How to Force Feed a Cat

The veterinarian hands an owner a few syringes and explains that the food and/or water needs to be force-fed to the cat. Force-feeding a cat is not an easy task. It requires both time and patience for you and your cat. The basic idea is to keep it stress-free for the cat while giving your cat the right amount of nutrition.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Syringes
• Wet Cat Food
• Small Microwaveable Bowl
• Small Spoon
• Water
• Paper Towels
• Damp Cloth
• Designated Towel for Your Cat

1. Arrange the area where you are going to try to feed your cat. Simply put, this is going to be messy until you and your cat become better at it and even then, it is still going to need cleanup. Cover the area and stock up on paper towels.

2. Wash your hands.

3. Prepare the food so that it can be pushed through the syringe. Place the amount you plan to feed the cat into a small plastic bowl and heat. Mash wet cat food that has chunks. In a microwave, heat for 10 seconds and stir until no hot sections are in the food. Add a small amount of water food so it becomes more like a batter and set aside.

4. Check the cat food's temperature as you would test a baby's bottle. If you are concerned about the temperature, then wait until the food is room temperature to feed to your cat.

5. Bring your cat to the area. When you pick your cat up, say something to the cat to start helping the cat associate the words with what is about to take place. A phrase such as "Time to Eat" works.

6. Stand behind or straddle your cat or to the side of your cat so that you can see your cat's face but your cat is facing outwards. Partners should stand on the other side near the cat. Avoid standing in front of the cat so the cat doesn't feel boxed in. If you find you need to restrain your cat, wrap them in a towel or old pillow case.

7. Start your cat. Some cats only need a gentle little start and may take food on their own with your help. Start by dabbing a little bit of the cat food onto your "pinky" finger. Now gently use one of your other fingers to gently push the lip upward on the side of the cat's mouth, mid way to the back of the mouth. Gently push some of the food into the cat's mouth so that it squeezes through the natural opening they have near that area. Say something like "Food" in an upbeat voice. Praise your cat for eating the food and pet him. It is possible that your cat may eat off your finger tips at this point. Encourage your cat to do so.

8. Switch to the syringe. Save the syringe until the cat is not interested in eating on their own. Fill the syringe with cat food, starting with small amounts that are easy to handle.

9. Position the syringe in the side of the cat's mouth, aiming for the back diagonally (not so much as to possibly choke the cat) and gently push a small amount into your cat's mouth. Praise your cat and say "Food" in an upbeat voice. Others have found that lifting a cat's head and squirt the food from an angle from the front of the mouth works well too. If you are also administering water, use this same method.

10. Give your cat time to swallow the food or a break if needed. The person feeding the cat needs to be patient. This is going to be a slow process. The cat needs breaks and time to swallow. The cat may want to walk around for a moment if the area allows it.

11. Clean your cat. Once you are done feeding your cat, praise him while wiping the cat's mouth, face and front paws with a wet cloth. Follow up with a dry towel.

12. Release your cat from the area.

Tips & Warnings

• Give frequent breaks.
• Keep track of the water you put into the food so you do not over hydrate your cat. Your veterinarian can tell you how much water your cat should have daily.
• Keep the unused portions of the cat food in the refrigerator and within easy reach in case your cat decides he is especially hungry that day.
• If you are new to feeding a cat, you want to start out small. Start with 1/4th of a wet can of cat food or smaller amounts and give your cat multiple feedings until the cat has reached your veterinarian's goal for that day. This keeps the feedings short and relatively stress free for you and your cat.
• Some people find that putting cat on an unfamiliar surface like a counter top helps the cat stay in one place while feeding.
• Ask your veterinarian to clip your cat's claws before you leave their office.
• Add a small amount of olive oil to the syringe plunger if it gets stuck.
• These instructions are for adult cats.
• If your cat refuses to be force-fed, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Who Can Help Sponsored

[auntjennys]

on 5/27/2009 Thank you! I have to assist my cat in eating by way of a syringe. My vet told me to take her k/d diet food and mix with a little water in a blender. The idea of putting a drop of olive oil the help the plunger of the syringe move more freely is just great. The syringe's plunger seems to stick and I have actually shot my cat's food across the room trying to get to move. I take a clean towel and place under chin securing with a flexible clothes pin, that seems to work and I must admit I am getting better at the assisted feedings!!THANKS AGAIN!!

[nahcm]

on 2/5/2009 Thank you. My cat was not eating, I had no idea what to do. This article helped me figure it out.