Conference misery::feline

    
    Some possibilities:
    
    	Maybe he's just finicky and doesn't like what you're offering him.
    	He may have been raised on something esle that he's gotten used to
    	and won't eat anything else.  PS, only in desperation try something
    	like Fancy Feast - almost all cats love it but it's awfully expensive
    	and once they've gotten used to it they won't eat anything else.
    
    	It is possible his URI is affecting his sense of smell.  Also, he
    	may have a sore throat.  How's his meow?  My 18 year old Merlin
    	caught a URI from the kittens and got laryngitis, lost his meow
    	for a couple of days and wouldn't eat - he was obviously hungry,
    	he'd come running when he heard the cans being opened, he'd smell
    	the food and then walk away, like "what is this unsmelly stuff
    	you're giving me?".  He may also have had a sore throat from "post
    	nasal drip"; my vet gave me some decongestant tablets to help with
    	that.
    
    BTW, we met Blackie when we adopted Rudolph Valentinose, and he was my
    personal favorite (after Rudy of course...).
    
    len.
    

    Len,  Thanks for the advice.  We haven't heard Blackie mewo since we
    got him so maybe he does have a soar throat and lost is voice for a few
    days.  He does come running to the kitchen when we go out and smells
    the food like he wants to eat but then just walks away after sticking
    his nose in it (like he is smelling it).
    
    My husband has an appt. with Dr. Moss of Central Animal Hospital today
    at 11:15 and he is going to call me back at 1:00 to let me know what
    she says.
    
    We we took him on Friday Dr. Butler (who I don't like) took blood to
    check his white blood cout and his count was high so we know he can
    fight this URI.  He is acting like a normal cat staring out the window
    at the birds and chasing my son's super balls when rolled on the floor. 
    My poor husband is besides himself cause if we can help Blackie over
    come this then we are going to keep him.  But if Dr. Moss tells us
    there is no hope for him then he will go back to the shelter unless She
    advises us to put hm to sleep (which I really don't want to do).
    
    Why is it that cats like the fancy feast so much.  That is what my
    brother feeds his cat "Nike" and he devouers it.  There must be
    something good in the food that cats like.
    
    Len we saw Ruddy at the show also, but liked Blackie best.  Also saw a
    nice one at the shelter when I went to get Blackie that was being
    adopted also.  His name was Antony and was a Himilayin(sp)/Maine Coon
    mix and was simply beautiful.
    
    Hope we get some good news from the vet today.
    
    Liz

    I will keep my fingers crossed that you get some good news.  
    
    It maybe that he has a cold,plus if he has been moved around from
    shelter to your home it will take some time for him to settle in....
    
    Best of luck!!!
    
    *joyce
    

    I'm glad your bringing him back to the vets today.  My guess is
    one reason he is acting so normal is that the fluids built up
    his strength.
    
    If he can't smell...you could always try real tuna...or something
    very smelly like 9-Lives Super Supper.   Or there is a Fresh Catch
    variety that has crab and fish in a jelly...that looks and smells
    terrible...but MY cats love it!!!
    
    Hopefully it is just a cold..and alot of TLC will have him back
    to normal.    Please keep us posted....
    
    Sandy

    Fluids can be one of the most important aspects of treating an ill cat.
    Without it, they lose interest in anything else.  I have had to feed
    kitties when they won't eat by two methods.
    1. You try SHEBA, 99% of my cats that won't touch anything will eat
    this.
    2. If Sheba doesn't work, pick up a can or two of Science Diet AD
    when you go to the vets tonite along with 2 oral syringes (3ml.)
    You can then force feed and sometimes they will eat this on their
    own after a feeding or two.
    
    BUT YOU HAVE TO GET FOOD INTO HIM!  Or all will be lost.  They cannot
    go for very long not eating without it affecting other organs etc.
    You may end up with half the food on you, but if you take the mindset
    thatYOU WILL EAT THIS, and not give up, it will help.  You can't be
    a pansy about this and give in because they struggle or don't want 
    to eat, they don't always know what is best.  I can give you a few more
    suggestions if you are still having difficulty, it is not easy when you
    worry about your "children".  I just hope I don't have to do it
    any time soon :')
    Karen

    A couple of thoughts.....
    
    Do you place the food in the middle of the floor?  It could be that
    eating in an exposed and strange place is making him nervous.
    On the very few occasions that any of mine won't eat, I give them a 
    little egg and warm milk beaten well.  I have also rubbed (but not
    hard) a little cat food into their fur/paws and waited for them to lick 
    it off.  If he is a stubborn fussy eater, it could be you aren't giving 
    him the brand of food he is used to.  
    
    One of my cats craved hamburger onions and only started eating cat food 
    if he had a side order of steamed onion.  The same cat will sell his soul 
    for a peel-and-eat shrimp.  Another cat will only eat cat food.  Go
    figure!
    
    All the best.  Hope the cat makes it.
    
    

    Was the cat eating at the shelter? If so, if you can find out what brand
    and varioety the cat was being fed it might help. 
    
    Deb

    Thanks for all the good advice and suggestions.
    
    I just talked to my husband a few minutes ago and the vet is going to
    keep Blackie for 48 hours and pump some stronger medication into him
    and also try to get him to eat.  If they can't get him to eat then they
    will force feed him with a serynge and we will have to learn how to do
    this until he starts to eat on his own. 
    
    I know that fluids play a big part in gettting a cat well as they do in
    people when we get sick.  I am sure that's why he has been acting so
    frisky becasue the fluids started making him feel better.  I know his
    nose is blocked cause the vet said that he also had a sinus infection. 
    He did lead some greenish discharge from his nose either Thursday or
    Friday and since then he has sounded better when he breaths, but he is
    still blocked.
    
    The vet also told my husband that they incourage the owners to visit
    their pets (especially cats) while they are staying at the vets for
    treatment.  So I will have to bring my son to the vet tonight after
    picking him up from daycare so he will know that the cat is ok and the
    vet is taking care of him.  My poor son will be lost without Blackie
    until he comes home.
    
    We are keeping our fingers crossed that he reacts to the food the vet
    gives him.  And I don't care if it cost $2 a can if he'll eat it then
    I'll buy it.  My Mother-in-laws cat only eats the Sience Diet dry.
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Liz

    HI LIZ!
    Glad to hear the vet is going to be helping you out.  There are
    several good drugs on the market which increase/start a cats 
    appetite.  It is really not difficult to force feed the cat.  It 
    just has to go slowly and takes time.  Good luck
    Karen

    My cat, Lula, recently was very ill and didn't eat for 14 days.  It's a
    long story and she ended up have surgery after 7 days, but I did have
    to keep bringing her back to the vets for fluids.  She ended up eating
    the Science Diet ad food when she finally got the desire.  The vet also
    gave her an injection of liquid valuim to stimulate her desire to eat. 
    That did work, but she through up after because she ate too much too
    fast.  Hope your baby is well soon.  Oh, and they do love it when you
    visit them...Lula picked up and looked much better after each visit I
    had with her.  I was lucky enough to be able to visit her every day
    that she was hospitalized.
    
    Di & Li & Lu

    Well I got some good news yesterday from the vets.  Blackie is starting
    to eat by himself and is doing alot better.  I will be calling them
    back this afternoon to see how he did last night and to also find out
    when we can take him home.  My poor son misses the cat so much and
    doesn't want to leave the vets when we go to visit Blackie.  I was so
    happy when the assistant told me that he was starting to eat by himself
    that I immediatly called my husband and told him.
    
    I hope I get somemore good new this afternoon.
    
    Liz

    Liz,
    
     Great news! I hope Blackie keeps up the eating, and can come home real
    soon! Keep us informed of his progress! I like happy stories in the
    middle of the week! (actually ANY time of the week is a good time for a
    happy story!) 8-)
    
    Yonee

    Well got some good news.  Blackie is coming home tonight.  I visisted
    him yesterday and was told that he was eating at a slow progressive
    start and that he is a very well behaved cat (which I already knew). 
    The only kinda of cat food that he is eating is "FISH" because it is
    the only kinda that he can smell right know.  He is also eating the
    Sicence Diet AD.  So after I pick him up tonight I will have to run to
    the store and pick him up the kinda food he likes.  the Kennel person
    at the vets is going to write down what she has been feeding him that
    he has been eating for her. 
    
    Blackie will be coming home with some nose drops, to be given every 12
    hours (one drop in each nostrial).  Plus he will still be on the
    antibiotics (Cefa tabs) that he was on before till his cold clears up. 
    I am not looking forward to paying this vet bill tonight.  With the
    medication, vet stay, and fluids I can imagen how much it is going to
    cost me.
    
    Well at least he is coming home and is eating on his own.
    
    
    Liz

    Yay!  Blackie's going home.  I'm sure he'll be sooo happy to be home
    with his new family.  Give him lots of TLC.
    
    - Lauri
    

    I'm so happy Blackie is home! How did everything go last night? I know
    it's still early in the morning, but I want to know! NOW! Kidding! It's
    just that yo have gone through so much with the little guy already, I
    want to know that all will be well very soon! ;-)
    
    Love,
    
     Yonee

    
    	Liz,
    
    	That's great news! Regarding the final bill, why not ask the
    	vet if you can work out payments? Usually if you leave a decent
    	payment you can be billed for the balance.
    
    
    	Heidi

    What wonderful news that Blackie is well enough to come home...I know
    the feeling well.
    
    When it came time to feed Abigail (she had lost 4 pounds and needed
    fattening up) I gave her anything and everything she wanted.  The
    regular cat food was a bit strong so I mixed in baby food with it
    and she ate like a charm.  The Gerber (#2 dinner) food like ham,
    turkey, veal and chicken are her favorites.  Check with Dr. Moss
    to see if you can/should do this...the only problem I am finding
    is weaning her off of it.  I was mixing 3/4 baby food to 1/4 cat
    food - then half and half.  Now, I am doing the 3/4 cat food and
    the 1/4 baby food ... also they are a bit salty (naturally) which
    helps them to drink more and flush the kidney's.
    
    Hope this trick helps - but I do suggest you discuss it with Dr.
    Moss first .. don't want Blackie to develop a bad eating problem.
    
    Good luck and gentle hugs to Blackie from me.
    
    Marilyn
    

    
    By way of encouragement, understand that getting *completely* rid of
    an upper respiratory infection may take a while.  My kittens and old
    Merlin didn't have one quite as bad as what you've described, but it
    was still another week or two after the course of antibiotics before they
    stopped sneezing and dripping completely.  So just hang in there, they
    *do* get better.  Merlin is eating like a little horse now.  Blackie's
    a big guy and he's got a strong immune system (unlike the kittens,
    whose immune responses were still developing) so his prognosis is
    excellent.  Besides, I'm rooting for him, because if we hadn't taken
    Rudy home, we probably would have taken Blackie...
    
    len.
    

    Well we picked up Blackie last night and they listed the food that he
    was eating for then (nine lives tuna, fancy feast ocean white fish and
    the nine lives dry fish cat food)  So I went out and brought some last
    night and put the tuna in his dish along with some of the dry and he
    chowed it down and it was all gone this morning and he also remembered
    where his litter box was and used it quit a bit. 
    
    He has to have affrin nose drops every twelve hours (one drop in one
    nostril the first time and then you do the other nostril).  He is still
    on the cefa tabs till they are gone and he is acting like a kitten.  He
    is really frisky and my son thinks this is the greatest thing.  
    
    So we are all happy that he is finally home and eating well and Dr.
    Moss did say that the URI would take a while before going completly
    away.
    
    
    Thanks for all the well wishes for Blackie and believe me he is getting
    alot of TLC.
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Liz

    This note strikes home with me...Like the original author, we brought 
    home "Bear" (I can't help but call him george) from the shelter...
    Excellent kitty - sleeps with either us or our 2.5 year old...  Purrs
    like a chain saw with a fouled plug, and is friendly (especially at
    night), but he's starting to get skinny - he won't eat.
    
    Oh, and he's  under treatment for URI also, Amoxycillin and drops
    (nose and eyes).  I'm afraid he hates us cuz we're medicating him
    (and he HATES it).
    
    :-(

    Wow.  That was fast...
    
    I smeared some Tasty Treats Salmon on his paws and he HATED that.
    Cleaned up his paws, polished off the dish of (soft food), drained 
    the milk in his dish, and came over to me begging for more.
    
    Since it'd been a while since he'd eaten well, I gave him another
    can mixed in with some crunchy stuff, and he's eating that as we
    speak...
    
    One other note that may have made a difference...  I moved his dish
    into the kitchen -He seemed more comfy there.  Problem is, we have
    a battalion of pups here that would love to help Bear eat...

    Hm, "moved his dish into the kitchen"?  Was it formerly maybe
    too near his litter box for a fastidious kitty?
    

    Could be I suppose - It was on top of the desk in our study - Cat 
    box is about five feet from it...  I think he's still got the sniffles,
    and it skewed his judgement about that yummy kitty-salmon.  :-)
    
    jc

    On top of the desk?  I thought it was a law that cat food dishes
    had to be on the floor :-)
    

    I thnk JC has the same pproblem I do--- little hungry doggies.... 8)
    Gotta put the food high!
    
    SueJ