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Wildeyes posted:It's not nothing. Urinary blockage, as expected, and it's looking very, very bad. They're going to treat him and send him home, and there's about a 50% chance of the blockage reoccuring. I'm not at all optimistic here, but I'm going to do everything I possibly can to help. Hey, that's not so bad! At least now you're aware of it and know what signs to watch out for. My cat had a urinary issue a few years ago, and after treatment and being putting on Rx urinary formula food, he hasn't had another blockage since, so you never know. I have even been able to (at my vet's recommendation) wean him back onto regular (ableit not high quality) food with no further problems. It's a bummer that it happened, but I'm glad to hear it was that rather than something terminal.
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Feb 16, 2013 02:41
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Serella posted:Hey, that's not so bad! At least now you're aware of it and know what signs to watch out for. My cat had a urinary issue a few years ago, and after treatment and being putting on Rx urinary formula food, he hasn't had another blockage since, so you never know. I have even been able to (at my vet's recommendation) wean him back onto regular (ableit not high quality) food with no further problems. It's a bummer that it happened, but I'm glad to hear it was that rather than something terminal. Urethral blockage can pretty easily turn into something terminal through bladder rupture, doing irreversible damage to the kidneys or ureters due to backflow/high pressure/stasis of toxins, or damage to other organs due to buildup of toxins that can't be excreted. So while it's understandable to focus on the positive in this case (the cat is getting treatment and hopefully hasn't suffered any irreversible damage!), I'd caution against making light of the problem, just for future reference and people reading the thread who may experience something similar. It is an emergency, period. Topoisomerase fucked around with this message at 07:36 on Feb 16, 2013 |
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Feb 16, 2013 07:32
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Haha hey, I got another custom title from someone who anonymously hates me! I'm actually somewhat inclined to take him at his word. I think what I find most amusing is what a tragically mismatched pair my cat and I are - her being a spayed female felid weighing 10 pounds, me being a homosexual male mammal weighing 150 pounds... It's just not meant to be  Unfortunately, I don't find this one nearly amusing as the previous title someone bought to shame me - the one I've had for years about requesting people to please PM me pics of their cocks. I might have to actually pony up the $5 and come up with something original  And in other news, Jackie was once again a really really wonderful cat yesterday. I had another really rough day of horrible nausea and vomiting (don't worry I was at the clinic this morning it was a really awful and painful day) and I think Jackie has finally figured out that when I'm sick, I really can't cope with having her around. I just shoved her off the couch once and she got the picture, went to the other end of the apartment, and didn't bother me for hours. Later in the day I still felt sick but she was getting lonely, so she cautiously made a nest out of some of my clothes in the corner of the living room (where she never sleeps usually) and just hung out there sleeping and/or watching me, continuing to let me be, thank god. And when I finally felt better, I simply told her it was OK, and she *immediately* hopped up onto the couch and into my lap for the first time since I kicked her off 8 hours prior. I was extremely impressed at what a considerate little kitty she was, needless to say.
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Feb 16, 2013 17:17
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Idk who bought your title but as a lurker in this thread I have to say you are really bad at taking hints and need to shut up about your stupid cat. This is a cat FAQ not a cat lady tea party.
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Feb 16, 2013 18:21
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I dunno where you think you are gar but this is clearly Random Nonsense: Cat edition.
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Feb 16, 2013 19:00
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There are a lot of cat threads to post in that don't have FAQ in the title though. I absolutely get the temptation to want to talk about how great your cat is because I catch myself doing it too especially since the pets are fairly new, and it's not like it's out of place in this thread to cat chat, but everyone has a special relationship with their cats. Maybe if you really need to gush that much, perhaps find some thread where people aren't mostly looking for information and advice? 
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Feb 16, 2013 19:09
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To get back on the topic of information and advice, I'm going to re-post this from earlier... Jengo posted:TL;DR my roommate’s cat is scared of and continues to attack me after four months of living together and multiple attempts to acclimate it. Need more advice before I snap. This was about a week ago (didn't want to repost everything so check the original if you want more info) and I didn't hear from anyone so I'm taking another shot - can anyone please give me some help? I'm now 4.5 months into this living arrangement and still every day the cat will hiss, swipe, or try to bite me if I walk past it while it's on a couch, under a table, or in the hallway. Furthermore, yesterday my roommate has asked me to stop giving the cat Greenies because it has been throwing up (this is also why I can't give it catnip), and for the record, I really don't think I was overdosing on either of these treats... I'm running out of options, and furthermore, my patience, with trying to have a comfortable living arrangement with this cat. Here is the basic information, if it helps any: -Female -About 7 years old -15 pounds -Spayed -Declawed We have been using the Feliway for 2 months now, and a soothing collar for three weeks. Any suggestions on what to do next would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...
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Feb 16, 2013 19:27
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How big is she? 15lbs seems really heavy for an average-sized cat. Does she get a lot of active play? Laser dots or fish on a string or whatever? Any interesting toys she likes, things for her to climb on/in/under? Cats gotta burn energy, and what energy they don't burn, they'll stress with (I think dogs are this way too). You said she didn't like the toy when you were the one holding it, but if it was something like a laser pointer where you're more removed from it, maybe work out her energy for a while, see if that eventually helps. Some cats get stuck in their ways and take a long time to adjust. Maybe the less time she has to be an rear end in a top hat and the more time she's focused on being active engaged, the better it'll get?
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Feb 16, 2013 19:35
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She definitely is a larger cat, but since I can't approximate the 15 pound number came from my roommate. And no, this cat definitely doesn't get much play... the roommate has said that the cat didn't seem to like any toys so she just didn't try anything for her, and the only real toy she has is the one I bought, the Da Bird. No cat tree, which I've also heard is a big no-no, and then my roommate also has a very active lifestyle so she is often out of the house and it's just me and the cat alone. I was thinking about getting a laser pointer but if the cat has a potential of not playing with it (all she does with Da Bird is grab it when I swing it nearby, never chases it), then I don't want to waste my money. I have to run for now, but I can come back to answer more questions later tonight.
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Feb 16, 2013 19:41
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Laser pointers are dirt cheap. I got mine for under $5. I'd say more food is not what this cat wants. Cats want poo poo to climb, they want stuff to do. Hell, I sort of made my cats a...well not really a cat tree as much as a ramshackle cat fort, out of a stool I never use but she liked chilling under. I took some fabric and made a lil hammock, hung some dangly toys from the bars, put a box under it to chill out in. They love it as much as the real cat tree I saved up and bought them later. I wouldn't be surprised if she's just frustrated and anxious because she's being fed food and then has nowhere to put that energy. I get that it's not your cat, but somebody needs to give that poor thing something to do. Even just a $5/10 cat cube and a perch to watch birds out the window. A few laser sessions a day. One of those little robot mice/hamsters that roll around in plastic balls so they don't get caught under furniture.
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Feb 16, 2013 19:54
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Apologies if this has been asked before- I've dug through Google and I swear I've read through the whole OP but still haven't found a wholly fitting answer to my question: I moved into a new apartment about three weeks ago and I've been thinking about getting a cat in the future (probably not for another few months). The apartment consists of the entire lower story of a two-family house, with my landlord and his wife living in the apartment above. They have their own cat- a wonderfully chill and friendly old (don't know how old, but old) girl. As far as I'm aware, she's been the only cat in the building her whole life. Am I correct in worrying about potential behavior issues that might crop up if I bring in a new cat? I wouldn't want my- or my neighbors'- cat freaking out and acting up because he/she can smell another feline through the walls (that he/she will probably never actually meet). And if this is a legitimate concern, is there anything that I could do or anything that I should keep in mind?
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Feb 16, 2013 20:56
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Electric Bugaloo posted:Apologies if this has been asked before- I've dug through Google and I swear I've read through the whole OP but still haven't found a wholly fitting answer to my question: Wait, would the cats be in the same space or no? If no, then absolutely not a problem get a cat get two post pictures.
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Feb 16, 2013 22:38
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Eggplant Wizard posted:Wait, would the cats be in the same space or no?
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Feb 16, 2013 23:41
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Electric Bugaloo posted:Apologies if this has been asked before- I've dug through Google and I swear I've read through the whole OP but still haven't found a wholly fitting answer to my question: If they're not sharing the same space, there won't be an issue. I've now had two apartment situations like this, and my cats are totally chill. We share an entry way with our downstairs neighbors currently, and my cats seem to be aware there's another cat in the building (they like to try and sneak past me when I'm bringing in groceries and go sniff the other door), but we've never had any behavioral issues. I actually didn't even know the neighbors had a cat until we had lived here almost seven months, if that's any indication for you. Also, what Eggplant Wizard said: get two and post pictures.
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Feb 16, 2013 23:41
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Cat info: Male cat, ~1.5 years, neutered, has food allergies, lives with female cat of about the same age who is spayed and does not have food allergies Boy kitty has been a bit sick lately (snuffling in his sleep and being more sleepy and cuddly than usual). One of my cats also managed to open the door to the room where we feed girl kitty while I was cooking dinner last week, and he most likely ate a ton of food he was allergic to (and had gross poops all next day). My husband was petting him yesterday and noticed some dandruff. I looked myself, and there's a decent amount of flakiness in his back fur. The fur on his chin also looks a bit patchy (acne?). Is this a cause for concern? Could it be allergy related? He's been eating normally, drinking water and chasing girl kitty all around the apartment so he's not dying or anything, I just wanted to know if we should watch and wait or take him in for a checkup.
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Feb 17, 2013 03:27
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Arkham Angel posted:Cat info: Male cat, ~1.5 years, neutered, has food allergies, lives with female cat of about the same age who is spayed and does not have food allergies If he has skin-presenting food allergies then yeah skin grossness would be expected when he eats something bad. Sniffly and cuddly is okay so long as he's still interested in eating and using the box okay.
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Feb 17, 2013 16:58
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Okay, so cat is recovering from that urinary obstruction. Still drowsy and lightheaded, drinking plenty of water (and then peeing all over the place, but that seems to have stopped for good, we can only hope). But he refuses to eat anything, and I can't imagine that's going to help him get his energy back. Advice?
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Feb 17, 2013 23:28
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I am sure this has already been discussed to death somewhere, but I can't find it. Cat toothbrushing: Do you really do it? Is my vet hilariously optimistic for telling me it should be done at least every other day? After seeing one of my dad's cats have some serious dental problems I am trying (albeit not as much as the vet thinks I should.) However the ratio of actual tooth-cleaning to cat anger is not very good. Do any of the dental foods/treats actually help?
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Feb 17, 2013 23:37
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Trillian posted:I am sure this has already been discussed to death somewhere, but I can't find it. I brush my cats' teeth. It helps that they are horribly food-motivated and will do anything for treats. It's part of my nightly routine--they hear the electric toothbrush, wait by the bathroom door, I hold them down and brush each side quickly, they get a treat. They hate it, but they love the treat enough to remind me it's time and to not run off until they get what they want.
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Feb 17, 2013 23:48
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Wildeyes posted:Okay, so cat is recovering from that urinary obstruction. Still drowsy and lightheaded, drinking plenty of water (and then peeing all over the place, but that seems to have stopped for good, we can only hope). But he refuses to eat anything, and I can't imagine that's going to help him get his energy back. Advice? When Ozzie refused to eat after her surgery, we got some cheap, smelly, fatty cat food, mixed it into some chicken/beef/turkey baby food, and coaxed her to lick a tablespoon or so off a spoon/our fingers every couple hours. It was really stressful but it was the only thing we could do. The smelly food wasn't great for her, but the baby food was bland enough to keep it from upsetting her stomach. Eventually we transitioned her back to better foods and then to kibble. See if maybe the vet has some food to sell you to help your cat's appetite?
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Feb 17, 2013 23:49
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Eggplant Wizard posted:If he has skin-presenting food allergies then yeah skin grossness would be expected when he eats something bad. Sniffly and cuddly is okay so long as he's still interested in eating and using the box okay. He has had skin issues before we put him on limited ingredient food, though I didn't notice dandruff then, just patching on the face. Probably from him being stupid and thinking that any food that isn't his is the Best. Food. EVAR. Thanks.
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Feb 18, 2013 00:27
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Arkham Angel posted:He has had skin issues before we put him on limited ingredient food, though I didn't notice dandruff then, just patching on the face. Probably from him being stupid and thinking that any food that isn't his is the Best. Food. EVAR. Thanks. I would caution you to watch it, though, just to make sure it goes away. I mean, it definitely sounds like that's all it is, but (as we learned the hard way) young cats will sometimes just develop allergies. One of ours has food allergies and just sort of became allergic to mystery thing (our vet said it's not worth testing for because we probably won't find it) that manifested itself through itchy, flaky skin. We just figured he was stupid and snagged something we dropped and didn't notice, but then the itchy, flaky skin persisted. (If it gets to that, though, ours just gets a tiny pill everyday, and he's fine.  )
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Feb 18, 2013 04:56
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I will keep an eye on it, then. What kind of meds do you give your kitty, out of curiosity?
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Feb 18, 2013 06:23
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Dr. Chaco posted:I brush my cats' teeth. It helps that they are horribly food-motivated and will do anything for treats. It's part of my nightly routine--they hear the electric toothbrush, wait by the bathroom door, I hold them down and brush each side quickly, they get a treat. They hate it, but they love the treat enough to remind me it's time and to not run off until they get what they want. I really need to do this, but doing it alone is what I assume to be very difficult if not done at an early age. Plus I have six cats, and my girlfriend just laughs at me when I recommend we should brush their teeth.
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Feb 18, 2013 14:58
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Mad Pino Rage posted:I really need to do this, but doing it alone is what I assume to be very difficult if not done at an early age. Plus I have six cats, and my girlfriend just laughs at me when I recommend we should brush their teeth. Your girlfriend is right to laugh. With 6 cats i'd money up for having someone else do it. I can only imagine going for the toothbrush and toothpaste only to turn around to.  '... Get him.'
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Feb 18, 2013 15:09
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Dr. Chaco posted:electric toothbrush Holy poo poo you have some treat motivated cats.
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Feb 18, 2013 16:07
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duckfarts posted:
I have a catte I could get to do it for a treat.
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Feb 18, 2013 16:19
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Mad Pino Rage posted:I really need to do this, but doing it alone is what I assume to be very difficult if not done at an early age. Plus I have six cats, and my girlfriend just laughs at me when I recommend we should brush their teeth. Actually, I taught my cats to tolerate it at about 6 years old. I adopted them when they were 4. duckfarts posted:
I should clarify--the electric toothbrush is mine, and the noise is what draws them to the bathroom. I use the free human-type toothbrush from the dentist for the cats. Alpha Kenny Juan posted:Your girlfriend is right to laugh. There are various flavored toothpastes for dogs and cats, but their primary purpose is to make the process tolerable, or even enjoyable, for the pet. Mine hate it, so we don't use any. The main benefit is from the brushing action, not the paste.
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Feb 18, 2013 16:40
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Arkham Angel posted:I will keep an eye on it, then. What kind of meds do you give your kitty, out of curiosity? The vet prescribed 20 mg of prednisone every day for the mystery allergy and nothing for the food allergy (beyond "don't eat that food"). He was getting an allergy shot every two months for a while, but that was getting spendy (the cost of the shot itself wasn't bad, but the office visit charge was a killer); so, if your cat does need allergy meds, and he's just impossible to give pills to, there are other options. As a side note, you might also want to watch his scratching; our guy is a medium haired cat, so what really tipped us off to his new allergy was his constant scratching around his head and neck area. When we separated the fur in the region and felt his skin, we saw flakes and felt little scabs. I'm not trying to scare you; I just know our buddy was in a lot of discomfort before we really figured out what was happening, and I would love to spare someone else's cat that sort of discomfort.
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Feb 18, 2013 17:06
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While we're talking about brushing teeth I got myself a Petosan Oral Cleaner since I figured it would be less awkward that using an actual brush with handle, however it's so soft I can't imagine it's really doing anything to the teeth...Is it a good product or should I just get a proper bristle brush?
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Feb 18, 2013 17:32
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motherfish posted:While we're talking about brushing teeth I got myself a Petosan Oral Cleaner since I figured it would be less awkward that using an actual brush with handle, however it's so soft I can't imagine it's really doing anything to the teeth...Is it a good product or should I just get a proper bristle brush? I have tried a few different products and nothing compares to real bristles on an actual cat-mouth-sized toothbrush.
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Feb 18, 2013 17:57
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Rorobb fucked around with this message at 20:22 on Apr 15, 2013 |
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Feb 18, 2013 18:32
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Rorobb posted:Hey cat thread, I hope someone here can help me out. My girlfriend and I have had a female cat for about a year, since she was about 9 months old. She's basically a huge goofball that switches back and forth from two moods: sassy and clingy. When she's sassy she'll bat at us, sneak attack us, etc. When she's clingy she'll just get in our laps and turn into a motorboat. Cat introductions are more about smell than any other sense or emotion. Just remember most of the emotions you described above are you projecting things onto your cats. It'll take time and patience. Search this post for "Introducing a new cat to your other cats" it should make you feel better about the progress so far: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3169030&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=1#post363159426
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Feb 18, 2013 18:44
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Rorobb posted:Hey cat thread, I hope someone here can help me out. My girlfriend and I have had a female cat for about a year, since she was about 9 months old. She's basically a huge goofball that switches back and forth from two moods: sassy and clingy. When she's sassy she'll bat at us, sneak attack us, etc. When she's clingy she'll just get in our laps and turn into a motorboat. Time, joint treat feedings. I find that putting a large pile of delicious food into your hand, then giving out some to one cat and some to the other works wonders a lot of the time.
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Feb 18, 2013 18:44
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Rorobb posted:Right now we are just keeping them separated by a door and letting them interact every few hours until the tension gets too high, but the interactions seem to be going down hill. Any suggestions? If there's blood, separate them; otherwise let them work it out. Cat intros can be measured in weeks or months, seldom days.
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Feb 18, 2013 18:44
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Rorobb posted:Hey cat thread, I hope someone here can help me out. My girlfriend and I have had a female cat for about a year, since she was about 9 months old. She's basically a huge goofball that switches back and forth from two moods: sassy and clingy. When she's sassy she'll bat at us, sneak attack us, etc. When she's clingy she'll just get in our laps and turn into a motorboat. Like AtomikKrab said, time and joint feedings. I find that works/is currently working for my situation. Make sure you have some vertical space like a cat tree, but if that is too expensive you can get a bunch of cardboard boxes. Shelves work. Also, plenty of open space and places to rest/perch preferably by windows. Everything you do with one cat try to do with both in the same room - play, brush, et al. Also have at least one litterbox per cat plus one can help
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Feb 18, 2013 20:46
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SpaceAceJase posted:I'll be getting my first cat ever this week. SpaceAceJase posted:A few weeks on, and here's some new pictures of "Link" for you all to enjoy. More kitten pics!    
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Feb 19, 2013 01:03
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Niemat posted:As a side note, you might also want to watch his scratching; our guy is a medium haired cat, so what really tipped us off to his new allergy was his constant scratching around his head and neck area. When we separated the fur in the region and felt his skin, we saw flakes and felt little scabs. I'm not trying to scare you; I just know our buddy was in a lot of discomfort before we really figured out what was happening, and I would love to spare someone else's cat that sort of discomfort. I haven't really noticed an increase in scratching with him, but I'll keep an eye out. The only scabbing and patching we've noticed is right around his mouth, as mentioned before. He's a shorthair, too, so all the more difficult for skin issues to hide. Too cute!
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Feb 19, 2013 03:07
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SpaceAceJase posted:More kitten pics! When did you get a new rug?
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Feb 19, 2013 03:56
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El Gar posted:Idk who bought your title but as a lurker in this thread I have to say you are really bad at taking hints and need to shut up about your stupid cat. This is a cat FAQ not a cat lady tea party. I think Kaworu has a wealth of knowledge, helping loads of people with advice from personal experience but I do find his (always thought he was a lass!) posts about Jackie tedious. The first time it was cute but then the shine wore off and it just became "HEY EVERYONE, MY CAT IS AMAZING, READ THIS ABOUT HOW AMAZING SHE IS". Like someone else said, EVERYONE has a special bond with their animal, but don't post love letters to them in here. I've just gushed so hard over Arthur on the run up to my fiancée giving birth in a different thread, I understand it's easy to do, because we love our cats, even more so here because it gains you a wider audience. I'm not saying stop, just find the appropriate platform maybe. A blog or a dedicated thread were good ideas. Hope you take this as constructive criticism. Keep on loving Jackie Cat Ps, wasn't me who bought the custom title. Blinks fucked around with this message at 06:25 on Feb 19, 2013 |
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Feb 19, 2013 06:22
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