# How to get a cat to eat?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 10, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537 "2013-11-10T01:19:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/1 "2013-11-10T01:19:39Z")
Baker has a URI. He went to the vet yesterday and now he’s not eating. I’ve tried tuna, chicken and Fancy Feast. I put some butter on his foot and he didn’t seem to notice. Bill is going to the store to buy babyfood, but I’m really scared.
Cats die so fast from fatty liver disease, and I’m terrified that is what is happening with this boy.
(I tried to stuff some food down his throat, and he puked it back up.)
Please tell me that our cat isn’t going to die. The last time I had a cat doing this, the vet did heroic measures, but kitty still died.
My heart is breaking.
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/2 "2013-11-10T01:23:39Z")
Not much to be done, unfortunately. Cats tend to stop eating when they’re sick or uncomfortable, and force-feeding them isn’t usually a good idea.There are medications the vet can give you to stimulate his appetite, but I’m not sure how well that works. Give him a day or so, see if he perks up and starts eating again. If he doesn’t, call the vet for advice.
I hope this is a blip and he gets better.
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### Author:  [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/3 "2013-11-10T01:26:30Z")
When my old boy was on the way out I would “accidentally” drop things like bits of raw or even our cooked chicken on the floor when I was chopping them, he would eat forbidden stuff even when ignoring his bowl.
A very short nuke of canned food can also increase the aroma and palatability.
If he isn’t eating then he really needs water, is he drinking?
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/4 "2013-11-10T01:52:40Z")
I usually have good luck with baby food. Liverwust or pate also gets a good reaction. My current cat who is SUPER picky, really loves these cheapass “[Party Mix](http://www.friskies.com/Cat-Food/Cat-Treats)” crunchy treats made by Friskies.
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### Author:  [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/5 "2013-11-10T02:00:57Z")
Our poor kitteh didn’t even want to sniff the baby food. I put some on his tongue and he didn’t puke. Bill is calling the emergancy vet, but fuck, I think our big boy is going to die.
He was healthy and playing 2 days ago.
Badwordsbadwordsbadwords.
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### Author:  [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/6 "2013-11-10T02:05:23Z")
We have had to force feed our cat a couple of times. Water down some cat food, put it in a syringe (no needle!) and squirt a bit into the back of his throat. Just do a little bit every couple of hours.
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### Author:  [@FrillyNettles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrillyNettles)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/7 "2013-11-10T03:06:49Z")
Vet here. When cats can’t smell they often won’t eat, so try cleansing his nostrils. Ask your vet about mirtazapine, an appetite stimulant. It tends to work pretty well.
Honestly, when I see a cat that won’t eat due to a respiratory infection, 9 times out of 10, it really comes down to a tooth root abscess and the pain that is causing. Is he on antibiotics?
If all else fails, he may need a feeding tube placed to get him over the hump. You are right to be worried, and I wouldn’t wait it out. Best wishes, I hope he eats soon.
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### Author:  [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/8 "2013-11-10T03:10:28Z")
A URI shouldn’t make him not want to eat, unless he’s so congested he can’t smell anything. It may be that the abx is upsetting his stomach, in which case trying to feed him is counterproductive. If he’s not drinking either a round of subcu fluids may make him feel well enough to eat.
But I think a call to the vet is top on the list, double check that there’s nothing else going on, and get some appetite stimulant for him.
Cats DO get hepatic lipidosis from fasting, but it doesn’t happen overnight so hopefully there’s something else more fixable going on.
Crossing paws that he’s better soon!
(I see FrillyNettles beat me to it!)
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/9 "2013-11-10T04:17:03Z")
Ho boy, did I misunderstand the thread title.
No specific advice, but good luck! How old is he?
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### Author:  [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/10 "2013-11-10T04:22:03Z")
Last-ditch effort for me is to rub some on their noses or around their whiskers or on their footpads. I’ve had many cats who won’t eat, but will still groom themselves. As long as it doesn’t come back up, it went in.
Same thing for liquids, get a washcloth and wet it down good and run it over the cat’s back - they’ll usually look affronted and start washing themselves.
Good luck with kitty! Fingers crossed!
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### Author:  [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/11 "2013-11-10T04:50:59Z")
Kitteh is at the ER vet now. Sorry for typos, I’m on my phone.
Baker is only 3 years old. He was drinking water, and tanking up, which worries me as well. Yes, cats need to drink lots of water, but he was drinking more than usual.
How do I clean a cat’s nostrils? They are way too small to use q-tips.
The cat who died from hepatic lipidosis did it at the vet’s office. He had a feeding tube in his belly and had been there for 5 days. I just can’t do this to another cat. Rusty suffered for an entire week and died anyhow.
Tears are h appening.
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### Author:  [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/12 "2013-11-10T05:07:21Z")
I thought in the U.S. most cats were just used for companionship?
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### Author:  [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/13 "2013-11-10T05:28:24Z")
> [@flatlined](#):
>
> Kitteh is at the ER vet now.
>
> Tears are h appening.
:(☹
Take care of yourself - thinking good thoughts for your Baker boy and for you!
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/14 "2013-11-10T05:28:50Z")
Fingers crossed the vet can fix it.
Blue and The Dark One send kitty get well meows to Baker.
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### Author:  [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/15 "2013-11-10T10:19:45Z")
Is he on antibiotics? They can give a kitty systemic nausea and he won’t want to eat.
He’s sick and trying to fight off the crud-this could cause an increased need for water.
I’ve nursed many a sick kitty and have used assist/syringe feeding quite successfully. I’d certainly try that before a feeding tube. If you need any advice at all, PM me and I can point you to some resources.
In any case, he’s in the right place now, the vet’s. Please do keep us updated! Hugs!
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### Author:  [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/16 "2013-11-10T15:44:23Z")
> [@fighting\_ignorant](#):
>
> I thought in the U.S. most cats were just used for companionship?
Don’t make posts like this again in this forum, because it can be seen as threadshitting. Reading the thread, it should be obvious there are higher levels of feelings and caring.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/17 "2013-11-10T15:49:48Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Ho boy, did I misunderstand the thread title.
Wasn’t just you… :eek:
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### Author:  [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/18 "2013-11-10T15:52:41Z")
Sorry if this is late, but in two of my cats, at the end, we used Diazepam to make them comfortable. As a side effect, it made them both hungry.
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### Author:  [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/19 "2013-11-10T16:03:03Z")
I hope the vet can help your kitty! ☹
When my oldest boy (17) goes off his food I can usually - not always - get him eating at least a little by offering food in liquid form. For instance he LOVES juice from canned peas, or a beaten egg. And once he’s drinking something like that, he’ll start nibbling on food again. He’s going through kidney disease so a different situation from your cat, but maybe this will help you for future reference.
I hope your kitty is home soon and doing better!
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### Author:  [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-cat-to-eat/673537/20 "2013-11-10T16:04:40Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Ho boy, did I misunderstand the thread title.
>
> No specific advice, but good luck! How old is he?
Exactly.
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