Very senior kitty with problems

[ciclogrl]

My female cat is 21 years old and has irritable bowel syndrome as well as and intractable upper respiratory problem.  She has  been on daily prednisone for the IBS, but the vet said over time it would suppress her immune system and her upper resp. problem will become worse.  That is exactly what has happened.  We tried the nebulizer, but that didn't really help--she still sneezed her head off and sprayed mucus everywhere!  So I tried backing off the prednisone, in the hope that her immune system would improve.  It has helped somewhat, but she still snorts lots of mucus, just not as frequently.  Oh, she also has kidney disease, which I am treating with twice weekly subcutaneous Ringers solution.  Besides the upper respiratory problem, which is extremely annoying to me (and to her too, I'm sure), the main issue now is that she has totally lost her appetite.  She acts like she's hungry, but then won't eat anything I put in front of her, even her favorite chicken baby food.  
Any suggestions for improving her appetite?

[CML2014]

Hi Cic,

Just checking in on your senior kit. Hope she is feeling better. Keep us posted, K?

CML

[KittyCatLover23]

I know this may sound strange, but catnip increases my cat's apatite. Have you tried that? I am talking Catnip PLANTS, not the dust. :p

[janelovescats12]

I am sorry to hear she is not doing too well. Is she any better now? Have you tried anything yet?

[LisaMarie2323]

21 is up there for cats. Is the IBS causing constipation or diarrhea? If it is the latter, feed her some pumpkin from a can. The stuff you use for pies, with no added sugar. That will help with that and boost her immune system. I hope the best for you and your little girl <3

[CML2014]

Hi CIC,

How wonderful that you have had so many wonderful years with your girl! You sure have been a very vigilant mom for her to have had so many good years.

Yes prednisone is like any steroid and very hard on the body . In time causing many problems, but she has lived to the ripe  old age of 21 because of it, so it can't be all bad.

Her URI is probably making it difficult for her to even smell her food, as Pip said, try warming her favorite up or getting her some really smelly canned fish. I need to use a nebulizer with Meezy and the Doc usually gives me Gentamicin to drop in the water. I place her in her kitty carrier which has netting and wrap saran wrap all around it , place her in it and make a whole for the nebulizer to emit the steam.  Yhis may help condense the vapor so it may open up her sinuses better.

My cat gets this a lot and I find all these wonderful little yellow dots on the bottom of my Glass door.......and of course some on me. I know how it goes.

Your little girl must eat so try whatever you need to do. I would also make a special visit to the vet to see what he may be thinking. Just a thought

Give the little lady a big smooch from me and I hope she begins feeling better. Let us know.
CML  

[Piparskeggr]

Frankly, having had a cat of that vintage with diminished kidney function (we gave her Ringers 3 times a week for just over 2 years) and having had kitties of lesser vintage who lost their appetites due to intestinal lymphoma...kitty may be preparing you for her Final Farewell.

They know themselves better than do we, or the vet.

That being said, older cats responded to "smellier" food.  Might try heating her food a little so it is more aromatic.  Good luck and good on you for having cared for her so well that she has achieved this age.