The gang’s all here! Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, Jazmine, and Shadow.

Technically speaking, I’m not a childless cat lady. I gave birth to two wonderful sons way back in the dinosaur age of the 1980s. But, if you do the math, they’ve been adults for eons, and I haven’t had to provide for their food, shelter, or basic needs for many years. My current gang of seven cats, however, is a different story. Ranging in ages from five to sixteen, I do provide them with food, shelter, and more daily. At this point in my life, I may as well be a childless cat lady.

Before you jump to conclusions, don’t worry, folks! This is not a post about politics. But unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you get what I’m saying. All joking aside, the real point I’m trying to make is that cats are a lot like raising young children, especially the feeding part.

I remember it well. Random day 1: “Mommy, mommy, mommy, we want chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese for dinner! It’s our favorite food ever!” Random day 2: “Mommy, mommy, mommy, we want chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese for dinner! It’s our favorite food ever!” Random day 3: “Mommy, mommy, mommy, we want chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese for dinner! It’s our favorite food ever!” Random day 4: [insert dramatic hysterics, crying, and foot stomping] “Noooooo! Whhhhyyyy are you making us eat chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese? We hate you! It’s awful, and we don’t like it at all!” 

Yes. It’s that quick. That switch from good to bad, from eating to not eating. And right now, that’s my life with my cats. Every day is a battle to get them to eat (except Shadow, who eats anything)—especially the older ones. It’s inevitable. Appetites change, aliments crop up, and finicky is the norm. However, unlike children, who likely won’t starve if they boycott a meal or two, it can be dangerous for cats without food, even for a couple of days.

In July this year, both Zoey and Rolz suddenly stopped eating. I did the usual, trying every trick in the book I could think of to get them to eat. I bought baby food. I bought low-sodium turkey breast. I purchased assorted cans of wet cat food, hoping something new would stimulate and tempt the appetite. I even did the dreaded, trying to force-feed them. I waited a day to see if anything improved, but nothing worked, so I knew I immediately had to get them to the vet, as something serious could be happening.

After several visits and numerous tests, for the most part, and considering their age, they were both given a good report card, so the main goal was to get them to eat. I learned how to provide them with subcutaneous fluids at home to keep them hydrated (which went surprisingly well), and I also gave them Mirataz in the ear to stimulate their appetite. Rolz was given a steroid, and I continued my never-ending quest of finding the perfect food that they would eat. Miraculously, after persistence, I found the magical food solution, and they both rallied and began to eat with gusto.

However, being cats, you can’t ever assume you’ve won the battle. What worked back in July is not working in October. Adding to the stress, Kizmet and Peanut are now starting to turn their noses up at mealtime. I know some of it is age. The older I get, the less I want to eat, so I understand. But with cats, you must ensure they eat as best as possible. So, I’m back on that throw-whatever-I-can-against-the-wall-and-hope-something-sticks quest of buying everything and anything under the sun to see what works. Food toppers, raw food, delectable lickable treats geared exclusively toward senior cats, dry kibble, canned food, tuna, cheese, low sodium meats, and more.

This is what it feels like trying to concoct something all the cats will eat. A pinch of hope and a sprinkle of prayers to complete the potion!

I’ve become a witch/sorcerer/chemist/mixologist/chef/wizard with a master’s in cat food preparation. Mealtime requires an extraordinary effort, as I’m catering to seven cats with seven unique palates. Each bowl I prepare is exclusively done for each cat because not only am I catering to their tastes, but I have to cater to their age and dietary needs. When I put each bowl down, I silently pray they will all eat. Sometimes they do, but sometimes one or two of them will walk away, and then, like a magician, I must try other combinations of the food I have to see what they will eat.

Mealtime prep! Yes, that’s a wine glass in the background. A girl’s gotta do what she can to make things a little easier!

Just like children, who you sometimes cajole with toys, bribes, treats, and more to get them to eat, the same holds for cats. No judgment, please. I’m trying my best to maintain a healthy diet for them, but sometimes, I will give them junk food if they at least eat. Unless you’ve never dealt with a cat who stopped eating, you can’t understand how frightening it is and how desperate you’ll become to get them to eat even the tiniest morsel.

I have to think eating something is better than not eating at all. I’ve read if a cat gets hungry enough, they will eat, but I have seen otherwise. And I certainly don’t want them to go days without food, especially at their ages. And it’s not like you can tell them to lick their bowls clean because there are starving cats on the streets. That tactic doesn’t work with kids, when you tell them there are staving people in China, and it won’t work with cats.

At this point, without exaggeration, if it helped, I would walk down the street in clown makeup while juggling balls. I’ve been through the senior cat stage many times in my life. I know my time with them is borrowed, so I can only take it one day at a time. I’m trying to be the best cat mom I can be, flaws and all. What about all of you? Have you faced the trauma of your cat(s) not eating? What are some of the things you did to get them to eat?

A wonderful moment was captured. All seven of them ate without complaint.