How to Encourage a Sick Cat to Eat

Offer small, frequent meals. When a kitten is unwell, provide small portions of food at regular intervals. Feed them every one to two hours, ensuring meal times don’t interfere with their rest.

• Remember, you should wake a very young kitten to feed them.

Switch up the type of kitten food. Sometimes, sick kittens lose interest in their regular meals and need a change to stimulate their appetite. By trying different brands or flavors, you can encourage them to eat. Even a small amount of food can make a difference when a kitten is unwell. Here are some options you can offer:

• Gravy-based cat food
• Pre-packaged baby food with chicken flavor
• Boiled chicken
• Plain, unseasoned white rice

Consult a vet about recovery diets. These diets are specially designed for animals too ill to eat normally. Recovery foods are nutrient-dense, so a 1 kg kitten may only need less than a third of a can daily. Popular products include Hills AD (for cats and dogs) and Royal Canin Feline. These foods are flavorful and contain:

• Protein to repair tissues and boost the immune system.
• Fats and carbohydrates for metabolic energy, ensuring organ function and fighting inflammation.
• Zinc and potassium to speed up wound healing.
• Vitamins E and C, along with Taurine, which act as antioxidants to detoxify the body and strengthen immunity.

Try warming up the food. If a kitten has a stuffy nose, they may stop eating because they can’t smell the food or eat comfortably. Warming the food (no more than 30 seconds in the microwave) can enhance its aroma and make it more appealing. Warm food also tastes better.

• You can use a nasal aspirator to clear their nose, making it easier for them to eat.

Don’t hide medication in their food. Sick kittens need medication, but hiding it in their food isn’t effective. They can detect it with their tongue or nose and may refuse to eat. This tactic could make them avoid their food altogether, even without medication.

• Administer medication separately and ensure they eat regularly. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

Ensure your kitten stays hydrated. Provide plenty of water, as dehydration can be severe, especially when they’re sick. If they refuse water, try mixing it into their food. This not only enhances the food’s appeal but also ensures they get enough fluids.

• First, check if the water dish is clean. Kittens dislike drinking dirty water.

Try hand-feeding your kitten. Place a small amount of food on your hand and bring it close to their mouth. Avoid putting your fingers near their mouth to prevent discomfort. Let the kitten lick the food at their own pace, and be patient throughout the process.

Attempt syringe feeding. If hand-feeding doesn’t work, switch to using a syringe. Remove the needle and fill it with liquid food. Gently hold the kitten and tilt the syringe toward the side of their mouth. Avoid inserting it directly to prevent choking. Slowly dispense small amounts of food near the back of their tongue, allowing them to swallow. Repeat until they’ve eaten enough, alternating sides to avoid irritation.

• Use kitten milk replacer if your vet doesn’t provide liquid food. Avoid regular milk.
• Ensure the food is at room temperature—slightly warm but not hot.

Administer meloxicam. Meloxicam (also known as Metacam) is an NSAID that inhibits COX-2 enzymes, reducing inflammation and fever. It’s safe and effective for fever reduction.

• The recommended dose for kittens is 0.05mg/kg daily. For a 1.1 kg kitten, this equals 0.1 ml of feline Metacam. Note that meloxicam comes in two forms: for dogs (1.5mg/ml) and cats (0.5mg/ml). Dog Metacam is three times stronger, so use extreme caution to avoid overdose.
• Only give meloxicam to well-hydrated pets. Dehydration can impair kidney function, reducing blood flow and risking kidney failure.
• Administer meloxicam during or after meals. If the kitten isn’t eating, syringe-feed a small amount to line their stomach. Never give Metacam on an empty stomach, as it can reduce blood flow to the stomach, causing ulcers.
• Avoid combining meloxicam with other NSAIDs or steroids, as this can lead to stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and severe blood loss.

Keep your kitten warm. Cold temperatures can make kittens lethargic and slow their recovery, making it harder to encourage them to eat.

Prepare a comfortable resting spot. Sick cats are more vulnerable and recover faster when they have a cozy place to rest. You can set up a soft bed or line a cardboard box with blankets.

Seek veterinary assistance if needed. If your kitten appears weak or symptoms persist for more than a day, it’s essential to take them to a veterinarian.

Recognize signs of depression in kittens. Beyond changes in eating habits, symptoms of depression include low energy, excessive sleeping, disinterest in activities, hiding, or increased aggression.

Spend more time with your kitten. A common cause of depression in kittens is lack of attention. To help them recover and encourage normal eating, play with them and show affection as often as possible. Cuddle them while working or watching TV, engage in morning and evening playtime, and reward them with treats and gentle praise.

Provide entertainment for your kitten. Since you can’t always be home to play, invest in toys to keep them occupied while you’re away. Consider climbing trees, interactive toys, scratching posts, and food puzzles.

• Think about getting a companion. If possible, adopt another kitten so they can play together. However, introducing a new kitten can be challenging if your current cat is already an adult.

Consider if depression is linked to illness. If you’re attentive and affectionate, your kitten’s depression likely stems from an underlying health issue or injury. If no obvious cause is found, consult a veterinarian for a thorough check-up.

Use appetite stimulants as a last resort. Certain medications can boost appetite, but they’re typically a final option due to several reasons. First, most are human medications, making dosage adjustments tricky. Second, kittens’ livers and kidneys aren’t fully developed, increasing the risk of toxicity. Lastly, these drugs can cause unpleasant side effects even in small doses.

Consult your veterinarian. A qualified pet care professional can prescribe appropriate medication if needed. Common options include specific appetite stimulants, which you can discuss with your vet to understand their effects and proper dosages.

Consider using mirtazapine. This antidepressant, typically prescribed for humans, has been found to stimulate appetite in cats. The smallest available tablet is 15 mg, with a recommended dose of mg for adult cats, equivalent to a quarter tablet. For kittens under 1 kg, determining the correct dose is challenging, so you may need to administer tiny crumbs. Use this dosage every three days.

Explore cyproheptadine. Another human medication, this antihistamine and serotonin blocker also stimulates feline appetite. The recommended dose is 0.1-0.5 mg/kg, given two to three times daily. The smallest tablet available is 4 mg, meaning a 1 kg kitten would need 1/8 of a tablet. Note that kittens typically reach 1 kg by three months of age.

Consult your vet about intravenous diazepam. Some cats respond well to IV diazepam, which can trigger hunger. However, it must be administered intravenously, which is difficult in kittens due to their small veins. The recommended dose is 0.5-1.0 mg/kg, given as a single IV injection. For a 1 kg kitten, this would be 5 mg/ml of diazepam emulsion.

Consider Vitamin B injections. Vitamin B plays a crucial role in maintaining appetite. Low levels, especially of B12, can lead to loss of appetite. This can be addressed with subcutaneous Vitamin B injections every four weeks. The recommended dose is 0.25 ml administered subcutaneously.

Be cautious with steroid injections. While steroids can increase appetite, they often suppress the immune system, making them unsuitable for sick kittens. However, if antibiotics are in use and your vet deems it safe, a small dose of steroids may be administered. The typical dose ranges from 0.01-4 mg/kg of dexamethasone. For a 2 kg kitten, this would be 0.25 ml of 2 mg/ml dexamethasone injected into the muscle.