# My cat isn't eating. Is force feeding him a good idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-isnt-eating-is-force-feeding-him-a-good-idea/604959 "2011-12-03T17:42:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-isnt-eating-is-force-feeding-him-a-good-idea/604959/41 "2011-12-16T21:39:10Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Tomas is still alive. He responded to steroids, started eating again, and regained most of his weight. > > According to the vet, the steroids are keeping his calcium low, and we’ll have to keep giving Tomas steroids for the rest of his life. This isn’t ideal, but it’s much better than slowly starving to death. Better living through chemistry! I am glad he’s feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-isnt-eating-is-force-feeding-him-a-good-idea/604959/42 "2011-12-16T22:03:06Z")
I’m so happy for you and Tomas! Especially after such an upsetting diagnosis! ---
**Author:** ![Dodgerbaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dodgerbaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodgerbaby)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-isnt-eating-is-force-feeding-him-a-good-idea/604959/43 "2012-05-25T03:35:50Z")
HI, my cat Dodger has just been diagnosed with Kidney Failure. His BUN number is 130 and his Creatinine (sp) is 13. He seems to be going down hill fast. I have been sitting with him the last three days doing the IV thing with him and right after he seems like he is feeling better. But I am sure that he is just hydrated. I got some oral syringes and I pure’ed some food for him and slowly squirted it into his mouth. he took it well and has kept it down. Isn’t this idea better than him not getting any food at all? I am going back to the vet tomorrrow. He is on meds as well. I just want him to feel better. I feel so bad that this is happening to him. He is only 9. ---
**Author:** ![tadtooornamental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@tadtooornamental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadtooornamental)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-isnt-eating-is-force-feeding-him-a-good-idea/604959/44 "2012-05-27T01:26:26Z")
I had a kitty go into kidney failure about the same age as yours, Dodgerbaby. She responded well to rehydration, as well as a special diet, and seemed to rebound. Unfortunately,she was so far advanced that I had to give her a bolus of Lactated Ringers daily. Being a rather skittish kitty in the first place, after a few weeks of getting poked with needles every time I picked her up, she raised holy hell every time I TRIED to pick her up. Eventually, she didn’t even want me near her, out of fear she would be jabbed. We stopped treatment for her, figuring she would let us know when her time was up, or when she was in too much pain. And she did. We got a few months out of her after stopping treatment. The whole ordeal was heartbreaking, from knowing she was ill to losing faith in the caregiver that wanted only what was best for her, and I’m so sorry you and your little guy have to go through this. Hopefully things were discovered early enough that medication and a possible special diet will be of help to him. My heartfelt thoughts (and those of my current kitty) go out to you and Dodger ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-isnt-eating-is-force-feeding-him-a-good-idea/604959.md?page=2)