New Member

Posts: 3
From:Victoria, Australia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-10-2004 05:19 PM         

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Hi

We have a 12 week old kitten called Moppett who has been off of her food for six days (very abnormal!)

We have taken her to the vet as she had a vaccanation earlier this week and was sick afterwards but it has been confirmed that her current condition is not related to that. She is still passing poo's and drinking water and attempting to play but is a lot more lethagic than usual. The vet has advised us to monitor her eating habits as she is concerned however she does appear to be hungry but just looks at her food then paws at the floor as if she was in her litter tray - very strange!

Please help our kitten xxx

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-10-2004 05:35 PM         

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Hello. Welcome to the site. She must be eating something, as she is still 'passing poos.' What are you feeding her? Perhaps, she doesn't like the food. Also, pawing at the floor is very common. There was actaully a post about this and a lot of our cats do the same thing.

Like the vet said, keep an eye on her eating/drinking habits and let us know what type of food you are feeding her.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-10-2004 05:57 PM         

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My cats paw at their food too, especially soft food.

Maybe try giving her a different brand of food. Or something that is really stinky, cats like stinky food.

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Posts: 3
From:Victoria, Australia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-11-2004 12:31 AM         

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Thanks for your comments. We have been trying a variety of food (Whiskers - kitten, fresh salmon, treats)and even one that the vet recommended(Pills Perscription Diet) but still no difference. She's eaten a little today but again she's just run over to her bowl, sniffed and pawed then walked away??????

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Posts: 790
From:uk
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-11-2004 02:40 AM         

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Hi Sorry to hear about your kitty i have a suggestion aswell as giving her water try her on kitten substitute formula you can buy it from any good petstore or vets giving her this to drink will help keep the nutrients in her body.

Have you tried her with boiled chicken most cats love it.

Mike.

boro_lad1976@hotmail.com

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Posts: 81
From:Fairfield, CT
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-11-2004 06:10 AM         

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Just a thought...where is her litter box in relation to her food bowl? Cat do not like to eat near where their litter box is.

I would also try what charmedagain suggested. When I first brought my kitten home I had to feed her a combination of boiled chicken and white rice. I would put it in a blender until it was the consistancy of baby food.

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New Member

Posts: 3
From:Victoria, Australia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-12-2004 04:07 PM         

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Just thought I'd let you know that Moppett is on the mend. I tried the boiled chicken last night and she was meowing away in anticipation as I was cooking it (I'm sure she knew what it was!) She polished off the entire plate which was the first time in ages and she's back to her lovely playful, cuddly, biting self!! Thank you

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-13-2004 12:22 AM         

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That's cute. I'm glad she finally ate. So, how long are you going to boil chicken for her? lol. By the way, I did end up finding out why cats 'paw at the floor' by their food:

1) They usually do this with soft food that they don't like (to let us know they don't approve).

2) They may also do it before or after eating out of instinct. Cats before them would bury the food, so that other animals would not smell it and end up eating their food.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-13-2004 02:13 PM         

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My cats do it when they are finished eating. They sniff it then paw around it then sniff it again.

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Posts: 152
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 01-14-2004 04:36 AM         

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My younger kitty does it, but he like, mows down on the food, so I don't think he dislikes it!

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-14-2004 07:36 AM         

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Kayliface: The two reasons I posted about cats pawing the floor is either reason one or reason two. Meaning they either don't like their soft food or they are reverting to their instincts and acting out the 'need to bury their food' so other animals will not find it.

Now, if a cat normally likes his food and is eating it all up and paws (reason two), but then we switch cat foods on them and they don't eat it and start pawing, then it would be reason one that time.

[This message has been edited by Chessmind (edited 01-14-2004).]

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