I haven't been on this forum for a good while but now I am at my wits end, I really could use some advice on the dilemma we are facing.
My cat, 3 1/2 old neutered indoor male of 8kg (before the problem began) had an issue with bladder stones and he was hospitalized for 2 days last week. We brought him home Saturday evening with an instruction for a strict diet on Hills S/D for a month, with 10 days of antibiotic pill (Enrox Flavour 50mg). Upon arrival there was no issue, he seems to wee almost as usual now, and he ate the food without any fuss, which was quite a surprise for a super fussy cat (perhaps because he refused to eat at the vet, he was desperate enough). This continued also Sunday morning, food was finished even with the pill lodged inside.
It seemed too easy to be true, and indeed it was. Starting Sunday evening he decided the food was too gross for his refined taste and he stopped eating it altogether. The following two days he ate practically nothing, we tried both wet and dry version, tried mixing in some gravy or broth to no avail.
Yesterday we found a bag of buscuits of an equivalent formula from Royal Canin (S/O) so we tried it it had gone slightly well he ate about half a bowl, but then we gave him the pill and half an hour later he hurled everything.
I am not sure if it was a reaction to the food, or the pill, or combination, ironically he holds the pill when we give it when he is not eating.
I rang the vet this morning for some advice but the response was rather curt, he HAS to eat the prescribed food or else, period. Nothing else can be fed. This was even more curtly repeated when I asked "but if he refuses to eat?"
At least the doc confirmed that the pill can be administered even without the food, but how long can he go on like this? Of course he is quite big and my partner is quite calm saying "look at all that excess, he can go easily without eating for a week and more. He will eat when he is hungry enough." Perhaps he is right, after all he did eat it when he got home. But as a doting worrywart mum he already looks gaunt and depressed and it is getting even more of a torture for me looking at him like this than for himself!!
Has anyone gone through a similar problem? Is there some kind of solution which I am not seeing? Do we resort to a drip feed if this continues? And when to decide? Any advice or suggestion will be appreciated...