My Cat Too Depressed To Eat

[BellaBlinky]

I have a 6 1/2 year old female kitty named Bella. I decided to foster a mother cat and her kittens about a month ago. I noticed the mother cat being very territorial towards Bella a few weeks ago, so Bella started sleeping on higher surfaces such as my desk and even atop a high bookshelf all the while looking frightened and neglected. The mother cat attacked Bella (aggressively chased her) a few times about a week ago at which time I told the rescue group I could no longer foster the cats. On Sunday, after I noticed Bella's appetite diminishing as well, the cats were relocated to another foster home. I thought Bella would revive but today is Wednesday and she still hasn't eaten. I even tried to syringe feed her baby food but she also started vomiting yellow bile on Tuesday evening at which point I took her to the emergency room. Her vitals were stable, blood work ok (they said it was ok but her ALT was 141 on a scale of 12-130 - they said this was insignificant), and she was ever so slightly dehydrated. They gave her anti nausea meds, fluids, and antacid. When she refused to eat Tuesday, I took her to a regular vet at which point they gave her a b12 shot, more anti nausea meds, and more fluids. They said she was in good condition. How is that possible if she hasn't eaten. She also hasn't peed in several day although they said her bladder is full. I feel she has sunk into a deep depression which has killed her appetite and now she is slipping hepatic lipadosis (fatty liver?) They said if she doesn't eat by Thursday, she would have to go to the hospital aaand get tube fed plus more tests. I neglected my little cat by caring for the fosters kittens because they had diarreah and ringworm which was exhausting. However I saw Bella become depressed and withdrawn but took action a week too late. Please pay attention to those small signs so you don't end up where I am! Can anyone help me? I have ONE day to get her to eat AND keep it down. I know she is so nauseous. I don't want her to suffer through the hospital and tube feeding. ANY and all suggestions are appreciated. I have had her since she was ONE day old and her life has been very sheltered. I should have realized how emotionally fragile she was.

[CML2014]

How is your Bella doing today?? She has been in my thoughts and prayers.

Hopeful,
CML

[BellaBlinky]

What afflicted the K sisters? It has now been since Fri. morning that she has thrown up. She started being tube fed Sat. at 8am. They feed her at 8 and 2, four times a day. No eating on her own though. How significant is it the fact that she hasn't thrown up? I'm trying to figure out how happy to allow myself to be?

[opus88]

hi....well thats very significant that she has held down her food since friday...thats 2 full days with no vomiting.. she's getting that nutrition into her slow and steady. thats great, and yes allow yourself to feel happy and hopeful:))
I'll let Pip reply abt the K sisters....

keeping our fingers crossed for little Bella♥

[CML2014]

Well I am with Opus on the "Be Happy" !!

Are they   saying that the depression alone has caused this, with no medical problems?? They do have antidepressants for little Bella...maybe that is something that could be tried, once she gets her strength back. Maybe that new nausea medicine is also helping. Whatever it takes, right?

At least she is improving and that is the best news.
Thank you for keeping us informed.

CML

[Piparskeggr]

Unfortunately, both Kestrel and Hildiekatt (the K sisters) developed intestinal lymphoma.

This can de diagnosed through ultrasound, but it will take a biopsy to be sure.  There is one form, a slower growing thickening of the intestines, which can be treated.

My girls had the fast growing, much less treatable kind.

If Bella is eating (albeit via tube), keeping the food down, making deposits in the scratch box and is stable to getting better, there is hope that she was deeply, emotionally affected.  Especially if she did not lose a dramatic amount of weight.

Some cats just do not take to other cats and will react adversely.

I am reading hope for her into the fullness of where she was and where she is now.

[BellaBlinky]

She really had not lost much weight at all. The vet said the reason her liver was not affected by the fasting is because she was a lean cat to begin with. Her worst symptoms were isolation, catatonic state, and vomiting and extreme nausea. They are discharging her from the hospital tomorrow with the feeding tube in place and she is not eating on her own yet. The most amazing thing happened today when I visited her. Usually when I visit her she is unresponsive and just stares ahead. Today she nuzzled my hand and stood up when she saw me and then she almost began sucking on my hand. She placed her little mouth there and sucked 2 or 3 times and then just rested her head on my hand. I've had her since she was one day old and she has always sucked on my hand for about 15 minutes 2 times a day since then. Well she hasn't done this since she got depressed about a month ago. I cried tears of joy and now I have hope for her. We will still have to wait for the biopsy results and of course I am scared about tube feeding her at home, but the way she acted today I think she at least knows that I love her!