Cat Gastritis

Question
Hello, my cat is called Ringo and he is 14 years old.  He is a housecat and has been his whole life.  

Over the past few weeks, his appetite has decreased and he has been sick a few times.  He has also lost weight. He has had blood and urine tests done at the vet this week which revealed nothing.  He stayed at the vet's overnight on Thursday and was put on a drip to be rehydrated. He was given an antibiotic injection and he is taking Mirtazapine as an appetite stimulant every 3 days.  My question is, if this is Gastritis, how long will it be before I see an improvement in his condition?  He is showing an interest in food until I put it down in his bowl, then he either licks the jelly or just walks away from it.  He is only eating a few mouthfuls of food a day at the most and obviously I am very concerned about this if it goes on for much longer.  Many thanks for your help.  

Answer
Hi Nicky,
I am guessing the vet told you it was Gastritis? If his blood work didn't show any kidney or liver disease then gastritis is a possibility but seems rather remote. Most cats at this age are going to have some sort of kidney, liver issue or cancer.

He could only have gastritis, and I hope that is the case, but it takes a few days to get past this. His stomach and digestive system are inflamed and that makes him nauseous when he smells food.

The vet probably wanted him home so he would feel more comfortable and start eating but if he isn't eating enough you might have to take him back in or get some paste like food that you can give him with a large syringe. Baby food is also an alternative as it is very mild and easy for them to lick. Try the beefy, chicken or lamb flavors.

Is he having any bowel movements? That will tell you whether or not he is eating enough.
He will continue to get weak and not eat if this isn't resolved soon, as you know. So feel free to call the vet and ask them as well if there is another food you can feed him or get some A/D with a syringe to try and get more down him.

I hope that he recovers soon. He is very old for a cat and sometimes we need to think about the last act of kindness we can give our pets, the gift of ending their suffering. He isn't there yet, but you must prepare yourself for this Nicky.

Call your vet on Monday or today if they are open and get some different food for him.
Please let me know how he does...