more cat

So, for the last couple of months, the cat has been refusing his food... to the point of going days without it... but he was always begging for it. I tried everything. From Cat Chow to Wiskas, then up to science diet and proforma. Refused them all. He has lost a lot of weight and I was becoming very concerned (you might remember the scare I had a dew weeks ago thinking it was his bladder).

Some might think I should have taken him to the vet, but the fact that he was always hungry, but never wanted what he was fed, strongly suggested he was not sick. Perhaps depressed (major changes in the house, including the loss of the dog and wife he has been with for the last ten years).

But during this time, I was hesitant to try one food, for fear that what I suspected was actually the case.

You see, a few months ago, as a treat, I bought the cat a can of Wellness, the worlds most expensive pet food. It is made with ingredients so fine that even I do not eat that well (salmon, white fish, sweet potato, carrots and so on). The cat of course loved it.

So as a last resort, with the cat having refused the latest brand test, I went and bought a can of Wellness. The problem is it cost damn near 4 bucks a can... 4 times the price of Friskies.

The cat has been eating almost non stop, and runs to the bowl if I even think about heading into the kitchen.

So... it seems that basically, he decided that was the only food he wanted to eat, and battled me till he won.

He won.

Crafty little bugger.

Guitarhacker


My philosophy on pet food.  "There it is...eat it or go hungry"

That was my philosophy too, up till yesterday.

~~I fought the cat and the, cat won.~~

I am just really happy he is eating again. He was really making me worried. And if this food makes him happy, then its a small price to pay.

 I sure feel for you there Shad, I made the mistake of giving mine tuna in spring water a while back. She has been on a tuna strike ever since. It starts right when I get home from work, she gets up in my computer chair and looks at me like..we can do this the easy way or the hard way then it's just a matter of time. It has taken some time but the cat has got me well trained now.

Like you say Shad, a small price to pay

My cat does this to me all of the time but has moments when she gets caught out - like I'll come home from work and catch her eating the food she's previously refused. She then runs away from the bowl and pretends like she hasn't eaten all day!

dlogan


I hate to say it but I've had 3 pets who have died who all started out down the same path as you've described. Becoming more and more finicky, and then finally not eating at all. I did the same thing as you which was just to keep trying differnent things to find something that worked. But if I could do it again I would have taken them to the vet earlier. An animal that is hungry but refuses to eat for days on end is most likely more than just being finicky and is probably a sign of an underlying health problem.

I agree with Dlogan, get him to a vet, just to be safe.

Daylaa


My cat began to get 'fussy' and decided he'd only eat the most expensive tins on the menu. So, eventually i sat him down in his basket, and suggested it was time he got a job to help fund his eating. He agreed and said he'd apply for 4 jobs:

'Cat who sits on the same bush each day meaning the bush it squashed beyond recognition officer'

'Cat who breaks cat-flap once annually through attempting to pass though the flap at high speeds whilst being physically over-weight officer'

'Cat who fails to catch birds or mice so instead jumps around the garden catching moths officer'

'Cat who is too fat to jump over the fence and is therefore required to 'meow' until human comes outside to let him in/out of the garden so that he can catch moths officer'

He actually ended up getting ALL 4 jobs - part time ofcourse, but it means we can carry on buying him the most expensive food items known to man.

 
You forgot:

• 'Cat who uses Strammy's croquette lawn as a toilet officer'

I have about five of these living by me
 
 
 

I've heard a vet say that some cats would starve themselves to death than eat what it don't like. WHAT!?

(Pronounced "Dah beh") What!?

David, that is a really good point about the cats mouth. He did lose a tooth a few months back (not sure how). It might well be as you say. I will take a look and keep monitoring.

He has been eating solid for a few days now, seems much happier and is returning to his usually gregarious self. The constant hairball problem seems diminished as well as he is not constantly licking to pass the time from hunger.

He is an old cat and from consulting with a local pet expert this sort of thing is not unusual. He recommended stronger smelling foods as the cats sense of smell may be diminishing. Might explain why the cat goes crazy if I open a can of sardines.

As I cannot financially afford a diagnosis that may not be needed from a vet, for now its wait, watch and see,

I did a test.

After four days of the good stuff... put down what he USED to like for dinner.

Sniffed, looked at me with great disappointment, his eyes saying "I though we had this sorted out", tried to bury it and walked away. I then mixed it half and half with the good, and he tolerated it, though was clearly unhappy (it took him a long time eat).

Breakfast was good stuff, devoured.

Oh, yes, and he is now demanding his walks... kinda like a dog actually... he always was a strange cat.


Edit - I should point out that I do not let him out, I have a small harness and leash and we walk like a dog, albeit much slower with many more tangents.

amateur


Since he's old and therefore deserves respect, I hereby vote that he gets the good stuff for as long as he is around. 

+1

I had a cat glove for my last cat... do not know what happened to it. Thanks for reminding me, I will pick up another.