Elderly 16-year-old cat has intense surgery, he refuses to eat after surgery and cat mom worries for his well-being: 'I'm not ready to lose him'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Dec 9, 2025 5:00 PM EST

Loss is a part of life, but it doesn't make it any easier to go through grief or sadness when you lose someone close to you. There's a hole there that can't be filled with anything else, and coming to terms with the loss is the best way to move on from it. The story below isn't about loss, but it centers around the potential for loss. The protagonist is a cat mom who's had her cat for 16 years, which is the age of the cat. Now that the cat is 16-years-old, he's having health issues. He has surgery to remove his bladder stones. After the vet, he's not at his full health. It's to be expected, but it doesn't make it easier. 

The old cat won't eat, won't drink. He still is trained to go to the bathroom, but since there's nothing there, he just sits next to his litter box confused. It's heartbreaking for the cat owner to see, and she's tried everything in her power to make her cat son eat, but he won't. She seeks wholesome internet advice on what to do for her cat, as she's not ready to lose her favorite person in the world. 

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  • 01

    How do I convince my cat to eat after surgery?

    Cat after surgery
    via narong27 from narong27 / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hey guys, my 16year old cat had surgery on friday to remove bladder stones after being in the vet since tuesday with a catheter
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 03
    and IV fluids due to a urinary blockage. Prior to this he was eating fine. But since the surgery he wont eat and turns away from it.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 04
    I have tried: ⚫ his urinary wet food can his urinary dry food biscuits
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 05
    • both mixed together • the urinary wet food pouches (chunks in gravy)
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 06
    . warming the wet food up . churro treat . temptations treats (Both treats he usually likes)
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 07
    And he wont have any of it, ignores it or turns away when I try to present it closer to him. He wont even sniff the food.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 08
    We took him back to the vet last night and they gave him an anti nausea injection, a pain relief
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 09
    patch that is supposed to last several days and we have these anti nausea + appetite stimulant
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 10
    wafers that he can have every 8- 12 hours. No change in behaviour.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 11
    He just goes to the litter tray and then lays beside it, because he still thinks he needs to pee all the time.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 12
    We have a tentative appointment at the vet early tomorrow morning if he doesnt eat by tonight.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 13
    I honestly don't know what else to do. I've hand reared this cat from the very start and he's the
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 14
    Cat at vet
    via pixelshot / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    only thing I have left of my dad who passed in 2016 and I'm not ready to lose him.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 16
    Note: prior to this whole vet experience he was in great health for his age and his vitals are still perfectly fine.
    via u/the_lucky_rabbit777
  • 17
    yramt • 2h ago Check with your vet, they may suggest an appetite stimulant to get them going.
    via u/yramt
  • 18
    Litter box
    via carlosrojas20 / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    BygoneNeutrino • 2h ago When my mom's cat had major abdominal surgery after she ate a long piece of
    via u/BygoneNeutrino
  • 20
    string, she had to feed her with a syringe for a few days. Most of it would come
    via u/BygoneNeutrino
  • 21
    out, but obviously some of it made it in. She made a full recovery.
    via u/BygoneNeutrino
  • 22
    She was messed up. She was on the door of death, and none of the vets thought she would make it.
    via u/BygoneNeutrino
  • 23
    The surgery was a hail Mary; huge chunks of her intestines were removed due to scarring.
    via u/BygoneNeutrino

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lolcats wholesome old cat adorable cats cute reddit story cute cats lol funny cats Reddit Cats funny animals
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