Weaning an adult cat from a feeding tube.

Question
My Siamese cat is recovering fron cryptococcis and was very very ill for many weeks.  He has a feeding tube but now that he is getting stronger, I'd like to wean him back to eating.  He has been encouraged to eat daily, but refuses food.  His senses, smell sight, and hearing were impacted by the disease, and I'm still not sure if he has regained his sense of smell yet.  How should I approach this?  He still has to have medication, so total withdrawl of feeding him through a tube might not be in his best interest.

Answer
Hi, Lynda.  I know this is a big problem with cats who've been on feeding tubes, and Siamese are especially notorious for developing anorexia after an illness.  I'm not sure if he had an esophagostomy tube placed or a gastrostomy tube placed.  Esophagostomies can leave the throat irritated and cause pain on swallowing, and many cats will refuse to eat while the tube is still in place.

At any rate, I would try to tempt him with foods like tuna and chicken and meat baby food.  Is he on Hill's a/d for the tube feeding?  If not, you might want to try offering him that.  Also, Fancy Feast, Sheba and foods in packets seem to be very difficult to resist for many cats.  My cats especially like Fancy Feast Cod, Sole and shrimp feast.  I might ask the vet about an appetite stimulant, as well.  An antihistamine drug called cyproheptadine is often used successfully to encourage a cat to eat.

When it comes down to it, removal of the feeding tube is really up to the cat.  When he feels ready to eat, he will.