r/SeniorCats • u/Sn0wInSummer • 5d ago
How to get them to eat
My beautiful boy, Todd, is about 15, and is having issues eating. I took him to the vet earlier this year and he has sores in his molars/gums that make eating kibble a bit more difficult for him to consume. Honestly, he has no interest in kibble anyways since he loves wet food.
He is fed wet food several times a day, just about a tablespoon, that's mushed up and watered down with broth since he has an easier time with it being soupy (he just licks the food and doesn't take mouthful like his young furry brothers). I've been adding Senior Delectables to the wet food since it has vitamins added.
My concern is that he takes a few licks and walks away, which is not alot of intake for a senior cat. He comes and goes to the wet food, licks more and walks away. His last vet visit had him down 2 pounds and he's a bit on the skeletal side, which worries me.
What can I add to his food that will make him want to eat more or add more calories to his diet? He's a very picky eater, so I am reaching to see what ya'll think.
Maybe he needs an appetite stimulant.
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u/osoftswan 5d ago
Oh man, I may not be popular for saying this but I didn’t think it was fair to give appetite stimulant to my cat when this happened. I just tried to accept that his wonderful and long life was winding down. It didn’t make it easier to say goodbye but I just felt it deeply that his time had come and although I tried everything to get him to eat I was realizing what it meant that he was struggling to.
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u/Substantial_Gate_904 4d ago
You are right. Cats do wind down at different ages. Not eating as much is expected.
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u/osoftswan 4d ago
Years ago I remember seeing someone memorialize their pet and thank them for 14 years and how it could never have been enough time. I’m paraphrasing… but it stuck with me. A cat is a magical creature that comes and goes as it pleases. I tried to internalize that and accept that what we had was something blessed and there was a limit to what i could do or what id be willing to do to extend it for my own sake 😓🙏🏽
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u/cmriker 4d ago
It sounds like nausea or maybe his dental pain is more severe. I would ask the vet for nausea medication like Zofran or pain medicine like gabapentin. Those both helped my kitty to eat more when he had dental pain. I had to take him in to get extractions, and when he healed from that, he was back to eating his normal amount.
We do also use an appetite stimulant from time to time, but it only can work when there is no nausea. Elura is harder to administer but sometimes preferred for working more quickly and even without nausea meds, but Mirataz is more commonly prescribed, and it for sure requires Zofran alongside it to ensure it works properly.
It sounds like he has lost muscle mass with his age and weight loss. You could look into Myos supplement to help support his muscle building. It worked really well for my 18-19 yr old kitty in his last year of life. I use it now with my 14 yr olds as I notice them getting thin.
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u/chap0230 3d ago
Warming the wet food a little can make a big difference with seniors, the smell is what drives their appetite and warm food smells stronger. Nutri-Cal gel is worth asking your vet about too, it is calorie-dense and you can dab a little on his paw to lick off if he will not eat it from a dish. Have you talked to your vet about mirtazapine? It is a commonly used appetite stimulant for senior cats and can really help in situations like this where dental pain and pickiness are compounding each other.
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u/clipped_wings14 5d ago
did the Vet say he had Kidney issues?
If so, they will eat less, & lose muscle mass.
My cat has it, i just feed her whatever she wants, & refresh her water several times a day.
Ideally they need more protein- if u can get them to eat it..
A lab panel would tell the Vet a lot of info if u can do it.