I forgot -- yes to force feeding. When my cat was so sick, I got food into him a couple different ways:

1. I got a larger syringe (without needle) to help with feeding. It is a larger version of what they give you to give antibiotics and liquid meds. Mine was a 10-20 cc syringe vs. the normal 1-3 cc liquid med syringe. I sucked up chicken flavored baby food (Beechnut has a chicken w/chicken broth baby food that is 100% chicken) that I loosened up with a little water and also Science Diet AD (which I mentioned in previous post) that I loosened up with a little water. I was able to feed both gently to my cat. I sat on the floor with my legs in a circle (touching toes). I am right handed, so I laid his head on my left knee/thigh to elevate it and and used my right leg to gently restrain his body. I pried his mouth open with my left hand and gently (to not choke) squeezed the liquid baby food or AD into his mouth. He gobbled it up once the syringe started working.

3. After a couple days of that every four to six hours, I graduated to more solid food. I used the same position on the floor, but I popped Tender Vittles semi-moist cat food (like small M&Ms) into his mouth and he chewed it.

You probably won't have to do this too much once he gets the taste of the food and is on an appetite stimulant. Work with the vet but go back to food he likes to get him to eat. Don't use a diet food he won't eat or he will starve to death.

Contrary to popular believe, cats won't eat when they are hungry. They have been known to starve rather than eat a food they don't like.

Before you force feed, get a food he likes and see if he eats it. Do it immediately. Sometimes the more inexpensive brands like Meow Mix are very palatable to cats -- try whatever you know he will like.
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

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