by Rachel Fahnel

Created on: June 09, 2009

Force-feeding a cat is, to say the least, an interesting experience.

Mimi came down with Colongitis and flat-out refused to eat. I was given a dropper at the vet's and told that Dr. Ludwigson had confidence in me. Well fine, I thought. Mimi and I would figure this out as we went along. Wouldn't be the first time I'd done that.

I was feeding her Friskies Special Diet, and here is one side point; a healthy cat likes Beef and Liver. A sick cat doesn't. Don't put yourself and the cat through that procedure.

I pureed the whole can of food in the blender with enough water to make it squirt up into the dropper easily. I poured about three tablespoons out into a dish, then put the rest in the refrigerator in a clean, covered dish. Use a dish with a lid, because if you don't you'll be trying to get that smell out of your fridge for a long time.

I used the dropper at first but I discovered a problem; the food will eventually suction up into the squeeze ball and then you think the food is getting into kitty but it isn't. I turned to a "Kitchen Flavor Injector", or in other words a larger-sized syringe.

Mimi was not pleased at all over this force-feeding business, hating it only slightly less than the twice-a-day dropperful of antibiotics. I keep her claws clipped at all times anyway, so after making sure they were short I got out a beach towel, spread that in the recliner and put her toward the back, while I perched near the edge. In this position she could only back up so far until the back of the chair stopped her and she couldn't escape the other way because I was there.

I discovered that it was easier on all parties (esspecially this party) if I filled the syringe with food at the start. I could keep track of how much she was eating, give or take the inevitable spills, and I didn't have to try to keep her from getting away while I filled the syringe over and over again.

I did not try to wrap her in anything, because I knew with her it would not last anyway. I angled her against my left side under my arm but with her still sitting on the chair, then I placed the syringe into the side of her mouth. If you have ever looked into a cat's mouth you will see that there is an empty space there, between some of their teeth, and if you gently place the syringe there you can squirt food into the mouth without having to try to pry the mouth open.

I pushed just a bit of food in at once, so she would not gag or spit it out. Ocean Whitefish dinner pureed the best and it

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