How to Syringe Feed a Cat That Won't Eat

A cat may go off its food for a number of reasons, including dental pain, illness or injury. Some cats will eat soft cat food on their own, but more stubborn or sick animals must be force fed. Spoon feeding is acceptable if the cat will open its mouth, but if the animal shows no interest in food, syringe feeding may be necessary until the cat is willing to eat voluntarily.

Things You'll Need

  • Kitten milk replacer
  • Canned cat food
  • Meat-based baby food
  • Small bowl
  • Syringe
  • Vegetable oil
  • Towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take the cat to your veterinarian for a complete physical exam. The vet will check the cat over from head to toe, ruling out any internal injuries or illnesses that require full-time veterinary care. If the vet sends the cat home for treatment, ask how many CCs of food the cat should be eating at every meal to stave off weight loss.

    • 2

      Feed the cat three small meals a day to provide adequate nutrition without overwhelming the digestive system. Healthy cats will often eat in the early morning, midday and again before bed time, so feeding the cat as close to its normal meals as possible will make syringe feeding simpler.

    • 3

      Mix one small can of canned cat food and one small jar of meat-based baby food in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in enough liquid kitten milk replacer to make a thin slurry. The baby food can be beef, pork or poultry based but must not list onions as an ingredient, as cats cannot effectively digest onion products. Store leftover slurry for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

    • 4

      Pull the plunger out of the syringe and grease the rubber stopper with a little vegetable oil. Warm the slurry to room temperature in the microwave or by heating the bowl over a pan of boiling water. Reinsert the plunger into the syringe, and draw the amount of slurry recommended by your vet into the syringe.

    • 5

      Wrap the cat in a clean towel and set the cat on your lap. Place one hand under the cat's chin and gently push the tip of the syringe into the back corner of the cat's mouth. Slowly press down on the plunger to dispense the slurry onto the cat's tongue. Squeeze the mixture out in small increments, letting the cat lick and swallow between each dose. Wipe any spilled slurry from the cat's face after feeding.