Search found 1631 matches

by fjm
Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:08 am
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Older owners and Cat care
Replies: 17
Views: 1133

Re: Older owners and Cat care

I think a kitten or young cat could easily adapt to a tray up on a bench or table, as long as there was walking space around it. But perhaps your mother could cope with a tray on the floor if she could sit down to pick it up and clean it - a stool or chair close to the tray and positioning the tray ...
by fjm
Wed Apr 13, 2022 6:32 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Blood Test Advice
Replies: 25
Views: 1287

Re: Blood Test Advice

I would go for sedation and the full set of tests plus a thorough examination - you are going to need them sooner or later and might as well get them sorted now, and one visit is easier on Lucy than multiple visits. As Mollycat says, sedation is much easier on the system than full anaesthesia, and w...
by fjm
Mon Apr 11, 2022 7:34 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: CKD & Renal Diets
Replies: 12
Views: 792

Re: CKD & Renal Diets

Frankly, the biggest issue is finding a renal food that your cat will eat, and then finding another when they go off that one! I - like most people with ckd cats - have a stack of food that I stockpiled when it was "the one", and which Tilly now won't eat. The Hills made her vomit; she qui...
by fjm
Wed Apr 06, 2022 7:21 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: does anyone have any idea what keeps hurting our cats?
Replies: 2
Views: 446

Re: does anyone have any idea what keeps hurting our cats?

The wounds sound like abscesses caused by bites. The places you describe - head, neck and base of tail - are very typical of those bitten during cat fights, or when one cat attacks another, although the bites could be from another animal of course. Cat bites are particularly prone to infection as th...
by fjm
Wed Apr 06, 2022 7:08 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Hyperthyroid, and radioiodine centres
Replies: 15
Views: 855

Re: Hyperthyroid, and radioiodine centres

Pippin went in on the 27th March, and moved from close confinement to the more open side on 5th April, so on the 6th day. Too long for a cat to go without eating...
by fjm
Mon Apr 04, 2022 8:23 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Injured Cat - Your opinion sort
Replies: 6
Views: 533

Re: Injured Cat - Your opinion sort

If it has been three days without improvement I would definitely see a vet ASAP, if only to get pain relief for Bob and peace of mind for myself.
by fjm
Mon Apr 04, 2022 7:17 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Hyperthyroid, and radioiodine centres
Replies: 15
Views: 855

Re: Hyperthyroid, and radioiodine centres

I used the Wetherby Centre for Pippin's HT and found them excellent. Pippin was a very easy cat, so I had no qualms about leaving him there - I was even able to take two week's supply of his home cooked food portioned and frozen to avoid sudden change of diet. They are hugely experienced and utterly...
by fjm
Sun Apr 03, 2022 12:30 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat refusing meds and not eating again
Replies: 3
Views: 393

Re: Cat refusing meds and not eating again

I have had success with Lick-e-lix, a teaspoonful of chopped raw liver, raw chicken or other meat, or the Felix cat soups. Nothing works for long, but rotating around them might help. Tilly prefers chunks of raw or very rare meat to cooked. Pippin used to have his liquid metacam on extra specially g...
by fjm
Sat Apr 02, 2022 6:28 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy
Replies: 21
Views: 1461

Re: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy

That is excellent news - and thanks for updating.
by fjm
Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:42 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: CKD numbers
Replies: 53
Views: 28441

Re: CKD numbers

I think it is percentage by weight when stated on the main part of the label, and calories when on the traffic light bit. A mouse protein to fat ratio is 7:5, which is a much higher proportion of fat than would be healthy for a human, or even a dog. The US Department of Agriculture food values websi...
by fjm
Tue Mar 29, 2022 2:02 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: CKD numbers
Replies: 53
Views: 28441

Re: CKD numbers

I don't think 100% pork would be a good diet for cats, but the fat level can help balance out lower fat meats. I may try Tilly with tuna mayo - I've avoided it because of the salt levels in the commercial ones, and I rarely make home made these days. She'd probably eat salmon with hollandaise sauce ...
by fjm
Tue Mar 29, 2022 8:05 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: CKD numbers
Replies: 53
Views: 28441

Re: CKD numbers

The problem with renal foods, of course, is that they tend to up the carbs and fat to compensate for the lower protein, and aim to be fairly energy dense as most CKD cats have poor appetites. I would keep the dry just for hand feeding rather than free feeding, and perhaps make some home made treats ...
by fjm
Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:53 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: 5 year old cat behaviour
Replies: 2
Views: 288

Re: 5 year old cat behaviour

Given his interest in females I wonder if he could be a rig, with an undescended testicle? Do yiu know the vet who neutered him?
by fjm
Sun Mar 27, 2022 6:26 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: CKD numbers
Replies: 53
Views: 28441

Re: CKD numbers

I think even very early CKD can lead to inappetence, and so to weight loss. In 2019 she had lost weight, had runny eyes and was constantly drinking, but didn't have the sort of appetite that would lead one to suspect diabetes - in fact her appetite was worse then than now. Her test results in 2019 w...
by fjm
Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:15 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: CKD numbers
Replies: 53
Views: 28441

Re: CKD numbers

Tilly-cat has also just had blood tests - results today. She is very easy to take to the vet - comes when called, settles in the crate with barely a murmur, purrs through the examination and accepts having her neck shaved and blood drawn as long as no one tries to restrain her too tightly - she will...
by fjm
Thu Mar 24, 2022 7:27 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Chronic FLUTD/FIC due to physical trauma?
Replies: 4
Views: 471

Re: Chronic FLUTD/FIC due to physical trauma?

I wonder if it is time to seek referral to a specialist - perhaps neurological as well as genitourinary. If the nerves governing her bladder control are damaged, which sounds probable from what you describe, that could explain her intermittent control and that in turn could help to explain the cryst...
by fjm
Thu Mar 24, 2022 6:56 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat parathyroid damaged in surgery needs calcium
Replies: 2
Views: 298

Re: Cat parathyroid damaged in surgery needs calcium

Does he like Lik-e-Lix? Most cats do, so they can be a good vehicle for medicines. I have also had success with cooked or raw chicken and a little (think small teaspoonful) of raw or cooked liver. The advantage of giving it to him in a small quantity of treat, of course, is that you know he has eate...
by fjm
Sun Mar 20, 2022 8:31 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy
Replies: 21
Views: 1461

Re: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy

I am so glad to read your update - he sounds very much better already. Here's hoping that in another week or so this episode will be behind you.
by fjm
Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:44 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Self cleaning litter box
Replies: 3
Views: 440

Re: Self cleaning litter box

The more I looked into them the more convinced I became that the basic idea is flawed - even the best seem completely unable to dal with a bout of diarrhoea...
by fjm
Sat Mar 19, 2022 6:55 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy
Replies: 21
Views: 1461

Re: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy

Sounds as if you are doing everything right, and I know how every day feels endless when you are so anxious and feeling so helpless. I would not hesitate to call the vet if you are worried, though - knowing that what you are seeing is normal and to be expected makes it much easier to cope with.
by fjm
Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:54 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy
Replies: 21
Views: 1461

Re: Pancreatitis - anxiety and worry for my boy

Pancreatitis is a horrible disease, but if Chonk has been released from intensive care and is eating voluntarily, it sounds as if he is on the way to recovery. I am not at all surprised he is feeling spaced out and just wants to sleep in between eating small meals, he will take some time to recover....
by fjm
Fri Mar 18, 2022 8:32 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: For those who feed their cats Felix, has anyone noticed that their cats have stopped eating it?
Replies: 65
Views: 38144

Re: For those who feed their cats Felix, has anyone noticed that their cats have stopped eating it?

Bryn, if you are feeding raw or home cooked it is important to get the balance of nutrients right. I fed my cats in this way for many years, basing their diet on a complete pet mince (80% muscle, 10% ground bone, 10% offal) such as those from Durham Animal Feeds. (I do recommend DAF if you are in th...
by fjm
Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:20 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Less Affectionate Cat
Replies: 3
Views: 458

Re: Less Affectionate Cat

I think the problem may be that to you, hugs, cuddles and carrying are ways of showing your love for your cat, and to her they feel dangerous and restrictive, especially now that she is an adolescent. As you already recognise your behaviour is actually driving her away and making her avoid you - not...
by fjm
Mon Mar 14, 2022 7:20 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: cat vomitting
Replies: 2
Views: 317

Re: cat vomitting

If he was eating the Hills happily without vomiting, and thriving on it I would go back to feeding the Hills, while considering all the issues Mollycat raises. And also thinking about specific protein or other ingredient intolerances - chicken or beef or one of the other common protein sources, for ...
by fjm
Fri Mar 11, 2022 8:56 am
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)
Replies: 18
Views: 1103

Re: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)

Sounds like good progress and, as Mollycat says, perhaps I should have specifically said that I slide the nozzle between the lips into the gap behind the canine! But if he is taking it in food that is far less stressful for everyone.
by fjm
Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:38 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)
Replies: 18
Views: 1103

Re: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)

There are loads of different digestive pastes - Pro-Kolin is one of the best but if you search online you will find lots of options. The finer the tube the easier it is to slip between the lips, even if you can't get his mouth open, so choose the smallest tube available. I've used Logic, amongst oth...
by fjm
Tue Mar 08, 2022 1:11 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Kitty Invasion Chaos
Replies: 16
Views: 1473

Re: Kitty Invasion Chaos

Looks as if he could be a Russian Blue - definitely doesn't look as if he is fending for himself!
by fjm
Tue Mar 08, 2022 12:31 pm
Forum: General Cat Chatting!
Topic: Kitty Invasion Chaos
Replies: 16
Views: 1473

Re: Kitty Invasion Chaos

I bought a micro chip flap and never used it, for all sorts of reasons, but it is in the cupboard and you are welcome to it for a suitable charitable donation. My plan was to register the cats' microchips by luring them through before installing it - I reckoned it would be much easier to persuade th...
by fjm
Mon Mar 07, 2022 3:55 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)
Replies: 18
Views: 1103

Re: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)

I have had most success with cats and Pro-Kolin by just squeezing it straight into their mouths - my cats have always been pretty easy going though. It never needed more than a few doses so as long as chicken or something high value was also involved they didn't get too upset. Practice squeezing it ...
by fjm
Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:30 pm
Forum: Health and Behaviour Queries, Help and Advice
Topic: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)
Replies: 18
Views: 1103

Re: Cat with liver issues; how to get balance of food right with vomiting risk (higher carbs needed)

Have you discussed vitamin B with the vet, especially B12? I would talk to the vet as soon as possible, but in the meantime I would do whatever is necessary to keep him eating. A balanced hepatic diet is ideal, but not much use if he simply won't eat it. I would encourage him to eat small portions o...