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Cat: problems with eating
I puree all my cat's food because he was having trouble eating solid food and keeping it down. He eats very small amounts at a time, going to his dish quite often.
He was managing that okay for a few months, but the last couple of weeks he started getting his muzzle into his liquified food, every time he tries to eat. It's all over his nose, and the front of his face, where it dries and cakes in the fur and on his whiskers. I try to keep it cleaned off but it seems to upset him when I do that, even though I am as gentle as I can be while cleaning his face. I use water only, no soap, on a facial tissue or a face cloth. I've tried putting the food on a flat plate and putting it in a little bowl. Container shape doesn't seem to make a difference. Has anyone else had a cat who did this? What did you do to help it? Does anyone have suggestions for keeping his face out of the food? |
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What does the vet say is wrong with your cat? Why can't he keep food down?
This is very abnormal. |
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Thank you for replying.
The vet didn't say. Keeping the food down is not a problem.The cat keeps food down fine, now. He just has to have it pureed. The problem is that he has been snorkling in his food dish without a mask. Do you have any suggestions to prevent him from getting the food all over his muzzle when he eats, other than feeding him with a syringe every hour? |
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That is a strange problem,never heard of it before...maybe something wrong with his teeth,jaw??
Normal healthy cats would avoid getting messy and if,would clean themselves...I'd say eating in short spurts is normal for a cat,but not sucking it up! My 3 cats also do not eat "chunky"food only the pate type and they seem to be licking up the food rather than chomping down on it and keep returning to the dishes,unless my little porker got there first
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"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
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Hmm good questions but have no answers.....but I will say HI!
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Maybe feed the cat in a VERY shallow dish. The cat isn't rubbing his head in the food, is he?
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~*Life is one big game of fetch*~ http://www.webspawner.com/users/yeltneb/index.html |
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How does your cat act when he is not eating? Is he coordinated? Does he have problems with anything else - walking, jumping, etc?
He has to eat liquified food, and is now shoving his face in it. You say this only started a few weeks ago? Something is wrong with him. You might want to see another vet to find out what it is. |
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I must say I find it strange as well that the cat doesn't clean it's face afterwards Mine go nuts cleaning after a good serving of wet food ( I have to puree mine as well or they just lick the gravy and leave the chunks...lol)
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Thanks |
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No Im not saying that, I give mine about 2 tablespoons at the most so not much there to get messy with. One sometimes ends up with some on top of his nose but he cleans it off.
How much food are you putting out ? All over the whiskers has me wondering the amount of food in the bowl? You put it on a saucerbut you want it to hold liquid are you adding water When I say i puree my cats food perhaps I am using the wrong word I simply mash the chunks into teeny tiny bits |
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I put out one or two tablespoon at a time.
Yes, I must add water in order to process the food in the blender and so that I can strain it. Also, it must be semi-liquid so that he can lap it up. He isn't able to pick up solid food. |
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Does he 'lap' it up properly... I'm wondering if there is some form of neurological problem if he can't get his tongue to lap up the food.
I'm sorry your baby is suffering like this...have u thought of getting another vets opinion on why he throws up after he eats? Perhaps a homeopathic natural vet would be helpful.
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Cats only have nine lives because they stole them from dogs!Teehee |
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Whatever it is, there is definitely a problem. |
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Yes there is definitely a problem. The why's don't really matter, as it can't be repaired. Finding out, or figuring out, how to work around it is my quest. I need to get enough food into him every day without him wearing most of it. |
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Yes there is definitely a problem. The why's don't really matter, as it can't be repaired. Finding out, or figuring out, how to work around it is my quest. I need to get enough food into him every day without him wearing most of it. |
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I'm starting to wonder if this kitty has some sort of digestive problem if it vomits up dry food and small bits can't be tolerated.
I'd say a vet visit might put your mind at rest as I don't think your feeding routine should be so difficult as you say |
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As I wrote earlier, my dear little kitty has only one more trip to the vet left on his punch card. I want to delay making that trip for as long as I possibly can. Vomitting is not a problem. The cat seldom vomits. The feeding routine is not difficult. My concerns and questions are about ways in which I might be able to arrange things to prevent food from accumulating on his face and whiskers, and from there on his forepaws, as well. As Iggette noted, cats like to keep clean. He's not able to clean himsef and I'm not always available to wash him each time after he browses throughout the day and night. Thank you all again for your comments. Can anyone recommend another message board site where I may by chance find someone who has experience with this problem? |
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Himself, May 2003:
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He's beautiful!!! I don't have any suggestions that haven't already been suggested. What about a margarine lid? Or try feeding him less at more intervals throughout the day? Could you wipe his face as often as you can (when you are up/home) so that he knows what he needs to do?? Hmmmmm!!!!
Good luck with that!!
__________________
Chris ~~ ZOO OWNER 1 dog - Brick 2 cats - Spunky & Tux 1 very mean tiger barb (who killed all of our other fish) 3 leopard geckos - Dave, Jenn & Jane (gone back to their original owner) GONE TO CRITTER HEAVEN: 1 house gecko - George (RIP) 2 giant african land snailS - Kaimah (RIP) & Kamau (RIP) 2 baby african land snails - Tiny & Pokey (RIP) 1 Veiled Chameleon - Chip (RIP) |
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Thank you very much. I'm trying the margarine lid now. What a good idea! I never thought of that. Maybe getting away from the ridges in the saucer will help? He's not feeling like eating, for the moment, so I'll have to wait to see if that will work. I try to keep a supply of fresh food available all day and night for him, with either two or one tablespoon per plate. I do wipe his face with a tissue every time that I'm nearby after he eats. I wash his face thoroughly, a couple of times a day, with a facecloth and warm water. He's not keen on that, though, and I don't like to stress him any more than I have to. He's been so good about letting me give him his insulin. I don't want him to try to avoid me because of face washing. On edit: He had the same problem, even with the margarine lid. |
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March 6/04
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Tuaqs. He is a beautiful cat and to me,with all his healthproblems and age,I would not stress too much on the sloppiness...
Like you said seizures and being diabetic might have contributed to his slackening of his yaw or anything else... If he is an older cat,like you say,I would try to make the rest of his life as peaceful and without stress as I can,he certainly has enough to deal with,as do you Maybe if you leave him messy,he would eventually,in his own time clean himself,after all between insulin-injections and seizures,he most of all needs love and peace.
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"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
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Aww that poor little thing!! I agree with Chico....let him live his last days in peace and without stress!! If his face is messy...oh well!!! You both are under a lot of stress, worrying about messy whiskers is so very minor!!
Just keep doing what you are doing and love him more than ever!! Sorry the margarine lid didn't work out - glad you tried it though!!! Good luck and give your boy a hug from us!!!
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Chris ~~ ZOO OWNER 1 dog - Brick 2 cats - Spunky & Tux 1 very mean tiger barb (who killed all of our other fish) 3 leopard geckos - Dave, Jenn & Jane (gone back to their original owner) GONE TO CRITTER HEAVEN: 1 house gecko - George (RIP) 2 giant african land snailS - Kaimah (RIP) & Kamau (RIP) 2 baby african land snails - Tiny & Pokey (RIP) 1 Veiled Chameleon - Chip (RIP) |
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What's his name? I think we should always say the name of our animals as a proper introduction Not just "my cat"or "my dog",it's so clinical,they do all have names that we lovingly give them...
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"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
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I guess the seizures may have caused some neurological damage...?
Could you get large paper plates, and spread his food out in a very thin layer for him to lick up? It seems to me it might be less messy that way? Or, you could get a large syringe, and feed him that way. Hey, all of us might end up with our faces in our plates one day, and just hope someone cares enough to put up with us. |
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Very true,Lucky
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"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
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