Since Friday night, after returning from the vet’s, Rey started eating small meals on his own.
On Saturday, he ate a small breakfast, but later, refused food again. I had to force feed a few times, but tried my best not to create any food aversion in him. It was between the risk of food aversion from force feeding and hepatic lipidosis from not eating enough.
Hepatic lipidosis is a real and serious danger in cats who stop eating for 24-48 hours or those who do not eat enough. It is because of how the cat’s unique liver functions where body fat is mobilised for energy and stored inside the liver, thereby overwhelming the organ. Overweight and obese cats carry a bigger risk because they have more body fat to mobilise during a period of reduced or no appetite. Hepatitis lipidosis isn’t common in dogs because their liver doesn’t work the same way.
I offered various kinds of food, thinking that like most cats who have been sick, Rey might want some other taste or flavour, but actually, all he wanted was his usual food – raw meat.
Finally, last night, I took a chance and offered raw chicken gizzards and he went for it.
Today, it’s back to small meals of raw chicken and some kibble. He is still eating small meals throughout the day so I need to read the “signs” whenever he tells me he wants to eat.
He wants freshly-cut raw chicken so I have to bring the scissors out and cut it in front of him. Talk about being fussy!
Luckily the other cats understand that only Rey gets this privilege of small meals throughout the day, so they don’t demand for it as well.
Rey’s vet texted to check on him too. His appetite isn’t back to normal yet, but at least he is eating small meals on his own throughout the day. He would need more time to recover fully. We will get there…one meal at a time.
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