn't out of the sorts.

> Hi,
> I adopted a 4 month old cat at the SPCA 3 months ago. The first 2 or 3
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Any ideas.

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rangitotogirl - 13 Aug 2004 01:05 GMT

> Hi,
> I adopted a 4 month old cat at the SPCA 3 months ago. The first 2 or 3
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> been eating and this without taking into account the fact that he was
> only 4 months old and I was feeding him like an adult.

How much does he eat compared to the recommended daily amount. Our 4 month
old kitten ate as much as a regular cat. I understand though that if a cat
has gone hungry then it will eat anything and everything put in front of
them and doesn't really know when to stop. What was your kitty's history
before you got him.

If he's eating at a normal level now then I wouldn't worry. If he's well
below the par for his age and weight then I would be concerned. FWIW you
should expect to get through about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of premium cat food a day.
Not sure how the cheaper brands stack up but I think they eat a bit more of
that.

Also, with regards to Tuna, we opened some Salmon for our cat and it takes
him several days to get through a small tin. He usually drinks the juice
first and then wanders away and our hour later comes back to nibble on the
salmon, eats about half of that and then finishes off the rest later. He
loves it but he's always had food available and therefore only ever eats
enough to satisfy him at the time even if it is just a few bites.

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