NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/pets/cats/15353

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-22 | 1.4 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!bcstec!voodoo!das
From: [e-mail] (Deb Schwartz)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Getting sick cat to eat
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 21 Dec 92 17:12:24 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: Yet Another Graphics Project, Bellevue, WA
Lines: 18

Oreo is in the throes of what my vet called 'the worst cold he's ever seen
in a cat'.  Although he's drinking okay, getting him to eat is a real
struggle.  He's on a prescription food that's the consistency of baby food
(I know he likes it because he wolfed it down for a day before his nose
clogged up.) He's totally lost his sense of smell, so, although he's obviously
hungry, he won't eat unless:  I smear food on his mouth, he licks it off,
then will lick food off my finger a few times.  He then struggles to get
away, splattering food everywhere.  I smear more food on his mouth, he licks
it off then licks  some more food off my finger.  We repeat the whole cycle
until he's eaten enough.  This whole thing takes about 45 minutes.  The
problem is, I'm going away for a week next week.  I have a housesitter, but
I don't want to ask her to go through this twice a day, so if he isn't
eating on his own I'll have to board him at the vet for a week.  Expensive.
So, does anyone have any helpful hints for encouraging him to eat on his own?

Thanks,
------
Debbie Schwartz // [e-mail]  // ....uw-beaver!bcsaic!voodoo!das