Definately talk to your vet on this. You may need to take the cat in every day or two until this is sorted for SUB-Q fluids to help with the dehydration. I would keep in touch with the vet daily for advice and an update until your cat is better.

After my 10 pound male had amputation surgery and didn't eat or drink, I gave him about 30 cc's of liquified food every 6 hours. Most cats are nibblers and eat several times a day. I found chicken baby food (100% chicken) worked well mixed with enough water to suck up into a syringe, but what really helped him is I asked the vet for Science Diet AD (canned food) that is developed specifically for sick cats and is packed with nutrients. Mixed it with enough water to suck up into a syringe.

You can get a larger syringe from your vet. I picked up a 10 cc syringe and that makes it SO much easier. You can get the cat in a comfortable position with the head elevated and only have to fill it once after the first syringe is done.

I also found that Tender Vittles cat food worked well after a couple days of syringe feeding. It is semi-moist and I was able to get solid food into him by popping the Tender Vittles in his mouth like M&Ms. He'd eat if I lightly force fed them to him -- but not on his own.

Your vet can also give you an appetite stimulant (Cyproheptadine) to help the cat eat on its own. I wound up gently force feeding for about a week before I found out about Cyproheptadine and it made a big difference. He started eating on his own after that.

Just keep food pretty steadily in him every 6 or so hours. If you have to work, make sure he gets a good meal before work, after work, and before bed.
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

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