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 However I saw Bella become depressed and withdrawn but took action a week too late.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.

[BellaBlinky]

Bella has been home from the Hospital for almost 4 days now. She is still being fed primarily through her feeding tube in her neck, but she is eating on her own, ever so tiny amounts.  Oh how frightening it was the first three days for me to feed her through the feeding tube! Courage...I prayed for courage everyday! I'm beginning to become a little more comfortable with it now and I'm finding tricks that make it easier. The first thing Bella did when she got home over the first couple days was examine the entire house for any other cats. Every square inch. The good news is I can tell that she feels confident that they are gone and she feels safe in her own home again. I'm a teacher so I'm off in the summers so I am spending every single moment with her. In fact, I haven't left the house since I picked her up from the hospital on Tuesday! I feel that I'm doing the right thing by not leaving her for now because every single day there is a new drama. The good news is that she is eating more she is back to being her cuddly sweet little self, sticking to me like velcro. Unfortunately, on Wednesday I actually figured out she vomited from straining in the litter box because she did it again today. This little girl is constipated:-( I know she had a good pool on Wednesday because I saw it, and I know she pooed a little bit yesterday and a little bit today. Today was rough as she was  straining off and on for a couple hours. She finally settled down around 2PM today and the good news is that she's actually eaten more today than she has all week! yay! 26 pieces of kibble! I know it's 26 pieces because I give them to her one at a time so she doesn't choke because I think the tube does irritate her throat. So I called the vet about this straining... she was also burping a lot, and the vet said that I could bring her in for an enema, OMG, or they could call in a prescription medication called lactulose. Unfortunately they said I cannot put it through her feeding tube so I have to give it to her orally and I certainly don't want to make her nauseous and vomit. I have really upped her water content today,  but I know that doesn't help once the poo is already impacted. I just can't even imagine a one hour round trip car ride and an enema on this poor little kitty with a tube sticking out of her neck when she is just starting to eat and relax and be happy again. I'm thinking of putting just a couple drops of the medication on a treats and pray that she eats it. I even asked the Dr about half of an infant type of suppository but she said no because the biopsy results did show mild inflammation in her intestines. The mild level that she has the doctor said its is typically brought about by stress. So no cancer, no GI disease, all clear for the most part. I can't even begin to thank all of you for your support. She is the center of my universe right now and her health and wellbeing literally sit in the palm of my hand.  What is your advice on the constipation?

[zodiacqueen]

Hi. I'm sending out prayers that Bella gets better soon. I have a good feeling that she will. I really do!! It sounds to me that it was the stress that caused this and the feeding tube was a good plan.

I'm sure your visit perked her up and helped her fighting spirit! Please keep us posted. We are rooting for her.

[evewisewoman]

I think you are a wonderful kitty mama. I am praying for you and your
darling fur baby Bella in her healing journey.  Eve ( one of Sammy the Cat's caretakers and his mom )

[SassyLassie]

Just saw this post. My heart goes out to you and sweet Bella and I cried when I read how she licked your hand that day at the vets.

I will prayer for both of you, I hope all works out OK. Cats are such wonderful animals, they deserve the best.

[Jade59]

Sending positive thoughts and prayers for Bella, and You, Bella's Mom.  We all know how difficult it is to care for such a sick kitty.  It is Really hard.

You are doing great!  Big Hug to you!  

[AppleBr]

Praying hard for Bella and you!!!