Conference misery::feline_v1

    my siamese breaks her litterbox training whenever she is out of
    sorts be it that she is sick or just miffed at me for whatever
    reason...unfortuately i havent found a solution to this yet
    and she is almost five years old....
    
    fran 
    
    

    Not using the litterbox is a classic symptom of a urinary track
    infection.  I think this problem will not go away until the
    infection is cleared up.  You can buy a product called
    Nature's Miracle in pet stores that will remove the urine
    odor (warning:  until NM dries it smells worse than urine, and
    with carpeting it may take several days to a week to dry.  Once
    it dries however, the smell is completely gone.)  NM is much
    better than what you are using.
    
    I can't parse your question about declawing.  Was she declawed and then
    she started ripping the screens?  I would if her paw pads feel
    strange to her and she is trying to "fix" them?  I wonder if all
    the nails were properly removed;  sometimes pieces are left if
    it hasn't been done properly, and they will regrow in distorted
    shapes....
    

    
    Please please please DO NOT use ammonia to clean up her misteaks.
    Use a paste of baking soda and water or just plain white vinegar,
    this will neutralize the natural ammonia smell of the spot and the
    cat will not associate that spot with a place to urinate.  (Cats
    remember with their noses.)
    
    Siamese are very sensitave cats, I know I've got one, be patient
    with her, she is trying to tell you that she hurts.  Try confining
    her to one room of the house while she is ill with a very clean
    litter box and toys and food and water.  Keep her claws short and
    supervise her very closely when you are home and she has run of
    the house again.  The minute she looks like she is going to "go"
    pick her up and pop her in the box and praise her to the skys.    
    (In other words only allow her tho roam freely throughout the house
    when someone is there to keep a close eye on her.)
    
    Only positive reinforcement will work.  Good luck and please keep
    us posted on how she is doing, we are all concerned about you!
    
    Feline helpful,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot                                          

    Well, my "neutered male" cat has been having a problem for over a week
    now and been to the vets twice (there now).  Early the morning of Sept.
    2nd I was awakened by the sounds of a cat (I have 4) digging in the
    litterboxes in my kitchen and jumping in and out of the boxes.  I knew
    someone had trouble.
    
    I went to investigate and poor "D.P." kept going in a box, digging a
    place to urinate, squating and then nothing would come out.  This was
    at 3AM.  When I was finally able to contact the vet's office (answering
    service), I left my message.  In the meantime, I felt so helpless when
    he'd come to me, cry and reach toward my face with one of his big,
    double paws.  
    
    The Vet's office called me back and I was told to get D.P. in ASAP so
    the doctor could check him.  After the check up the bladder was
    completely empty they found but D.P. still felt he needed to get in a
    litterbox.  (He has never missed his box nor any of my 4 cats - one of
    which is part Siamese.)
    
    D.P. was put on 2 medications given to him twice a day - prednisone and
    amoxillan (sp) in pill forms.  The Vet also gave him an injection of
    steroid before we left his office Sept. 2nd as it would work quicker. 
    When we got home, D.P. headed for his litterbox, dug, squated and
    urinated (not much but at least it was something this time).
    
    By Thurs.AM, Sept. 14, he seemed back to his usual self and not getting
    in and out of the litterbox so continually, but when he did he had no
    problem urinating.  However, when I came home from work that night, he
    was back to his in/out routine of the boxes again.  I called the Vet's
    office and was told to bring him right over, which I did.  Again the
    bladder was found to be empty when examined.  I had run out of the
    small amount of steroid tablets he had given me the first time so I was
    given a refill on these and told to keep him on the two medications,
    put him on "CD" canned cat food (had him on Science Diet dry and
    canned) and told to call his office the next day.  
    
    When I got home Friday night (9/15), D.P. not only was using the boxes
    a lot again but there were signs of blood in the urine.  I called the
    Vet again to relay this to him and was told this was sometimes seen in
    an infection like he had but I should leave him off Monday (today) AM
    for x-rays (scope) which I did.
    
    I talked with the vet at noon and he said it almost looked like D.P.
    had two bladders!  He wants to confer with the other vet there on this
    test as he said D.P.'s penis is so small he had difficulty getting the
    scope inserted for the test on the bladder which could be the reason he
    is having difficulty urinating!  He will call me after his consultation
    as it would require surgery.
    
    Pat 
    

    Please let us know how things are going with D.P.  It sounds
    like your vet may think he has some congenital defect?  Is he a
    kitten?  Or has he been okay with this for some time before now?
    We have our fingers crossed.
    
    K, S&H, and LB.
    

    I hope that things come out okay for D.P.  Have you heard from the
    vet again?  
    
    Can you imagine having a bladder infection in two bladders at the
    same time???? Ouch!!!
    
    Jo

    
    
    How is poor D.P. doing?  I hope all is if not well at least better!
    
    Feline concerned,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    

    
    Well, D.P. is doing much better sooner than I thought he'd be.  No more
    signs of blood in urine, he's not frequently needing to use the litter
    boxes, and doesn't show signs of discomfort like he did.  So, I guess
    (and hope it continues) the change in diet to Hills Prescription S/d
    canned cat food plus the pills prescribed by the Vet are working.
    
    He slept with me the last two nights instead of in his carrying case
    like he had first night home from hospital, and he's feeling like his
    old self again wanting to play with his buddy, Thai.  He caught a mis-
    guided moth that got in the house last night.  But since that's not in
    his new diet, I had to pry (and I mean "pry") it from his tightly
    clenched jaws so I could throw it outside.  Boy, I heard about it for
    almost an hour afterwards too as he paced around the rooms looking for
    it and calling for it! 
    
    I tried telling D.P. it wouldn't be good for him and would make him
    sick. But he'd walk over to me, stand on his hind legs, reach gently 
    towards my face with a big double paw and say, "But Mom, I like moths!"
    
    It's so wonderful to see him feeling so much better.
    
    Pat, D.P., Holly, Thai, and Buffy
    

    That is such good news.  Glad things are looking up.
      Nancy DC
    

    
    Thanks, Nancy.
    
    Things are still improving for D.P. since the weekend.  I called the
    Vet's office to see about picking up a case of the S/d as I'm down to a
    couple of cans now.  When D.P.'s records were checked, there was a note
    in them indicating he would stay on S/d only for a limited time, then
    be put on C/d for his permanent diet.  It was explained to me that this
    was due to not enough protein/minerals, etc. in S/d for a long term
    diet; this prescription food was just while he was getting the
    infection cleared up.  There was a note also to get a second refill on
    one of his medications "Tribrissen, 120mg" #30 which is an antibiotic
    he's been on for the UTI.
    
    I've also been able to put my other 3 cats on Hill's Science Diet
    Maintenance canned cat food.  They get fed twice a day and all clean up
    "their own" dishes only while I "supervise".  I am mainly concerned
    that D.P. eats only from his dish and not "swap" with anyone else. :-)
    
    Pat, D.P., Holly, Thai, & Buffy
    

    UPDATE ON SHEEBA/female/spayed Siamese with UTI:
    
    Hi,
    
    Just wanted to let you know that I just finished the prescription of
    S/D for Sheeba and will need to start her on C/D soon.  Not as much
    blood in the urine has been showing up and I have been using positive
    reinforcement on the litter box issue which is somewhat successful.
    
    A friend gave me plastic carpet runners for my corners and a bought
    a couple more of these runners for various tempting places.  The new
    runners have a strong smell she did not like at all so has been 
    resorting back to the "cat room", sometimes in the box and sometimes
    right next to the box on another old piece of carpet I placed over the
    original carpet.  I will have to get rid of this old carpet and place
    a few more of these plastic carpet runners in the cat room as well.  
    
    She has also been given Amoxillan and recently Prednisone to reduce
    the inflamation that causes the bleeding.  
    
    Thanks for all of your help!!
    
    Yvette/Sheeba & Gata (Spanish for female cat...)

    Pat,
    
    I'm so glad that D.P. is starting to feel better.  Sometimes, it is
    a time consuming process.  I had a question on this Tribrissen for
    the UTI.  I know my vet had prescribed one other medication other 
    than the two I mentioned but I did not recall the name.  Amoxillan is
    for the most common infections and the other one I can't recall is
    for the not so common infections but these two usually cover most.
                                       
    
    I can't say for sure at this point whether or not the real cause
    of Sheeba's problem has been actually found but when I spoke with
    my vet again he was fairly certain it would clear up over time.  
    Another friend of mine suggested getting a second opinion from 
    another vet which I may consider doing at a later date when I 
    finish paying off my other bills.  It gets quite expensive fast!
    I am finding out how important a good diet really is for pets...

    re: .10  There's no reason they can't all eat C/D.  Before this
    ethoxyquin business my four ate nothing but C/D.  It'll be easier
    than trying to keep D.P. only in his own dish.
      Nancy DC
    

    .12  Was it Prednisone?  That's what D.P. was on first along with the
         Amoxillan.  I picked up a refill on the Tribissan last night as
         well as enough cans of S/d for 1 more week for D.P. which the Vet
         ordered, plus a half a case of C/D cans.  As you said, it becomes
         very costly at this stage.
    
    .13  D.P. will go on C/D after the last week of S/d supply is gone.  
    	 I guess you're right about all my cats being able to eat C/D but
    	 as for keeping D.P. only in his own dish - now this is a chore and
    	 and half  ;-)   He and Thai are my "gulpers" so they're always
         trying to move over to the 2 older cats' dishes.  The older ones
    	 prefer to eat small portions at a time and come back for more
         later.  That spray water bottle is my way of telling D.P. & Thai
     	 to "Back Off, Guys".
    
    Thanks
    Pat, D.P., Thai, Buffy, & Holly
    
    

    
    Hi,
    
    We're glad both kittys are on the road to recovery.  It's such a
    frustrating business when they get sick and break litter box training.
    
    Just a warning, you may not want to put the plastic runners in the
    cat's room at all, I would be afraid that the cat would avoid the
    box all together and find yet a different place to go.  Maybe another
    litter box beside the first will do the trick.  Also getting rid
    of the old piece of carpeting is a good idea, (if it smells like a
    litter box it must be one right??!!)   Or you could try putting
    a plastic trashbag under the box in the place the cat seems to favor,
    if she chooses to go there she'll get her feet wet and that should
    put an end to that!!  (It's not always easy but it is possible to
    outsmart the little darlings, at least until they think up some
    new mischief.  Sigh, but who could live without them??!!)
    
    Panther and Spot send Glad you are feline better cards to D.P. and
    Sasha (?)
    
    Feline Fine,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    
    

    Thanks, Sue.  The good thing in D.P.'s case was that he never missed
    the litterbox.  He always made it in time and made sure he wasn't too
    far away from them.  Of course, he probably had an advantage over Sasha
    as he only has 3 rooms to roam. ;-)
    
    Pat
    

    Prednisone is a steroid, and will help reduce inflammation.  It
    has many uses, but isn't a good long term solution.  It can have
    side effects.  It can stimulate the appetite, cause the cat to retain
    water, and can also affect fertility (important to know if you are
    a cat breeder).
    
    C/D for all seems like a solution to you problem, but beware...
    they can all grow quite fat on the stuff.  It is higher in calorie
    than the other Science Diet foods, so you will want to feed less.
    
    Jo

    I am feeding 3 of my cats just the canned C/D now and D.P. is on the
    S/d and antibiotic for another week.  Now that you mention Prednisone
    stimulating the appetite, I could see that happening with D.P.  He just
    didn't seem satisfied with his meals and would try to eat out of the
    other's dishes.  Causing him to retain water would certainly not help
    him since he was being treated for UTI already.  He'll be put on C/D
    canned food next week like the rest twice a day and they always have
    fresh water.
    
    The other cats miss their dry munchies but I can't leave any down for
    fear of D.P. getting into it.
    
    I'm also being careful not to give them too much of C/D in their
    feedings as the Vet did mention how it make them overweight.  Also wish
    my Vet was nearer so it was more convenient to pick up the supply of
    cans.
    
    D.P. has been doing much better since putting him on S/d.  Only problem
    that showed up unexpectedly when I came home from work last night was
    that he had thrown up on the kitchen floor (solid not liquid) and after
    he ate his super (he did have his appetite), I waited awhile and gave
    him his pill which for the first time he's taken them, he threw this up
    along with a little brown liquid.  Don't know if it has something to do
    with the sudden weather change (seems to affect him more than the
    others) and/or he might be coming down with a cold.  No runny eyes or
    nose.  Before retiring for the night, I did get another of his pills
    down him and he kept it down.  He did get under the covers with me for
    the night though so he must have been feeling chilly.
    
    Took his pill this morning okay and ate his breakfast but he was not
    playing and romping like usual with Thai.  Instead he just curled up on
    the chair in livingroom.
    
    Pat
    

    Re: .18
    
    You can buy CD by the case.  I usually pick
    up 2 or 3 cases at a time to minimize trips to the vet to get it.
    

    
    Hi Pat,
    
    How is D.P. doing?  Has he stopped throwing up?  Did you have to
    check with his vet?  I hope he is getting better.
    
    By the way I buy my Science Diet by the case too.  It seems to be
    less expensive and I only have to buy it about 3 times a year. 
    The only problem that crops up is when Spot finds the bag of dry
    food, (When Mummie leaves the closet door open ...sigh) and gets
    an extra feeding.  She has learned how to get the clothes pins off
    of the bag that are supposed to keep it closed.  The problem is
    that she is such a piglet (one of her nicknames) that she will keep
    on eating until some one finds her!!!  She doesn't know when to
    stop!  Luckily we have always been able to pull her out after jsut
    a few minutes. 
    
    Can you imagine what she would look like or feel like if she ate
    all 25 pounds at one sitting!?  OUCH  or What do you call a 500
    pound Kitty?.....Anything she wants you to!!
                                         
    Feline to full to eat lunch (just thinking about it!)
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot (the Piglet)
    

    Well that is funny.  I call D.P. "Piglet" too.  He'd keep eating until
    he'd blow up if he could.  Unfortunately, I have 2 "Piglets" as Thai
    is always looking for seconds.  I give Thai a little more than the
    other three only because he's still young and growing but I don't want
    him to become a "Cougar". ;-)
    
    D.P. hasn't thrown up since and Vet agreed with me that it was probably
    due to the weather changing or he was romping around too much with Thai
    just before throwing up.  Everything seems under control now though as
    far as that goes.  Wish I could convince he and Thai that they
    shouldn't try to take Holly and Buffy's food just cause they've
    finished their own.  :-}
    
    Pat