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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

128.0. "Help -- Stinky Kitty!" by TOOK::DUGAL (Lisa-Marie) Wed Jan 08 1992 09:49

Tasha is about 8.5 months now, and she's got a pretty bad gas problem.  She 
just plain stinks!   I've tried feeding her Iams, Science diet, Fromms, Proplan,
Kitten Chow, 9-Lives, and there has been no relief.   Tasha was just at the
vet and she's healthy and has no worms.

I've tried several different types of litters but they all work about the
same and I don't think it is the litter anyway because the smell does go away
like it was never there.  But when it is there, it's a just cause to evacuate
the house.  (I keep a can of air fresher handy at all times.)

Naturally, her favorite time to go is when we're getting ready to sit
down and eat dinner.   Her other favorite is to jump in my lap while I'm 
watching TV at night, pass gas, and then race out of the room.   I've tried
explaining to her that most cats purr to show affection, and couldn't she
try doing that instead.

						Lisa-Marie
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128.1DELNI::GASKELLWed Jan 08 1992 12:307
    I have been told (not that I've tried it yet) that brewers yeast helps
    restore the natural bacteria balance in kitties.  It's the imbalance
    that causes the smelly gas. Most kitty vitamins contain
    yeast -- try some and see if it works.  I am going to give some to
    Tigger.  His emissions must be responsible for 1/4 of the depletion 
    in the ozone layer.
    
128.2Charcoal.. (don't light it..!)SOLVIT::IVESWed Jan 08 1992 14:556
    There is charcoal in one form or another which will take care of
    this problem plus smelly breath. For dogs there are charcoal
    biscuits or treats and for cats there are dry treats or powder
    you sprinkle on their food.
    
    Barbara
128.3Source of YeastHDLITE::SCOTTThu Jan 09 1992 11:158
    I have a big can of powdered Brewer's Yeast with Garlic which
    I often sprinkle in my kitties' canned food.  I have to observe if these 
    are the times Rici ceases has expellation activities...
    
    Anyway, you can get this very cheaply through Jeffer's Veterinary
    Supply.
    
     
128.4UpdateTOOK::DUGALLisa-MarieWed Jan 15 1992 12:186
well, I tried the brewer's yeast.  If it helped at all, it was very minor.
I looked in several pet suppliers to see if they had anything that would help
and I couldn't find anything.

I'll probably take her back to the vet next month for another checkup and to
see if she can't recommend anything.
128.5how long?MCIS2::HUSSIANfeed me, love me, hug me...purr-rrr-rrThu Jan 16 1992 06:593
    Doesn't it take a while to kick in? How long did you use it, Lisa?
    
    Bonnie
128.6SANDY::FRASERErr on a G StringThu Jan 16 1992 08:297
	'Cat Love' treats contain yeast.  I've been giving them to my
	'stinky kitty' and it seems to be helping a bit.  They're quite
	expensive in pet stores, but I've got a catalog at home that 
	lists them at a really good price ($1.99/100 vs $3.99/100).

	Sandy
128.7TOOK::DUGALLisa-MarieThu Jan 16 1992 08:527
Both Tasha and Heidi were on the Brewer's yeast from the summer till about Nov.
Tasha's always been "stinky" on or off,  I started giving them to her again 
recently but I don't remember it helping any before.  It does seems to help 
Tasha with scratching from fleas, but doesn't do anything for the dog.  HOwever,
if I give one a "treat", I have to give the other.


128.8I'm sure it's probably not this simple, but......MCIS2::HUSSIANfeed me, love me, hug me...purr-rrr-rrThu Jan 16 1992 09:0219
    Lisa-Marie,
    
    I bet this has been asked, but....Is Tasha just not covering up? I
    know that Callie's really stinky-city when she dosen't cover, I MEAN
    BAAAAAAAAD!, but then I go in (Carrying her w/ me) & I show her how to
    cover. She tries, but doesn't TOUCH any of the litter (Sound familiar,
    Jan?) She just digs at the wall, the carpet, the side of the box, etc.
    So then I try to put her paw in the litter to cover & she pulls back,
    looks at me & sez, "HEY! HEY! HEY! Knock it off! It's DIRTY in there!"
    
    She'll get the idea usually, and the next time she usees the box,
    she'll cover, but after that forget it, she forgets again, and we
    go thru the same routine.
    
    Covered, it's not so bad. THe smell goes away in 5 or 10 minutes. If
    Tasha's still smells after being covered, I FEEL BAAAAAAAD FOR YOU!
    P.U.!!!
    
    Bonnie
128.9Yep, she coversTOOK::DUGALLisa-MarieFri Jan 17 1992 08:296
Bonnie,

Tasha is DEFINATELY covering.   She loves to scratch at the litter (sometimes
she goes in just to play with it).   And I always make sure she's got more 
than enough in both her boxes.  The smell does go away after awhile but it's
pretty bad at first.  Spot (my first kitty) was never this rude when she went.
128.10SANFAN::FOSSATJUFri Jan 17 1992 12:0412
    What is the consistancy of the the stool?  Is it solid or on the soft
    side?  Does she seem to go to the box shortly after she eats?  Have you
    taken a stool sample in to the vet?
    
    Reason why I'm asking is that one of mine had the worst smelling poops
    on this earth - sometimes they were solid but mostly were on the soft
    side.  I tried all different foods but nothing put a dent in it.  We
    found that he had an intestinal virus that was very quickly remedied
    with medication.  Trust me, Stitch's poops stunk sooooo bad that our
    Vet almost lost his breath.
    
    Giudi
128.11FORTSC::WILDEwhy am I not yet a dragon?Fri Jan 17 1992 14:319
re: possibility of disease or parasite

there are several parasites (names escape me right now) that can be very
difficult to detect, however, the stinking stool is a good indicator.  I
would certainly pursue this with the vet, or even with a vet with connections
to a med school or labratory for a complete stool work up.  It sounds as
if there is a real problem...and, as mammals, humans can "share" some parsites
with our pets...

128.12STUDIO::PELUSOPAINTS; color your corralFri Jan 17 1992 15:0311
    Nippa had real bad stinkies when she was a baby, and I brought her
    to ANgel Memorial for a 1st visit and told the vet.  They asked me to
    bring a sample back the next time, which I did.  She still had the
    stinkies, but I don't think they found signs of worms.  She was treated
    anyway for 3 or 4 types of worms/parasites and the stinkies went away.
    I had also weaned her onto Iams.
    
    I'd recommend discussing this with your vet again, discuss the life
    cycles of some parasites and possibly bringing in samples which may 
    target the different cycle points.  Maybe you'll get lucky and hit one.
    Personally, I'd just ask to have them wormed. 
128.13SANFAN::FOSSATJUFri Jan 17 1992 17:3115
    Stitch was parasite free but this virus had been incubatang since he
    was a kitten.  A barium test showed that the food was only staying in
    his stomach for about 15 minutes and then was making its way out - as
    well as showing some scar-like tissue on the intestine.  I cannot
    remember the name of this.  He was given a shot to relax the colon and
    medication - the barium also soothed the stomach and the intestines. 
    Within 3-4 days his stools were normal and there was no longer any kind
    of foul smell.
    
    I would definitely recommend that you take a sample in and even if it's
    clear - take it one step further, if necessary.  The poor baby was
    constantly hungry because the food was passing through him so quickly.
    
    Giudi
    
128.14WILLEE::MERRITTMon Jan 20 1992 12:3214
    I just so happened to be looking at my Cat Fancy magazine and
    noticed a new product that is suppose to help with the "stinkies"
    in both cats and dogs.  I think it was called Cur-Tail and it
    showed a dog and a cat with the skunk stripe going down their
    backs.   (cute advertisement)  There was an 800 number to call 
    for more information...so I can post it if you want.  
    Has anyone else tried this product????
    
    It is my guess...that it could be caused by some type of parasite
    so I second the opinion of bringing in another stool sample.  
    
    Sandy