This is RJ, his first day home, at four and a half months. I suspect a lot of the people who saw him in the shelter did not realize he was as young, and as deprived, as he was, because he certainly doesn’t look like a kitten.
It’s when we realize he’s supposed to look like the picture at right (a kitten of the same breed at the same age) that we realize how long he’s been dealing with The Hungry Problem.
Of course, our first impulse is to feed them. This is a good impulse, and we should indulge it. We just need to watch our quality and quantity.
What to feed them is canned food.
Canned food is the best way to feed a starving cat or kitten. We don’t want to burden the cat’s system with food they can’t digest. Which would be grains.
Canned food has the 3-5% carbohydrate rate that scientists agree are what cats are designed to handle. Most dry cat foods are more than 30% carbohydrate. This should be avoided. In an established cat, it can lead to diabetes. In a starving cat, it can encourage the cat to eat more to get enough nutrients.
How to feed them is little and often.
High volumes of food does not help the starving cat’s digestion. It will put extra stress on a system at a time when it is least able to handle it. The goal should be a low carb diet, or Catkins, as it is becoming known.
Feeding canned food, offered single serving and often, is the best way to not only get high quailty ingredients into the cat, but it will also interact with their metabolism and turn off the clamoring alarm that tells the cat to eat. The cat will, when secure, slow down and relax. But not until they feel secure.
It doesn’t matter what the cat’s history may be, or what it seemed to be. If the cat ever had an time of worrying where the next meal would be coming from, this old anxiety can resurface in times of stress. So when rehabilitating a starving cat, make sure every step in the feeding chain is high grade and reassuring.
Try supplementation. Brewer’s Yeast, found in health food stores, is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that cats can start absorbing right away. Sprinkle a little on each meal; a teaspoon is a daily dose for a ten pound cat, so adjust the addition accordingly. Fish oil capsules, squeezed onto their food, is another source of both fat and vital “fat types” the starving cat needs.
When our kitten started acting frantic, we discovered that food calmed him down. Hunger anxiety was prompting these bursts of disruptive activity. When a vet visit uncovered two baby molars that were being stubborn about coming out, we had them taken care of during his neutering operation. This let him eat more freely, and take advantage of the bowl of low carb dry food I leave out. Within two months his frantic edge went away, and he’s been known to leave food in the bowl.
It might seem irresponsible to NOT worry about the cat getting fat. But I consider it a secondary concern, because the consequences of trying to restrict the cat’s food, when the source of the cat’s anxiety is a lack of food, is both counterproductive and unnecessary.
It also defeats our main purpose, which is reassuring the cat that the food will keep coming. Trying to restrict food will only reawaken the cat’s anxiety, and interfere with training and affection. I’ve had cats who asked for food, then walked away. They didn’t want the food as much as they wanted the reassurance that it would come when they asked for it.
Just let the cat eat until they are acting more normal about food. They might get a little chubby, at first. But when feeding Catkins style, it is rare for cats to become overweight. Their body is now getting the correct signals that will let them know they’ve had enough. And they are not getting the grains they can’t digest, which their body can only turn into fat.
The Hungry Problem, when treated properly, then becomes a problem which solves itself. The happiness, and gratitude, that flows from our solving this problem for the cat makes us feel wonderful.
As well as the cat.
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There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.
Thanks so much. I found this really helpful. My cat has a weird wandering tendency. She’s home for 6months, then disappears for up to a month at a time. And she always comes back starved. We have no idea where she goes, but atleast we now know what to feed her when she returns.
I found a grown mae cat that is skin and bones. I have never seen a cat so skinny. I have been feeding wetfood in small amounts and he is very thankful. His teeth seem bad too….also what other health problems should I look for? I heard FIV is a biggy. I am taking to the vet on Monday. Thank you for the info.
R/S
Helen
I picked up a stray at work last week. I have never seen such skin and bones. I already made the first mistake by giving dry food. However, when I picked him up he seemed to be walking fine now after a few days of food he acts as though he is drunk. Could the dry food be causing a digestion problem that is causing him not to be able to walk? I have not gotten him into a vet yet and thought I might have to take him to the SPCA and just have him put down.
I would try some canned food and skip the dry! He’s also probably dehydrated, and dry food makes that worse. I’d give him a chance first.
Response to Jane:
Due to the recession, governments have cut back on the number of days they legally have to hold onto a cat, and waiting for the owner to show up. In California they are down to 4 days and then they can euthanize the cat which they do to grown cats, trying to give kittens a chance. I sure hope your cat is chipped so that you get a phone call, and also wearing a safety collar with an ID to locate you, so that possibly a person can contact you without the cat going into “the system”. I think you should keep your cat indoors if it is not smart enough to stick around on its own. Are you sure she’s a female?
Thanks for your information. It may also be helpful to explain what you mean by “small” meals. One of my cats slipped past me, out the door and under the gate on Dec. 07. Yesterday I received a ‘phone call to let me know that he had been found about 2 streets away. He had his collar, name and ‘phone tag, also microchipped. He had been gone for 3 weeks and a day. I had been door to door with a photo, also flyers etc., also kept in touch with Animal Services every couple of days – vets etc. Poor Mitsu was kept at the Emergency Pet Hospital for about 24 hours. He was dehydrated, and had severe hypothermia, also a little frostbite. I have him home now, and found that the only way I can get him to take any food, is to put the canned Medi-Cal into a blender with a little water to make it thinner. I put about 1 teaspoonful in a plastic syringe & slowly squirted it behind his canine tooth. He was able to ‘drink’ most of it. How often should I give him food, and is this the right amount? He is about 5 years old, and is extremely shaky, still incontinent, and extremely emaciated. I’m also keeping him warm. He has also developed a cold, and is on an antibiotic. How long should I keep him away from my other cat, to prevent Taffy from catching his cold?
I have a straving cat about six months old that has been coming to my door to eat. He is very scared and will not allow anyone close to him. how to i catch him to take him to the vet? How can i win this cat’s trust?
Billie – do you think he’s a feral cat, or somebody’s pet who got lost or abandoned? It would make a difference on how much you can do for him. But either way, if you want to get him to a vet you will probably have to trap him. Even if he’s tame, if he’s that scared it could be dangerous to try to pick him up. They make box traps that you can use that don’t hurt them.
If you contact a local animal shelter, they might be able to help you learn how to do it, and they might even have traps that you can borrow or rent. They might also have contacts with local vets who would be willing to see him at a reduced cost. The ASPCA has this thing where you put in your zip code and it gives you a list of nearby shelters.
You can also check to see if anyone’s advertising for a lost cat of that description. And see if he has any identification.
If he’s a feral cat (never lived with humans), then the best thing you can do is probably to get him to a vet, have him neutered/vaccinated, and then release him back.
It can be really hard to tell if a cat is a true feral, or if they’re a cat that used to live in a human home and is just lost and scared. The ASPCA also has some info on that. Alley Cat Allies has some stuff too.
(I am NOT an expert, but I’ve been looking into this stuff because I want to try to trap and spay the feral/stray female that lives near my sister’s house.) I hope it helps a little.
PS – This thing is not accepting my comment for some reason. No message, just a blank page and the comment doesn’t go through. I removed the URL’s and I’m trying it again. If this works, I’ll know that was the problem (sometimes that is I think, as a spam prevention.) In that case, no links, but you can find the ASPCA and Alley Cat Allies through Google fairly easily.
I rescued a kitten a week ago. She is so starved that, no only is she skin and bones, but she is so weak. I have been feeding her wet and dry food but I will now eliminate the dry. The problem is that her stomach is HUGE while the rest of her hasn’t gained any mass. Her fur is improving and she pees and poops regularly. She doesn’t seem to be in pain or uncomfortable. She just has this enormous stomach. I am taking her to the vet after the holiday but I was wondering if anyone had any comments.
It might be because she ate a lot of “stuff” trying to get enough nutrition into her tiny body. Wet food, many times a day, will help, but it’s a good idea for the vet to check her for parasites.
Also, you can try a pinch of probiotics in her food, this will help her digest it.
My cat (indoor and very timid) just came home after 2 months lost outside in extreme heat. She can barely walk, she’s skin and bones and I’m hysterical! I gave her wet food and she ate it slowly but completely. She’s so fragile. She won’t drink any water. I bought some liquid “kitten formula” hoping it would have extra nutrients? She won’t drink anything. Should I see about getting her on an IV or something? She’s my first and only baby and I really don’t know what to do.
Carie, I sent you a private email.
I have a small cat that was obviously a house cat at one point in time. I just found him tonight and gave him tuna because I have nothing else in the house. I wanted to do some research before buying a food. How many times a day should I feed him? After eating the tuna he started uncontrollably pooping liquid everywhere. Does that mean he is too far gone, or is his body not handling the tuna? I just want to help him. I’m a college student and a mom, so I can’t afford the vet. Thank you.
Feed him canned food. Small amounts, and often. If he’s not used to eating, his body is not used to pooping. Just try to keep him warm; he can’t digest the food otherwise. Don’t feed him dry food; it’s a waste of money.
Okay. Thank you very much. My parents own a farm, so I’m going to take him there to live in the barn and what not, but wanted to get him better before moving him. I live in an townhouse where he isn’t not allowed to be, or he’d already be inside! Such a nice cat. Curls up in my lap if I’m outside and follows my 4 yr old around to play. Can’t be a yr old yet.
I took in a cat from an acquaintance that wanted to have her put down. She is 2 years old. I was out of town and she ran out when a friend came to feed her. A month later she showed up emaciated and dehydrated weighing 4 pounds.
She could barely meow. I fed her a mixed diet of dry, baby food and canned food and started Sub Q sodium chloride injections after 3 days of metered IV fluids. (Had to syringe feed her for about 7 days). Three days in her system was so acidic that an abscess that formed on her tail after a fistula of the anus (the acidic bowel movements ate through everything). Taking the path of least resistance the BMs were exiting the hole instead of the anus.
I started her on a stool softener and antibiotics. Of course she was anemic when we had her blood tested so we were concerned that she would recover. We started two separate vitamin supplements daily and started injections to try and kick start the marrow to produce red blood cells. (I was worried that we would have to take her in to the Vet for a blood transfusion).
Well, like I said, a month later now, she is 6.5 pounds, the fistula has closed and the abscess has healed as well. She is eating and drinking on her own. We stopped the stool softeners yesterday (in hope that she can handle it and it won’t be such of a mess) and we are wrapping up the last of the antibiotics and the appetite stimulant.
She is experiencing something now that I have tried to research but find little info. She seems to have no depth perception. I am hoping that this will clear up over time but it seems almost vestibular in nature rather neurological. She has no ability to jump down from things so we really have to watch her, and she runs smack into walls and doors.
Therefore, I have to keep her kenneled when she is not supervised. That depresses her as she has always had free roam.
She has always been inside since she was born and I am sure her month outside was TRAUMATIC to say the least. All of her blood samples are within normal limits now. There was no visible trauma on her and we did take her in for x-rays which were all normal.
So just the starvation and mental trauma. I started her on meclizine in the hopes that it might help with some of the “stevie wonder” head that she exhibits as well (only when in the kennel)… she no longer has head tilt or droop like at first which is exhibited in starved cats.
Any ideas on the depth perception issue? Vestibular???
Your story shows how cats have amazing recovery powers. My guess (and it’s only a guess) is starvation would have meant a lack of B vitamins, which results in a lot of neurological problems. If she has bounced back from the head droop, it’s possible she can regroup on the visual issue, too. I’d try supplementing with Brewer’s yeast, especially if her coat is still compromised. Cats use almost a third of their metabolic resources on the skin and fur; deficiencies show up there first, and get fixed there, last.
Also, I’d trash the dry food permanently; make sure her food is free of cereals and soy. This can create a kind of “leaky gut” syndrome and could be holding her back, especially if her intestines are already healing from such a tough time.
You seem to have a real grasp of the pharmaceutical issues involved, and her making it this far is a testament to your skill and dedication.
I recently found a stray starving and dehydrated siamese cat. I had him for 1 night and fed him a big bowl of dry food and gave him some water. The next day I found him a home. Today I called to check on him and the man told me the day after I gave him to him the kitty passed away. I feel terrible! Do you think feeding him the big bowl of dry food could have killed him?
I’m so sorry, Lori. It is unlikely that your kindness was so detrimental; I’m sure he had bigger problems than that.
OOPS … i have a starving cat in my backyard that cant jump up on the fence, i was watching it from the window and noticed this black cat, putting his pawns on the fence but not being able to jump it.. so i said to myself.. that doesnt look right, why cant he jump??? so i went out back, picked him up and realized he is a skeleton, just a spine and hips,… so since i have 3 healthy cats, i said “come on baby, you need to eat” and ran him inside to food … now i find out he cant have dry … oops, now what?? did i hurt him???.. it was my first reaction is to feed him.. i will go bye him canned food in the morning.. is he gonna die because i fed him dry food.. i got him about an hour ago, so he only had a little.
also, when he was eating, his teeth were grinding LOUD. what does that mean? it sounded like someone grinding there teeth in there sleep. does he have bent in teeth maybe??
hopefully u can help.
It won’t hurt him to eat dry, which is better than “none.” But switch him to canned and that will be better for him. The loud crunching might just be from enthusiasm! Poor fella; bless you for rescuing him!
I was on my way to work the other day and seen a cat walking across the street, This little kitty caught my eye because it did not look at my car (the noise) and it seemed wobbly. I parked, got out of my car and went to get the kitty, While walking up to it (she) did not seem to care or notice me until i got in front of her. I picked her up and she was literally skin and bones, no meat on her what so ever. I brought her home, gave her a bowl of water and some fancy feast, a litter box and left her in the bath room. Came home from work and mixed up a recipe a vet once gave me to feed some kittens who’s mother died. Its, 1 egg yolk, 4 oz water, 1TB SP of corn syrup, 4 oz of sweet condensed milk. I use a syringe from the vet and feed her at least one syringe full every hour. It seems to be helping. between the first feeding and the second she has started lifting her head, drinking a tiny bit of milk on her own. Any other ideas any one? I have two other cats, whom are our babies, they are fixed, chipped, vaccinated, do i need to worry about the transmission of any disease? I was my hands after interacting with her. Anything helps. Please email me with your responses.
To all cat owners, Please be aware of the growing number of cats that have Feline Aids. My cat experienced symptoms of sneezing, watery eyes and a very decreased appetite. She got Feline aids form a stray cat, only because we live out in the country and let the cat out during the day. Stray cats are fun to watch sometimes, but KEEP THEM AWAY FROM YOUR CATS!.
Our cat went missing 19 days ago, yesterday, we got a call becasue of posters. We got to where the cat was and I stunned because it is skin and bones and has something going on its eyes. I don’t know what to do, because in some ways it looks so much like our cat, but then we look at the coloring and striping variations. Its and Orange Tabby and so many look so similar. But could this cat be ours and could be somewhat unrecognizable because of it condition. Help
Does the cat seem to recognize you? When my James Bond was lost for weeks, I finally got him back because he’d been hit by a car! He was in awful shape; but as soon as he saw me he started wailing and put his paw in my hand. (He has since made a full recovery.)
Yes, cats can look very different without food and shelter… but their markings would not change.
I woke up last night to the sound of meowing outside my window. When I went to look I found 3 kittens under a bush outside, and their mama at the end of the driveway. I couldn’t reach them, so I left some dry food and water out for mama. (I feed my indoor cat Blue Buffalo dry food) I went and got some wet food and kitten formula today. The kittens appear to be about 4 weeks old, and are able to eat the wet food. I noticed while they were eating that 2 of the kittens are very wobbly- one so bad it can barely walk. Is this a normal symptom of starvation? The mama cat and one kitten seem fine, but I’m worried about the other two. Is there anything else I can add to their food to help them?
I’m so sorry to hear about the wobbly kittens; this could be a sign they haven’t been eating enough, or they could have been born with problems. Brewer’s yeast, mixed with their wet food, would cover a B vitamin deficiency. Is there a good shelter you can get them to? I realize the bad ones are no help at all.
Help please. I have been trying to feed a seriously skinny cat. You can feel every bone. I have tried cows milk, cats milk, tuna, kitten food and mushed up cat food. All the food, even in small amounts keeps coming pack up. What can I do.
A tiny amount with a tiny amount of acidopholous (probiotics) can help. Also, try meat baby food; sometimes that works when nothing else does.
I ended up with 4 kittens, 3 with the wobbles. I’ve been feeding a mix of canned food and KMR formula, and one of my wobblers is walking fairly normally, one is improving, and my runt still has them pretty bad. I was wondering, how much Brewers yeast would you recommend I add to their food?
1/2 tsp per 5.5 oz can is what I use. I also offer supplemental fats; bacon grease, coconut oil, butter, even olive oil. With neurological difficulties, I go by Vitamin B’s for transmission (on the cellular level) and fats for insulation (myelin sheathing).
Hello,
About 6 wks ago I found a starving adult male cat in my yard. I brought him in and started feeding him. How long does it take for a skin and bones kitty to become the beautiful cat I see him becoming? He’s eating 2 cans of cat food a day in 1/4 can meals. Also how long does it take before he “takes care” of himself i.e. cleaning his fur, 6 wks down the road he’s still wobbly and fairly weak. Anybody want an Orange Tabby?
Thanks, Sue
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Hi,
We have a feral mamma cat outside.. she has moved the kittens so many times, this time I cannot find them, I had been putting antibiotic ointment in their sick eyes (from a local vet) BUT she is VERY young, I noticed she was in heat again the other day.. i cant catch her, but today I finally go close enough to touch her for a few seconds, she is skin and bones, EVEN AFTER all of the canned food and KMR milk i have been putting out.. I feel so sad, I dont know what more I can do for her because I dont know where her babies are, otherwise I would catch her and get her spayed so she doesnt have to go through this again.. WHAT CAN I FEED HER to help her nurse healthy kittens, they are about 4 weeks old now.. when i had seen them a few days ago, they seemed rather week and dehydrated, I am assuming this is because mamma is not taking in enough nutrients to feed them much milk!
Hi there,
I rescued a kitty from a little of barn cats in our barn. He is 5 weeks old and is about 3 inches tall. When i found him 4 days ago he could barely even walk. (He has been peeing/pooping fine! She had 3 poops yesterday and more than 10 little pees) Yesterday (day 3) he had what my husband thinks may be a seizure – he was shakey and immediately urinated. Also was making somewhat of a gurgling sound while shaking. He recovered then had 2 more close together about an hour or so after the first one. Just wondering – yesterday was the only day I didn’t give him “hydra feed” – electrolyte supplement. Wondering if anyone has any idea about seizuring being cause by an electrolyte imbalance? Any other tips for this little guy? I’m feeding him canned food that he’s been eating. Is cow milk good for him? What about cow colostrum?
Thanks!
well-written and good emphasis on satiating the “anxiety about not having food available” as or more important than the actual physiological feeding.
John´s last [type] ..Do You Want to Be Successful? Be Precise!
Thank you SO SO much. I found a stray cat today, skin and bone. You can see her hips when she walks. She is about 3 years old. Thanks!
I have a different hungry cat problem that I would love some advice on. I have 2 short haired tuxedo cats, littermates, that we adopted when they were 9 months old, who are always indoors, fixed, up to date with shots and healthy weight as of their physicals in August. The boy cat “Mister” eats well and seems normal. His sister “Mrs.” has always been the anxious one, more easily startled and less social. As long as we have had the cats, Mrs. has aggressively attacked food and complains loudly if the bowl is empty. She will body check Mister out of the way to get to the bowl! The problem is that Mrs will eat as if she has never seen food before and then vomit undigested food about 5 feet away. This happens at least daily. She is 16 lbs so she must be getting some nourishment but she appears to be constantly hungry. Wet food seems to make the problem worse. We have tried all variations of wet food and dry food and spoken with the vet as well but cannot solve the problem. We have tried slowing her down by spreading a thin layer of dry food on a tray and have had a slight improvement recently after using a dog food bowl with knobs in it designed to force slower eating but I would love to know why it happens and if I can alleviate the problem altogether. She has been checked for worms and had regular vet appts 1-2 times per year with no other identified health problems, pees and poops consistently and seems content except for the vomiting. She does occasionally vomit hairballs. At present we are on dry food only and it is out all day along with water. Anybody have a theory or suggestion? I love these kitties and I hate to see her heaving the way she does (although she doesn’t seem that bothered by it).
Thanks, Jen
My best friend found a cat walking circles on the yellow line on a busy road. She scooped her up and brought her home, where we discovered she was bleeding from her mouth and her back paw. The mouth injury was a minor one to her lip that is pretty much healed by now (this was day before yesterday at 9PM), and the back paw has a small sore that does not look infected and we are cleaning with a half peroxide solution once a day. She isn’t really drinking yet, but we were able to get her to eat a 3oz can of kitten canned food yesterday. This morning she had some diarrhea but I am attributing that to not know what she has been eating or when she last ate. We plan on giving her small meals (1/4 to 1/2 of a 3 oz can) about 3-4 times a day. I bought her Iams, Fancy Feast, and Science diet canned kitten food. Does it seem like I am doing the right thing with the feedings? Any suggestions about how I can get her to drink? She is very skinny, but not skin and bones. I think she is about 3 months old, she is tiny.
HELP!!!!
i have found a starving kitten that was about to be hit by a car on the round. He/she is nothing but skin on bones. You can fell and count all of his bones. He also has some kind of eye infection going on. I have put crushed, wet dry food into a syringe, and fed it to him. I am afraid that he/she will die. Please help me.
Please take the kitten to the vet as soon as you can. If he ate, that’s good, and you did an excellent job.
I thought some of you might be interested in this really cool cat feeder I found! My cats are outside cats but the site says it works great for indoor feeding too. They have a website http://www.theoutdoorpetfeeder.com.
We use it outside ~ You can fill the bottom outer dish with water or insect repellent to keep bugs out and the tent keeps the birds away. We used to leave for a day or two on business and come home to a porch full of ants and bird poop, but this feeding dish has cured the problem!
They have a cool optional tent that provides privacy for the cat to eat under too if you are going to use it indoors for a shy cat that likes privacy.
It was so awesome, I just bought one for my aunt for her cats
If you do not want to post the link, it is by a company called Carter Pets and it’s called The Outdoor Pet Feeder.
Good luck with you kitty!
I was wondering if there was anything I could do for my cats kittens? (They died and I cried for like 2 weeks) They didnt seem to be able to walk very well and when they tried to drink milk from their mother, she would get up and walk away.I begged my parents to get a bottle and let me feed them, but they said that it would never work.I was only 9 and I didnt know what to do, I stayed with the kittens every hour of the day until their last breath.One died while I was holding it, I can never forget that moment.I think the mother was too young to feed them, she had been fed plenty (a little more+milk when she had the kittens) and she was about two years old(I think she was, we found her as a stray). There was also little bugs with red butts around their ears, I think they were hurting them but my dad said they were just fleas. I didnt believe him and tried to pick off the bugs but when I got rid of one two more showed up.Was their death my fault? What did I do wrong? Please answer this has haunted me for 4 years.
At nine years old, there’s very little anyone can do, and whatever your parents decided had to be what you went along with. I’m sure that if they knew the distress that would follow, they would have gone a different way. Have you discussed it with them?
Barring that, I understand: my pet capuchin monkey died in my arms and my parents did not take her to the vet, feeling it was futile. But I comforted her and suffered with her and at least she was not alone when she died. She died knowing someone cared.
That is what you did for those kittens.
Thank you so much, that took a lot of weight off my shoulders.And I have tried to discuss this with my parents but they never seem to take the time to listen.(I dont blame them, they didnt know what was wrong with the kittens either.)
Can anyone give me a more exact amount of food to feed a starved cat? We are in the middle of moving into our new house, and are storing our belongings in my sister-in-law’s mother’s empty house, where we found a stray cat. We finally caught her a couple days ago and brought her to my parents’ house where we are staying. She is very skinny, and we were feeding her dry food, but will switch to canned food after reading this article. Should we feed her 1 can per meal, 3 meals per day? We have no idea how old she is (if that makes a difference), but we are guessing she is 1-8 years old. She’s too big to be a kitten, and it’s really hard to tell more than that since she was starving. Luckily, she has been very tame after calming down, and loves getting attention from us. I’m guessing that she had a home before, but her owners didn’t want her anymore and dropped her off in that house, since she is so tame and my sister-in-law doesn’t think there is any way she could have gotten inside by herself. Also, let me know if there is anything else that we can do to help her recover! She is a beautiful long-haired calico, and I just lost my long-time calico friend who ran away into the woods after a car accident, so this stray kitty is such a blessing. Thanks in advance for any advice!
Six small meals would probably work better at getting her tummy back “on line.” It sounds like she was sent from heaven… good luck!