My cat won't eat

We adopted our Persian cat, about a year ago. I'd say he is about 4 or 5 years old. He was found abandoned, covered in oil, and an animal rescue center took him, and a few days afterwards we adopted him.

When we got him, he was obviously scared as it was a new environment. But that didn't stop him eating. He had a healthy appetite, and quickly put on weight.

As most persians, they have problems. He had a problem with one eye, a flipped eye lid, and we went and took him to get it operated on about 3 months ago. He would still eat, not as much, but still eating. He then had tartar in his teeth. We took him to vet again, and when he came back home a few hours afterwards, he was passed out, obviously. Since a few days before that operation, until today, a total of 7 weeks. He's not eaten. We've forced fed him, but on his own, he won't eat. We've tried giving him fish, chicken, changed his food bowl, his regular food, changed the brand of his food, kitten food, just about anything. And he won't eat. He'll drink, but not eat. His personality completely changed. From being a crazy, hyper cat, to a quiet, sullen and prefers to be on his own cat.
He'll drink, and pee normally, doesn't meow or anything.

We also did try to give him an appetite stimulant, but as I said previously, still won't eat.

We took him to vet, checked him for just about everything including FIP and cancer. But all his tests came negative.

We don't know what to do anymore, and have been advised to put him down. He's otherwise a healthy cat.
Any help ?

Reply
Poor cat he does sound really miserable. He has been through a lot and some cats can become depressed and this can cause reduced appetite.

As long as the vet does not think he has any problems with his mouth or is any pain you can only put this down to trauma.

In which case you could try some cat calming medication of sprays which can help ease anxiety. See this page for more on these

scared-cat.html

Also distraction techniques may help to bring him out of this fearful quiet mood. You will have to take it slowly and gently but if you try buying him something new to grab his attention and spend a few minutes with him and his new toy every day it may over time start to help him recover.

this page will give you some ideas as to all the different sorts of cats toys available that can be a little more interesting than just a plain mouse

https://www.our-happy-cat.com/cat-toys.html

cats like routine and security so setting up a regular feeding routine, play times etc may help. You will have to be persistent though.

cats eat food which has a strong smell this helps to stimulate their appetite so try either warming up slightly his food which will increase its smell of at least make sure the food is not chilled. Keep the food simply and sont keep trying different brands as this can also upset them. I feed my cats whiskers steamed fish which come in pouches, looks like real fish and has a good smell to it, it was the only thing my two boys would eat when they were ill recently.

Anyway i do hope he recovers soon

best wishes kate

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