Pat
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I Need Help Getting My Kitty Off A Feeding Tube Now That His Cancer Surgery And …
I need help getting my kitty off a feeding tube now that his cancer surgery and radiation are complete. The doctor has suggested going from 3 feedings a day to 4 smaller meals, since he has always been a grazer. Prior to surgery he was fed 2 times a day. Each feeding he is offered food by mouth, then supplemented with tube feeding to complete his meal.
He is hungry in the morning, and eats well by mouth, but eats very little by mouth for the other 3 feedings. He is only taking in about 1/4 of his food by mouth daily, the rest being tube fed. I’m looking for suggestions on how to increase his interest in eating by mouth so I can decrease the tube feedings. Thank you.
1 Response
Hello,
I have found that with these guys you need a lot of patience. A lot! Some cats will do well with small offerings of all kinds of food and lots of options. I also try an appetite stimulant. Ask your vet about mirtazipine, Valium or even cyproheptadine. I also try things like warmed meat flavored baby food (beef chicken or turkey) and pouches of tuna, salmon or chicken. You have to try lots and lots of options and be super patient. Cats always decide. Also spend time talking to her and petting her around the food. That helps. I wish you the best of luck. Let us know what happens. Or reply back if you need more help.