(no subject)

[trinityvixen]

I forgot when I assured the vet that our cats ate anything that the cat who eats anything isn't the one who needs to eat the special food they gave us and that the cat that was sick was, in fact, the picky eater.

D'oh.

So, what tricks do people know to get cats to eat stuff? I need him to eat this or I'll be an anxious wreck forever because his bladder won't get rid of the deposits if it doesn't acidify slightly through diet. I plan to call the vet tomorrow to see if they have anything else I could give him if he won't eat this. We already have to shove a pill down his throat twice a day for a week; I'd prefer not to force-feed him, too.

So far, I've tried mixing it with other wet food. It wasn't the same as he'd had before ('cause the vet said not to use that kind), so maybe I need to risk the Friskies and mix that all up. I tried microwaving it a bit so it was warmer. (Some cats like that, and he seemed more enthused about not-refridgerated food before.) I tried putting dry food on top of it. Nothing. Currently, I have to lock Oscar up to even know if Wally is going to eat the new dry food I got him that is also supposed to help cats with their urinary tracts. Also, it's an experiment to see if Wally, given enough time and not many other options--i.e. limited dry food--will eat the wet food. Keeping Oscar locked up just keeps him from getting to it first.

It had to be Wally that got sick. This is a cat so picky he doesn't like tuna when I offer him some of mine. I've never met a cat that would turn his nose up at tuna. It's not great for them, and I don't do it often (more to prove that I won't do it always when they beg), but he's never had it any time I've offered. This cat is so broken.

Comments

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

I'm probably wrong, but I don't think not eating would be good for him right now, considering his condition, while his body is already under stress.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

That's why I asked whether or not the vet said that he was still sick. My mom had two cats with this issue and neither of them were ever sick after the blockage was cleared. His body shouldn't be under any stress unless the trip to the vet itself has otherwise stressed him -- the crystals are almost like kidney stones to a human - not stressful on the system until they're actually causing pain and/or blockage.

OBVIOUSLY you have to exercise common sense. If the cat isn't eating but otherwise seems okay and not listless? It's fine to give it a day or two. If it's acting sick, then you'll want to be more careful with it.

[jennisis.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

Urinary blockages can be very stressful on the system and put a lot of pressure on the kidneys. Cats that have been blocked are often febrile and don't want to eat in the first place!