Having cats is a matter of juggling their culinary desires at the best of times. It can be especially trying with an oldster.
Renn has been eating Recovery, a convalescent wet-food, for some time. He has done very well with it and, though expensive, I have been happy to serve it because it is concentrated with nutrients. It is also excellent as a medium for hiding and mixing medicine. But lately he has shown reluctance to eat it.
I have offered instead various flavours of Fancy Feast, which my big boy is eating. This was a selection to which I returned when he determined not to eat his Recovery any more. Fortunately, he still wants soft-food, and he also takes in some hard-food. But he is someone whose diet I must continually watch, for he is not only aged but very thin. I am sure he is not eating as much as he should, but syringe-feeding wouldn’t put much more into him, and might even put him off eating on his own. (It is a viable option when he doesn’t eat at all.)
Each day can be a challenge when one has an oldster. I feed Renn whenever he expresses a desire for food, and sometimes offer him something even when he has not asked for a meal. These small portions through the day help keep him going. One day, he will not want anything; his desire will be gone. Until then, however, a changeable menu will be offered and, hopefully, accepted.
dood...noe joke, tell yur dad ta let ewe eat sum kitten foodz couple timez a week, itz HI in cal o reez and will help ya get sum weight bak on.....trooth buddy ♥♥
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, with his kidneys, the higher protein of the kitten food may do him harm that cancels out the weight-gain possibilities.
DeleteIt's so sad to see our beloved cats age. The best we can do is let them eat whenever and whatever they wish.
ReplyDeleteRoberta is right, and while we do what we can, we can't control their aging or own own. I hope Renn continues to eat well enough to sustain himself, but in the end what would force feeding do except keep a very old body going against the natural progression of life? It's definitely a balancing act, and as you know Renn best, you will know what will be best for him, for his Highest Good. Give him a cuddle from me, tell him he is loved by many. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThese are issues so many do not think about until they are forced to do so
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes it is such a challenge regardless of age!
ReplyDeleteSadly, Renn's current situation sounds similar to the last year of our Sasha. I never thought to syringe feed him, but gave him his wet food as he would take it. In the early days, it was feeding him where he usually slept on the couch, the last few days were allowing him to lick the food off my fingers.
ReplyDeleteI know you'll do everything you can for Renn.
You're doing the best you can by making him plenty of offers from variety. Hopefully he will continue to find an interest in each one of them from one day to the next.
ReplyDeleteI used kitten food to jump start Katie into eating again when I started giving her the laxative she needed so badly. The kitten food and not being constipated any longer worked a miracle for her. She refused kitten food after that which is good as she has stage 2 KD. I donated what I had to the shelter. She does love (too much!! She gluts herself if I am not careful) the fancier Fancy Feasts with "a touch of milk". She developed a liking for the really wet pates. Maybe Renn would like the Chunky Chicken, and the Chicken and Liver pate...
ReplyDeleteBoy oh boy, I can relate to this!
ReplyDeleteSwee Wee has suddenly become a nibbler, and I'm having a heck of a time getting her meds into her too.
May his desire for a good meal continue for a long time yet. It's nice that he looks content to share a chair with Brazil.
ReplyDeleteWatching a beloved friend ageing is very hard. Hopefully he will keep eating his varied menus for a good time to come.
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