Oh, my kitty

[Sonoma]

Cats need taurine, which they can't get from the baby food. She might not like the prescription stuff, though, or might eat it for a while and then decide she's bored with it, so don't buy a lot to start with.

When my vet recommended taurine for my cat, they suggested I not get it through them. I found some at GNC http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2133332

The staff at GNC always get a kick out of my telling them it's not for me, it's for my cat.

The tablets are huge, but by grating them up (based on the vet's recommended dosage) over canned food, I was able to get Alex to take it. It didn't seem to have any taste. Grating it over baby food should work too.

[Eireann]

I'm still feeding her the liver crap. It has iron, which she needs. About half an hour ago, she got another squirt of medicine and Vitamin C in liver broth. Currently, she's working on her tan.

I still can't tell if she's eating apart from what I'm actually putting in her mouth, but if she's not eating, my other kitty must be snarfing down the food at an alarming rate.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

I doubt your other baby has had that dramatic of a diet change... unless the other food is far and away tastier?

[Eireann]

Well, the liver does seem to be popular.

Last night, when I was making food for myself, BOTH kitties were in the kitchen, asking for some. Older Kitty hadn't done that in some time. I dropped a piece of cheese on the floor. She looked at it, then back at me. This is what she always does when I give her some food that I'm making. It's never as good as she thinks it will be. Other Kitty ate it.

Older Kitty got more liver broth after that.

[Cat]

If the liver is stinky, that'll be why the kitties like it . Ugh, I remember when I stil ate tuna.... Had to be careful opening the tin, lest I get cat-attacked.

Hows kitty today?

[Eireann]

She's walking around more, showing an interest in what's going on - but I haven't seen her eat, unless she's swallowing what I syringe into her mouth. She did put her face in the bowl just a few minutes ago, but she just picked up some food and then dropped it. I want to see her gaining weight; I want to see her eating.

She did come into the kitchen while I was getting food for myself, and watch me as I did it. She's now on the armchair next to the window.

[Dreamstalker]

Try getting a few cans of sardines in olive oil and mixing the liquid with food to make it more interesting.

[Seraph]

<cheers on the kitty and Eirann>

She's in my prayers (yes, I pray for kitties <.< ), and the liver thing made me giggle. Our kitties' favorite food is that liver-and-bacon stuff. Smells to high heaven, but Victoria literally backflips for it.

[Eireann]

She's been walking around, saying hello to me, and using her scratching post. So there is energy in her. I just don't know what's up with the food. I gave her a couple of blasts of liver juice earlier, and she sat and cleaned her face afterwards.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Animals who get hungry-- which she might be, because she's still accepting food from you, and mouthing at it in her bowl-- but don't actually go at the food and chew and devour, usually have something wrong with the mouth, head, or throat mechanism. If she's been keeping it down and tolerating/going along with/actively participating in you feeding her (which can be as simple as not running when you take out the feeding apparatus), then she's interested enough in food.
As long as the food isn't coming back up, causing her discomfort, or coming out wrong, then it should be okay.
I count the begging for food as a social activity.
I'm so glad she's moving around and acting somewhat like a normal kitteh.
<-- for you and both kitties, if so inclined.

[Eireann]

Well, the vet opened her mouth and showed me petichiae inside. He said this happens sometimes. It may be causing a sensitive mouth, and that's why she's just going through the motions at the food bowl.

She did lap up some liver juice, and she does drink. The hard food, though - I haven't seen her eat any, but that's the food that she picks up and drops.

[Lady_Pigeon]

Yay kitty!

Glad to hear the baby's doing better. Go kitty go!

I will echo all the other posters: baby food all the way. Maybe place it next to the window so she associates the food with the warmth? Keep us posted!

[Eireann]

I bought some wet food today and put it in the bowl, smashing it well with a spoon. Kitty bumped her sister out of the way to get some, then ate some of the dry stuff, then some of the wet stuff. Not a lot, mind you; a mouthful here, a mouthful there. She's just so thin. She's drinking enough water, at least.

She just worked out briefly on the scratching post, then came in here. I keep telling her to eat.

It occurred to me that the vet's remarks may have had an effect on her. She's a very smart kitty, and since I was so devastated by what he said, she may have picked up on it. So I told her today that he's full of shit, and she's fine; she just needs to eat and gain weight.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Ah, what a good kitty!

[Mytical]

If kitty's mouth is bothering her, ask the local vet if you can get a syringe (a large one) without a needle. Mash up some food, and feed the kitty with a syringe.