Abby is not eating :(

[PrettyKitty1]

We recently moved into our new home. We have been living there for about 5 days now. One of my cats, Dillan, is being his normal self. Abby, on the other hand, is very angry all the time, growls when Dillan gets near him, and is not eating. I don't think he likes our new place. He has lost weight.  I know moving is very stressful for kitties, but we are talking about a cat who is used to traveling and has never shown symptoms of stress when moving to new places. This is a first.

Abby doesn't look too good. Is there anything I can do to make him eat? My kitty will only follow me, listen to me, sleep next to me, and play with me. But as far as eating.............nothing. Not one bite. He is very.......grouchy. He seems upset and does not want Dillan near him. It is very difficult to watch. I don't know how long I have to wait for him to come around...as he has already lost weight...too much for my liking.  He has always liked his diet. Right now I am giving him duck (his favorite meal). But I have already run out of ideas with the food. I can't get any more creative than I already am with the food. I'm worried.

P.S - I can't give him commercial foods. I simply can't. I know he'd eat it like there is not tomorrow....but I just can't feed him anything commercial or his IBD will start all over again.

Any ideas?

[Jade59]

Yes, go with Opus's idea, but put his raw diet into the blender and syringe feed with that?  

Please update if you can, PK.  I am hoping your absence doesn't spell bad news :(

Prayers and hugs to you and Abby!!!

[opus88]

Oh I feel so bad for Abby and you too...we suffer along with our babies and feel so helpless.
perhaps Abby's crabbiness is due to being hungry or are her teeth bad?? that is sometimes a huge culprit..
have you tried baby food by syringe? does work, just be sure to use small amounts in the side of his mouth otherwise can cause him to aspirate(go into lungs and drown)
I gave my old boy Opus pedilyte (? spelling) baby type at one time it kept him going until he ate for me...again careful of aspiration, use a syringe and very small amounts every 4 hrs if possible(I know you work too)
but than my Opus didn't have the IBS like Abby does and perhaps this again wouldn't agree with Him??
all the best to you both....we are hoping for you Abby

[FurballsMom]

I went through a couple of time periods when I had to force feed Ivory, too.  The one time I did this to her definitely saved her life.  Poor baby knew I only trying to help her.  By this time I had gotten good at giving her her Prednisone pills, so forcing pieces of dry cat food one at a time down her throat wasn't a whole lot different.  By this time I was giving her prescription cat food, the one for invalids.  So, you already know the pieces of cat food were pretty small.  At this time, the vet said that it didn't matter what Ivory was eating, as long as I could get her to eat.  She didn't want very much, but she really liked the smell and taste of store-bought muffins.  So, I deliberately bought some plain muffins to share with Ivory.  I still ended up force feeding her, which is what helped her turn the corner.  I managed to keep her going for another 2 1/2 - 3 years, even though she never had normal stool.  Poor baby always had loose stool and diarrhea.  And, 'til she just couldn't help herself, she was diligent about using her litter box, too.

[PrettyKitty1]

Jade,

I will try to go back to the chicken. He is not even eating Iams anymore. I honestly think he wants to starve himself because he is not happy. For some reason, he is not happy. He is very mean to Dillan. He is vicious. Dillan has been bitten and scratched by Abby multiple times, and this is not Abby playing with him. This is Abby being vicious. He used to like Dillan so, so much.  Now he growls every time Dillan moves. It’s unbelievable the level of stress this cat is in right now.  He is still losing weight. It’s so sad. I hope I’ll be able to come up with another plan of action.


Furballsmom,

Poor kitty of yours. It is terrible what IBD can do to an animal. It gets even worse when those we depend on for guidance and advice don’t know what to do either. Because IBD is not the vet’s area of expertise, she just recommend things that have not worked before, so why would it work now? What’s the difference? There is no difference. My cat is still a chronic case of colitis and nothing will ever take that burden away from him.  

I am practically forcing him to drink water. And, I am hand feeding him so he’ll eat. Problem is, I’m not in the house until very late. And, he won’t eat good for me....just bits here and there.  I can already very easily feel his ribs. Very, very easily. The only thing that can fix this is the raw food but he just won’t eat ANYTHING AT ALL for me (only the foods he cannot eat, like ice cream)

Well ladies, I’ll keep hoping for the best.

[FurballsMom]

I hope Abby starts to feel better soon.  I sure understand the struggle you're going through, since I went through the same things with my Siamese, Ivory.  I remember when Ivory started throwing up.  You know something amazing?  Ivory learned to vomit in her litter box!  I'm not kidding!  I would hear that familiar sound and tell her to "go to your box" and she did!  That was one smart cat!  Poor kitty actually understood what I was telling her.  What I did was take her to her box when it sounded like she was getting ready to vomit.  When you were describing the foam Abby is vomiting, that reminded me of what Ivory went through.  Isn't it amazing that little Ivory learned to vomit into the litterbox the same way we learn to vomit into the toilet?  That worked really well to keep things under control, 'til she lost control of her bowels.  Poor precious darling kitty.  I'm glad she is no longer suffering.  I kept her as long as possible, though, because I couldn't stand the thought of parting with her.

[Jade59]

Then maybe you will have to reintroduce the raw chicken if he hasn't had it in a while.  Jade gets like that too.  Bored with a flavor of FF and I'll have to switch, but often, I can go back to the flavor that was boring her and she'll gooble it right up like she's never tasted it before.  Cats! :)

Will be hoping for the very best of results from the bloodwork.  Maybe the IV will perk Abby up and he will be more receptive to going back to his raw diet.  I will be hopeful and say a prayer for this dear sweet boy of yours.

[PrettyKitty1]

Thank you, ladies. Your support means a lot to me.

Well, along with the other problems he has also been throwing up white foam and is a bit lethargic (I referred to that as him being lazy, but it's really lethargy) I did talk to the vet, and she said I needed to bring him in first thing in the morning. She said it was urgent..not an emergency..but urgent. I work tomorrow starting very early in the morning. I can't take him to the vet. I'll see if my husband wants to do that. This time, they want to do blood work, urinalysis, and put him on IVs. Can you believe all of this? I'll have to get insurance for my cat.

Jade, I think you're right. He may be associating the duck with the move and his stress. He also gets bored very easily. He used to LOVE raw chicken, then he got bored and I had to switch him to rabbit. He loved it the first few months, then got bored again. If he has gotten bored of the duck, then I don't know what else to feed him. It's not like he can eat a snake or a deer, you know. He is very, very  a n a l.

Thank you, April, Apple, Jade, Opus...you guys are great.

[Jade59]

Yes, Abby will always be an IBD cat, but not *impossible* as you have Proven with the raw diet, Abby can be relatively normal.  You are doing such a great job, PK, try not to feel defeated.  I can only imagine how much work and stress goes along with a cat in such a condition.  At least with Jade's problems, there is a reprieve.  Sadly, with IBD, I understand there is never a reprieve, but that is just the way it is and you are doing an Awesome job under the circumstances.  

Try hard not to feel negative as our kitties pick up on our emotions, you know?  Start mixing in the duck like you planned and Abby will get used to again just like he did before.  He used to love his diet, yes?  I wonder if he might be associating the duck with the new place and that is why he is rejecting it?  Is there anything else you can reintroduce?

I will be hoping Abby will turn around here soon.  Thinking of you and Abby...♥

[April2]

PK, I hope Abby starts feeling better and will be back to his old self in no time. *Hugs*

[AppleBr]

Sorry for Abby condition :-(
Thanks for loving and caring him the way you do! Good luck!

[PrettyKitty1]

Hi guys,

He is doing better. But still grumpy and lazy. A least he is eating the prescription food because he still won’t eat the duck for me. The stool Is coming out black and a bit loose. We are talking Iams for IBD cats. Nothing works for him...just the raw diet, which I’d be happy to give him if only he’d eat it. I will start to mix up the duck with the other food.

It’s impossible. This cat is a chronic case of IBD. He will never be a normal cat. He is a train wreck….always has been..always will be.  But, I will try to keep him as comfortable and happy as I can. We’ll see…but he is already showing signs of IBD.

Thanks for all the support!

[Jade59]

How's it going with Abby?  Any improvement?  I am praying for good news!!!

[opus88]

and to FURBALLSMOM
Oh how true...my kids left the nest 20 yrs ago and now its my furbabies...even my own kids think I am a bit eccentric but they become our lives!!
I am so glad Abby is eating(Sami too now that my vet said to put him on FISH)..have to buy it from what I call 'junk food' stores like grocery stores....but at least he's eating again like Abby....so we do what we have too...(at least temporarily) they can't starve themselves.

Let us know how the new food went last night....I sure hope it didn't cause him to bleed again????
I know with the ragdoll I had, NOTHING worked(food)....................so I sure am praying with Abby it will! otherwise IV's are always an alternative to give his poor bowels time to heal.

Sami got so he refused to use the litter, wanted me to take him for a yard walk everyday(leash)..to do his business.....and that was hard for me to fit in with his potty time. one morning I caught him peeing on the floor and he has NEVER done anything like that before!!!!!!!!! so he won I bought his old litter again and he's happy!

Bless you PK and Abby...let us know how last night and the feeding result.

[PrettyKitty1]

That's right. I had a similar experience today, when I was commenting about Abby's IBD. My co-workers didn't think it was common until I started talking about it. Came to realize he had an IBD cat...he just didn't know it!!!

I never mentioned how sorry I was about your IBD kitty. I really am, especially because I can only imagine your struggle with her illness. It must have been terrible. Special needs kitties are closest to our hearts, just like Sami, Jade, and other MH kitties. I am hoping our cats' conditions will improve one day. Now you know, next time you adopt a furball having IBD symptoms you'll know immediately what to do: DON'T EVER MOVE :) ugh...
Dillan already owns our new house. He is so low maintenance it's almost hard to believe with Abby giving me headaches since he was 3 months old.

[FurballsMom]

I understand how you feel about Abby.  That's how I feel about my kitty.  I don't have any kids either, unless you count the kid with fur and four legs.  I'm glad he's doing a little bit better today.  It's very true that most people have no idea about the allergies.  I had a guy tell me just Tuesday night that he didn't know that cats get allergies, too.  Uh--he obviously doesn't have any pets and hasn't ever had any either.

[PrettyKitty1]

Well....I think I have better news right now.

I ended up calling the vet's office. I told them the whole story, and they said for me to go. I didn't have to make an appt as they thought it was very serious. The vet gave me canned Iams formula for sensitive stomachs. I bought two cans only as I am skeptical about the food. But, she said the formula worked on her IBD cat. She just isn't sure if it will work on a chronic case like my cat. She also gave me Feliway and another spray which also contains cat hormones....since Abby is so nervous and anxious. I plugged Feliway already...and so I'll monitor his behavior. The food.......he ate it!!! Of course he'll eat it. He'll eat anything he can't eat. So now I am constantly looking at his butt (I fed him 2 minutes ago) that's how stressed I am. I am praying he will not start bleeding again. The vet said to bring him into his office to put him on IVs and force feed him. But the way things are looking I don't think that will be necessary. Vet wants me to call tomorrow first thing, and give her an update.
And so another struggle continues. Now I will have to see if this food will do more harm than good..but at least I got him to eat something. I guess now it's just a matter of time.

Thanks for all your support you guys....I appreciate this. Most people don't know what allergies can do not just to the animal but to the owner as well...

Opus....Abby means the world to me. I have no kids..so Abby is my baby....a sick baby, but still my baby :)

How's Sam doing today? Does he still hate his litter? Did you have to switch back to the old litter?

[Jade59]

How's it going, honey?  Did you end up at the vet?

[opus88]

Oh...I was hoping you would have good news abt Abby by now, I agree its More than just what we hoped.
Poor little guy, maybe it is time for a vet to have a look, and if IV's are required to bring his hydration up and system back into balance.
I hope Abby can be saved...he means alot to you,(they all do, but a sick one that we have saved means just that much more, there is such a close bonding there)
Bless you both.

[PrettyKitty1]

He is walking funny. But looks so bad. He still won't eat. I gave him canned tuna yesterday and he ate it, but I only gave him a little bit because Tuna is very bad for his IBD. This morning he was gagging, and there was saliva on the floor...lots of it. I'm not sure what's inside of him that he wants to throw up since he hasn't eaten anything practically.

I agree. Everything is just way too much for him. My other cat is so happy. But Abby is very miserable right now. He looks ready to be put to sleep, to be honest with you. I'll try to see what else I can do. I am very limited with what I feed him because of his IBD, but I'll find something good for him. Otherwise I'll just have to take him to the vet for IV's. It's that bad you guys....

[FurballsMom]

My Siamese was sensitive like Abby.  She ended up doing the same thing.  She just stayed in her favorite place in my bedroom the whole time.  It's so sad when they're so young when they get such an illness.  My Siamese was still only about 9 years old when she died.  Pretty good for having cancer, though.

[Jade59]

I do agree with Opus.  The lack of carpet and all the new house smells may be temporarily too much for Abby.  He may also find that the tile feels "funny" to walk on.  I remember seeing on Dog Whisperer, a dog that simply Hated walking on tile.  Maybe that's the situation here?  

At some point, you may have to "force" the issue and try and desensitize him to the tile 'cause I bet that's it.  Abby is a Very sensitive kitty and all this is too different for him to take in quickly and he might need some "help" from you to get used to it.   Poor baby...I feel so bad for you both.  I know this is stressing you out terribly!

[opus88]

Oh you sound so down...I truly hope Abby will come around for you PK...its so sad when they can't speak to us, its all guessing.
By IN bed do you mean in your bedroom?...wherever his bedroom is he feels safe in there if its in your room its because thats where you are too a good part of the time and he's comforted by your smells.
if he's not passing blood than it really shouldn't be the IBS or cancer should it??
And yes the tiles could also be playing a huge part in all of this.

Like you know I've been trying fragrance/chem free ground corn litter for the past few weeks....well Sami hates the feel of it...he was always the digger, now goes in and straight out again does his business as fast as he can and out like a bullet, not even a cover up...
thats been a few weeks, I thought he'd be used to it by now....in fact its getting worse, yesterday I caught him peeing on the floor! so thats it...new litter out, old litter in...

so Abby is so used to her carpet and with all the new surroundings and smells I think its got him totally in sensory overload and thats exhausting....at least I sure hope for him thats whats going on and he'll soon bounce back....2 yrs he's just a baby!

best to you both

[PrettyKitty1]

Opus,

I think your Sami is acting the same way I would act when we taste something new and good. My kitties are the same way. When they try a new food they like, it is nonstop :)
Keep me updated on Sam's health..k?

Jade,

It really was from all the change. He still refuses to eat like he used to, but at least he is eating. He won't leave the bed, though. He sleeps a lot. Too much I'd say, in the bed. He will not get off the bed. That's what concerns me now. He looks so stressed. Anything will cause him to be fearful. Any noise or sudden movement and Abby just hides. Poor thing...

FurballsMom,

Thanks for your reply. My Abby is an IBD cat. He has chronic colitis. And yes....the vet did tell me he'd end up with cancer in the colon. I am trying to prevent it by feeding him raw foods. Since I started doing this, his symptoms have disappeared. As soon as I feed him commercial foods he starts to bleed from the rectum with awful diarrhea and constant trip to the litter box. I have managed to get that under control with the BARF diet...and so far his health is excellent. Just this one problem we are having with the whole move. I hope he will come around. He is very irritable these days. He will literally stay in bed the entire day. I mean it....the entire day. I can't seem to come up with any more activities for him....just to get him going again. He has slowed down like crazy. It is a different cat I own now. I am hoping this will pass soon.  He is only 2 y.o. Everything upsets him. He will not bite or attack anyone....but he will growl and keep growling until he gets what he wants..and what he wants is to stay in the dark, sleeping like an outcast.

Where I lived before, the floor was carpeted. My new house is all tiles. I hate carpet. So we did the flooring so everything would be tiles. Do you think he hates the tiles and misses the carpet? He tries to stay away from the floor as much as possible.

*sigh* Sometimes I just don't know what to do anymore....I feel like I don't know what his problem is. He looks at me like trying to tell me something. But I wish I knew what he is trying to tell me...and further more..I wish I could please him....but I can't. I can't just move back....

[FurballsMom]

Tilapia is a white fish that is non-native to North American waters.  I had to look it up myself, as I knew that it was a white fish, but I didn't know that it wasn't a native species.  I did a Google search, which had a Wikipedia article that was the most informative article I saw.  I didn't know this ugly white fish was a species of cichlid.  The article says that the fish is from Africa.  So, here it is only available as a farm raised species, as they obviously don't want to accidentally introduce a non-native species.  I've tried tilapia before.  I wasn't all that impressed myself, but people seem to really like that fish.  As for us, I read another article that says that farm raised fish aren't good for people, because they don't have enough of the beneficial omega 3 fatty acids that humans need and are rather high in omega 6, which the average North American already gets too much of.  In short, for yourself you're not missing anything.

PrettyKitty1,

I sure am glad you got Abby to eat something.  I had a Siamese who clearly had IBD or Colitis who got pretty sick a couple of times to where I had almost lost her prior to it becoming clear that it had become colon cancer.  Her vet told me the same thing that Opus88's vet told her--just to get the cat to eat--anything--what ever it takes.  My little girl was never a fat cat ever.  She was always on the thin side.  So, it was very worrisome when she had actually lost a whole pound and could hardly hold her little head up.  Interestingly, she loved muffins.  If I bought a muffin for myself, she always wanted some.  I didn't let her, of course, 'til it was crucial to her survival that she just eat something.  She didn't eat a lot of it, but it was something.

Something else the vet had told me was trying canned pumpkin when they're having stomach troubles.  Not for the whole diet, but just to get them to eat something.  It's supposed to be soothing.  I ended up trying to mix it with her canned food I had gotten from the vet's office, trying to get something into my cat.  I ended up force-feeding my cat, though, to save her life.  It did save her life that time 'round.  I got another two and a half to three years with her.