Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
Last week my 13-year-old cat, Maisy, had an operation to remove both thyroid glands. Since she got home a few days ago, she’s been drinking but not eating. I thought she may have contracted an infection because her breathing was troublesome, so I took her to the vet yesterday. He gave me an antibiotic, which has improved her breathing, and administered mirtazapine as an appetite stimulant.
The problem is, 24 hours after the mirtazapine, she’s still not interested in food. I give her all the things she likes to eat (pouches, cooked fish, chicken, fish paste) but nothing interests her. I have just started feeding her on the thick liquids extracted from cat food pouches via a pipette, although this is hard work. Is there anything else I can do?
~ John
Siouxsie: The first thing we’d suggest is that you call your vet and tell him what’s going on. He may have some other appetite stimulants he can give Maisy and he can check to see if she’s in pain.
Thomas: If all the muscles around Maisy’s throat hurt because of the surgery, that might cause her to be less interested in eating solid food.
Bella: And if the antibiotics are making her feel pukey, she’s definitely not going to want to eat.
Siouxsie: For those of you who don’t know, surgery to remove the thyroid glands is one of three treatments for hyperthyroidism. The other two are methimazole (which I take for my hyperthyroidism) and radioactive iodine therapy (which I tried, and I guess I’m that one in a million cats who doesn’t respond to it).
Thomas: The thyroid glands are located on either side of the trachea, just below the larynx. Although the esophagus is behind the trachea, any surgery around that area can cause pain, swelling and discomfort in other parts of the throat.
Bella: And if she’s developed an infection at the surgery site, that would make it hurt even more.
Siouxsie: On the other hand, her respiratory infection may be harming her appetite. If her nose is stuffed up, she’s not going to be able to smell her food, and the sense of smell is the biggest appetite stimulant for a kitty.
Thomas: You can make soft food smellier by heating it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. That might make Maisy more interested in eating.
Bella: We also think you’re on the right track with the liquids. Not only will they keep her nourished, they’ll keep her hydrated, too. You could mix the thick liquid with some water to make it a bit thinner and get more of it into her.
Siouxsie: But it’s very important that you get Maisy eating again. Cats that stop eating can develop a life-threatening condition called hepatic lipidosis, which requires pretty extensive veterinary treatment to manage.
Thomas: What about you other readers? What tricks do you use when your cat won’t eat solid foods? Please share your tips in the comments.
Bella: And please, John, let us know how it goes. We hope Maisy’s made a full recovery.
JaneA Kelley is a punk rock cat mom and award-winning blogger. She is a regular columnist for Catster Magazine, and she and the Paws and Effect Gang share a home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Cats are very sensitive to pain. My own cat recently had dentistry when most of her teeth were removed. She refused to eat for ten days. She needed Buprenorphine which is a very strong pain medicine from her vet. I also fed her Gerber stage 2 baby food via feeding syringe available from the vet. However, if she does not eat soon she should be hospitalized again possibly on i. v. fluids as cats run the risk of becoming very sick if they don’t eat. Appetite stimulants such as Mirtazapine do work but usually only for a short period of a few hours.
My 14 year old beloved cat just stopped eating last July. She was large and overweight to start with — 23 lbs (but she’s also very tall.) We started to see some hollows on her body and decided it was serious and took her to the vet. He could find nothing wrong but gave us antacids, anti-nausea, and a liquid antibiotic — none of which we could get down her. But he also gave us some baby food and a special formula canned cat food which she at least started to eat (or slurp because we added warm water to it in case it was a chewing issue. that helped for a few weeks and she put back maybe a pound. but then I tried Jackson Galaxy’s spirit essence Happy Tummy. Now, I don’t believe in holistic medicine, nor do I believe in essences doing anything other than sometimes smelling good. But my cat Felis Started gobbling up anythiing put in front of her the first day I sprayed it around her food and and on her. She weighs in around 19 lbs now, which is just right, and we’re going to have to pull her back lest she go too far. Strange but wonderful to have my sweetie back!
My cats have never refused to eat altogether, but even when they’re not hungry they still enjoy people food (I know, it’s not that good for them, but it’s better than nothing). Their favorites are eggs and cheese (and fish of course).
FYI The thyroid has metabolic functions, so it’s not unusual that thyroid surgery would mess with one’s appetite.
Dont forget, if you DO heat the food up, make sure its in a microwavable safe bowl / plate… some plastics are safe but i would recommend using a glass bowl/ dinner plate
good luck xx
Good advice from everyone. Definitely use the baby food in a jar (mine especially love the ham) and put it in a large syringe. It’s often hard to make them take it but once they taste it she may start licking it up on her own. Put it in a small dish at that time.
After a while she may regain her appetite and her throat may be healed. Good luck. Sometimes it drives you crazy when you think you’re doing the right think to make them healthy and then they seem almost worse. If only could talk and tell us what’s wrong.
wondered if you ever got your kitty to eat. Our cat just had a tumor removed off her larynx.