Our 5 year old male Manx has not been eating well

by Annette Siverson
(Chatham, NY)

For the last few months our 5 year old Manx,Luna, has been losing weight and not eating well. This is the only "problem" he presents; all other aspects seem fine. We just had him to the vet for bloodwork, and everything checked out fine. He is one of our 4 office cats and has lived here his entire life (from about 6 months old). We took him in with his mother and siblings. They are allowed out in the nicer weather, but the long, cold winter here in the NE has not allowed for any outside time.
Luna used to eat as well as the others. Then he started to become "picky", and only eating certain flavors of cat food. Then, he starts turning his nose up at even those. We are at our wit's end trying to get him to eat. Sometimes I think that may be the problem. But I don't want to overlook something. Our Vet wants us to bring him in again in a couple of weeks for a weigh in. He had gained .30 of a lb at his last weigh-in. But now, who knows? There haven't been changes here at the office, except for the usual comings and goings during the day. The office houses our own business and is a very small company. Any enlightenment?

RESPONSE:

There are many reasons why a cat gets off his food. Since he has been cleared by the vet, we will assume there is an emotional componant to him not wanting to eat. He could be bored or has decided he doesn't like his food any more. Try playing with him more. Since he can't go outside, and the winter has been long, he may simply be lacking in mental and physical stimulation. Play increases the appetite and provides the stimulation cats need. "A tired cat is a happy cat!"

You don't say if you are feeding him wet or dry food but if you are only feeding dry, start giving him some canned food and warm it just a bit in the microwave to release the aroma. A cats appetite is stimulated by smell more than anything else.
You can also try baby food. Most cats love it. We use Gerber's 2nd foods, chicken and ham, but they also have beef, veal and turkey. Try just giving him a spponfull of the baby food. If he likes it, give him the baby food for a couple of meals then start mixing some of his normal food with the baby food. Over the next couple of weeks, decrease the amount of baby food slowly until he is just eating his regular food. You can also try feeding him smaller amounts more frequently which also helps stimulate the appetite.
Treats are a good option too but you may have to experiment to find one he likes. Most of our cats like Whiskas Temptations but a few will only eat the freeze dried treats. We use PogOs treats from Petextras.com. We have to keep them in sealed containers so the cats can't get to them they love them so much.
If, after trying this for a couple of weeks, his appetite doesn't improve, take him back to the vet and push for an answer. A healthy cat can be picky but will usually eat enough to maintain weight. A cat that is losing weight is a big red flag that the cat is ill.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Donna - House Full Cats Mom