a tricky situation re. beautiful cat with a very icky tummy.

[dooit]

Last November we took in a stray cat. We advertised extensively and contacted all the relavent agencies but no one came forward for him. He is a stunning Turkish Van (as agreed by my vet and cats protection) with long silky white hair, orange ears and tail and one green and one orange eye. He is the sweetest natured and most laid back cat I've known.

We already have 3 cats so the DDs and I couldn't see a problem with keeping another and DH although not an animal love tolerates our mad pet collection well enough so long as he's not expected to do any walking/feeding/cleaning up etc.

It soon became clear why Christoper Columbus (as he is now called) was turfed out of his previous home. He has the worlds most sensitive tummy. We've had him to the vets and they can't come up with anything other than food intolerance that causes him to have very offensive and copious diarrhoea.

We have tried him on several foods and settled on one that does seem to be acceptable to him and minimises his problem in the main. Except that is, when he sneaks out and shares the other cats food, or grabs a bit of the dogs dinner, or leftovers of one of the DDs plates. It is very difficult in a multi pet, multi DC home to keep him away from all other food sources 24/7.

Now as a mad cat woman, I would clean up his poops all day and whilst it's not pleasant, it is in the litter tray (99%of the time) and soon dealt with. DH on the other hand really can't cope with it. He's made it clear that he can't bear the stench of cat poo any more.It is highly potent and I have to admit that on a bad day I can smell it from my bedroom when the cats are shut in the kitchen. Today Christopher used the litter tray while I was out and DH had to empty it which he found really really difficult and offensive. DHs has suggested that we rehome him as he has big issues over the hygene of having a cat with IBS in a house with 3 children.

We have agreed to give him 2 weeks of 100% strict, dedicated mangement to see one last time if we can solve his problem and failing that I will contact the RSPCA re. rehoming. My issue is that I wouldn't be able to send him anywhere that might euthanise him. I realise that he would be very difficult to home but it would be so cruel to put to sleep a otherwise healthy animal for the sake of human convenience. If it were up to me we'd keep him regardless but DH is finding it really difficult to share his home with him.

Any suggestions on how to improve his diarrhoea or no-kill cat rehoming would be very much appreciated.

What does he eat at the moment dooit?

Have you tried him on a diet of plan white fish?

He is currnetly on Applause (sp?) a new additive, cereal free food supposed to help with intollerances and it does help considerably if only it were not so blooming difficult to keep him off all the other peeps food. I haven't tried white fish. I'm not sure I could afford it! Do you reccomend it? We tried chicken and rice, that didn't work (the rice perhaps?) scrambled eggs was followed by a weeks of liquid poo.

Take him to the vets, it might just be a gut infection. I hate it when we have to put down old cats, I always think young ones should be given a chance. Good luck.

He's been to the vets who have given him the all clear bar being very sensitive. They don't think he's more than a year old. I'm determined that he will not be put to sleep as he is just an adorable boy. He can't help it if he reacts badly to certain foods.

He can go for a week and not have a problem but once he's eaten somethin on the "forbidden" list he can be off it for a good few days before things settle down again.

I can't advise on the stomach problems I'm afraid, but the RSPCA do euthanise as I'm sure you're aware.
Is there a Cats Protection League centre in your area? AFAIK they don't euthanise healthy animals and will rehome cats with manageable ongoing health issues.

Where are you based?

It's just come to my mind to suggest this, but have you tried a raw food diet?

I was going to suggest Cats Protection. In a single cat household he would probably do very well, and a stunning cat like him would be snapped up, I am sure.

my dog has colitis and we have found slippery elm bark powder fantastic. it soothes the digestive system and is brilliant for treating diarrhoea. it is fairly cheap and very safe for both humans and animals.

i'm not sure of the dosage but if you google slippery elm bark powder and cats you will get loads of info. it's definitly worth a try - good luck!

Thanks for all your suggestions ladies. I will certainly look at slippery elm. That sounds excellent Ceres.

My local cats protection is choc-a-bloc and unable to take any more cats currently.

I'm in West Yorkshire.

I haven't tried a raw food diet. What would that consisit of (raw food I'm guessing.) and in what quantities?

This stuff is good for ongoing management of dodgy tums.

I have an ongoing problem with one of my Siamese girls - the paste keeps it more or less under control - she is always "loose" but not too stinky. I also have one of those neutradol gel thingies next to the tray - that absorbs the odour pretty quickly.

There is lots of help and advice on Cat Planet - a good place to go to look for a good home too if it comes to it, and you may even be able to find a Turkish Van breeder who would assist / advise

Good luck

www.fabcats.org/owners/digestive/index.php

May be of help to you?

The white fish is really cheap - just buy the cheap frozen fillets (the thin ones) from any supermarket, you can get a big bag for a few pounds. I keep a bag in the freezer now and if one of mine has a dodgy tummy I poach one in a pan from frozen. But you can just blast them in the microwave too, it's really easy and quick. If you have time to defrost one, you could even give it raw.

The problem with other food is going to be harder to solve, but if you can limit his exposure to them as much as possible and his tummy settles down feeding him the white fish and/or trying some of the supplements recommended above, you might find his reactions aren't as explosive when he does steal something.

Thanks for all the info. I'm certainly going to get some of the things you've suggested.

I googled slippery elm and came up with this which sounds like an excellent regime and well worth a try.

Brilliant MrsL. I'll get some tomorrow.

I feel very much more optimistic toady. I couldn't look at Christopher without welling up yesterday. He may only have been here for 3 months but he's definitely my favourite (just don't tell the others who have been here 6 years now!)

glad you are feeling more optimistic - let us know how christopher gets on with his new regime!

I'm just back from holland and barret. Their aloe vera liquid is on half price so I've bought a bottle of that and some slippery elm capsules too.
I've not bought the fish yet as I realised we have about 30 quids worth of cat food to get through first and also it's probably better not to change too many things at once.

I mixed about a third of a capsule of slippery elm powder with a little aloe juice and poured it over Christophers' biscuits and he wolfed the lot down. He actually slurped the juice up first so it must taste good. Perhaps it's something to do with animals self medicating, you know how they sometimes eat grass etc. as the other cats made no attempt to share his food as they normally would, but just sat and watched him eat.

Fingers crossed now that things start to ease a bit.

My cat gets this, but unfortunately doesn't always make it to his tray in time.

You will have to let me know if it works. Dh would never dare suggest rehoming my cat. He did once talk to my mum about it, but she loves my cat almost as much as do. He got no sympathy from her.

I did consider rehomig DH instead shiney but I know that would be even more difficult than rehoming the cat.