Conference misery::feline_v1

    P.S.  Tequila would do much better as an only cat.  Any takers?  ;')
    

    What did she get from the rabbit?
    
    L-

Why not wait to see what the vet has to say?  Maybe it's a medical 
problem he/she can clear up.

                     <<< Note 4011.2 by BOOVX1::MANDILE >>>
                             -< Just curious.... >-

    What did she get from the rabbit?
    
    L-

    A parasite of sorts  (Parasitic fly larvae???)...
    
    It looked like someone had pushed the eraser
    end of a pencil into her skin about 1/4".
    
      

    Poor Tequila.  It sounds to me like she is thoroughly
    miserable from a medical problem.  here's hoping that
    vet care will help her to get better.  (Did you have alitter
    box in the bedroom when you kept her in there?  If not,
    well, what was the poor cat to do?)
    

    I know I was at fault for this.  But the cats have slept with us lots
    of times over the past three years, and I never before had a problem.
    
    Did I tell you Tequila was also the one who took a dive into the 
    chlorinated water system backflush and had to be bathed 5-6 times!
    (I hope this didn't have anything to do with her illnesses...)
    Again, our carelessness!  
    
    

How is Tequila?

A sudden change in environment can cause all kinds of behavior problems, 
most of which can be overcome with some extra attention and lap-time.

Is the vomiting after meals, or just hairballs?

A change in diet can cause vomiting.  Are you using a different food
than Tequila had before?  

To stop the hairballs, stop the excessive hair consumption.  The vet can give
you a lotion to calm down itching, etc.  and then frequent brushing may
reduce the hair intake.

Good luck.




Klaus, Katrina, Phantom, Nutmeg, Coconut, Bailey, Georgina, Bosco, 
diane and i (bill)

    My Miss Moffet sicks up in anger.  Really!  Could be Tequila is angry too.
    Tomato paste is a good conditioner for coat the fur, try mixing a
    little (1/2 a teaspoon) with Tequila's food.  I agree, the cat would do 
    better in a one cat home--if there is such a thing.  Also, a check up
    by the vet would be a good idea
    .
    

    We went to the vet before we went away (I was on vacation all last
    week).
    
    Still fleas!  It's been over two months (?) since I've seen them on 
    the cats or in the house.  Yet, one flea will bother this poor kitty.
    The doctor prescribed some allergy pills.  Also, while we were away,
    the cat-sitter fed the cats more moist food then I usually do.  And
    all the cats seem to have shinier coats and seem happier.  
    
    Once upon a time I had a vet who called moist food "junk food".  But 
    my neighbor, the catsitter, advocates moist food in addition to dry.
    This is based on the theory that the cats need the oils from the moist
    food.
    
    I think I'm sold.  What has been your experience with dry only vs.
    a 50-50 mix?  
    
    

re: moist vs. dry

The standards for cat and dog food are so stringent as to the percentage of
fat, percentage of protein, and which proteins are required, that there is
very little difference unless you get into the PREMIUM brands of food which
choose to exceed the requirements.  I have cats that feed on IAMS exclusively
and their coats are always shiny and healthy.  They also always drink lots
of water because they don't get canned food - except for Nick the skinny
cat in an attempt to encourage his appetite - and I LIKE the fact that they
all drink water.  A cat that gets moist food will often drop off of drinking
water ....I worry about that - I think that a good quantity of clean, clear
water daily is necessary for optimum health.  I KNOW this is true for us
humans and I just don't feel as comfortable with my cats getting 
their "moisture" from their food...

PLEASE NOTE:  I am telling you my opinions and what I have decided to do...
I'm not claiming to be an expert on this.

I do know that I have constant problems with Nicky's teeth - he is the only
one who eats canned food.  I have to rub them down very well twice a week
to keep the plaque down.  And, quite honestly, his coat isn't as pretty as
the other three cats.  I'm not sure if this is due to the fact that he
doesn't eat enough PERIOD or not, but I do notice the difference in the coat.

With four cats - two of whom don't seem to keep down anything but IAMS, I
don't feel I have much choice...but I'd still feed dry exclusively as long
as my cats' are as healthy as they are now.

    re: dry and water - I feed my cats both canned and dry food and they
    drink PLENTY of water.  So feeding canned food does not necessarily
    discourage water drinking.
    

    I also feed dry (Iams) and canned premium food.  All the cats seem to
    be very healthy and always check out well at the vets.  (Other than
    Ruby's plaque thing).  Stinky is the only one tho that will not eat dry
    food.  He also has a tooth loss (2) and perhaps gum problem.  Last year
    I had his teeth cleaned and don't wish to repeat this again any time
    soon.  Poor thing fought like hell the anesthesia, he's such a strong
    boy!! :')  Anyway,  his coat is great and shiny!  The vet seems to
    think that if he did eat a little dry food that it might help.  For now
    I brush his teeth when I can and hope for the best.  All cats drink
    water (especially from the tub) Yechhh!  
    
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wing
    
    PS  I give them Belmont Springs water fresh once or twice a day and
    make sure the bowl is clean.  They also seem to like a clean feeding
    area so I use a place mat and change it often.
    

    It's nice to see you back Karen!!!
    
    Sandy

    Looking at Karen's note brought a thought to mind. When I was
    talking to our vet we talked about teeth/plaque. etc. He said
    people do a lot more harm to their cats teeth by not giving
    them "city" water. One that has floride in it. He said, "You
    can always tell a country cat when you look into it's mouth,
    they tend to have cavities."  Makes sense to me. When's that 
    last time one of your 2 footed kids had a cavity? Between the
    water and floride tablets and the tooth paste they do so much
    better. 
    
    Barbara

re: fluoride

well, I don't feed my cats tap water...they simply won't drink it -- and I
won't either.  I figure if their noses say it isn't clean water, then I'm
not drinking it either.  Silicon Valley has some very exotic chemicals
leaching from the chip manufacturers into the water table and I have no
faith in the local plant to keep it clean and healthy.  We use bottled
water exclusively.  My cats have never had a cavity.  In fact, I didn't
even know cats got cavities...shows how much I know, eh?  I know they get
plaque, but I've never heard of a cat with cavities.  but then, I don't
know of many cats that eat like we humans -- they like their MEAT or FISH
and not much else...no sugar or starch in that diet.

	A lot of the dried food in the UK is meant to be a supplement for
	canned food, not a replacement. As such, does not always have the right 
	balance of proteins etc. if used as a complete alternative.
	By the sound of the notes here, it is different in the US?

	I have found my cats love very soft boiled eggs.

	One of these each a week makes their coats really shine.

	Heather

    The premium dry foods brands in the US, (Iams, Science Diet, Max
    Cat, Perform, etc.) are very well balanced and can be used as the
    sole diet of our cats.  
    
    Be sure that the egg whites that you offer to your cat are cooked
    since cats cannot digest raw egg whites.  Yolks are good coat
    supplements, and I use them often on my show cats.
    
    Jo

    What happened to the neurotic, sick kitty subject?  You people sure got
    off the subject when you started talking about wet and dry cat food. 
    What did the vet have to say about the kitty???????
    
    Concerned Cat Lover

    RE:  .18.  See .9.
    
    BTW:  Tequila is going to an only cat home.  I think she'll be so much 
    happier there.  I will miss her though, despite it all... I'm happy to 
    say, it's been months since there have been any more problems.  :').
    
    Of course, she's my responsibility, and I'll always be there for her
    if it doesn't work out...
    
    I see now that the base note was maybe somewhat exaggerated and written
    in anger.  All this was the result of flea allergies!!!