Need some advice on a rescue (elderly cat)

What I've heard... In the starving countries, when the aid workers came in
with American style food, it made the people more sick than healthy. They
found out that emaciated people would tolerate a mix made of water, cooking
oil, and flour. That, if memory serves.

Same again back in World War (one and two) when the camps were liberated. I
don't have a link off hand, but I do remember hearing that the soldiers
couldn't go straight from starvation to military rations.

Perhaps there is a cat equivilant? I do not know if there is, but it is
possible.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"Tara K." wrote in message
...
On boxing day (it's an Australian thing, the day after xmas) a stray cat
staggered into my Mum's house. She couldn't keep it because her own cat is
intolerant of others, so it ended up with me. This cat is a. ancient b was
in an advanced state of starvation (read: on death's door). Really, the
worst case of starvation in any animal I've *ever* seen. Literally, skin and
bones. The vet would not take any blood on the initial consultation, saying
"she's got none to spare".

So of course I couldn't say no. I'm a sucker

Here's a pic, from her first visit to the vet (not for those who don't want
to see this sort of thing):

http://community.webshots.com/album/251821923gQvgpO

She's been doing well. However . . .

Up until a week or two ago, she was just picking at her food. It was a
struggle to get her to eat anything. I fed her on my special
ferret-fattening mix (which also works well for cats) and she was putting on
100g or so a week (from a low weight of 2.1kg). About two weeks ago she
suddenly seemed to turn the corner. She started eating about a can a day,
was interested in her food (the old "get out the way so I can eat!" thing)
and was putting on more weight.

Now, the other problem was this: she *was* constipated. She's suddenly
developed diarrhoea. I'm assuming this is because her digestive system is
recovering from the shock of all that starvation, and then all that food.
I'm having to clean her up, she's obviously embarrassed by this (you know
how cats are about being clean) and more worryingly, I'm concerned she's
going to go downhill again. She also went off her food again for a day or
so, but she's eating again now.

She's had her shots, she's on metacam for her arthritis, and she's eating
canned food because she can't manage solid kibbly. Her kidneys
(surprisingly) are fine: she doesn't drink too much, and she has no signs of
diabetes.

I'm taking her to the vet again tomorrow, but I'd like some advice from
anyone here who has managed an elderly cat like this. Is there some way to
put more weight on her more rapidly? She just hasn't got that much to lose.
And am I right in thinking the diarrhea is due to the shock to her digestive
system? Or is there something else I'm missing here?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Despite everything, she seems happy,
is not in too much pain (apart from the arthritis) and is quite active. I'm
not prepared to put her down just yet. She survived this far and I think she
deserves a chance.

Thanks,
TK