Following are selected posts to the Holisticat (TM) Mailing List on the subject of anorexia & weight loss There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utilize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!

Happy hunting :)

<11 Aug 98 From Naomi Re: Colostrum>

EchoSynch@ writes
<<My vet recommends that I obtain some (bovine) colostrum for my kitty with a depressed appetite. Anyone had any experience with this, or know a good source?>>

In the UK we can get a product called First Life Kitten Colostrum, breeders use it for newborns that can;t feed from their mum.  I think it
is also made from bovine colostrum but I don't see why it would be useful for an adult cat.

Vets here usually recommend a multivitamin injection, or sometimes valium, for loss of appetite in adult cats.  I have a liquid preparation
to be added to food which is rich in vitamins and seems to work quite well if a cat has been unwell and off its food.

Hills (I know it's a dirty word round here) A/D diet is excellent for anorexic cats.  It's easy to mix with a little water and force-feed by
syringe.

Naomi

Dr. Day recommends these remedies:  Acetic acid, Calc. phos., Glycerinum,  Hydrastis, Iodum, Lecithin, Phos. acid, Silicea and Thuja.  You would need to check these out in a Materia Medica to know which one was most suited to your kitty, but this will give you a place to start.

Be well,
Nancy and the furkids

On Sunday, November 08, 1998 8:59 AM, noreen boles [SMTP:boles@] wrote:
<<I would be very interested in a homeopathic or anything for that matter to put weight on cats.>>

Noreen,

The number of pellets or tables are based on the size of mouth. Usually for dog or cat, they use two pellets or tablets. I like tablets better.
If you use pellets, you need to smash it before giving to your cat. Homeopathic remedies need to "coat" the tongue. That's why adult use more than children. It's not because of the potencies or anything like that.  I like using tablets better. It is very easy to disolve in the
mouth.

And of course, your cat should not eat 20 minuets before or after the remedies. And keep your cat away from any strong smell stuff, such as mint, rosemary, any essential oil.

As for the selection of the remedies, you need to carefully compare your cat's physical, mental, emotional conditions with Materia Medica. Just because one conditions matches, it doesn't mean that it will work for your cat. You need to picture your cat as a whole, and choose which one is the right remedies.

In a message dated 11/8/98 8:32:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, shoji@writes:
<< Is there a homeopathic available to help cats put weight on??  Also is anything out there to quiet them down during their heat cycles??  >>

You can try alfalfa.  That is one of the best for making them hungry.  Protein is necessary for weight.  I've been using the powdered cottage cheese sprinkled on the food, and my girls could use a diet now!

Elaine Crews, ND.

Suzi,

U asked about how to put weight on a kitty.  My first thought would be to find the cause behind the lack of appetite or weight loss.  In Noreen's cat's case, I know it's due to the CRF.

Noreen, in your case too, I'd target the cause of the lack of appetite i.e. nausea, anemia or whatever it may be.  In Booey's case it is both so I give him peppermint tea for the former, and am thinking about a homeo remedy for the latter.

<<Appetite Lost or Reduced:  Ignatia, Lycopodium, Nux vomica>>

These 3 also have a bunch of other symptoms that may not match at all.  The only time it is ok to use just 1 or 2 major symptoms is when u're treating an acute case like say w/ Kathy and her thumb; otherwise u try and match as many as possible.

<<Do you know anything about these?   I have some Ignatia here.  It is Ignatia Amara 30C.>>

Ignatia is a great remedy but it's most prominent use is for grief, and then too only when specific symptoms are present.  Like for instance when Tasha died, I didn't fit Ignatia (no deep sighs and that sort of stuff listed under it in the MM) so I took a diff remedy.

<<It says for adults and children let 3-5 pellets dissolve in the mouth  3 times a day.  Is it safe to give a 9 lb cat one pellet?>>

Yes, when u do find a remedy that fits, one or 2 pellets are safe.  To be even more conservative, I'd dissolve it/them in spring water and
administer via dropper.

I checked one of my Reps and under loss of appetite, there are about 25 remedies.  Course once u incorporate other symptoms, u can then home in on one remedy for your kitty.  I have found that by force-feeding Booey, he has started eating on his own cuz left to his own devices, he would eschew food:(

Good luck, and try the alfalfa like Elaine suggested.

Sandy, owned and operated by the mountain cats happy to wake up to snow! <yay>

Nancy -- Sorry it took so long to get back to you.   This reference is from a Chapter entitled "Veterinary Homeopathy: Principles and Practice" by Christopher Day in the new book "Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine" compiled by Allen Shoen and Susan Wynn

Nancy A. Korman wrote:

On Sunday, November 08, 1998 6:59 PM, noreen boles [SMTP:boles@] wrote:
<<< Appetite Lost or Reduced:  Ignatia, Lycopodium, Nux vomica>>>

<< Where did you find this reference?  I've heard of Nux v being used for a failed  appetite due to vomiting, but Lycopodium has excessive hunger in Boericke.  Ignatia is listed as having cravings for food other than the normal diet, but not really lack of hunger.>>

  Noreen      >^,,^<

Another thing that can stimulate a cat's appetite is baby food bananas.  I have not used this in a diabetic cat, but I have used it in many other instances, and it has worked.

There's a product I used for Petra called "Wate-On" manufactured by Solid Gold. It's made from shark cartilage and shark liver oil (it says on the label that it's for dogs and horses but it was recommended by my vet when Petra started getting skinny).

Of course there's no guarantee that she will like it or even eat it, but it did seem to help Petra maintain some weight. Shark cartilage is also an anticancer supplement. It's not cheap (8 oz for $13.00), but you use such a
small amount that it really lasts.

Since we've had a few kitties including Angel who've had some lack of appetite, I thought I'd type up some suggestions for dealing with this.  This info comes from _The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats_ by Diane Stein.

First Stein reminds us that animals often fast themselves while they are trying to heal from an illness, and it is often wise not to force an
animal to eat, at least for a day.  [For fasting periods longer than 24 hours, you should be cautious, especially with cats.]  Digesting food takes a lot of energy, energy which can often be better used in the body elsewhere. However, lack of appetite  can be a symptom of a variety of serious conditions.  Stein also notes that "refusal to eat and weight loss can be a sign of diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney dis-ease, hyperthyroidism, urinary tract infection, constipation, bowel blockage, tooth or gum dis-ease, or severe intestinal worms."  Stein also notes that appetite loss can also be a result of dehydration which should be dealt with immediately.  (This is especially serious in kittens and needs veterinary attention.)

That said, Stein lists the following recommendations for improving appetite.

Nutrition:  Stein recommends a balanced homemade diet or one that is preservative-free.  Do not free feed.  Serve food at room temperature. Make sure animal is stress-free during feeding time.

Naturopathy: Kelp (balances thyroid), Honey (excellent nutrients), Royal Jelly with Ginseng (a good tonic).  Digestive enzymes for each meal.

Vitamins:  Vit A: 10,000 IU A w/ 400 IU D once weekly; Vit. E 50 IU daily; Vit C 500 mg daily;  zinc, 5 mg daily ("stimulates taste and sense of smell....zinc deficiency has been implicated in human anorexia."); B complex 10 mg daily.

Herbs: "Alfalfa tea is the best herbal nutrient, containing all of the vitamins and minerals.  Peppermint, fennel, ginseng, gentian,
chamomile or watercress are appetite stimulants.  Ginger, dill, chamomile or papaya leaves aid digestion;  burdock and dandelion are detoxifiers. Try Swedish Bitters from the health food store, adjusting dose to body weight, and serve it in honey."

Flower Essences: Comfrey, Corn or Zucchini for anorexia.  Any of the Rose essences for love & reassurance; Crab Apple, Tomato or Allemanda for detox.  Zucchini for recovery after trauma or disease. pp.157-59

Susan