Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
68
Mygosh · 31/12/2023 13:48

I'm sorry your little kitty has been poorly. This reminds me of a cat I got many years ago, he too had bad diarrhea and blood. It actually turned out to be stress, I kept taking him to the vet. The vet was very experienced, and was quite blunt with me...he said you are making this worse by keep bringing him to me, just let him settle. It worked 🤗

Personally I'd avoid pate type foods as they are known for going straight through the system. A dry food will definitely help to firm up the stools. But, please, stop changing your kittens food. Stick to one food for a while, give it a chance. Hills do a sensitive stomach dry food which is very well tolerated. Good luck, he is beautiful x

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 31/12/2023 13:53

Might just be a one off from where a worms detached. They bite the bowel don’t they?

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 13:55

@Mygosh thank you. He refuses dry food unfortuantly. He's been on the GI food for a couple of months now. We tried the plain chicken and fish bit turned his nose up.

He's definitley not stressed. Since the panacur he lies around the place like he's a king. Stretched out in the middle of the room.

He comes and sits with me on the prayer mats when we are praying.

I will start the stool samples tonight. Ready for Tuesday vet opening I think.

OP posts:
Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 13:55

@FormerlyPathologicallyHappy no idea! But that sounds hopeful! I will continue to monitor him. I'm getting really stressed about it all!!

OP posts:
Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 14:14

He still seems happy and content though!

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
OP posts:
FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 31/12/2023 14:45

He does look happier.

It’s very stressful when they’re ill. Never gets any easier either.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 14:47

Eyes are brighter too

I'm just re disinfecting his boxes again

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
OP posts:
MadeOfAllWork · 31/12/2023 15:00

Poor little boy. He does seem a bit happier.
I love that he joins you on your prayer mats.
I’m out in the garden with my kitten at the moment as she was ‘helping’ DH with his yoga.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 15:05

Awww @MadeOfAllWork that's sweet!

He's very patient!

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
OP posts:
Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 16:00

No blood this time! And smell improving!

OP posts:
FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 31/12/2023 18:25

“I love that he joins you on your prayer mats.”

He’s thinking “Worship me human”

Is he using his tray less frequently?

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 18:36

@FormerlyPathologicallyHappy most probably 🤣

Yes not as much as before. Still not solid but definitely less

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/12/2023 21:36

One of my cats used to regularly join the family next door for prayers, especially during Ramadan (suspect that visiting her babies was a major draw as she adored children, combined with food at unusual hours). The Mum said she got away with it because of tales about The Prophet cutting his sleeve off so as not to disturb his cat and blessing Tabbies across their forehead, which is why they have the marking.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 31/12/2023 23:14

Yes! That's a true! I love that story @NeverDropYourMooncup

OP posts:
Poorlycatadvicewanted · 01/01/2024 01:22

He's rolling around playing now. Think we are on the mend!

Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
Advice needed for situation with poorly cat
OP posts:
EmpressaurusOfCats · 01/01/2024 05:56

That’s wonderful news!

Ladyj84 · 01/01/2024 07:35

Have to say royal canine is rarely used at the rescue I work at. It causes a lot of stomach problems.

user1471538283 · 01/01/2024 09:19

He's beautiful! He's getting there! Lovely little Prince!

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 01/01/2024 10:04

How is he this morning?

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 01/01/2024 11:22

He's OK thank you. Tray isn't full up like normal when I come down. So he's retaining food for longer. But I have noticed between 6pm and 12pm he seems to keep going to the tray more. But I don't know if that's because it's quiet in the house and he feels more comfortable or that's when the oanacur kicks in after being in his system.

We shall see. Haven't seen a bowel movement yet this morning. But it will be soon as I just fed him again

OP posts:
Poorlycatadvicewanted · 01/01/2024 11:29

@Ladyj84 What good do you give? When he's better I would like to slowly transition him. As this food costs a fortune and as you, a few others and what I have read it's not great. I don't mind spending as long as its not going to be rubbish quality.

OP posts:
Poorlycatadvicewanted · 01/01/2024 11:35

Grooming is getting better too

OP posts:
MadeOfAllWork · 01/01/2024 11:42

I have my girl on High Life Kitten food. Really good quality.

Poorlycatadvicewanted · 01/01/2024 11:58

Thank you @MadeOfAllWork shall have a look..

He was circling my feet and running against me this morning. Previously he has only done this when really hungry. So that's good news.

OP posts:
MadeOfAllWork · 01/01/2024 13:21

Have a look at Pets Corner to order food. The man who runs it samples all the food personally! Have a look at the videos.

Swipe left for the next trending thread