Search found 1631 matches

by fjm
Sat Mar 07, 2020 3:39 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Urgent advice needed
Replies: 6
Views: 868

Re: Urgent advice needed

One thing I found when Pip was hyperthyroid was that small snacks through the day and late at night helped with the hunger pukes - may be worth trying.
by fjm
Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:50 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: cat scratched open a cyst (i think)
Replies: 2
Views: 563

Re: cat scratched open a cyst (i think)

Vet if you can; if that is not possible I would bathe it gently with warm weak saline solution. Could it be a burst abscess? If the lump has been there for several weeks I would expect her to have shown signs of malaise if it were an abscess, and improvement when it burst. Abscesses can heal on thei...
by fjm
Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:30 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Diabetic cat!
Replies: 7
Views: 2687

Re: Diabetic cat!

I have not had experience with feline diabetes, but my understanding is that the diet needs to be high protein/low carbohydrate, and dry foods are almost inevitably high in carbohydrate. I would look into home prepared diets for cats - the basic principle is 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, 5% o...
by fjm
Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:33 pm
Forum: Rescue & Rehoming - General
Topic: I need help please!!! 4 new born kitten lost their mother
Replies: 4
Views: 767

Re: I need help please!!! 4 new born kitten lost their mother

Can you get hold of canned evaporated milk? There are several recipes on the internet using that, and it is widely available. If you can get them to suck from an eye dropper or a small syringe with the needle removed, you may be able to raise them. You will also need to encourage them to toilet - ma...
by fjm
Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:53 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Question about taurine and Instinct cat food
Replies: 1
Views: 426

Re: Question about taurine and Instinct cat food

Taurine occurs naturally in muscle meat - the more the muscle is used, the higher the taurine levels, which is why heart is a particularly good source. Cooking and processing can reduce the levels, but a wet food made mainly from fresh meat should have more than adequate amounts of taurine without t...
by fjm
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:41 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: New kitty has black stuff growing in nose for about 5 days now
Replies: 1
Views: 336

Re: New kitty has black stuff growing in nose for about 5 days now

There are so many things it could be - if he is sneezing and has swollen tonsils I would get him to a vet if at all possible.
by fjm
Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:17 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Homing a kitten with cat flu
Replies: 14
Views: 3176

Re: Homing a kitten with cat flu

I would pass, and seek a cat or kitten from a rescue with more effective infection control. Yes, you will feel briefly sad at not being able to bring this kitten home, but that is nothing to the anxiety you would feel if she gave Walter cat flu, which could be dangerous at his age. The RSPCA must kn...
by fjm
Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:40 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Hyperthyroid and not eating
Replies: 15
Views: 16045

Re: Hyperthyroid and not eating

I am so sorry - sleep well, little Scout.
by fjm
Fri Feb 21, 2020 11:27 am
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Bang, clatter, CRASH!
Replies: 4
Views: 596

Re: Bang, clatter, CRASH!

I am still trying to work out what was making the bangs - I couldn't find anything to account for the noises this morning. And now, of course, they are both fast asleep like little cat-angels... Baby elephants indeed - I remember how a litter of Siamese kittens could turn from silent wisps of thistl...
by fjm
Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:44 am
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Bang, clatter, CRASH!
Replies: 4
Views: 596

Bang, clatter, CRASH!

At 2am I woke up needing to go to the loo, woke Poppy-dog to persuade her to go out (she is on steroids and prone to mild incontinence in her sleep if she doesn't empty her bladder regularly), went downstairs, let her out, waited for her to come back in, and followed her back to bed. Dogs and I sett...
by fjm
Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:25 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat behaviour after mating
Replies: 3
Views: 739

Re: Cat behaviour after mating

I would be concerned that she may have cauht something while with the stud. Have you consulted your vet?
by fjm
Mon Feb 17, 2020 2:14 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Veterinary Nursing Dissertation
Replies: 16
Views: 1793

Re: Veterinary Nursing Dissertation

Done - note there is a typo in "Appearance".
by fjm
Sun Feb 16, 2020 5:26 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Looking to socialise with someone's kittens
Replies: 6
Views: 845

Re: Looking to socialise with someone's kittens

I would certainly recommend adopting through a rescue that health tests and starts vaccinations - I once had a kitten from a farm that died very young from a tumour due to FIV. Very sad, and a hard lesson learned.
by fjm
Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:12 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Looking to socialise with someone's kittens
Replies: 6
Views: 845

Re: Looking to socialise with someone's kittens

My local rescues are always looking for people to play with their cats and kittens - I would approach those near you and start to build a relationship ahead of the main kitten season, which will get under way in a month or two.
by fjm
Fri Feb 14, 2020 10:58 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with hyperthyroidism
Replies: 32
Views: 3798

Re: Cat with hyperthyroidism

I had insurance for all of mine - until it hit £1,000 a year for the four of them, and was obviously going to go up exponentially every year thereafter! The premiums for the cats doubled the year they turned 8... Insurance is a good idea in the early years, when the premiums are low, animals tend to...
by fjm
Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:00 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: What breed is my cat?
Replies: 5
Views: 802

Re: What breed is my cat?

A pure bred Russian Blue should have green eyes when adult - in the photo his eyes appear more yellow, like those of a Blue Burmese. You don't say how old he is (young RBs have yellower eyes), and it is hard to judge his build from the photos, but I would expect a Russian Blue to be slender and orie...
by fjm
Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:39 am
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Confessions
Replies: 4
Views: 479

Re: Confessions

I have cut back on "unhealthy" treats all round - Poppy, my toy poodle, has been very ill with acute liver failure, and I have become scrupulous about diet to avoid anything that might make things worse (she is stable at the moment, but too soon to know the long term prognosis). But the re...
by fjm
Wed Feb 12, 2020 8:45 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: New born kittens and fleas, need advice!
Replies: 4
Views: 798

Re: New born kittens and fleas, need advice!

I would check with your vet before using any spot on or other treatment, just to make sure it is safe and to ask how long to keep Mum away from kittens after the treatment - your vet will also know whether fleas in your area are resistant o the pesticide used in Frontline. Once you have treated with...
by fjm
Mon Feb 10, 2020 2:50 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with hyperthyroidism
Replies: 32
Views: 3798

Re: Cat with hyperthyroidism

Thank you so much for all the comments and advice. I think I need to take a step back and focus on the first stage of the treatment. I need to find what medication he can take without getting sick first and once he is on something for couple of months I will start arranging the next step. I think I...
by fjm
Sun Feb 09, 2020 8:34 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with hyperthyroidism
Replies: 32
Views: 3798

Re: Cat with hyperthyroidism

Pippin went to the Hyperthyroid Cat Centre in Wetherby. My vet took blood samples, etc, and we sent them to the Centre's preferred laboratory to ensure consistency. They also did further blood tests and blood pressure tests when he arrived and before he left, and follow up blood tests were processed...
by fjm
Sun Feb 09, 2020 7:01 pm
Forum: Rescue & Rehoming - General
Topic: Advice Wanted
Replies: 2
Views: 570

Re: Advice Wanted

It sounds as if she is settling well for such a nervous cat. I would take things at her pace - let her come to you, and don't put any pressure on her. Scatter a few treats around where you are sitting and across the room, and then ignore her, not even looking at her. Read a book, or browse the inter...
by fjm
Sun Feb 09, 2020 11:00 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with hyperthyroidism
Replies: 32
Views: 3798

Re: Cat with hyperthyroidism

The radio-iodine treatment is expensive but extremely effective - it would be worth discussing it with your vet.
by fjm
Fri Feb 07, 2020 7:34 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Newly adopted cats meowing all night
Replies: 3
Views: 2244

Re: Newly adopted cats meowing all night

Can you build an outdoor pen sooner rather than later? If they had access to an exciting outdoor area, with climbing frames, tunnels, swing toys and the occasional mouse it may be attractive enough to distract them from playing tag around the house. You have two healthy young cats, and every instinc...
by fjm
Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:57 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Pink spot under mouth
Replies: 3
Views: 688

Re: Pink spot under mouth

Spider bite?
by fjm
Fri Jan 31, 2020 12:24 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Kitty Kat
Replies: 2
Views: 516

Re: Kitty Kat

Yes, it is possible. She is almost certainly pregnant - it is possible to spay in the early stages of pregnancy, and safer then than during heat, so think carefully about the logistics of managing her through pregnancy, birthing, raising a litter and finding homes for them. Without wanting to scare ...
by fjm
Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:35 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Worried and concerned about old cats behavior
Replies: 3
Views: 582

Re: Worried and concerned about old cats behavior

I too would recommend a complete vet check. The thing that springs to mind, given his age and night time hunger, is hyperthyroidism - it is very common in older cats, and there are several treatment options. A sore mouth would make him reluctant to eat and arthritis would slow him down - also condit...
by fjm
Sun Jan 26, 2020 4:05 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Cat litter scoop
Replies: 4
Views: 710

Re: Cat litter scoop

The original post that started this thread has been removed as spam, if anyone is wondering why it seems to begin rather abruptly!
by fjm
Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:29 am
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Cat litter scoop
Replies: 4
Views: 710

Re: Cat litter scoop

I use an old garden trowel - no problems so far!
by fjm
Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:03 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Foster cat dilemma - your advice and opinions please
Replies: 14
Views: 1966

Re: Foster cat dilemma - your advice and opinions please

I hope you have kept all the vet bills, and that your vet is prepared to state that they are for essential treatment, and evidence of severe anxiety suffered in the "rescue" environment. Are there other staff/trustees/etc you can talk to ? I would try to avoid any angry escalation - enough...
by fjm
Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:42 am
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Winston
Replies: 6
Views: 965

Re: Winston

Winston has a wicked sense of humour! I highly recommend teaching the treat box rattle inside the house - my cats have a better recall than many dogs after so many years of really good stuff happening every time they come when called.