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Post by Pawsforthought on Apr 12, 2013 13:53:26 GMT
I don't have anything helpful to say, but she looks and sounds EXACTLY like my old cat. She moved in with us and was ok-ish if she knew you, but you were still likely to get bitten/scratched at least once a day  she was black all over, yellow eyes with white on her chest too. Weird  Anyway yeah, good luck. We had a good natured vet who was always up for a bit of wrestling with a mad angry cat to check her over XD She was so bad that we didn't realise she was female for a few years!! |
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Post by tonib on Apr 12, 2013 16:39:54 GMT
Nannycat has good suggestions, if not cpl as I don't think its applicable to Ireland, then the ISPCA or a local rescue may have the same info.
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Post by bextull on Apr 16, 2013 20:09:58 GMT
Sorry, forgot about the thread  Firstly let me explain MY situation (not the cat's). The reason I cannot take her to the vets is because I am only 16. Its not taking her there thats the problem, its the idea that it could cost a lot of money and my parents do not want to do that. Just a chek up is, thirthy, fourty euro, if she needs to be sedated then there is another 10 or 20. If she needs stuff done with her teeth or anything like that and you can basically add another 100 to it all. She isn't even disipling the dog anymore. She also isn't juming up onto the boiler anymore so she has to be fed on the ground and she is only drinking water, no more milk. When she does jump up onto the boiler or window sills its definitely not like she used to, now its as if she struggles to do it whereas 2, 3 years ago she would jump the back fence with fully grown adult rabbits in her mouth And I don't know what I can do because I can't physically get at her and really see whats going on. We dont have a weighing scales to weigh her either and I am convinced that she is losing weight. I feel useless to be honest. I want to help but I don't know how. She is drinking quite a bit of water so I had a Google and then I started reading about kidney problems and diabetes. I then checked her food and while its only got meat in, it also says 'various sugars', so then it got me thinking diabetes but I'm not entirely convinced. If it is anything like this then I really don't know what will happen. I cannot see my parents forking out a tonne of money to pay for costly treatments because she has never really been a 'family cat'. I will try and convince my mother (dad is not somebody who likes the cat at all) to at least consider taking the cat to the vet. I know I don't really make my parents out to be saints right now but I know that Mum does care, so I just need to find a way to harness this, so to speak. I appreciate all your help and I will try and keep you updated but for now I'm not sure what I can do.
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Post by tonib on Apr 17, 2013 11:36:45 GMT
bextull, Just one thought, if she's not jumping up like she used to it could be that she's suffering from a bit of arthritis. It might be worth having a look at the various joint supplements that can be added to food. There are various ones available on the internet for cats which don't need a vet's prescription. More often than not based on glucosamine. Have a read of this article www.yourcat.co.uk/Healthy-Cats/how-can-i-treat-a-cat-with-arthritis.html
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Post by bextull on Apr 17, 2013 16:16:40 GMT
I've been considering that she has arthritis for some time now but having read the article I think we can add that to the list of problems. I have been watching her move for a little while now and she goes appear to be quite stiff, for want of a better word.
The only thing that i have on hand at the moment is coconut oil so i will give that a try ( she can have her own tub as the dog is already over half way through one and i want to get rid of it so i can get some better one) It might help her overall condition aswell as joints too.
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Post by tonib on Apr 27, 2013 0:00:36 GMT
Been meaning to ask how your cat is doing bextull |
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Post by cazypops on Apr 27, 2013 1:07:21 GMT
Is she drinking more than usual, as this would indicate an underlying problem, and as said before contacting a vet is important. Hope she's ok and you get to the bottom of things.
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Post by bextull on Apr 27, 2013 10:02:45 GMT
I got talking to some vets this week (work experience) and I think I know whats wrong (a cat came in with the same symptoms who was a little older than mine)
She has kidney disease, which has no cure. All we can do is keep an eye on her and make sure she drinks and eats as much as we can get her to eat. She will eventually die because of it (although it could be a while yet) and there is nothing the vets can give her to help, well they could give ABs and intravenous fluids but these wont help long term or solve the problem.
She wont eat the coconut oil so I may find something else for her joints.
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Post by tonib on Apr 27, 2013 12:55:16 GMT
I'm sorry if that is the likely diagnosis. Did the vets suggest anyway that she could be checked over by a vet just in case there is anything else it could be - I know there are cost concerns for your family as well.
There are powders available without prescription which are supposed to help manage arthritis in cats , however if she's still not eating much that could be difficult. I don't know if any come in paste form which might be a help.
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Post by bextull on Apr 27, 2013 13:40:02 GMT
They said that if I were to bring her in they would try to handle her and get a towel or something around her for protection. If she was very vicious then the other option would be sedation and a squeeze cage, but that might not be the safest option or the most practical.
The main thing that would really indicate kidney disease is enlarged kidneys, but obviously that involves getting your hands on her. She does show the other signs of it though so the vets said that it is most likely the case.
Because nothing can really be done for her and the problem is most likely a kidney issue the vet said that,while bringing her in would help, its going to cause more stress than its worth for her.
I'm going to get some salmon oil for her joints. I can get it locally in the petshop and hopefully it will encourage her to eat more. (if not then Oscar can have it)
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Post by tonib on Apr 27, 2013 13:50:29 GMT
Sounds like a very practical vet  One of our cats has arthritis but its controlled by prescription drugs although I know of someone on the old YC forum who had good results with glucosamine. Hope you can find the right solution for your cat. Good luck. |
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Post by bextull on Apr 27, 2013 14:01:06 GMT
Sounds like a very practical vet One of our cats has arthritis but its controlled by prescription drugs although I know of someone on the old YC forum who had good results with glucosamine. Hope you can find the right solution for your cat. Good luck. Its not a vet we have ever been to. I was just doing Work Experience there for school. I loved Sally, the vet, who told me all this. She is a little old school in some ways but I loved her approach to things (she was somebody who would chat and bond with the animal before treating it) and, yes, she is very practical! |
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Post by gladys on Apr 27, 2013 14:16:53 GMT
Keep us posted bextull I hope you get her to eat any supplements you give her and she feels a bit happier. |
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Post by bextull on Apr 27, 2013 19:23:46 GMT
She is going to the vets!!!
I really got my hands on her tonight. She let me feel her all over and I am horrified at her condition. Her fur has hidden how bad she is. I can feel her hips andspine and ribs!!!!! She has definitely lost weight!!!
I gave her a spoon full of food but she only ate half and she drank for 5 minutes straight.
I know the vets will be stressful but now i know the extent of this problem and i cant sit by. The vet might not be able to do anything, but she could be suffering and if thats the case I'd much rather she be put out of her missery than go on until she is too weak to move.
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Post by tonib on Apr 27, 2013 19:30:16 GMT
I'm glad to hear you've made that decision I know its been difficult for you. She probably knew it was the best thing for her to let you check her over which was why she let you. What's your family said? Good luck |
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she was black all over, yellow eyes with white on her chest too. Weird 
