Hi there

Seems we're going through the same dilemma!
I took my cat "Mitzi", tortoiseshell, about 9 or 10 years, to the vet
yesterday as she hadn't eaten for about 24 hours!
She also said it could be the gingivitis, although she said it didn't look
all that bad. Mitzi had 4 teeth extracted and a dental clean a year ago!
Due to her age, they did blood tests just to be sure it wasn't liver,
kidneys or sugar level and whatever else they check for in a basic test.
The blood tests all came back fine!

I was given anti-inflammatories and liquid anti-biotics to give her for 5
days to clear up the gingivitis. How soon would she be less sore?

Today Mitzi still does exactly the same... meows for food takes a sniff and
walks away! And I have tried all the options... her fav. pure tuna,
different dry food, different wet food, milk etc!
She did have a tiny little bit of the tuna, but I doubt it's any where near
enough, let alone worth mentioning!

She had an anti-inflammatory injection at the vets, 3 doses of antibiotics
from me (one last night, 2 today) and one dose of anti-inflammatory today.

The biggest problem with her is that she is extremely difficult to medicate!
She was half wild when she came to me some 7 or 8 years ago and I have never
been able to get her used to being picked up or cuddled - she just hates it
and cannot handle any sort of bodily confinement!
She will sleep right next to me on the couch or the bed, but never ever "on"
me!
We tried wrapping her in towel once to inject her with her annuals, but once
lifted she just "exploded"! There was no way to hold her!
When I grab her by the scruff, she screams her head off, tries to bite,
scratch and wriggles like mad! Including tensing herself up so much, I
cannot help but loose my grip! So in other words, what ever I have to get
into her has to happen very fast and don't even think of getting near her
again for a while!
See what I mean? ... she is ONE difficult kitty to treat in any way!
Trying to get her into the carrier yesterday to get her to the vet in itself
was an absolute nightmare. Awfully stressful for us both! And once at the
vet she is absolutely terrified and just becomes this extremely tense little
ball!

I am reading this and all the replies and am thinking.... looks like I must
force feed her?... Or should I take her back to the vets tomorrow first?

The thought of force feeding her gives me an ulcer .. she will not cope,
never mind will I? LOL
I DO realise this may be the only way! Damn!

Perhaps if I force feed her right now, she will decide to eat later out of
her own accord?
Oh Boy! I wish she could tell me what is wrong!

Sometimes I think I'm not doing her any favours when I take her to the vets!

I guess I will be taking her back tomorrow? Let me try and force feed her a
little now... darn, I only have tiny syringes!

And for how long does one have to force feed until they are likely to eat
out of their own accord again?

I hope Mitzi is better soon!

Andrea