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[issendai]

Buffy's probably the culprit. He was dehydrated at the vet's office, and perked up a bit after getting subcutaneous fluids; but he doesn't seem any more eager to drink than he was, and his skin is starting to feel dehydrated again. Does anyone have tips on making a cat drink (or giving a cat water by mouth without a syringe), and when it's

Comments

[rennie_frog]

Flavor his water with a little broth? I'll volunteer some organic chicken if you think it will help!

I really hope he's ok....

[issendai]

Good idea. I considered Pacific chicken broth, but it has onion powder, which is bad news for cats and dogs. If you have something with no onions in it, I'd love to take a few tablespoons.

[rennie_frog]

I think I have Pacific too. :(

[issendai]

Thanks. He's been up and about a little today, though nothing like his usual self. Still, if he can spend energy on spelunking under the sofa, he can't be doing that badly.

[browngirl]

Oh, kitty cats. *sends good cat vibes*

[issendai]

*hug* Thank you.

Aww, wet kitty!

[ladyofshallnot]

Get some food that's really, really squishy - they can take in a lot of water through wet food if they won't drink. I hear Solid Gold canned (especially tuna flavor) is like kitty crack. Or, if you can find chicken babyfood that doesn't have garlic or onions or other weird additives, that's really wet and nommable.

Tuna in water?

[eccentricquirks]

Not the fanciest stuff on the planet... but try Friskies wet turkey and cheese. It's a shred food, and adding a little water to it won't hurt. If he really gets into it (out of the herd of cats in my house, only one won't eat it - As is out of the can - if I puree it, she is on it like stink....) puree the can with even more water than you added before.

Having been in vet tech school, boluses of subcutaneous saline/water are surprisingly easy to administer, even in non cooperative critters. If you've got a good vet, talk to them about showing you how to do it, and getting the equipment for at home. A prescription from the vet can be filled at the regular pharmacy and it is less traumatic for both parties than drowning a cat with a syringe. This is definitely an option if needed.

[eccentricquirks]

And yeah - Seconding the Tuna in water (with or without the tuna - we give our cats 'tuna water' that's been drained off cans of meat going into meals.)