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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat

489 replies

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 27/12/2023 01:03

I need some advice please. So we have a kitten still but he isn't well. We've been to the vets countless times. He's on prescription food, he's been on 4 rounds of antibiotics and he's not getting better. I've tried a few vets and they all say he might just always be ill as a complication of the virus. I want to take him to the vets again. But my husband wants to give him up to a cat charity so he can be looked after and possibly re homed. I'm not sure and think we should try to get him better. Its cost me a fortune in treatment so far.

The lady we got him from lied about everything. She said he was a she. She said he was flea treated but he was riddled with fleas. (I took him.straight to the vets and he was flea treated and wormed and vaccinated) She said any cat food was fine but he had diarrhea from the day we got him. After weeks of messaging her it turns out she was feeding him a raw food diet. He was only 4 months old and he got campylobacter ( like salmonella) vets reckon this is the cause of his illness.

He doesn't have campylobacter now as we got this treated but the constant diarrheah is an ongoing complication and he's not putting on weight even though I feed him 4 times a day. Kids are devastated because he said we need to give him up. I'm quite upset but part of me agrees with him and the other says we should carry on looking after him.

The other problem is that the vet refuses to do his vaccinations again or neuter him until he is better. But then also said he might never be better. But won't advise what we should do! I've tried all 3 vets in our area and they say the same. He can't have top up vaccinations as he has the diarrheah and so now he would need them re started but again can't because he's ill.

So now I don't know what to do as he is very much loved! But I feel awful that he's not getting better and looks like there isn't anything we can do about it either. The vets kind of given up!

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 23/02/2024 08:32

Soo looks like he is tolerating katkin really well! He's still got the panacur but since katkin he is solid in the morning and evening. Whereas before morning was fiarrheah and gradually firm.up as the day goes on.

He must be feeling better because he's running around and nearly knocked me over like a ten pin. Also tried to scale the bird cage where he was never bothered before. My son caught a pic before I could get to him! So new challenge unlocked!!

Need to get bird into a safe room I think. Or need to train him to leave him alone! I hissed and he stopped so we might have to keep doing that.

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
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ILoveNigelTufnel · 23/02/2024 09:00

That’s great news (not so much for the birds though!)
It’s a tricky one with food though but sounds like the katkin is ok. Maybe the other one doesn’t suit his tummy and there’s something in it which is upsetting him? Dont have any professional vet experience but I have had cats who have had tummy ‘issues’ with certain foods.

And I am a cynical old bird - over the years I’ve spent a fortune on cat food the vets have suggested, it was biscuits at one point to help Posey clean her teeth but one time I was waiting for ages at the vets and for every person who came out of their appointment, the vet had recommended them the same biscuits which made me a bit 🤨

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 23/02/2024 10:15

I was never a fan of if these specialist diet food for upset tummies I used cereal free pouches for the Bengal.

How kind of you to put a treat into a puzzle box for him 😋 looks yummy.

My old moggy nearly had me over this morning running in front of me. Not sure who she thinks is going to feed her if she kills me. I suspect it’s play behaviour because they can judge distance and know we’ll collide.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 23/02/2024 10:58

Lol. Yes. Will try this for a bit longer and see how we get on!

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 24/02/2024 10:58

So he discovered his cat kibble which normally he turns his nose up at and he's decided he likes them now and is wolfing them down... I'm assuming this should be OK? He's claiming he is starving as soon as he finishes his wet food.

Sorry I keep asking questions. Bit it's like he's beeb replaced with a complete different cat over night!

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ILoveNigelTufnel · 24/02/2024 11:11

As long as he’s eating the right weight of food I’d have thought it’s all ok? My friend’s cat does that and has wet food and crunchy things too. They just make sure it all weighs the right amount for the weight of their cat.
I’m not a cat expert (other than having had cats over the years) but I’d be doing the same as you I think.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 24/02/2024 11:20

Thank you @ILoveNigelTufnel I'm not overly worried about the Weight at the moment as vet said he really needs to be putting is on and he's only half the size he should be. So he's lucky at the moment that he's free to ear as he likes. But he was basically shitting it all out before! So I guess we will need to start being a bit more careful as long as the diarrheah stays away! I can't tell if his tummy is swollen or he's just eaten too much! I fed him late this morning to give his tummy a rest. Although he was claiming he hadn't eaten in years...🤣

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ILoveNigelTufnel · 24/02/2024 11:26

He’s definitely feeling better then - the I’m half starved / no one has EVER fed me EVER / why am I so unloved and uncherished?! Is a really good sign. 🤣

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 24/02/2024 12:42

Lol. OK thats good! We had a few bought of diarrheah but I'm hoping that's the diet change.... I. Giving it a week or so to see how he settles with it.

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 24/02/2024 12:42

He seems obsessed with katkin food though. He's never liked one as much as that....

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 15:37

Hi guys! Ipek went to be neutered today. He did really well. He's home now. They did in house blood tests and everything came back negative but it shoes him as malnourished but that's because he obviously isn't absorbing all the nutrients because of the diarrheah. But she was pleased he put on 200g since last week so she gave us potassium drops and some pain relief for his recovery. She said the tests results show stomach inflammation and bacterial infection but she doesn't know what infection.

She doesn't want to give any antibiotics as she said it will mess up the flora in his gut even more. She said see how he is in a week and if he still has diarrheah then we need to do a different stool sample.

She said carry on with panacur until the bottle runs out. But she was pleased he's having better bowel movements compared to before. So looks like it might be an ongoing issue!

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 15:43

Also he wasn't given a cone tk wear or a body suit. 2 friends of mine where surprised by this. He does have to go for a check up in 3 days though

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MadeOfAllWork · 26/02/2024 19:05

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 15:43

Also he wasn't given a cone tk wear or a body suit. 2 friends of mine where surprised by this. He does have to go for a check up in 3 days though

My girl was given a cone after she was done, but they didn’t put it on her. We timed it so we could be home with her for the week. She didn’t touch her stitches once.

And poor boy bring malnourished, but as you say, it makes sense with how ill he’s been.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 19:10

Yeah. I don't know how they did it
But there aren't any stitches. And she said there wouldn't be. So maybe that's why.

He was very well behaved though. They sent me pictures when I was waiting at home.

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 20:18

Looks nice and neat. Couldn't get the others idea.

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
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FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 26/02/2024 20:30

No bloody wonder he’s malnourished.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 20:41

Yeah exactly. I mean I knew that myself! Although I thought he was catching up. He eats like 6 pouches a day! But ofcourse when you are popping it all out it cancels itself out.

So she said keep on with panacur and we will reassess in a week and possibly more stool samples. I think the poor thing just needs panacur, good quality food, (not katkin) and some rest

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 20:41

He's about a kilo underweight

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 26/02/2024 20:42

She is a lovely vet though. Think I'm just tired for him!

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StBrides · 27/02/2024 12:00

Oh, poor thing! Glad he's found food he likes though, keep following your (ahem) gut instinct op.

I don't recall my two coming back with a cone or suit when they went in for the snip either so I don't think its unusual

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 27/02/2024 14:34

He's much brighter today. Covered his face in food because he's greedy. But also won't let me wipe it. He's had a funny tummy this morning. But to be expected. A fresh order of katkin arrived this morning. So He's happy.

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
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ILoveNigelTufnel · 27/02/2024 16:20

He is such a handsome boy! Glad to hear he’s much brighter too.

LostCats · 27/02/2024 19:23

Ah he really is such a beautiful boy

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 27/02/2024 19:47

He's scrambling around the floor under the dining room table chasing a toy mouse
Considering he was de balled yesterday, I would say he's doing well! Eating ok. Only been for a poop once so far today. And I weighed him.and he's out on 300g since last week! So even though he's underweight, it's only by just over a kilo. I think all things considered that's not too bad!

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 27/02/2024 19:49

He's also started maulting like crazy the last few days. He didn't really shed hair before. Is this a preparing for spring/summer thing? My allergies are playing up since he started so I'm back on the antihistamines

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