Help with feeding cat

[longhairedcat]

Not too long ago, my cat was diagnosed with a tumor in his nose that is inoperable. Due to the tumor, he has become quite blocked up and I guess is having trouble smelling things (including his food). I have been feeding him Fancy Feast wet cat food, along with some treats from Purina and Friskey's, and recently he has become super picky and is not always eating his food. He has done something similar in the past (before he had the tumor), but eventually started eating again. He is normally kind of picky when it comes to the flavors of his wet food and mostly only eats fish and beef flavors. He has never been a huge fan of dry foods and refused to eat some other brands of wet food. I have tried microwaving his food, but that also didn't seem to help. He is being started on an antibiotic to increase his appetite soon, but I was wondering if there was anything I could do to his food to make it smell stronger or if there are any human foods that I could feed to him, other than of course meat and fish. More specifically, strong smelling foods that would appeal to my picky eater.

[Kay]

first food that popped into my mind was tinned pilchards - very smelly but most cats love it

[Mollycat]

Sorry to be blunt but is this tumour a long-term nothing can be done or are we looking at palliative care? What I'm asking is, are you still concerned about his long-term health, or has short term comfort become the priority? Because, that can make a big difference to what you might be willing to offer to tempt him.

[longhairedcat]

Sorry to be blunt but is this tumour a long-term nothing can be done or are we looking at palliative care? What I'm asking is, are you still concerned about his long-term health, or has short term comfort become the priority? Because, that can make a big difference to what you might be willing to offer to tempt him.

Short term comfort has become more of the priority because the treatment options weren't in favor of his situation.

[longhairedcat]

first food that popped into my mind was tinned pilchards - very smelly but most cats love it

I never thought of that. I'll have to give them a shot.

[Mollycat]

Short term comfort has become more of the priority because the treatment options weren't in favor of his situation.

I'm sorry, it's a tough time.

As Kay said pilchards or any other fish, sardine, mackerel, fresh or canned. A little spring water from a tuna can (not brine obviously) can be drizzled over other food. What was his favourite real meat treat before? Roast meat for flavour intensity. Bone broth, there are recipes online for pets, without salt onion or garlic. You might be able to make a kind of catnip soup or tea, I've never had any success with it personally but that might be my cats or the way I tried making it. Or even sprinkle a little catnip or treats onto his food.