Have you ever had a cat with fatty liver disease?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My cat came down with fatty liver disease about a week and a half ago, spent three days in the hospital, and she’s been home ever since getting force feeds six times a day. She’s doing great! Just about back to her old self, except she still won’t eat on her own, which is totally normal, I understand, sometimes it can take several weeks or months for the cat’s appetite to return, and if I were getting force fed six times a day, I wouldn’t want to eat either. But, I want to try and get her to eat on her own as much as I can.

I have a box of this FortiFlora powder (it’s a gut flora supplement, but apparently it tastes AWESOME) that sometimes tempts her, but she mostly just licks it off the top of her food, and won’t touch it if I mix it in.

Have you ever had a cat survive FLD? How long did it take for her appetite to come back?

And anybody got any kitty appetite stimulation tricks to share?

2

I’m so glad your kitty is responding to therapy. About 10 years ago, our Asti developed the disease. At that time, they gave subq fluids and didn’t force-feed. He left us. Two years ago, Clee had the same thing. They gave her IV fluids and force-fed her. It didn’t work. So sorry I don’t have any positive info for you, but I think if your baby has made it this far and is tolerating the feedings, she should pull through. I did a lot of research on this, and maintaining nutrition is vital. My two cats I have now seem to want to eat after a little catnip (?munchies?). I’ll keep your kitty in my thoughts.

3

I’m sorry you’re going through this with your kitty. It’s not a fun illness to get through, but if you’re successfully syringe-feeding then you’re 2/3 of the way there. It can definitely take 6 weeks or more to get her back to normal.

Some tricks I’ve seen used in the past (all with different cats, as our feline friends are certainly persnickety):

sprinkle a little catnip on the offering
sprinkle some FortiFlora on the offering (you’ve already tried)
smear a teaspoon of meat-only baby food on top
make sure the offering is warmed up a little
fancy feast all-fish stuff, especially the sardine heads and pieces in aspic
junk-food kibble (Friskies), or even that semi-moist stuff
human-grade canned tuna
anything off your plate

Even licking a little off the top is a start!

Has your vet prescribed any cyproheptadine or mirtazapine as appetite stimulants? Is your cat on Denosyl?

Did your vet make any other suggestions such as a feeding tube (either nasal or surgically placed through the esophagus)? Sometimes they’re not necessary if the cat is easy to syringe feed, but the syringe feeding can put them off the thought of eating on their own. I’ve seen cats not eat on their own until a feeding tube is placed and they’re not force-fed for a couple of days.

Offer the food to eat before every force-feeding, before you’re getting the force-feed stuff ready, so the cat’s not associating them.

Keep the food offerings to the feeding times. If you normally leave kibble out for free feeding, take it up so you know she’s not nibbling when you’re not looking.

In the future, if you normally have fed kibble and want to continue, make sure you’re meal-feeding a measured amount twice a day so you know she’s eating and how well. I meal feed my three cats their kibble, so whenever I put it down they’re hungry enough to go to their bowls right away and I’ll know if anyone’s off their food. Keeps them from overeating, too.

Sounds like you’re trudging through, try to keep your spirits up, and best of luck. Hope this lasts for as little time as possible for you.

4

We went through this last fall. Our guy likes junky kibbles and purina kitten chow seemed to have the most protein and fat of the grocery store foods. Will your kitty lick up nutri-cal suppliment? I’ve heard people suggest tuna water to get them drinking again too. Flakes of chicken or tuna, the all-meat baby food is a good suggestion too. How about Pounce treats?

Is she gaining weight back yet? Are you skipping a scheduled feed before offering food, to wake up a little appetite? Is she drinking or are you doing the subcutaneous fluids? Our guy wasn’t drinking so we were doing the saline, and he always was much perkier afterwards, and more inclined to have a bite.

Best of luck, I’m sure you’ll be counting swallowed kibbles in no time. Our guy is fine now, back to being full of piss & vinegar, and galloping all over the house like a kitten at 12 years.