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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

3938.0. "SPOOKIE'S ILL!" by AYOV18::TWASON () Fri Aug 24 1990 09:47

    Tuesday night Spookie took ill, I watched her parade back and forth
    to her litter tray, scratch and then come away again.  After about
    10 minutes of this I decided to go and see what she was doing. 
    Poor little thing was perched on the edge straining to do something
    - but nothing appeared.  I went over and checked the tray, and to
    my horror there were a couple of tiny blood spots.
    
    I put her straight into her carry-basket and ran down to the vet,
    since we don't know this vet my mother came with me as she goes
    to him alot with her cat.  
    
    After examination he confirmed what mum and I had thought - little
    Spookie has the feline equivalent of Cystitis.  The vet said that
    he has seen quite alot of it in Bitches that have been speyed but
    not quite as common in cats.
    
    Anyway, he gave her a shot of penicillin(?sp) and cortizone (?sp)
    to clear up the infection and make her drink more, he said this
    should last her 5-6 days and that it shoul have cleared by then.
    
    Is there anything else we should do for her? 
    
    Thanks
    Tracy-anne
     
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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3938.1Surprised s/he didn't suggest it!ICS::GERRYHome is where the Cat isFri Aug 24 1990 13:295
    You might want to feed Spookie CD Feline Diet for cats with cystitis. 
    This is available only from your vet.
    
    cin
    
3938.2TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Fri Aug 24 1990 17:3911
    It's usual to put a cat with this problem on either pills which contain
    a urine acidifier or a special food (but not both, since that's
    overkill).  The special food would be something like CD.  I'm a little
    worried that your vet seems to think this is an unusual condition,
    since it is not.  It can also be fatal if it is neglected and the cat
    becomes  totally blocked, so be sure to watch that she is using the
    litter box (I think that being totally blocked for 24 hours is about the
     limit before things burst (excuse my speaking frankly).
    
    You did the right thing bringing Spookie to the vet right away.
    
3938.3make sure she drinks waterFORTSC::WILDEillegal possession of a GNUFri Aug 24 1990 20:0733
In the future, be aware if the cat is not drinking water.  They are very
picky about where the water is in relation to the food and litter tray
in some cases and may also avoid drinking water if:

	1)  the water container is plastic - it forms an oily film
	    on the water and cats don't like it.  glazed pottery (safe
	    for humans), china, metal are recommended.

	2)  the water dish is positioned so that the cat's back is
	    "exposed" to the greater area of the room.  Cats can feel
	    vulnerable when drinking and may resist turning their backs to
	    doors and windows, etc.  Position the dish so the cat can
	    "keep watch" while drinking....

	3)  the water dish is too close to the food or the litter tray.
	    Yeah, I know, this one threw me off too...I placed the water
	    beside the food - no good for our 4.  When I moved it away
	    from the food and the litter, it began going down twice as
	    fast.

	4)  the water is from your tap and has a strong chlorine or
	    other chemical smell.  cats noses are sensitive and they
	    often reject water from the tap - try bottled water.

	5)  the water is not "fresh" in the cat's mind....my 4 demand
	    water change twice a day - once in the morning and once
	    in the evening.  If I goof up and miss one...they stop
	    drinking.

Instincts are at work here and you really have to work with the cat to
get enough water into her/him.

			good luck
3938.4CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313Sat Aug 25 1990 12:164
    We have three watering stations in our house.  Two next to feeding
    spots and one in the hall upstairs.  All three get lots of use.
      You might try giving Spookie a variety of spots.
    
3938.5I think she's getting thereAYOV18::TWASONMon Aug 27 1990 09:2617
    Well, she (Spookie) seems to have picked up over the weekend.  She
    is eating plenty but I still feel that she isn't drinking enough.
    I have even tried her favourite trick, leaving the kitchen and bathroom
    taps dripping but she doesn't seem interested.
    
    Although she is not drinking I am feeding her wet food 2-3 times
    a day, will she be getting enough moisture from this? (I've cut
    out the dry completely)
    
    What is CD? And can anyone give me the UK equivalent of it?
    
    Thanks for the help
    Tracy-Anne and Spookie 
    
    p.s. She did use her tray this morning, and it sounded like a waterfall.
                           
    
3938.6TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Mon Aug 27 1990 20:089
    She might be getting enough moisture from the wet food.  When my guys
    eat exclusively wet CD, I almost never see them at the water dishes.
    
    CD is available from vets only and is a very good, nutricious food
    for the average cat, plus it is low in the stuff that causes FUS.
    (There are other specialty foods for FUS that can be used to have m,ore
    effect, but only on a temporary basis since they aren't nutritionally
    complete.)