Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Eating Away at His Problem

Parker continues to eat very little. His health does not seem to be deteriorating in other ways, though his behaviour is changing. He is less active and more apathetic - his strength may be suffering - though still very friendly, perhaps even more so than previously. Right now, he will eat only human-food tuna, and small portions of Fancy Feast chicken-and-liver. The amounts he is consuming are keeping him alive but not doing much else.

I have been offering him different kinds of cat-food, but nothing progresses past the smelling stage. He will eat: some human food and Temptation Treats are still appetising to him, so it is not food in general that turns him off. I have tried other fish but he seems keen only on its flavour-rich oil. Opening numerous tins of sardines just for the juice is prohibitive in terms of cost, even if the other beasts - or the outsider-cats - benefit from the leftovers. However, I realised that I had a source of fish oil alone.


I take these capsules myself, and I have found that by puncturing the gel coating, I can dribble the contents into Parker’s food. He eats quite a bit more with this condiment, even food that he would not touch otherwise. It's true that some authorities say that fish is not good for cats, but those cats will eat something else. Even with this additive, though, the orange-boy eats sparingly compared to his previous days, and sometimes the oil doesn’t help at all. But when life is being measured in teaspoons, every morsel counts.

Puck will go back to the doctor - his new doctor - in a few weeks for more tests, to see how his condition has developed. Until then, he and I will wage our battle against whatever is attacking him. I wish he would put a bit more effort into it, but I know that his apathy toward food is not of his making. With luck and improvisation, we will move into his future still fighting.

28 comments:

  1. oh no....we have been behind on this. we are sending you and Parker lots of purrs and love that you can figure this out

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  2. Parker, Parker, PARKER! Sweet mancat, please gobble some cat chow! We are concerned for you. Your dad is going to take you back to the vet's office again soon, unless you gobble, gobble, gobble!

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    1. He's going back to the doctor regardless; I'd just like to have something positive to report.

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  3. I'm hoping for the very best outcome for Parker, that it's not as you fear and that whatever it is can be treated. Purrs to him from N & D. ♥

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    1. Finding a solution would be a dream come true for me.

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  4. Oh poor Parker! Paws and fingers crossed that he will soon be well and start eating again. It sounds like you're trying everything possible to stimulate his appetite. Here's hoping that he will soon feel better. Please continue to keep us posted on how he is doing.

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    1. I'll be buying a new selection of foods today. I'm not hopeful but I'll try anything.

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  5. that he still has interest in food is a good thing; before he develops anorexia; which sauce did and I must leave it at that.

    if he wants food of any kind; please let him have it until you can find out what "association" { food//versus medical issue } is making him shy away from his normal diet....I know first hand how heartbreaking this is .....saying sorry does no good ...but I am sorry ~ ♥♥

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    1. Poor Sauce. Yes, avoidance of food is a dread. In the meantime, whatever Parker wants to eat he will be served.

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  6. I, along with everyone else here, had been hoping for better news about Parker. Have you tried warming his food? I've heard that can encourage a cat to eat.

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    1. Warming food does help stimulate appetite; I think it releases smells and flavour. I do that often, depending on the cat, on the food, when they eat and what point they've reached in any meal. For instance, Renn will eat Fancy Feast cold to a point, but then will stop; I'll warm his portion, then he eat more.

      Parker prefers his tuna cold, his Fancy Feast warm, and nothing else at this point.

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  7. Poor Parker, oh I so hope that he gets past whatever is causing him to lose interest in food. I'm glad you had the salmon oil on hand to help tempt him.

    Purrs from Sasha and Saku.
    Eileen

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    1. I like to a variety of items in my larder for the beasts. I never know when it will come in useful.

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  8. This is getting very worrying. I do hope the vet can get to the bottom of this.

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  9. I am sorry that Parker is still not eating enough. I know how disheartening it is when you try everything but to no avail. i hope the vet can find the problem and help him.

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    1. It is indeed disheartening. That's a good word for it.

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  10. I am glad you found something to entice Parker. I am praying for him.

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    1. Thank you. Knowing people are thinking of the orange-boy boosts one's spirit.

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  11. Dear Parker, I wish he would eat more food. The salmon oil is a creative idea. I am sure it won't harm him and will add some nutrients to his diet. We are thinking of poor Parker.

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    1. No, I don't think the oil will hurt him; I am not giving him much, anyway. It's like a bit of salt on meat.

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  12. We are keeping our paws crossed for you Parker. John, I know that you probably have encyclopedic knowledge of the types of cat foods available, but we have in our stores something called fancy feast broths. I know that they are meant to be toppers to go on top of a tin of food, but they are primarily fish or chicken juice.

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    1. I have seen them, though not everywhere one buys Fancy Feast. I will look for those. They may encourage Parker at least to eat different flavours.

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  13. As my vet said, even the most junky cat food is better than nothing at all. My 18-19 year old blind Sweet Pea was living off of Temptations and a little watered down turkey baby food pretty much for a full year and that kept his weight and energy up. I tried sooo many different wet and dry foods that he would nibble on but he consistently would eat Temptations and baby food.

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    1. That's actually encouraging about Sweet Pea. It can be astonishing what will keep a cat going.

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  14. I am so concerned about him. I wish the solution- at least-could be found. But like the weatherman it seems, the Vets can only do a lot for our cats from experience, but guessing what is wrong is another thing they must do. If only their patients could talk. Seriously, I have said this to myself so many times through the years. It would be so much easier if only.

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    1. I have found that a cat-owner's experience is often as good as the veterinary's - that and common sense.

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