My cat isn't eating and swallowing hard. What can I do before the vet?

I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend. It is critical for Hazelanne to be physically examined by your veterinarian. Cats who do not eat for 2+ days are at risk of developing serious liver related disease that may require hospitalization and supportive care. She may need blood tests to assess major organ function, especially liver function. Abdominal x-rays or ultrasound may also be recommended to assess her liver size and architecture. You can try warming her food or mixing in baby food to stimulate the appetite, but if the anorexia persists, then a vet visit is strongly advised.

I would feed her soft canned food until you are able to get her evaluated by your veterinarian. She could have an injury, an abscess, or even a tumor that could be inhibiting her swallowing. Watch her breathing closely as it is possible that what is inhibiting the swallowing may progress to inhibiting breathing. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Yes, I would be worried too. At home you need to make sure that she is drinking water, even if you need to give it to her with an eye dropper. I would recommend to offer her tasty meals-canned food, tuna, chicken and rice. Warmed food is better than cold food so this may also encourage her to eat. Many things could be going on and some causes can be severe. If she begins to have vomiting/diarrhea, stops eating completely or becomes lethargic, get her into the vet sooner. I hope your baby perks up!

It sounds like she has an upper respiratory infection or cold. Use a warm wet cloth to clean her eyes and nostrils. You can use a thin film of Vaseline around her nose to prevent the discharge from sticking to the skin. I recommend warming wet food, fish is best since cats often won’t eat if they can’t smell the food. You can try chicken broth or tuna juice dribbled in her mouth to get some liquid in her. Usually the cold will last a week or two. If you can’t get her to eat she may become dehydrated so a veterinary exam and treatment may be needed to bring her around. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Alice.

Hi there! So sorry to hear about Hazel's troubles! The medications are the hardest part. You can try wrapping her in a towel gently jut snugly, tucking her legs in there as well. Try giving her a little bit at a time. If you're really having trouble, give your vet a call and let them know. They may have some alternative medications to try that are given differently. It's never good to stress cats out too much giving them medication. For her appetite you can try warming up the baby food and tuna so see if it has a stronger smell to her. If she is pretty congested try taking her into the bathroom while someone in the household showers. This can help clear her nasal passages a little bit and she may be able to smell better and may be more encouraged to eat. I always also tell people to try weruva seafood canned food and tiki cat. Cats seem to really like those foods.

They sometimes do this when they are very sick with a bad upper respiratory infection (cold), because they can't breathe properly when they eat. It usually means that they are very congested and/or not getting enough treatment. My biggest concern about her not eating for several days is that she may not be drinking enough and could be getting dehydrated. If you have noticed her drinking, then this is promising, but she still may need more fluids. The best thing you can do is take her back to the vet to get assessed for dehydration and see if they can prescribe more mediation to get her eating again. In the meantime, I recommend you try a steam bath to help relieve the congestion. Below, is a link that explains how to do this: http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier I hope this helps and Poodi feels better soon.

I am concerned that Tot is very sick. Her eyes look very irritated and swollen, which could indicate upper respiratory disease or other infection. If she has lost her appetite, then she is much more sick than she has been letting on. This could be a symptom of her disease, or could be caused by the inability to smell. Cats that can't smell their food may not show interest in it. I would have her examined by a vet as soon as possible, so that the cause of illness can be specifically treated.