force feeding a cat

I just rescued two cats that had bad URI s and couldn't smell their food so couldn't eat.

After various advice and forum surfing I just wanted to report what worked for me:

I got a wide syringe (NO needle of course!) from the vet and mixed some Prescription Diet canned food with water. It mixes really well into a thick, soupy consistency and is very high calorie so good if your cat isn't able to eat on his own..
I wrapped the cat in a blanket so he couldn't struggle to much and held him against me with one arm. Then opened his mouth by putting my hand under his chin and my thumb on one side of his mouth and forefinger on other. With the other hand, I put the syringe into the side of his mouth and squeezed the soupy food in. He hadn't eaten in a coupla days so I just fed him two syringes full, morning and evening.
Next day, I held him in the same way and put a single piece of dry kibble in his mouth, the type that they had been feeding him in the shelter (science diet). I knew he wanted them because he got excited at the sound of them in the bowl, but would go over to the bowl and it was as if they were invisible because he couldn't smell anything. However, they can still taste as they swallow even when they can't smell.
He wasn't happy at first when I put the kibble into his mouth, but I kept going and after several more he got a taste for them and started looking for them. He still couldn't smell them in the bowl so I had to feed him from my hand.
The next day he started eating them on his own from the bowl!

Hope that helps anyone with a similar problem! :[/list] :y_the_best:

 

Welcome to the boards and thank you for the advice.

Glad to hear that your fur baby is doing better. I have had to syringe feed on many occasions. After not eating for awhile I feed them a couple syringe fulls 3-5 times a day until they eat. Also if their noses are full and they cant smell you can use nasal saline spray (no chemicals!) I have also had to give SubQ fluids to get them hydrated.

Good advice. Look forward to seeing pictures and more posts.

 

good job. - syringe feeding sick kitties also helps with bonding (I think).
Another good recipe is canned AD food (gotten from vet) as it's high in calories, mixed with plain Pedialyte and NutraCal. Makes a nice soupy mix.
As stated saline solution nasal spray works well. I've found the children strength to be the best as there are no added chemicals. It gives relief for a couple of hours but at least in that time they'll eat.
Also a warm mist humidifier can help too.
Can't wait to see pictures

 

Good job with the kitties and thank you for the good advice!