Rehab a starved cat,HELP!!!

[redhen]

maybe some electrolytes in his water...and maybe a good kitten food(wet may be better)....maybe some KMR..milk replacer..if he wont eat....for the extra boost..but with his age i'm not sure if any of those things i suggested will make him sick?..i'm sorry..wish i could be more help...good luck..wendy

 

[simba49450]

sorry to hear about the cat, take the kittie to the vet and have them put fluids in and have the vet check for kidney faliure, they will drop weight fast and not be interested in food etc. i have many cats go through this, small meals but NO milk, its bad for them, as it gives them the runs. but since the age have the vet check for kidney failure. i hope it turns out okay for you, for i am a fellow cat lover

 

[Aneesa's Muse]

Take him to the Vet! If you cherish your 12 y.o. cat's life, don't hesitate to take him to a professional Vet that can assess his potential Fatty Liver Disease (starvation causes this faster than you can imagine in felines), and other risks he may be facing.

I would not worm him PERIOD ...until you've had him seen by a Vet. You could certainly kill him if his liver is already compromised.

And if it is, human grade food is absolutely fine for him ..but see a Vet first ...really. Please see a Vet.


I lost my beloved Aneesa last year ..with very similar symptoms ...and we DID see a Vet! Two, in fact... but it was too late for her.


Good Luck!

 

[UnttouchableRose]

No we will not be deworming him right now. That could stress his system even worse that what it is.

She is offering him small meals and free choice dry food which he is nibbling on from what I understand.

He was UTD on his deworming and vaccines. I do this myself thus I know all was current. 3 weeks time is not going to give him a parasite overload at all. IME anyway.

From the research I have done this far kitten food and liver are going to be his best options and I am looking into a probiotic for him. I am looking at mabe yougurt. Anyone have opinions on that? To get his gut back up to functioning.

I actually dug my Nutri-Cal out last night and it was busted. It's a great thing to use along with Lysine but that had expired.

Mom nor myself are strangers to rehabilitating animals and will certainly do what's best for Checkers. Granted I am not very experienced in rehabbing cats, but it's going to be pretty similar to my other menagerie in general.

I can pick up fluids and give him myself and we metioned that last night.


I don't think he dropped weight because he didn't have an appetite, he was in an area where there was no access to food for an extended amount of time and actually probably very little wildlife for him to eat.

Actually, I actually have my own theory and I am almost certain he was locked in a person's house and since that person coincidentally committed suicide 2 days before Checker's was first seen, proves my theory even more. There is a long story behind that.

Granted I am sure his system is compromised and possibly in danger. Maybe we can see about getting him to the "country" vet today for some help and fluids but I don't see taking him to a vet right now is going to help him anymore than what we are doing for him.

Once he is back on his feet a bit better blood prfiles and panels might be of use but not right now.

Checkers is a once in a life time cat and we will do what is needed to ensure his health but spending a heap of money at a vet's office on various things right now is not a major priority.

I'm not saying that to be heartless and to seem like we do not care but when you have the amount of animals that we do spendings the 275 on a CBC (and that is what it costs) and is not practical.

Diet suggestions are great help though.

Thank you for the care and concern about our kitty we are very glad to have him back. (He's my kitty that stayed at home when I got married)

 

[fleenorfarmmom]

Thanks to all for the help and advice. I wish taking him to the vet for a "no holds barred, whatever it takes" treatment was possible, but unfortunately it isn't . The vet would give him dexamethasone and sub-cutaneous fluids. We can do the fluids at home, and TLC will have to cover the rest. This is a special cat, and I will do the best I can for him. He is old enough to have some systemic issues, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now I'm just trying anything/everything to get him to eat. He is nibbling at things, and drinking water. So for now he is holding his own.
Thanks again, and keep the food advice coming!