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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 · 05/03/2024 17:38

@StBrides she's back tracked of the faecal transplant. She said they won't give him antibiotics as his stomach is already bad and the antibiotics will just worsen his gut flora.... so I'm at a loss now.

That's why I think it's pointless doing more stool samples when the one she's done has already shown a bacterial infection. But she just wants to keep doing them. This is the 3rd vet I've been too now. No more in our area unless I go to another town. But they will just start all over again.

I really don't know what to do for him now other than wait it out?

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 05/03/2024 20:03

He's still bright and alert playing, climbing. So that's good

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Nitsnitsnits · 05/03/2024 22:54

If he’s bright, alert, playing, eating well and gaining weight, those are all really good things. The setbacks are frustrating and worrying I’m sure but he is clearly in a much much better place than he was thanks to all you’ve done, try to hang on to that - hopefully the setbacks will get fewer and fewer as he gets older and a bit more robust.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 07:30

@Nitsnitsnits thank you! Ok. I will just keep an eye on him for now then!

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lifebeginsaftercoffee · 06/03/2024 07:44

I think you need to take him to see a different vet.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 09:15

@lifebeginsaftercoffee I have been to 3 already. No more in my town. All of them take stool samples and blood tests. Bit they seem to do multiple ones and it just comes back with a bacterial infection, (now).

I will need to find one out of town and have everything moved again.

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lifebeginsaftercoffee · 06/03/2024 09:20

And did all three of them refuse him antibiotics?

Surely if he has an infection then nothing will improve until it's treated? Confused

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 09:22

Well. He had antibiotics 3 times for campylpbacyer previously. But the doarrheah never ended. The last round of tests just showed a bacterial infection but not what infection it was.

I'm not sure if the last 2 vets I've been to will take us back? I left the second vet because she was very rude and made everything harder. Instead of just getting on with tests we had multiple appointments before agreeing to a test with a vet appointment fee every time.

1st vet just said it was normal for a kitten to have diarrheah. I saw him 4 times before loving to the second.

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StBrides · 06/03/2024 12:43

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 09:22

Well. He had antibiotics 3 times for campylpbacyer previously. But the doarrheah never ended. The last round of tests just showed a bacterial infection but not what infection it was.

I'm not sure if the last 2 vets I've been to will take us back? I left the second vet because she was very rude and made everything harder. Instead of just getting on with tests we had multiple appointments before agreeing to a test with a vet appointment fee every time.

1st vet just said it was normal for a kitten to have diarrheah. I saw him 4 times before loving to the second.

From what you're saying I wouldn't go back.

I would get copies of all the test results that have been done, though.

If/when you approach new vets, make copies of the results to show them and speak with the vet about treatment options before taking ipek in. Hopefully save you having repeat tests done and give you an idea of whether it's worth the hassle of trying a new vets yet again.

I would think the next step is possibly a referral to a consultant at a vet hospital?

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 12:49

Ok. Thank you @StBrides that's really helpful. I will contact for the test results.

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TemporaryCatSlave · 06/03/2024 13:31

Perhaps it's worth contacting the Royal Veterinary College? They are based in Hertfordshire and part of UCL. Even if they can't treat him they may be able to help with a referral to a specialist near you. Or your vet can make a referral to them. If you scroll down the page on the link you'll see they have a specialist Chronic vomiting and Diarrhoea clinic
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/general-practice/services/specialist-clinics

Poor Ipek and poor you. You have been so patient and a wonderful owner.

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Specialist pet research clinics for canine mitral valve disease and geriatric feline conditions at RVC Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 15:32

@TemporaryCatSlave thank you. I shall have a look

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lifebeginsaftercoffee · 06/03/2024 15:38

I was going to say a referral to a veterinary hospital may be the next step for him - I'm no vet but I don't see how he can improve unless they treat the underlying infection.

Different antibiotics target different things so if the one for Campylobacter didn't help then surely he needs different ones? I feel so sorry for you, it sounds awful. Poor little thing.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 06/03/2024 16:48

I'm going to wait until after the weekend and see how he gets on. He's running around playing like a lunatic and no diarrhea today... so I think I will wait a few days and if the diarrheah is still coming and going then I will do as you have all suggested.

Thank you everyone

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 09/03/2024 01:34

Hi all. We haven't has any diarrheah since my last post which is a really good sign! I'm holding out a bit longer to see if it stays this way. Panacur has finished yesterday and still OK so far

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ILoveNigelTufnel · 09/03/2024 07:37

I have everything crossed for you and him that everything is ok!!
The royal veterinary college is a very good backup plan (.which hopefully won’t be needed)

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 09/03/2024 08:25

Thank you! Yes I had a look and bookmarked them and if he goes backwards again I will register with them. Thank you!

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 09/03/2024 08:31

I think the katkin has helped too. He's so much softer and fur seems brighter.

He's cleaning himself more. He hasn't left any dirt on himself or food around his face for over a week now.

Face and nose have cleared up. Eyes are nearly clean too.

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
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ILoveNigelTufnel · 09/03/2024 13:18

That’s fantastic news - he does look so much better. His eyes look much brighter too. Handsome chap! 😍

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 09/03/2024 13:21

He looks good! How's his stomach, is he still bloated?

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 09/03/2024 13:29

It's still looks bloated. But he does eat like a horse at the moment. And he's gaining weight quickly. He's now between 2.3 kilos and 2.4. So nearly a whole kilo bigger since a few weeks ago. So maybe he's just chubby..... he's not gassy or anything and seems happier than ever.

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MadeOfAllWork · 09/03/2024 17:05

He looks much brighter. And his weight is better.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 09/03/2024 17:25

I had a feel of his tummy and its not like balloon. He just feels a bit tubby

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Poorlycatadvicewanted · 09/03/2024 22:21

Sooooo he did a really big poo about an hour ago. Not diarrheah. And his stomach doesn't look swollen now! Guess he was a bit full up!!

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MadeOfAllWork · 09/03/2024 22:22

It’s sounding more positive all the time.