Purpose
Know why support is being used
The goal, threshold, food, amount, method, frequency, and stop criteria must be explicit.
TANDEM Cat® appetite support
Supported intake is a care intervention, not a force contest.
When an approved plan calls for feeding support, the method should account for medical risk, nausea, hydration, body position, handling tolerance, pacing, swallowing, and the cat’s ability to recover after the interaction.
Private roomProfile reviewRoutine continuityDaily observationEscalation plan
Current availability, rates, policies, and final care acceptance are managed by Cats in the City.
Start with baselineWhat is normal for this cat matters before the stay begins.
Plan the responseShare what should trigger contact, recheck, or veterinary escalation.
What changes the care plan
Boarding fit is built from function, not diagnosis alone.
Supported feeding may be reviewed within the Sellwood higher-support pathway when medically and behaviorally appropriate. It is not automatically included in routine boarding.
Body position
Protect breathing and swallowing
Support should never ignore posture, respiratory effort, nausea, oral function, or aspiration risk.
Recovery
Observe after the interaction
The cat’s posture, respiration, stress level, swallowing, grooming, movement, and later voluntary intake remain part of the intervention.
Care boundary: This website provides boarding education and routing. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace veterinary care. Medical boarding acceptance depends on current stability, complete instructions, supplies, veterinary information, staffing, and the Cats in the City review.
Connected guidance
Keep learning without losing the care path.
These pages answer adjacent questions and route operational decisions back to Cats in the City.
Related guide
Transitional Stress Anorexia
The early appetite-withdrawal framework.
Open guideRelated guide
Appetite monitoring
How voluntary intake and trajectory are documented.
Open guideRelated guide
Medical boarding
The broader fit and review pathway.
Open guideQuestions guardians ask
Clear answers before the request.
Care fit is confirmed only after Cats in the City reviews the complete profile and requested dates.
Is supported feeding the same as force feeding?
No. TANDEM Cat® uses “supported feeding” to emphasize an approved, paced, body-aware intervention. The cat’s medical status, swallowing safety, posture, and response determine whether it is appropriate.
Can guardians request supported feeding in advance?
Guardians should disclose appetite history and discuss an approved contingency plan. The team determines whether the requested support fits the cat, staffing, and veterinary context.
Does supported feeding replace veterinary evaluation?
No. Persistent anorexia, vomiting, dehydration, respiratory change, pain, or other concerning signs may require veterinary evaluation or transfer.
Next step
Let the care plan start with the cat.
Share the dates, routine, health history, appetite pattern, medication needs, and room priorities. Cats in the City will review the request and confirm the appropriate location and pathway.