Took Kat to the vet yesterday.

Ratface

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Who knew ignorance could be so expensive?
Yesterday, King Kevin Kat, who is 14 and a re-homed stray, threw up a lot of foam, looked confused and lay down beside it. He got up and was rather wobbly.
I phoned the vets for advice and was asked to bring him straight in. Tried to get him into his cat carrier. Much snarling and resistance from cat. Finally got him in, wrapped up in his blanket. Drove to vet. Got re-routed due to road works. Got lost. .Finally got there and booked in and was seen immediately.
Not our usual vet as he was on leave.
Vet examined him. Kevin very good as she poked, prodded and manipulated his stomach, looked in his eyes and mouth and weighed him. 4.5kg. She said he should be heavier. I explained that he had Feline Irritable Bowel Syndrome and would only eat tinned salmon or slices of cooked chicken. She said his teeth needed cleaning. I explained that he wouldn't eat any of the IBS kibbles that I'd bought him. She said she could do bloods, have him in overnight to observe. That at 4.8k he was underweight. She then said that the best thing to do was to take him home and try to get as much food down him as possible. I explained that I have myalgic encephalitis and sometimes have problems remembering instructions if I am stressed. She wrote down to count his resting respiratory rate, which should be up to 30bpm, to weigh him every two weeks - he should be more than the 4.8kg he was. That I was to stop crying, take him home and to remember to pay before I left. Oh, and what a lovely shiny coat he had.
Kat went back into his carrier and we went home. Let Kat out of carrier, he ate some thin sliced chicken, and some fresh salmon, jumped onto his cushioned settle in the saloon and went to sleep.
Today, after spending the night in the bunk with me, he's not eaten any breakfast and has gone back to his cushioned nest in the saloon.
And yes, he is a spoilt tyrant. Any advice as to what to do next?
 

Ratface

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Thank you, Birker2020. He will probably eat when a) I've thrown away what he's left from last night, which is the salmon b) changed his newspaper tablecloth c) when he wakes up and decides that Slave had better provide more thin slices of chicken . . .
 

Crazy_cat_lady

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Know you might have done this already as you mention chicken but how about cooking up some chicken, the smell may then tempt him to eat. Also in the supermarkets they do de boned white fish fillets, you just pop one in a pan and bring to the boil. We have some in the freezer and use them for a couple of days if one has an upset stomach

Is he drinking? I think you can get some cat soups they may be nice and palatable for him to just lap up

If he's not eating today I'd try and get him back tomorrow and hope you get a more helpful vet

Isn't he an older cat? If you can afford it or he's insured can you get bloods run to check for kidney disease and thyroid? Couple of mine growing up had these and they looked rather moth eaten before the diagnosis and dropped weight. If they are diagnosed you can get tablets (unfortunately not a cure but helps with the symptoms)
 

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Sorry to hear about Kat, you have been his slave for many years and he has trained you well so he has reached a great age.
I agree with gallpinbhy tempt him with a variety, which knowing him, he will choose what you have the least and the most expensive of.
Unfortunately i am going to comment on what is probably already on you mind, is how far are you prepared to investigate an elderly Kat.? Maybe its time to think of quality time over quantity time.
Sending good vibes.
 

Maxidoodle

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So sorry to hear that Kat isn’t feeling well. I enjoy your posts about him. We have one cat who has been fussy all of her life, she will eat biscuits but “likes” wet food, however, she just licks all the gravy off it and leaves the meat 🤪, she gets fed up of one brand of food very quickly but Whiskas pouches seem to be a favourite. I had a cat many years ago that refused to eat anything other than the tiny expensive sachets of cat food (one with a white pursian cat on it) and only the chicken flavour. She absolutely adores chicken but after a few bits she must decide it’s a bit bland.

Could you afford to buy a few sachets of different food, just to try to tempt him? It must be very upsetting, as I know how much you adore him and he’s your companion, I know he’s old but a change of food might just perk him up a little. If I was nearer I’d offer to bring you some things to try him with. ❤️
 

Ratface

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Thank you, dear HHOers.
When I can safely get off the boat (v. low tides, so pontoons are / or \), I'm going up to the village to get some Felix and/or Whiskas. He scoffed that down when I first got him, but I checked the contents + smell and decided that he must have The Best.
My next-door neighbour has just suggested the Felix route, so . . .
I will report back, as long as I haven't fallen in.
 

The Xmas Furry

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Thank you, dear HHOers.
When I can safely get off the boat (v. low tides, so pontoons are / or \), I'm going up to the village to get some Felix and/or Whiskas. He scoffed that down when I first got him, but I checked the contents + smell and decided that he must have The Best.
My next-door neighbour has just suggested the Felix route, so . . .
I will report back, as long as I haven't fallen in.
Fingers crossed they work xx
 

MiLeTa

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Hugs to you and Kat- it's such a worry when they stop eating!

I'm not sure if it would be ok with his IBS, but could you try feeding him some kitten food? It will be higher in nutrients than normal adult food, and has a stronger smell so may be more tempting for him. This was suggested to me by my vet when one of my cats had a lot of teeth out and she went on hunger strike! It is also higher in calories than adult food, so may help to get some weight on him.

Another possibility could be one of the grain-free brands of food? Lily's Kitchen is very popular with both of mine.

Fingers crossed you find something to tempt him with!
 

Mrs. Jingle

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Could you perhaps try those very small tins of tuna in oil- we had one very fuzzy old cat who would only eat that in his latter years, so long as it was mashed in with plenty of the oil to make it sloppy? I am sure he never got enough vitamins and minerals on such a restricted diet but he did very well for a considerable time on that regime. Gosh they are all such a worry, I do hope the old Kool King Kat is soon back to his normal healthy weight. 🙁
 
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Cloball

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They are a worry, M went off his food last week, £80 of expensive high quality food later. Turns out he's gone off food with veg in. Why cats need this I'm not sure anyway. Cheaper veg free cat food it is. 🤞 He's feeling himself again soon.
 

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Fingers crossed some Felix or Whiskas goes down well with the King KK. Kitten food is a good idea as mentioned up thread.

Hopefully he will hang around to boss you about for several years yet.
 

Burnttoast

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Poor Kat (and poor you - I sympathise, we have cat health worries atm too after losing my favourite suddenly in September, so I'm really weepy every time there's a hint of an issue with one of the others). Hope he feels better soon and decides to eat something!
 

Ratface

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Reporting back: went to the local Co-op and bought Kevin a box of various Felix flavours. He inhaled the first one and, with his usual mix of 30% charm, 70% menace, he demanded "More. NOW!" Duly provided. Duly inhaled. He's now wrapped up in his tail on his cushioned throne in the saloon. He has free access to his water, the bunk, his own quarters in the wheelhouse.
He went out after his late lunch (see above), inspected his private yacht, jumped on my neighbour's Dutch barge, leaving muddy footprints all over the foredeck that she'd just washed down, for which I apologised profusely, but she said that he was already forgiven.
I'm feeling/being very weepy, which is silly. Being cold doesn't help, but need to watch the heating costs.
Curtain therapy required.
 

Ratface

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Fingers crossed some Felix or Whiskas goes down well with the King KK. Kitten food is a good idea as mentioned up thread.

Hopefully he will hang around to boss you about for several years yet.
Yes, re Felix. Please see report below.
Should have gone to see Old Horse this afternoon, but didn't want to leave Kevin. Made my excuses to YO, who dotes on Old Horse. She said she'd give him a carrot or three and explain to him why I wasn't there. As long as he's the centre of food/treats, he'll be perfectly happy!
 

Ratface

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Yes, re Felix. Please see report below.
Should have gone to see Old Horse this afternoon, but didn't want to leave Kevin. Made my excuses to YO, who dotes on Old Horse. She said she'd give him a carrot or three and explain to him why I wasn't there. As long as he's the centre of food/treats, he'll be perfectly happy!
Report above!
 

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Not silly at all! It’s so stressful when our dear friends are poorly and I agree, being cold doesn’t help one bit. Today has been so chilly! I always feel far worse about things when I’m cold.

I just wanted to say that Aldi (appreciate you may not have one close) sell little tins of a mousse type cat food which goes down well in my experience… especially if hand-fed from a finger 🙈 Sounds like the Felix has hit the spot for him anyway. If you don’t have an Aldi close I would be happy to send you a few tins to try if you’d like. I already spend approximately 2 million a month on buying varied tins for the ancient family cat, a few more makes no difference and I just bloody love cats!

Hope you are a bit cosier now, even if you are a mere cat’s minion.
 

Ratface

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Hopefully not eating will kill off the little bug in his tummy R , hope King K is well soon 😊
Thank you. Unfortunately, it isn't a bug. He's got Feline Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which was being successfully managed by slices of cooked chicken and/or small tins of red salmon in olive oil.
He has an appointment with my favourite vet on April 19th. I couldn't get one before then.
Sorry to hear about Kat, you have been his slave for many years and he has trained you well so he has reached a great age.
I agree with gallpinbhy tempt him with a variety, which knowing him, he will choose what you have the least and the most expensive of.
Unfortunately i am going to comment on what is probably already on you mind, is how far are you prepared to investigate an elderly Kat.? Maybe its time to think of quality time over quantity time.
Sending good vibes.
Certainly agree with your suggestion of quality time over quantity time. My other cats - all but two have been bedraggled strays - have lived into their late teens/early twenties. Kevin is probably about 15. Hard to know, accurately, as various people/connections have told me different stories/ages.
 

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You aren’t being silly at all, he is your boy and you obviously want him to be well

Def let him eat what he wants, trying something different to his norm is a good idea as cats are very easily put off food so smelly and diff foods are a good idea. Pilchards in Tom sauce is a good one or tuna (not in brine - ideally spring water)
 

Ratface

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Not silly at all! It’s so stressful when our dear friends are poorly and I agree, being cold doesn’t help one bit. Today has been so chilly! I always feel far worse about things when I’m cold.

I just wanted to say that Aldi (appreciate you may not have one close) sell little tins of a mousse type cat food which goes down well in my experience… especially if hand-fed from a finger 🙈 Sounds like the Felix has hit the spot for him anyway. If you don’t have an Aldi close I would be happy to send you a few tins to try if you’d like. I already spend approximately 2 million a month on buying varied tins for the ancient family cat, a few more makes no difference and I just bloody love cats!

Hope you are a bit cosier now, even if you are a mere cat’s minion.
Thank you, HollyWoozle. That's a very kind offer and much appreciated. There's an Aldi in our nearest suburb. I'll go and have a look tomorrow.
I forsee King Kevin Kat deciding on a routine of "Want/don't want chicken. Want salmon/don't want salmon". Ditto Felix/Whiskas. Repeat.
Fortunately, my favourite vet is available in two weeks time, and we have an appointment with him then.
When my son was little (50+ years ago) I thought of instituting the refrain that my nanny had always repeated to me: "If you don't want it, don't eat it. But you'll sit there until you do. So you might as well eat it now, and then you can go and ride your pony." I never did say that to my son, due to the fact that I ended up feeling a permanent loathing of that nanny. Fortunately, he wasn't a fussy eater!
 

Ratface

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You aren’t being silly at all, he is your boy and you obviously want him to be well

Def let him eat what he wants, trying something different to his norm is a good idea as cats are very easily put off food so smelly and diff foods are a good idea. Pilchards in Tom sauce is a good one or tuna (not in brine - ideally spring water)
He's previously been offered pilchards. They lasted a week, before The Royal Personage turned his nose up at them and refused. Tuna in spring water met the same fate. He covered it with shredded newspaper, which is his tablecloth. Within three days. Wretched creature.
 
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