Cat Care Help
 

My cat has had a recent health scare and I was wondering if anyone went through a similar experience with their cat(s) and I am looking for advice. Just before Christmas my cat began to act sickly. Taking him to the vet it was discovered he has a kidney infection and that he is diabetic. He has had nourishment issues. He will get test run on him on Tuesday. He is eating better, but cannot control his peeing and is very constipated. He has been incredibly healthy until very recently. I know he will have to receive regular insulin shots, but nothing else until about this time Tuesday. What advice do you all have to help my best buddy?

It's been nearly nineteen years since I had to care for a diabetic kitty and things may have changed from what I had to go through, but, talk to your veterinarian about obtaining a bag of cat food that is made for cats with diabetic issues. That might help out some what while you wait for his insulin shots.

Aside from that, be generous with providing him water - cats that suffer from feline diabetes will drink a lot of water. If you have someone to keep on an eye on your cat when you're not home, that can be ideal should your cat have additional health issues.

That's about the best help that I can offer.

He was given a can of moist cat food that was specialized for kidney issues. I bought from the vet a whole case. He is eating better since Friday morning's visit, however his bathroom needs are an issue such as the inability to do much of a no. 2 and not able to control his no.1 for the lack of ways of putting it and is he is not drinking much.

We currently have one that has become diabetic. It seemed to take a little time to really get his needed dosage down right, but things have improved at this point and he is no long worshiping the water bowl the amount that he had been and peeing a more normal amount again. Definitely keep the water full and the litter box easily accessible, esp if it's making him not too steady on his feet. (Ours box is in the basement so my mom was kind of encouraging and escorting him down there part of the time to make sure he went and try to avoid accidents.)

As for the constipation, the same cat had a bad bout of it back around late summer/early fall. I'd read about trying to give cats canned pumpkin. Plain canned with no added sugars, etc, not pie filling. Supposedly some cats will accept it directly, though this one was willing to eat it (a big teaspoon or two) mixed well into some tuna. Gave that to him a couple times a day and after a couple of days it did seem to do the trick. (Though I'd make sure pumpkin is okay with kidney issues first if that was tried.)



To add, my mom actually uses the same insulin, via a pen, and instead of paying the extra cost for his she was given permission to drop his prescription and just share hers with him, oddly enough. Both the vet and her own diabetic doctor seem to be okay with the routine she and the cat have going.

I'm sorry about your cat, Marvel.

Have you been weighing him regularly? I've heard that weight gain/loss can help determine whether you should feed him more or not.

Uh, that wasn't me. Though mine is about to go to the vet tomorrow after I get home from work. She just had her first heat this past week, and ONCE was enough of that, so we are getting her fixed. Her surgery won't actually be until Tuesday morning, but we have to take her the day before becausemy mom has to take us, and she has to work Tuesday.

1. How old is your cat? A lot of these problems can come from age, and could possibly mean your cat is unfortunately on his way out. Especially kidney problems.
2. Replace the water daily. Keep it separate from his food for additional cleanliness. Usually food particles can get into the water and cause/worsen kidney problems.

Update on Cinnamon- she came home on Wednesday, and has been recovering nicy from the "trauma" of getting spayed. Back to her usual self, mostly, though jumping around a lot less with the stitches, but that's to be expected. She is starting to move around more, so she should be back to normal in a few days. Just happy to have her home and finished with the nightly serenades of heat for good. Angel is acting like she doesn't know her, though. Growling, hissing, and swatting whenever Cinni comes near. Weird.....

^ It might be due to the painkillers that you are giving to Cinnamon, and, all of those different smells (from the vet techs to the rooms within the building itself), that are throwing off your other kitties' sense of smell. Their behavior will improve as your cat recooperates at home - she will start to smell more 'normal' to your other housecats as the weeks go by.

Hope that helps.

Yeah, I agree, it may just be remaining weird scents from the vet, or smelling funny from the wound and instinctively wanting to stay away from another wounded animal. She'll get over it eventually. Glad to hear she's recuperating well.

We did not give her any painkillers- no need. Simple spay surgery, just has stitches, came home the next day with no requirements. Angel just likes being a b**ch. She went around for two days looking for "sissie", then when she comes home, acts like she hates her. I'm living with a feline "mean girl", who can't seem to get over her bad attitude toward companions, even if she misses them when they are gone. She acted the same way toward Demona.