often one of the first signs is that they stop eating. I don't know why, sometimes it might hurt to eat or give them indigestion or other tummy problems, and when my one cat had pillowfoot it was too painful to stand for him to get up, but other times, there is no reason except that they do not feel like eating. I don't want to say this, but often this happens near the end and the end comes quickly after they stop eating. However, I have had cats who did stop eating and did get better after the cause was found and they were treated.

Your kitty is so tiny already, there is no weight left to lose. I hope the steroids work for a while. I have force fed cats in the past to try to get them over that hump of "feel bad, and feel worse because I am not eating", but that has only worked when a cause could be found and treated. To do the force feeding, water down wet food and use a syringe or dropper, and just hold the cat the slowly drop some food in the mouth. If they don't just spit it out or are not fighting you, it will do no harm.

Best of luck. You will know if things are not getting better and Kato is hurting.

When she wasn't ill I don't think I could have force fed her (she's fiesty), but she's so wimpy these days, if none of the other tips and tricks work, I'm willing to try some sort of force feeding.

About 5 years ago, she went through a similar non-eating episode, but she wasn't nearly as old and crickety then. That time, the vet found an infection, put her on an IV for a couple days and she was strong enough to get healthy again after I experimented with about every food in the store till I found one she would eat a couple weeks later. This time I am not as optimistic, but you never know. It's not time to give in yet.

Doesn't work for long, but you'll both feel better.

She may eat better due to the meds for a few weeks.

That's what the vet says.

Thank you.

This is really about her after all. Hearing her wimpy little mew kills me.

Here's hoping she wakes me up by pawing me in the face the morning. Then I will know she feels better.

And you are the best thing in her life. She's a lucky girl. Peace.

I had a 16 year old kitty who grew up with our family dog - a Chow Chow. They were inseparable. The cat developed diabetes and for 4 years we injected him twice a day and fed him special food. it got to the point that Miso (his name) didn't even notice we were giving him the injections.

He and Sonya (the dog) spent the whole day together, trotting in the house and yard. they even slept together. then Sonya died suddenly of a illness due to inbreeding. This happened when Miso was 16.

He spent 2 months looking for Sonya. then he stopped eating. I got him special treats, etc. Nothing, just kept loosing weight and then of course his diabetes got worse and worse.

The vet said Miso was old, and very sick and really missed his pal. He didn't feel up to the struggle anymore and was letting us know it.

I took his advice and our family spent a few days with him and let him go. Cats will let you know.

This has brought tears to my eyes --- but Miso was ready and was telling us so.

Good luck with your kitty

Sorry to hear about your little friends.

But glad you got so much quality time with them.

Kato's been with me through a divorce, a live-in relationship, law school, a move across country, and too many lonely days and nights to count. I don't feel like she is ready to throw in the towel yet, but we'll see if she responds to the med and any of the new foods I'm experimenting with to peak her interest.

She might not be able to handle solid food.

Plain yogurt is also worth a try. My cats love it.

It is worth a shot.

Thank you so much!

stirred well to make sure there are no hot spots worked wonders for my late, great cat, Peeper. She even started to beg for it and gained a bit of weight.

Just make sure it is the meat only kind and doesn't have onion powder in it.

Sounds like you and Kato have had quite a life together. Best wishes and good health to you both, and bless you for giving her such a wonderful life.

She's never liked belly rubs so much, but she loves ear rubs, chin rubs, and forehead rubs. I'll keep pulling her out of her kitty house she is hiding in and try to soften her up with rubs, then see if I can trick her into eating something. My mom said try plain tuna. I also bought a can of sardines when I was at the store. Never tried it before, but I'm sort of desperate to find something she will eat. . .

Twenty years. Wow. Nice run!

Ever since she hit 13, I've thought "she's had a good run," and then she just keep going like the Energizer Bunny. The oldest cat I ever had before Kato was Daisy, who made it to 8.

After a series of tragic cat accidents, from getting caught in an automatic garage door, to being run over, to getting poisoned, to (presumably) getting eaten by coyotes, I determined that no cat of mine was ever going to go outdoors ever again. And it worked miracles in term of longevity. I've known her longer than many of my friends, and she's been there through thick and thin!

Use kitteh's favorite canned food.

Thank you!

did not stop him from losing weight which the doctor said meant cancer. A few weeks went by. He was hiding under the bed and in dark spaces. He was in pain. So I put him to sleep. He had an extra 5 months of life after the first diagnosis of pancreatitus. I'm glad he didn't spend his last days at the vets. That is so stressful for cats. But I do wish I'd paid for more tests for him so that I knew exactly what the cancer was. It is a toss up which is the best path to go I think. I went with what would make him suffer less. It was hard to lose a friend.

The vet says cats can go up to 30 days without eating so long as they keep drinking -- but she's so tiny already; I'm not sure that's a goal of any sort. I don't want her hanging on in pain and sort of barely with it. If I can get her eating and get her personality back, I'll just try and keep her comfy and happy till it becomes clear that it is time.

She's popping her head out now, so maybe I'll go try to hand feed her something!

She is an older cat too, and on thyroid meds for past month. She's also lost a lot of weight. A week ago, Vet said "NO fish and NO gluten." I got her some wet cat food (chicken) at pet store that says "Grain Free" and she is doing better. Best of luck to you and your kitty.

Choosing not to eat is often a way of
slipping gradually out of the body, & a totally
natural process.

Like a momma cat close to giving birth, an old
cat close to leaving this planet has powerful
instincts.

Be close by, but not worrisome. Be completely
available for whatever holding and touching
she wants. Fix her very fine gravies. Tuna
water, lots of nutrient dense liquids.

My advice is to be very still with her,
use your feelers: so she can let you know
what she needs, via feeling. They do.

Much love and peace to you through a
challenging time with a beloved kitty.

Animals know when it's their time and will generally just stop eating and really doing anything at all. I totally understand your not wanting to give up yet. Try some of the good suggestions in this thread about foods she may be willing to eat and see if the new meds are of any help. Your sweet baby is old and is probably just giving up. If nothing works though, it's time to say goodbye and let her go peacefully to end her suffering. It's just the hardest decision to make when is the right time to let them go because we never want to let them go. As my own vet said, spend every day you have with her as if it were a gift, and savor the heck out of every last moment you have with her with the realization that it may be the last.

This makes me particularly sad because my first Akita was named Kato, and I named him for the same movie character you did.

In the tiny jars (the kind that 90% of all real babies won't eat). Most cats find this irresistible and it might be enough to get her interested in food again. But at her age, be prepared to say goodbye.
My oldest cat lived to be 18 and while it was hard to lose him, I know that I gave him the best life I could have.

Thank you.

Check the labels before giving it to her.

And I simply wanted to add that I think you're an awesome pet parent for loving this kitty so much, and for so long. Thank you for giving her a good, long life. Thank you for taking her from the shelter, and thank you for all of the uncomfortable things that you are having to think about and go through during this time.

Mostly - thank you for knowing that she's worth it.

When it's time for her to go, you will know it and you will have peace about it. Bless your heart!

You're making me tear up.

And no onions! Thank you.

tumors in their mouths that prevent their eating. If it is cancer, treat her with love for a while but don't let her suffer.

she's surprisingly got all/most of her teeth for a cat so old, and they did give her an oral medication so they did have an opportunity to look.

I don't want to prolong her life if she is miserable . . . I guess I am just at a point where I don't know if she will start eating and be comfortable or if she is just miserable beyond repair already and trying to let me know. I don't want to put her down just because she's not herself . . . when if I could just get her to eat, she's got a few more comfortable weeks or months in her.

Not eating and personality changes usually mean they don't feel good.

I had an older kitty who was suffering from various ailments during the last few years of his life. He also stopped eating, and had problems with his esophagus, which made it difficult for him to eat.

I used to mix a canned food the vet had which was supposed to help put on weight with the water drained from clams, tuna, sometimes I'd use beef stock, chicken stock, etc. I'd puree it in a food processor and heat it slightly to increase the aroma. After allowing it to cool, he would usually eat.

I did this for the last year of his life. He had good days and bad days during that time.

I remember very well how I felt during that time. Hope this may help--will be thinking of you and your kitty.

This is helpful.

Not a lot, but she is eating!!

I left her with some tuna mixed with a good deal of warm water when I went to work. When I got home, not only had she drink all the liquid, but some of the actual tuna had clearly been eaten. And I brought some baby food home with me, and she is eating that too (chicken flavor) a few licks at a time!!! YAY!

And her meow sounds slightly less pathetic. Not sure what this means for the long term--maybe just some more comfortable days ahead even if I don't know how many. if it means she is not quite to the end of the line this week, I'll take it. Maybe the first steroid treatments made a difference.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT, HELP, AND KINDNESS!!!!

I have heard of cats living to 22 years and very rarely, 25 years. It's rare, but nice to think about.

Wow!

It's funny, I have been calling her a little old lady since she was 13 -- I thought that was "super old." That means close to half her life I've been thinking she was "getting up there" and might not live too much longer. . . boy, did she show me. I never had a cat survive longer than 8 years before Kato the Cat.

I am indeed lucky to have had her for so long!

Surely, it's time for another cat to live 25 years.

that she is eating even if it's just a little
bit. The main thing is to make sure she
is getting water. If in doubt give some in
an eye dropper. I would probably mix
a little baby food with a small amount of water and let her just lap it up.
I agree with the posts above and just
enjoy the time you have with each other.

My vet has a sign outside of his practice and when a client turns 20, their name and picture go up on the sign. It is much more common in the last couple of years to see cats turning 20 and older than it was many years ago.

My own daughter has one that will turn 20 in a few months. For her age, she is doing remarkably well. We cherish every day with her!

May all of our kitties and pooches, and other beloved critters, be with us for a very long time.

I will have to tell my vet about the 20-yo club. That's a great way to celebrate!

she has been indoor only her whole life, never comes into contact with other cats, and I don't think I've seen a flea in our apt for 6 years.

Thanks, and I will!

...but it's all we could think of.

My daughter also says you can also try canned food that's diced in gravy but not pate.
Tuna is good as an extra but try to get in some real canned cat food.
My daughter says to also check for teeth and mouth issues since older cats sometimes lose teeth and/or have gum problems.
Check for kidney function, lymphoma and digestive cancer.

Best wishes.
Hope the worst is past and you kitty gets better quick.

for all the suggestions!!

The kidneys tested OK. The blood work indicates it might by lymphoma, but the vet didn't recommend extra tests to confirm. I think at 20 years and 4 pounds, the vet thought best to keep her comfortable than try to put her through a battery of tests and treatments that probably wouldn't prolong her life quantity significantly and her could even reduce her life quality, but I should ask more questions.

I appreciate you getting advice from your daughter -- that's so kind of you. :hugs:

And I'll ask the vet more questions when I take her in for follow-up.

It sounds like you have a good vet. My thinking is, if the issue with my cat is something that's incurable, torturous to test for, torturous to cure or beyond my finances, I don't want to test for it or know. Most times I'm just looking for the most reasonable course.

I'll pass on the hugs to my daughter.
A few of her rescues have: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebellar_hypoplasia_%28non-human%29
They have learned to adapt to their limitations and are adorable.

Cats are wonderful. Have great day.