14+ cat not eating...please help!

[navykidds]

My cat, Sinatra, is at least 14. We've had him for 13 years and he was at least 1 when we got him from the pound. He has always been a healthy cat, although very small. He is a Himalayan, and has never weighed more than 9 lb. About 2 1/2 weeks ago, he stopped eating. This was just before my husband deployed for Iraq. We also got a new dog (yes, I know...tons of stress!) about 5 weeks ago. However, my cat rarely comes downstairs and the dog never goes upstairs. Sinatra actually did come down and when right up to the dog, smelled him, walked around ad seemed to ignore him.

I have been force-feeding him nutri-cal, a/d, infant meat jars, cat-sure, kitty milk....hairball medicine....I've tried it all! He has had complete bloodwork, including Free T4. Everything came back fine. He was also sedtaed and had his teeth cleaned and checked...no problems there. 2 weeks ago he weiged 7 lb even. Last Wednesday he had his teeth cleaned and was only 6 lb 13 oz. Thursday, I took him to our other Veterinarian here on base, and he was down to 6 lb even! We began sub q fluids, 100cc every other day. He seemed to bounce back. Alert eyes, sitting up, purring, sleeps right next to me. I had him back up to 6 lb 12 oz. But then Sunday, he seemed to slide again. Droppd down to 6 lb 7 oz. I was scheduled to give him sub q last night. This morning, he was walking around, bright eyed again, fluffed up, even grooming himself! He weighed 6 lb 11 oz before fluids. 6 lb 12.5 after...then urinated, down to 6 lb 10.5 oz. Then I gave him some nutrical, hairball meds, catsure...and he weighed 6 lb 12.25 oz.

I don't know what else to do!! Can he be totally healthy on paper but still dying? The vets said even whn he was dehydrated an at 6 lb, his vitals were good. He is getting very angry at me when I try to force the food now. He has only had 3 very small bowel movements in the lat 2 1/2 weeks. The first two were a few pebbles. The last one, which was a day or two ago, was about an inch long. I did take it in for a fecal test, and it came back negative.

I have already spent over $600 on Veterinarian bills and special foods, sub q fluids, etc. I don't want to give up on him, if there is hope. I am beside myself on how to entice him to eat. Believe me, I've tried heating it, pouring fresh chicken stock on it, clam juice....

Does my beloved Sinatra just want me to let him go?

I welcome any and all suggestions and thank you in advance.

Susan

[BlondiesDad]

There is a reason, and many vets know what it is but they cost so much, most owners won't spend the money. Our cat Iris was sick with a kidney thing and we tried to force feed her through a tube the Veterinarian placed into her gullet. She gradually recovered, but what we think was the reason was a brand of TUNA, the smelliest, oiliest, stuff. She wasn't able to resist it. She gained weight and lived ten more years. I apologize I don't remember the brand of Tuna, but most vets know what it is. .

[garebear544]

Wow, I'm so sorry you're going through this.

My best guess would be to try a variety of canned foods, hopefully one with chunks of meat in a gravy. Even if all your cat does is lick the gravy, that would be a good thing. You could also try some fresh chicken livers ground up in a food processor, I know gross, but could work.