Getting my cat to eat - Feline hepatic lipidosis

happyshopper

happyshopper wrote: »

My cat had feline hepatic lipidosis a couple of years ago. After a week of tube feeding, the vets finally got him eating with some specialist tinned cat food which was essentially just shredded chicken. I can't find the name of it, have been looking at my old vet's bills. Once I got him home, he would also eat chicken cooked just in some water, and then shredded, although only if I fed it to him by hand. He eventually succumbed to something else, but he did get over the hepatic lipidosis. If I can remember the name of the food brand, I'll post it later. Very best of luck. Hope yours pulls through, it's a horrible condition.

HS

After rummaging through my Petplan receipts, I've found the brand name of the food that finally persuaded my cat to eat when he had hepatic lipidosis- it was Almo Nature tinned cat food. Chicken or possibly Chicken with Cheese (!). I got it direct from the vet but a quick search suggests widely available.

HS

Larumbelle

Thank you all again for the help and advice - HS I am sorry that you lost your boy :-( Thank you so much for taking the time to find out about the food.

I bought a small pack of the Exigent food from Pets and Home and guess what? He is eating it! Just a spoonful or so at a time before he refuses, but an hour or so later he is ready for another spoonful. I am hopeful that he might manage a little more at a time in coming days. It feels like we have turned a huge corner :-)

I have to admit, I have been trying some crazy things. I have discovered that catnip doesn't increase his appetite, unless you count trying to eat the sheet that the catnip is sprinkled on! Also, a non cat-owning friend suggested showing him videos of other cats eating. I had nothing to lose so I tried it. I found that they have limited effect on getting him to eat, but that he loves - and I mean loves - watching them! But that if I put the video full-screen, he stops understanding that it's a video, and circles the laptop trying to find the other cat.

Thank you everyone for your support. I think we're going to make it through this :-)

calicocat

Larumbelle wrote: »

Thank you all again for the help and advice - HS I am sorry that you lost your boy :-( Thank you so much for taking the time to find out about the food.

I bought a small pack of the Exigent food from Pets and Home and guess what? He is eating it! Just a spoonful or so at a time before he refuses, but an hour or so later he is ready for another spoonful. I am hopeful that he might manage a little more at a time in coming days. It feels like we have turned a huge corner :-)

I have to admit, I have been trying some crazy things. I have discovered that catnip doesn't increase his appetite, unless you count trying to eat the sheet that the catnip is sprinkled on! Also, a non cat-owning friend suggested showing him videos of other cats eating. I had nothing to lose so I tried it. I found that they have limited effect on getting him to eat, but that he loves - and I mean loves - watching them! But that if I put the video full-screen, he stops understanding that it's a video, and circles the laptop trying to find the other cat.

Thank you everyone for your support. I think we're going to make it through this :-)

:rotfl: :rotfl:


Glad he's eating again, even if small amounts at the moment.

spookylukey

Larumbelle wrote: »

I bought a small pack of the Exigent food from Pets and Home and guess what? He is eating it! Just a spoonful or so at a time before he refuses, but an hour or so later he is ready for another spoonful. I am hopeful that he might manage a little more at a time in coming days. It feels like we have turned a huge corner :-)

That's great news! So pleased the Exigent worked :j If he's not been eating for a while his tummy will have shrunk so I'd think it's perfectly natural for him to only want to eat smaller meals before topping up again an hour or so later.

If it's something he's going to have long term then the 4kg bags from Zooplus are very good value at £21.79, it's £31.49 at Pets at Home so quite a saving.

boots_babe

We had a very poorly cat last year and had the same issue with encouraging to eat. Having read up on it lots to get ideas, a couple of options which might be worth a go if you've not tried are:

Heating up slightly in the microwave - so that it smells more appealing
Sprinkling nutritional yeast flakes over food - http://consciouscat.net/2015/02/16/nutritional-yeast-secret-weapon-get-finicky-cats-eat/

Plus a few other ideas here:
http://consciouscat.net/2013/07/03/how-to-get-finicky-cats-to-eat/

Good luck, I know how hard it is. You need lots and lots of patience and persistence x