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wade06
Nov 24, 2006, 02:03 PM
We just got a cat fro the humane society. He is 6 years old beeen neutered and declawed as he was an indoor cat and lived in an apartment with 2 seniors we have had him or 6 days he has drank some water but has not yet eaten and always hiding under the couch tried different foods but still doesn't work he will come out for a little while then back to the couch any suggestions/

shygrneyzs
Nov 24, 2006, 02:26 PM
From experience - please give this cat some time to come out on his own. You have food and water so you know he will not starve. He is adjusting to his new environemnt. If you rush him, it will cause some trauma for him. When he does approach you, be gentle, not too over anxious or excited. Let him make the moves. Best of luck to you.

doggie_poopie
Nov 24, 2006, 06:31 PM
Make sure this cat is eatting the food. If not after a few days he can die!! A cat will starve himself.
I am not trying to scare you but I work for a vet and a cat that stops eatting is VERY serious.
Hepatic lipidosis

This is a condition where fats infiltrate the liver, causing widespread damage and dysfunction. It occurs when, for some reason a cat stops eating. This results in a change in the cats metabolism and release of fats from stored fatty tissue into the bloodstream. Overweight cats are most at risk of developing this if they stop eating, and often there may be another ‘stress factor' that initiates the disease, for example a concurrent disease, or a change in the cats' environment.

The disease may be suspected if an overweight cat has stopped eating and then become ill. It can be confirmed on a fine needle aspirate (inserting a small needle into the liver and extracting just a few cells) of the liver which will show lots of fat cells within the liver. A larger biopsy of the liver will also be required to look for underlying liver disease, since fatty infiltration can also occur secondarily to other diseases within the liver.

Hepatic lipidosis is a very severe disease and many cats will die if treatment is not initiated promptly. The most important treatment for the disease is provision of adequate nutrition. This needs to be provided by a feeding tube. Most commonly a gastrotomy tube (a tube inserted through the body wall directly into the stomach) is used as these are well tolerated by cats, owners can use them at home, and they can be left in for a long period. This is important as, although many cats do recover with aggressive therapy, recovery usually takes months. A special diet will be recommended to feed down the tube, and often other nutritional supplements and vitamins are also recommended.