Worn down by pet illness and dealing with vets

[Petownermisery]

Totally depressed really. I have 2 ragdoll cats. They are always ill. I did research the breed and knew there is a risk of heart issues but otherwise general consensus was they’re no sick prone than other cats.

Have pet insurance and also pet plan with vets4pets. Costs me a fortune. Like everyone else we are really struggling financially despite me and my DH working fulltime - we’re having to pay loads every month to help our twins with university costs.

Over Christmas my female cat had a respiratory infection. Lots of trips to vets including weeks of trying to get tablets down her twice a day. She is a ragdoll but hates being picked up she is according to the vets “spicy”. Couldnt claim on insurance as just under my excess.

Since then she has had chronic diarrhea, piles of it everyday. Vet couldn’t get blood out of her as she is “spicy” and blew her vein trying to do so. We have to force feed her a probiotic everyday which she hates and is now going feral running away from me as she associates me with trying to put stuff down her mouth.

Vets said they need to send a stool sample off which is about £470. My pet insurance said if vet fills in a form they can do a pre authorisation so I know whether they will cover it under my policy. Vets say yes they can do the form for admin fee of £32.

Take stool sample in and vets say no as claim has already started I have to pay upfront. End up having an argument at reception with them showing them the email from them saying pay admin fee and they will send off pre authorisation form. In the end they say “miscommunication” at their end. No apology nothing I fact they were exceptionally rude making me feel even worse about everything.

Cat is currently lying upstairs sneezing with a runny nose again,

I really can’t cope with it all. She’s been to the vets so many times now, last year it was for multiple eye infections where I was charged over £100 for a vet fee and an eye drop,

Her brother is always ill too, constantly throwing up.

I feel I do everything right, but only the best quality vet recommended food, given them heated blankets, paid thousands for a cat proof garden and my life is just miserable with them being constantly ill. I cannot afford all their illnesses and while I appreciate the vets is a business their fees are astronomical.

So depressed by it all. Everyday I am monitoring their food intake and whether they are eating - some days they barely eat, monitoring diarrhoea and cleaning up sick. All while dealing with the stress of work and having a family,

Could you move this thread to the Cats section? The contributors there are very knowledgeable and kind - I only go on there to read the adorable stories and see the gorgeous or funny pictures. It is a very civilised and helpful corner of MN.

Are the cats in pain as well? It doesn't sound a good quality of life for them at all. What is causing the upset stomach? Have you tried different foods to see if that makes a difference?

I feel for you - it must be very upsetting to see them so ill for 3 years. I would talk to the vet about what you have written here and see what he recommends for you and the cats.

Will they not eat a probiotic mixed into their food? I had to try 3 types before I found one that my dog would eat mixed in.

Unfortunately re the insurance it would probably be counted as a pre-existing condition once you'd claimed against it once, so not much use anyway.

Have you asked the vet why these issues are constant / recurring?

mygrey the vet charged us £23 for a probiotic that she said will settle the cats tummy. But she hates having it and I don’t blame her I wouldn’t want my mouth held open while someone pours domething down my throat.

The vets and kind meaning friends always ask why I don’t try and mix it in with their food or cheese or some other magic ingredient, but I’ve tried all this and more and it never works. They can smell it a mile off. Forcing 2 tablets twice a day down my cats throat while she screamed and gagged pretty much ruined Christmas.

I think you’re right though maybe I am taking them to the vets for stuff they shouldn’t be going for. I love them so much I panic when they stop eating and throw up, if they were a human I wouldnt be taking them to the doctors!

branster Thankyou so much for your kind words and the eye drop recommendation. I appreciate it.

Honestly, I would buy a broad spec antibiotic/antiprotozoal (online) and dose them both simultaneously for 5-7 days. Wash/replace all their bedding, bleach litter box & bowls, wash down their pen outside etc daily for the duration to prevent reinfection. Probiotics will do naff all for a chronic infection, only really have a role in repopulating after the antibiotics. I'd do antibiotic eyedrops too. The vets often ask for a fecal sample to type the infection and then they prescribe metronidazole irregardless so it's a waste of money, unless they've already had met and it's resistant. It's the only thing that's ever worked when I have a pet in these situations (I'm a human dr so basing this off how I treat people).

A few other thoughts from dog care perspective which might translate to cats, hopefully.
There is a product that looks like brown playdough, specific for cats which I got from my vet to hide a particular awful medication once. No idea of the name, they gave it to me in a little bag. And you wrap it around the tablet. I would also ask for a different probiotic, even if it takes longer to work at least there is a chance they might accept it easier, the type that comes in a syringe and it goes over their food. Basically try everything you can.
Is your pet insurance the type that covers everything for life? If yes, ask them if you can claim backdated for all these episodes of chronic digestive issues. Ask the vets for the name of the condition and all the records, then go back to insurance company and do the claim yourself. If it doesn't work, ask if you can start from now, even if it's below the threshold, it will reach a point when you can start claiming once you cover your surgeries de if the expense.
Have you washed their food bowl really well, in case there is residual contamination of something? Are the cats wormed (I don't actually know if you are supposed to worm cats like dogs)?

Mine won't take antibiotics either which are presumably the tablets you were trying to give her for the respiratory infection. My vet gives a longer lasting antibiotic via injection, topped up after 10 days or so if necessary.

We used to have to give a probiotic which was in powder form and could be sprinkled on the food. They happily ate it. It's called Enteroferment but it's a German product. There might be a UK equivalent. You might have to try out a few until you can find one that helps.

However, the probiotics and change of diet did very little. One of the cats has IBD - symtoms gut pain, diarrhea, throwing up, flares up and calms down. It got worse with time and no amount of restrictive diets and probiotics was helping. She is now on cortison injections once every 6 weeks with tablets crushed up in a little "Reconvales Energy" between injections and all the symptoms have stopped.

You really do need to get a stool sample tested and also blood tested. Mine also had a CT scan in the end which identified changes in the bowel.

I had to change vet 3 times until I found one I was happy with. A previous cat (the brother of this one) who sadly died also had similar bowel issues and the vet never got to the bottom of it....

I understand it's really expensive so if you really can't afford it and are at the end of your tether you should rehome them. They should not be euthanized for this. It sounds a bit like what mine has. Some of these breeds do tend to have very sensitive digestive systems.

If you want to keep them I would be looking at another vet to be honest. The vet needs to be able to do a blood test. If they can't manage to get blood because the cat is "spicy" then you should find a vet who can....
Mine is a nightmare but the vet and two assistants can manage her now.
Stop trying to get the probiotic into her. If she has to have antibiotics ask for a long-lasting injection and repeat as necessary.

sadly owning pets is becoming a wealthy person's pursuit. We had a rabbit and I couldn't believe how much just simple check ups and vaccinations were costing.

Food wise, I wonder if you could simplify it further? Even the vet recommended food is going to have additives and fillers. Cats are true carnivores. Could you try giving them just cooked seared meat and the occasional whole raw fish to chew on? (apparently they need to chew and tear to prevent gum issues)

Would it be worth getting a second opinion from a completely different vets? Seems very strange they’re both so young and having so many repeat health issues. I do sympathise - I had a guinea pig that my son adored and it had one thing after another including needing an eye removed due to a tumour (£800!) it can be so stressful, emotionally and financially.

Honestly, you are watching 2 cats be miserable and ill the whole time, and I doubt anything will change. And you are also miserable. If I were you, I would speak to your vet and ask them what you should do. If they suggest it, have them PTS. Kinder to you all.

Totally understand how stressed, frustrated and worried you must be.

Are they a breed that us known for sneezing, respiratory and eye problems? Just asking as one of my boys has had a couple of eye problems and I took him to vets with sneezing issues previously. I've just found out he has the feline herpes virus. I've been advised to make sure his vaccinations are up to date, as it helps keep the virus at bay to some extent. Not sure if you vaccinate as indoor cats, but could be worth exploring if herpes could be causing eye/respiratory problems. My cat is otherwise a happy/well cat, so don't be alarmed. The vet thinks his brother is a carrier as he's only been to the vet for vaccination and a dental.

Poor cats and poor you OP.
It's so hard- we love our pets but it's becoming increasingly more expensive with insurance, pet plans, special diets, supplements etc. My dog has a chronic (expensive) problem and it's really hard.
I grew up with pets and my parents only went to a vet when the needed one for the end times.

I hope this isn't a daft question; could you get another vet opinion? I know some vets have a specialist in specific conditions (ours has a cardiac specialist for example)
Good luck OP

Both cats are fully vaccinated. They have flea and worm treatment. Also dread doing this as they hate it and refuse to let us do it without a struggle.

The vet said she had 3 people trying to help her get the blood out but she couldn’t as she’s too spicy. I was surprised as she might be spicy but doesn’t bite or get aggressive just growls. We were left with a traumatised cat with a blown bruised vein and a shaved neck.

I tried grinding up the tablets into her food but she knew straightaway. I bought a treat like pouch thing you put tablets in but she also refused that. The problem is she is an incredibly picky eater, doesn’t like treats like dreamies, doesn’t like wet food and only eats a few types of cat biscuits. I’ve spent a fortune buying wet premium food for “picky eaters” but she refuses it.

I tried plain chicken breast cut up small, both cold and warm and both her and her brother refuse it. They really are tricky to feed.

Thankyou so much for everyone’s advice. Interesting how some people cats have had an antibiotic injection rather than tablets. I would empty my bank account for that just to avoid the huge stress for us all trying to get tablets down her.

Sorry I disagree. Eye infections aren't usually serious but it's not normal to have them almost constantly and I can see how this would easily drag you down. OP, please try a collodial silver spray or Bugalugs eye drops from Amazon for this. These are my go-to now for any non-serious eye infections or cuts/absesses etc in my cats after my vet last charged £105 for a 5 min appointment and eye drops. Outrageous.
Re: bad stomach I recommend Royal Canin gastrointestinal dry food, a previous cat was a very sensitive soul and often had loose bowels with blood until we put her on this.

But the excess is per condition, not each consultation. So it's a long running thing for which you pay one excess for.

For your vomiting boy cat, remember that it's very common for cats to throw up and it's often for very simple reasons like they've eaten too much! Coukd you try feeding him smaller quantities, but three meals instead of two?

I used to get special dental biscuits for my cat. They were large and the idea was that cats would crunch on them, thus cleaning their teeth. However, my cat swallowed them whole...and then brought them up again! I give her tiny biscuits now and she's sick much less often.

Could he have hairballs? Make sure you are brushing him daily so he's less likely to swallow loose hairs.

You can also get special tilted cat bowls which apparently make cats less likely to vomit.

It is normal for some cats to have regular eye infections.

Please don't put colloidal silver in your cats' eyes. It's a quack remedy that doesn't help and can cause harm. If you can't afford proper vet care then please find them a good home.

I’ve spent hundreds on vets bills plus insurance plus high quality food so resent all the “if you can’t afford them rehome them” comments.

In what world would anyone rehome 2 sickly cats?!

I tried grinding up the tablets into her food but she knew straightaway. I bought a treat like pouch thing you put tablets in but she also refused that. The problem is she is an incredibly picky eater, doesn’t like treats like dreamies, doesn’t like wet food and only eats a few types of cat biscuits. I’ve spent a fortune buying wet premium food for “picky eaters” but she refuses it.

Try grinding it up in Reconvales Energy or Tonikum. My fussy one who can identify tablets a mile off will happily take them ground up in that stuff because it tastes good. It's worth a try.

For the boy cat, do you not think his might just be hairballs? Try some kind of hairball paste mixed in with food.

I don't know if that's the case, I have used it a few times without a problem (it is marketed for animals) but mainly use the eye drops mentioned. If faced with an ongoing non-serious pet problem I would always try other options over expensive vet treatment. Indeed it's not uncommon for vets with integrity to actually recommend you to buy over the counter remedies instead.

I don't think it's unreasonable to consider PTS if all other avenues have been exhausted but it would be so hard I'm sure. Nobody is going to take on poorly cats, I tried to rehome a stray that set up home in my garden last year and no shelters wanted to know as they are all at breaking point. OP you clearly care a lot about these cats so don't feel bad about anything you decide to do.

If they have upset stomachs, feed them scrambled eggs. I swear by it, i have 4 myself and it works everytime.

I am so sorry you are going through this @Petownermisery I have owned many cats and dogs over the years. None of mine had such extended periods of ill health when so young. Obviously when my pets got elderly there were difficulties. This is easier to accept as you know their time is limited. Your cats are young they could easily live for fifteen or more years. But at what cost? Their lives and yours sound utterly miserable. Rehoming them would be cruel and probably virtually impossible. I don’t think euthanasia is an unreasonable option. It sounds to me like you have tried your utmost best both financially and practically.

It sounds like you’ve declined investigation of these problems? You are just firefighting flare ups is that right? Are you attending for follow up and recheck appointments or leaving big gaps until the next flare up?

They just need to sedate her for the bloods. You need to do full investigation if you want to improve the situation.

the antibiotic injection costs around 4x that of the tablets so unsurprising that the vet hasn’t been suggesting that given you are complaining to them about costs. Antibiotics aren’t going to do anything about the diarrhoea and won’t do anything for the cat flu viruses. It might help with the secondary infections but it’s not the answer to all your problems.

have you had the B12 checked? What diet are they on? Have you tried a prescription hydrolysed diet with them?

im afraid I agree with others, you can’t afford them so rehome.

have a look at the icatcare website

sorry if I’ve missed it but did you have the bloods and the faecal sample sent off?

Just a thought but one of our dogs had some sort of respiratory problem, bit of detective work and found it was one of those plug in air fresheners. I’d try slippery elm for digestive problem.