Well, he's not eating at tonight. It's so frustrating. I tried baby food
and kitten formula cat food and the buffalo again. He seemed interested in
the buffalo, but when it came time to actually eat it, he just kind of "air
nibbled" over it? It seems like he's not making the connection that he
needs to eat. Yet, he wants to go outside and walk around. And I just
can't let him do that because I know it wear him out way too much-
especially with not eating. So he just sits out on his porch and watches
the colony of street cats eats his premium cat food voraciously!!!! Ugh.
When he was healthy, I swear, that would have driven him right over the
edge! He's still bright eyed. And while he still has wants and desires
(even if they are mostly to go outside!), I think that's a good sign. He's
also sleeping well-- which when the anemia kicked in, pre-transfusion, he
was not sleeping well at all. I wake up many times each night and I always
check on him and if he on my bed, laying on his side with his legs stretched
out, all passed out....I breath such a sign of relief!
I did give him his Nutrical, colostrum and some baby food (with water) via a
syringe (my mom brought me a 12 cc one). He doesn't LOVE it, but he's so
good for me when it comes to handling (for what was originally a
super-skittish stray?), and he swallows fine. I got 3 syringe fulls in him.
I will try not to "sound the alarm bells" about the not eating. It's hard
though because this is my first time in this realm and I do feel like a
nursing mother who has a baby that won't latch on or something! It's like I
have all this anxiety about it that pops into my head all the time!
Thanks for calming me down.
-Caroline
________________________________
From: "Marylyn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Appetite issues and Monkee update
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:47:56 -0500
Don't read so much into the lack of appetite. It is hot, humid, has been
raining there, and he may just not be hungry. This is not the time to get
depressed. Next time you are at Whole Foods try the Fage (Greek yogurt) or
Chatham's sheep's yogurt. Dixie loves them. Cool, creamy, full of good
stuff (I don't tell her this though), and not as tart as the cow's yogurt.
She gets the full fat version (if I am going to buy the stuff for her I want
her to really enjoy it). She likes it so well that I brought back 3 16 oz
sheep's yogurts, a Fage and a goats' yogurt this trip.
You are going to worry. That is what people who love do. Call Susan in the
morning if you have not heard from her. You are feeding high protein
buffalo which is good. Try to relax a little and enjoy Monkee. He has lots
to teach you.
If you
have men who will exclude any of God's creatures
from the
shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal
likewise with their fellow man.
St. Francis
----- Original Message -----
From: Caroline Kaufmann
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: Appetite issues and Monkee update
I tried a whole arsenal of things last night to get Monkee to eat. I went
shopping and tried to find as many of the suggested items as possible, but
it was hard. He ate some raw buffalo meat from Whole Foods that the butcher
gave me at no charge since I wanted such a tiny amount. He ate about a
spoonful. That is the most he ate on his own. He did pick at some sardines,
but it wasn't much. I syringe fed him some gravy I made from 2 types of cat
food. I did get at least a tablespoon of Nutrical in him because if I put it
on his nose, he will lick it off EVERY time. He did have a BM last night-
it was small.
He got Nutrical in him this morning and he drank some gravy from a Whiskas
pouch. He also drank some meal replacement formula for cats that I found at
the pet store- but not a lot of it. His pupils look a little dilated to me.
As for his hydration, I think his usually pink nose looks a little white- as
well as his gums. But color comes back to them if I press on his gums. They
just seem to have more of white color though- less pink. His gums are not
dry/tacky though- they are somewhat moist.
He's still moving around good and talking and wanting to do things- like sit
out on the front porch. He purrs when I pet him. The hovering over the
litter box and attempting to eat it has lessened.
My mom is brining me some larger syringes so I will at least have some
bigger than a 1 ml syringe to feed him with.
I emailed an update to his Vet, Dr. Maier, but I haven't heard from her yet.
I just called there and the receptionist said she's out of the office on
Wed. afternoons.
I guess I am just worried because I am wondering if the blood transfusion he
got exactly two weeks ago is wearing off and/or if he needs an appetite
stimulant and/or if he is feeling bad. I just don't think he's one to truly
show how bad he's feeling so I am just anxious about where we go from here?
-Caroline
________________________________
From: "Susan Dubose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Appetite issues and Monkee update
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:21:09 -0500
Ask your vet for a 5cc syringe.
They do make them bigger, of course, but I like the control of the 5cc.
He should be getting @ least 30cc's of food TID.
Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in
state,
Faithful Bast at her
side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft
applause,
Ever guarding with
sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent
----- Original Message -----
From: Caroline Kaufmann
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: Appetite issues and Monkee update
We will try these suggestions. Thank you. I guess I will be shopping again
after work! Dr. Maier said to start Monkee on the Nutrical, so my mom is
picking that up for me today. I fed him "human" tuna and tuna water over
the weekend from the can, but as of yesterday, he'd only eat one piece. Of
course, he eats a ton of my broiled whitefish though! But I can't keep
getting take-out fish for dinner every night for Monkee! I forgot that I
had a few cans of AD from when Monkee's anemia first started. He only ate
that when he was really really down and as soon as he started feeling
better, he wouldn't eat even one bit of it. But since I have some cans
already, we will try it again.
I did syringe feed him last night- but all I have is a 1 ml syringe, so it
takes forever! I took advantage of the fact that he is sooooooooooooo good
for pilling, etc. and tried that last night. I had been syringe feeding him
his colostrum mixed with water since I couldn't get him to eat a whole meal,
I didn't want to waste a colostrum pill by adding it to food he wouldn't
eat. That way, I felt like I could make sure he got water too. But last
night, I probably added too much water and it took about 10, 1 ml
syringe-fulls to get all the colostrum in him! He was so good though! So
then I did the same procedure to get some of the beef/chicken livers gravy
I'd blended up in him.
We have tried hand-feeding and what my mom calls "community feeding"- where
I sit on the ground with him and talk to him, hand him pieces and pet him-
which he usually loves. But I tried that this morning and it's like he
tries to "fake" eat by just licking some gravy just to get me off his back!
Even in his weakened state he is still too smart for his own good!
The funniest thing about all this for me is that, since he won't eat a whole
small can of food, I never give him one- usually just a half. The other
half that Monkee never touched- I HATE wasting it and throwing it away. My
neighborhood has these "neighborhood" strays (not feral, just friendly
strays who've been taken care of by the neighborhood) that a bunch of us
watch over, feed, water, etc. They have all been fixed by a lady up the
street who started this whole street-cat thing. The issue regarding these
cats though is a whole other can of worms that I am not ready to get into
yet because I rent and worry about what will happen when I move, but for
now, they are very well taken care of, safe and happy- even if they are
outdoor cats (which I don't "believe" in). I have been feeding them for
about a year since I moved in and figured out they were strays and there are
two of the 6 cats that seem to "prefer" the food I give them so they are
almost permanent fixtures on my front stoop now, with a few others who
sometimes visit for food if they are extra hungry, but routinely come for
the water that I change everyday. Anyway, instead of always just getting
fed cheap 9 Lives dry food- which they love- these two now get Monkee's
rejected premium food! They've been fed AD, Fancy Feast, and as of
yesterday, the Wellness wet food! It drives my mom crazy, but I'd rather
some cat (even a rag-a-muffin stray!) eat that food than just throw it away!
-Caroline
________________________________
From: "Susan Dubose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Appetite issues and Monkee update
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:17:13 -0500
hi Caroline,
I am sorry Monkee is a bit under the weather again.
Try the baby food, but only the turkey or chicken w/ gravy mix.
Try PetGuard brand cat food if you have it there, it's usually @ Whole Foods
or other health food stores.
The fish, chicken & liver formula is quite tasty to cats.
And the beef mix has LOTS of juice.
Try a product called "Mix It" by Science Diet. It is the dog food section @
PetSmart w/ the moist foods.
It is for either cats or dogs, but they keep it w/ the dog stuff.
Try Pro Plans moist food, the sardines in the "aspic" is quite gross, but
cats LOVE it.
It is chunks of sardines in some kinda slimey sauce.....
Try Sardines, try tuna.....
Try Pet Gold Gourmet Tuna for cats, LOTS of gravey.....
This is only available @ the pet food specialty stores.
I guess the vet has also tried the A/D moist food for cats?
Only available @ the vet.
Last of all, have you tried syringe feeding him?
Some cats get to the point where they will only eat if hand fed, even if
they are feeling better.
I usually mix up baby food w/ a squirt of Nutri Cal in it.
It is good to feed the best quality of foods to him, but @ this point, you
have to find out what he will eat, even if it is "junk" in your eyes, and
let him have it.
Even if it is Whiskars.........
And lastly, I cannot believe the vets were not weighting him w/ EVERY visit.
That's really uncool.
Please keep us posted.
I will keep him in my thoughts.
Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in
state,
Faithful Bast at her
side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft
applause,
Ever guarding with
sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent
----- Original Message -----
From: Caroline Kaufmann
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:01 AM
Subject: Appetite issues and Monkee update
Hi everyone. I just wanted to update you on Monkee's situation and ask for
some help/advice with his eating. He has been doing really well since last
week. I pretty much just decided to drop his other two vets for now and
focus on getting him care from his homeopathic vet Dr. Maier. Monkee was
eating his raw food really well. We went to see Dr. Maier on Friday and she
said he looked really good- his heart was strong (weak murmur), he was alert
and he weighed 12 pounds. Which was nice to know because every time he
went to Dr. Daley's, I don't think they ever weighed him so I didn't know
how much weight he'd lost with the chemo and anemia. He started at 13
pounds and some ounces, so he hasn't lost too much yet. Dr. Maier added
another homeopathic remedy to further help detox him. He was so good for
the ride out and back from Dr. Maier's and at her clinic. It was
hilarious-- I could tell he was much more happier and I knew I made the
right decision about his care. It was a total 180 from his behavior at Dr.
Daley's!!!
However, his appetite started dropping off this weekend. I can't get him to
eat his raw food. I bought him all this Wellness wet food at the pet store
to get him eating organic and he won't eat it at all, so I went back to the
gravy-soaked Fancy Feast. He will only drink some of the gravy. I also
tried putting his chicken livers and raw beef in a blender and liquefying it
because he seems to like gravy so much and I thought the stringy chick
livers were too much effort for him to chew. He really only drank a little
of that. I can get him to eat table scraps of my own food- broiled
restaurant fish- but that is not the kind of stuff he's supposed to be
eating to help his anemia.
He also started eating litter-- which has been really hard for me because I
know if he wasn't anemic, he would never do anything like that. He's very
OCD about his litter box and I think if he could think straight, the mere
thought of nibbling on litter would appall his sensibilities. I emailed Dr.
Maier about that and she told me to start him on Silica- which I got from
the health food store and started on Sunday.
I am aware the transfusion may be wearing off. Also, he is no longer on the
appetite stimulant Cyproheptadine because last week he was eating fine
without it.
I have emailed Dr. Maier to let her know and see what she can do for him.
But I also wanted to know if any of you have any other "tricks" up your
sleeves that I can try on him?
Thanks,
Caroline
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