Cats not eating - upset by one of them being ill?

Kathy535

Hello. I hope you can help. My lovely placid, greedy, loving Milo has been diagnosed with liver cancer plus either bowel or pancreatic cancer. While he has been losing weight for a while we assumed that it was because the neighbours had moved out (and he wasn't getting getting double fed - he really was very greedy). We went on holiday for a fortnight and my daughter and ex husband fed the cats - a combination of twice daily visits and overnight stays. When we returned last week it was obvious Milo was not happy and we went to the vets to get the bad news. If I could turn back time and not go on holiday I would to save him the pain that he must have suffered; I feel so very guilty. He's now on palliative care and seems content.

Anyway, we have two other cats, Milo's sister, Phoebe, and Harvey, who's a year older at 12. Phoebe and Milo are civil to one another, Milo and Harvey are friendly but not close and Harvey and Phoebe are BFF. Poor Milo has always been the odd one out.

Since we returned from holiday I've noticed that neither Phoebe nor Harvey are eating very much. Usually they get a little wet food and biscuits twice a day, neither of them are eating more than a few mouthfuls (Milo is on a 'special' diet). I got some yellow sticker prawns for them tonight, Phoebe didn't touch them and Harvey just licked them. However, they both seem content; purry and affectionate.

I know I am now overly sensitive about my cats' health but is it possible the changes have upset their appetites? Milo has been obviously unhappy (to us dense humans), he went to the vets twice in two days, came back dopey and shaved, was kept in the front room for three days, normal feeding routines were disrupted and he's doped up to the eyeballs with morphine. Or should I take the other two to the vets as well, just in case? They don't appear to have lost any weight but I can't tell how long this has been going on for due to the holiday (I so wish I hadn't gone).

Any advice welcomed, either about the feeding or about how long poor Milo might have left - the vet wouldn't commit but at some point I have to tell my daughter to say goodbye (she's at university close by)

donnac2558

I would for your own peace of mind take them both for a check up.

Kathy535

donnac2558 wrote: »

I would for your own peace of mind take them both for a check up.

Thanks Donna, I did that today and they are both healthy. In fact Harvey has put on weight and is now quite porky so I may have been projecting when I thought he wasn't eating. The vet says I should reinstate their old routines (Harvey and Milo get fed in the same room to stop them from troughing down Phoebe's food).. I've been adding Milo's painkillers to his food and keeping Harvey out. Turns out I should have been giving Milo's medicine directly into his mouth so just as well I went. Hopefully, once the old routines are re- established they will all feel better (including me).

Marktheshark

Is Milo the boss cat ?
They often dont eat more than the boss cat.

Kathy535

Marktheshark wrote: »

Is Milo the boss cat ?
They often dont eat more than the boss cat.

No, he's bottom of the pecking order. I've re-established the usual routine and it's really helped. Turns out the two boys eat better when there is competition! Giving the medicine orally has also helped, Milo is much happier and that seems to have helped too.

Thank you.