Bobby is soon to be 17 in Feb. and he doesn't have the appetite he did before. I think his teeth are okay because he does chew his kitty treats each night before bed. He is thinner along the backbone and I notice it a lot. If we go to the vets, they will run tests I am sure. I just want to know if you can think of any appetite stimulants like baby food or something that will put weight on him. I hate to have all those tests done when he is feeling well and hates the vets.

Kitten food has more calories and might help.

It's ok to feed him kitten food right? Bonnie will probably want to eat it too.

Mine are still on dry kitten food and they are 6 in June Not because that is my choice but theirs, they refuse everything else, both of them are just fine.

Definitely try some kitten food! Also, maybe some nutri-cal as a treat. You can get the high calorie one...

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... G4Q8wIwAw#

Thanks! I think I'll get some of that Nutri-cal. Bobby will love the switch to rich kitten food.

kitten food is good, also baby food meats , and you can buy a high cal paste , you just put a dab on their paw or in their mouth.

At 17 this cat should have a geriatric blood panel. He or she could have renal failure. There are four stages. Tanya's CRF site is a good one to learn and then go and join the feline CRF yahoo group. I hope it's not this though. It is not uncommon and it is not PKD poly cystic kidney disease. It sounds like it might be but cats can have other things going on at that age and a blood panel and urine test can give you and your vet an idea. I have a lot of experience with cats because I am a breeder. Deb

Another point, a cat with the back bone sticking out and not eating is not a good sign or healthy. They can stop eating and die pretty quickly from Fatty Liver disease also called Hepatitic lipodosis the liver enlarges and fills with fat the body tries to consume it's own reserves and the skin turns jaundiced. I advice you to go to the vet in fact run if you love him. Three days of not eating can tigger it. In the wild a cat would never get this. Deb

Agree with Show-cats re the geriatric blood panel- though at that age- you probably wouldn't put him through any major treatments.
I was glad I knew about my Bibby's PKD/renal problems- helped me choose her diet- though the main priority was keeping her happy and eating.

Kitten food is a good idea- as said- high in calories.