Topic: unexplained aversion to food (Read 65046 times)

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #150 on:** February 19, 2013, 14:08:17 PM »

Aww, bless him

jrichemont · « **Reply #149 on:** February 19, 2013, 11:34:26 AM »

He's a king amongst cats even with a little green nozzle poking out of his snood! That's where he likes to sit when upstairs with us; it's right next to the radiator on an imperial purple pillow

Kay and Penny · « **Reply #148 on:** February 19, 2013, 11:28:12 AM »

bless him - he has quite a regal look about him in that photo

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/George_IV_bust1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_IV_bust1.jpg&h=2189&w=1541&sz=2985&tbnid=2bzC-j8KNEcRCM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=63&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dportrait%2Bgeorge%2BIV%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=portrait+george+IV&usg=__Nuj5PHFGzyTECqRISNV6cxXZbFc=&docid=iGA-jD837-BnOM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=emEjUdCANqnD0QWdlIFI&ved=0CC8Q9QEwAA&dur=3907

jrichemont · « **Reply #147 on:** February 19, 2013, 11:06:00 AM »

No, he's not given up yet though it is taking it out of him; he spends almost all day and night asleep in the bathroom now. I got him up for breakfast this morning and had to fish him out and persuade him to go upstairs (I don't want to carry him if I can help it, he gets little enough exercise as it is). He had a reasonable feed of fish slices - enough so we saved the tube feed until later - and his pills then sloped off to use his litter and go right back to his bathroom box where he will doubtless stay until I get back from work and persuade him upstairs again.
He does perk up in the evenings a bit; he sat on my lap after supper last night and tried to curl up and sleep with his head on my shoulder but it's back to the bathroom soon enough.
I imagine the antibiotics make him tired too, maybe.

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #146 on:** February 19, 2013, 08:26:53 AM »

So lovely to hear that Jonah is showing an interest in food.

Hope it continues.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #145 on:** February 19, 2013, 07:13:01 AM »

That made me smile. He's not giving up without a decent fight, bless him.

Very pleased he was much more interested in food yesterday evening, and hoping the steroids may make surgery unnecessary, however long a shot the odds say it should be.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #144 on:** February 19, 2013, 01:56:11 AM »

jrichemont · « **Reply #143 on:** February 19, 2013, 01:21:01 AM »

A shot will be given; no worries about that!
Jonah seems better today; he came upstairs when I got home from work - though he used to sit at the doorstep and go wild with excitement so one day at a time, eh?- and ate raw pangassius (which ironically enough is farmed catfish, super sustainable) slices with great enthusiasm from my finger. Then he got his crushed antibiotic and liquid food via syringe and struggled like a good'n.
After that we had our own supper and he sat next to me. He ate some carrot slices and tried to help himself to my wine which shows his character coming back. Then more syringe food - he just sat peaceably on my lap that time - and down to the bathroom for his box where I am in the bath next to him, typing this.

Dawn F · « **Reply #142 on:** February 18, 2013, 19:43:05 PM »

got to be worth a shot!

heather sullivan · « **Reply #141 on:** February 18, 2013, 19:04:24 PM »

Definitely worth trying the steroids to see if they will help before you decide about surgery. A good few years ago my cat Bill went to the Cambridge Vet Hospital as he had a tumour on the end of his nose, and they ended up removing all of his nose, so he just had a small hole in his face. He adapted really well, tho had noisy breathing.

jrichemont · « **Reply #140 on:** February 18, 2013, 17:53:56 PM »

News from the front: they're going to try Jonah on steroids to see if that will reduce the inflammation in his poor nose and allow him to smell stuff and eat again. Personally I think it's a long shot but worth a go, obviously. The only option after that is surgery on his nose to remove the excess turbinate mass and that's not a small thing. I'm not sure he'd survive but I don't think we have a choice if he does not respond to the steroids.
RVC said to give it three weeks or so before deciding either way. I'd just like to get that tube out of him; he keeps gagging and making the most awful noises. It must feel very horrible to him, spinning about in his neck...

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #139 on:** February 17, 2013, 00:12:45 AM »

So sad that Jonah is not as he was, I dont think they ever understand that you are trying to help.

After all they are basically wild animals that have been tamed but cats always want total control

jrichemont · « **Reply #138 on:** February 16, 2013, 21:46:29 PM »

No, Jonah won't either but maybe that was comfort food for Sheila?

Jonah is refusing all food now so he's just had a feed via tube. He seems alert though and after the GA last time it took him a few days to really bounce back so I am not too despondent yet. He's a shadow of his former self though; in the past (ie last month) if I held out my finger he'd rub his face against it on both sides. Now... he just stares at it and sighs. As if he thinks I'm going to do something bad to him. I know he doesn't understand that 'help' is sometimes holding him so he can't escape while I feed him or get antibiotics in but I don't think he's ever going to have the easy trust in me he used to, which is very sad.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #137 on:** February 16, 2013, 19:59:50 PM »

Mine wont eat that Sheila.............sighs

Sasa says it has eagleburgher in it

sheilarose · « **Reply #136 on:** February 16, 2013, 19:17:40 PM »

My answer for those difficult times.

jrichemont · « **Reply #135 on:** February 16, 2013, 18:49:20 PM »

Hi everyone.

Sadly I don't have any pictures of the great bidet affair but it was quite funny. We carefully made the water blood temperature and held him over it. He sat there quite happily and let his (very furry) tail go in also. He was peaceful and happy while we washed him but then he tried to swish his tail. At that point all hell broke loose because his tail now weighed a kilo or so with all the water. He was convinced evil alien mouses had got hold of it and went bonkers: bouncing off the walls racing around the floor, jumping in the (empty) bath and so on. The bathroom was covered in a fine spray of water after.

But he was fine after; just shook himself vigorously and asked for food by way of compensation. Right now he's sitting on my shoulders as I type making snorting sounds.

Anyway he's still not eating because whenever he thinks about it his nose runs and his jaw wobbles and he just gives up. He will sometimes eat hand presented things - he ate some chicken skins today - but nothing from a bowl. So we still feed him with both food and antibiotics via the tube. He needs his turbinate bones sorting out so he can breathe again; that's the only thing that'll help but who knows if he'll survive the op? But being feed through a tube is no life for a cat for sure.

CatGirl · « **Reply #134 on:** February 16, 2013, 13:11:57 PM »

Hello Jeremy,still thinking and reading about your lovely Jonah.

Skiddaw · « **Reply #133 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:37:58 AM »

I should have loved to have seen him having his rear end washed in the bidet

More good vibes for the dear wee soul from us. I hope he's still enjoying his food

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #132 on:** February 15, 2013, 19:35:13 PM »

jrichemont · « **Reply #131 on:** February 15, 2013, 17:21:50 PM »

Don't worry about it; I had to look up Marat!

sheilarose · « **Reply #130 on:** February 15, 2013, 17:14:52 PM »

Everything crossed for this beautiful boy.

Sorry, but had to look up "erudite".

jrichemont · « **Reply #129 on:** February 15, 2013, 15:33:00 PM »

One day at a time it is. Still... I woke up this morning to find Jonah, neck bandage, tube and all, under the duvet with his chest on my arm, paws over it onto the pillow and his head under my chin, facing me. The rest of him stretched out down my tummy and back paws on the tops of my legs cos he's quite a long kitty.
I guess that means I have been forgiven for dragging him through all that. He wouldn't have anything to do with me yesterday. He's not a cat to bear grudges, though; never has. Whatever has happened to him - getting his rear washed in the bidet after an accident as a kitten for example - he leaps free, shakes himself and comes right back for a cuddle.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #128 on:** February 15, 2013, 12:16:31 PM »

Not an easy decision to take Jeremy, but I feel certain you'll know what's best for Jonah and will do your utmost for his ultimate benefit, whichever route that may take you down.

One day at a time is seldom a bad maxim.

Many of us have stood where you're standing now, and feel 100% compassion for your situation.

Skiddaw · « **Reply #127 on:** February 15, 2013, 12:02:04 PM »

Yes, it's a difficult one isn't it?

I suppose you will just have to take it a day at a time and see what they say next week.

I'm very glad he enjoyed his fillet steak

jrichemont · « **Reply #126 on:** February 15, 2013, 11:56:52 AM »

I can't see any other options myself. The only question is will he be strong enough? He's no longer young at 13 1/2 and he's been through a lot recently. If we are only going to have a short time with him I think maybe he'd prefer to stay unmolested at home. We'll just have to see how he gets on and what RVC have to say next week when the results are ready.

Skiddaw · « **Reply #125 on:** February 15, 2013, 11:46:07 AM »

At least they know what's causing it now. I do hope they can keep it under control at least for long enough for Jonah to build up his strength a bit. I suppose further surgery will be inevitable eventually?

Bless him- so glad to hear he's eating again

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #124 on:** February 15, 2013, 11:33:36 AM »

So sad that the growing has continued and as you say this will certainly be a reason why he is having problems eating as he will have problems eating and swallowing.

I do hope that he will be OK and I too would worry about a third GA so soon.

Sending cuddles to Jonah

jrichemont · « **Reply #123 on:** February 15, 2013, 10:20:42 AM »

You certainly do and pleased I am to get to know you all.

Jonah seems keen on eating but as yet not from a bowl. Some fillet steak from last night's supper overcame any reluctance on the eating front - both last night and this morning. He ate so much that I skipped the tube feed (he was fractious with it anyway) and went to work while he sloped off to his bathroom retreat.

The antibiotic - rather optimistically described as palatable and chewable - I crushed up, mixed with water and pushed down the tube which is better than fighting with him to swallow a rapidly dissolving mess...

Longer term though; nothing has actually been done to him aside from tests - they did have a go at cleaning his nasal tubes out but that'll simply come back. The issue as shown by the nasal endoscopy is his turbinate bones (congenitally malformed hence his op 12 years ago) have carried on growing and he has practically no space left to breathe. This is the cause of all the eating, snoring, rhinitis issues.

The problem is fixing this will require surgery. That will then be his third GA in as many weeks and it wouldn't be a small procedure either I suspect. For the moment, RVC suggest trying to manage the condition medically; I guess they don't rate his chances of pulling through major surgery.

Back to wait and see I guess...

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #122 on:** February 15, 2013, 09:10:29 AM »

Jeremy, I hope Jonah is doing well today and had a comfortable night

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #121 on:** February 15, 2013, 07:00:18 AM »

We have unfathomed depths

We may be mad cat people, but we're clever too - a lethal combo.

So glad to know that Jonah is back home with you and hoping you both had a comfortable night (snores permitting). Sending your beautiful boy a gentle ear rub, and a snoozle from Ross. Thinking of you both.

jrichemont · « **Reply #120 on:** February 15, 2013, 00:20:21 AM »

Well! I may work in newspapers but I have the altogether more humble role of IT developer; a not very radical position unlikely to get me assassinated, in the bath or otherwise.
I always have a small bath at the day's end, mostly for reading but more recently also for Jonah oversight. He's curled up in his box now and is snoring like a good'n.
I must say you are an erudite lot; rather an unfamiliar sensation on interweb forums i find...

Kay and Penny · « **Reply #119 on:** February 15, 2013, 00:09:20 AM »

glad to hear Jonah is hanging in there, and not getting worse, at least

bit worried about this working in the bath though - that famous painting of the unfortunate Marat keeps popping into my mind

jrichemont · « **Reply #118 on:** February 14, 2013, 23:53:55 PM »

Hi everyone. Jonah is back with us now, in his box next to me as i type in the bath. More results next week but he has a course of ampecillin in the meanwhile. His feeding tube is still in place and apparently the entry is oozing a bit, hence the antibiotic.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #117 on:** February 14, 2013, 06:48:19 AM »

Popping by to top up the positive vibes for Jonah, and to say am hoping everything goes well today.

Stuart · « **Reply #116 on:** February 14, 2013, 01:15:31 AM »

Happy to read that Jonah is doing better, long may it continue

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #115 on:** February 13, 2013, 20:39:57 PM »

So glad to hear that Jonah is doing well.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #114 on:** February 13, 2013, 18:43:51 PM »

So pleased Jonah is Ok and hope that they will get some results that show a way forward

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #113 on:** February 13, 2013, 18:09:20 PM »

Am very relieved to learn that Jonah has come through the examination and biopsies, and now hope they can get to the cause of his problems.

I would ask if they would mind sending you an email with the information in, as you're finding it a little hard to get your head round everything. Hopefully they won't object and then you can digest the info at your leisure, and investigate their findings on the net if you want to.

Still got everything crossed here for Jonah.

jrichemont · « **Reply #112 on:** February 13, 2013, 18:05:11 PM »

Oh they do and are quite wonderful! I would still be very happy to get an email with the state of play written down that I can read, re-read and forward to my other half, our vet and so on.

LouiseJ · « **Reply #111 on:** February 13, 2013, 17:56:57 PM »

My recommendation would be to write everything down then google it although I did find the vets and consultants at the RVC have infinite amounts of patience with their human patients.

Author Topic: unexplained aversion to food (Read 65046 times)