Getting A Cat To Eat

Why Cats Stop Eating

Even in normal times, cats are often picky eaters. But if they are confused, frightened, or ill, they can stop eating alltogether.

Some Things To Try

Handfeeding
Sit with your cat. Talk to her. Pet her. Pick up a little piece of food and offer it to her.
Offer special treats
- "wet food" (canned or pouch, instead of dry kibble)
- the cat's favorite food
- "people" tuna
- cheese (in small amounts)
- milk or cream (in small amounts)
Warm food
Warmed food usually has a stronger smell, and smell is a key to making a cat want to eat. Warmed food may be more attractive to a cat.
Mix foods together.
Tasty liquids
- water from "people" tuna cans (packed in water) - Avoid tuna packed in vegetable broth (may contain onions). Tuna packed in oil may work.
- clam juice
- low-salt chicken broth - Avoid those made with onions. Avoid bouillon (too salty).
- low-salt beef broth - Avoid those made with onions. Avoid bouillon (too salty).
sprinkle some catnip on the food
make sure that the food is fresh
Would you be interested in eating dry kibble that has been sitting out in a bowl for two days?
boil and mash dried food
Reader Lynea Bernhard passed along something that worked for her cat.
I finally made her 'cat soup' by boiling some high protein, high quality dry cat food in some water. She didn't like it watery (which I thought she'd prefer, and would be easier on her liver), and the saucier thickness was just 'ok', but she started eating again when I spoon-fed her the pasty consistency that I had mashed for her after boiling and waited for it too cool. She ate like a champ! I will alternate this method with watering down her canned food, mashing it and spoon-feeding her that, since then it will avoid too much protein, and she won't get sick of the one flavor.
Thanks, Lynea!

Drugs

There are some drugs that can help stimulate a cat's appetite. The last time that I took a cat to the vet for not eating, the vet expressed a lot of faith in Diazepam (Valium). He said "I've seen cats wasting away and near death, who crawled to the food bowl after a dose of Diazepam."

If you have exhausted Some Things To Try, get professional help, which might include these drugs:

trade name generic name use in humans Rx? comments

Valium Diazepam relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension Y may cause liver problems

Periactin Cyproheptadine antihistamine Y

Serax Oxazepam antianxiety Y

Dalmane Flurazepam sedative, panic and anxiety disorders ?

trade name	generic name	use in humans	Rx?	comments
Valium	Diazepam	relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension	Y	may cause liver problems
Periactin	Cyproheptadine	antihistamine	Y
Serax	Oxazepam	antianxiety	Y
Dalmane	Flurazepam	sedative, panic and anxiety disorders	?

Feeding Tubes

In serious cases, your vet can put in a "feeding tube". Common types are:

Percutaneous EndoGastric ("PEG")
Esophagotomy

Although such a device sounds like a last-ditch effort, cats tolerate these things well and they can be used either over long term or for short term while recovering from other problems. A feeding tube is a lot easier on the cat and the person than syringe feeding.

Syringe Feeding

If your cat won't eat on her own, you might resort to syringe feeding. Basically, liqufied food is placed in a large syringe or turkey baster, and squirted into the cat's mouth.

This is dangerous and hard to do.

In you try to squirt it straight down the cat's throat, it might get into her lungs and choke her. The best target is the side of the mouth and hope that, once the food is in her mouth, she will swallow it. Even then, there is a substantial risk of choking.

Force-feeding is an act of ultimate desperation. It's hard to do a bad thing well.

Only do this if your cat won't eat on her own and you are willing to accept the risks. Talk to your vet before you try this - Learn more about the technique and risks.