Cat now has the runs

[catcarol47]

Hi Everyone

A friend recommended this site and she very kindly posted a thread when my cat Molly was weeing on the carpet. Molly was treated at the vets for cystisis and this seems to have cleared up. Molly also had the odd bout of diarrhoea but now it has got worse. I had to take her to the vets again 2 days ago as she messed just outside the litter tray. It was completely liquid. Also the poor thing messed in her basket on the way to the vets and had to have a bath there before the vet could see her. She is a very nervous cat at the best of times and travelling to the vets makes her even worse. Otherwise she is fine in herself and all she wants to do is eat. The vet confirmed that she did not have a temperature, and prescribed some worming powder (Panacur) and a diet of Royal Canin Sensitivity (Chicken and Rice), along with Metronidazole. Unfortunately Molly won't eat the food and therefore isn't getting the worming treatment. I did say to the vet that worming tablets would probably be better in case she did not eat the food. Also she won't eat cooked chicken or fish. The only food she has ever eaten is Felix pouches in jelly along with either Iams or Purina One biscuits. It may be now that she has developed an intolerence to one or all of these foods but I have tried taking one away from her diet at a time and unfortunately the diarrhoea continued. I have tried other types of food but she turns them down and just wants her Felix!

My biggest worry at the moment is that she needs to get some food down her. I rung the vets this morning who could offer no other suggestion but to leave her food out until she gets so hungry that she will eat it. Also I have another cat who is happy and healthy and wants her normal food. Keeping their food separate is an absolute nightmare.

Can anyone please suggest an alternative food that I can get easily from a supermarket that might work for poor Molly? Also as she has not had the worming treatment (which could well be the cause of her problems rather than dietary), does anyone know whether the Bob Martins worming treatments available from supermarkets are OK? It is not easy getting tablets down her (not unusual I know) but I would rather attempt to get a worming tablet down her than her having no worming treatment at all.

Any advice at all would be really appreciated. I have spent all morning reading about Alex's Teddie and it is wonderful and heart warming to see so many people offering support to her.

Thanks
Carol
x

[dinahsmum]

Hi Carol - welcome to the forum. Sorry you are having trouble with Molly. The runs seems to be fashionable at the moment
I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone with a dog or cat with a tummy upset. Plain steamed/boiled/microwaved white fish (with rice for dogs). You don't need get anything exotic - a value pack of frozen white fish will last ages and is always a good standby to have in the freezer.
It could be that the antibiotics she was given to treat her cystitis have affected her tummy to bring on the diarrhoea?
Hope she gets better soon and we will look forward to hearing good news.

[alexgirl73]

Carol, you have my utter sympathy in this matter, I know how devastating it is when this happens. I have used the Bob Martin tablets on my cats in the past and they do an adequate job, but obviously the worming tablets from the vet are much better, I cant understand why your vet didn't give you a tablet, as they are cheap enough. I would give him a call back and ask for one. As to the food matter, the best thing to do is starve her for at least 12 hours, preferrably leaving her until tomorrow morning, this gives her tummy a chance to empty completely. If she wont eat cooked chicken or fish (do you boil it), then I would try her on a fish food that has a high fish content ie natures menu or HiLife. You can get HiLife in Asda or the natures menu in Pets at Home. I tried the RC food with Teddie, and while she ate it, it didn't help her tummy at all. The other thing to try would be to ask your vet for some of the Hills id prescription diet wet food. Teddie loved these,and with the help of the antibiotics it did make some difference. I hope this helps somewhat, and we are always here to give advice and support, so please feel free to visit as often as you need, and we're great for chatting to about other stuff too!! ((hugs)). x

[Jac]

Hi Carol and welcome to the forum. I would go with what DM said.
Another alternative would be tuna. You can get it reasoanably cheep at the supermarket or fish mongers.
I have used bob martin wormers for both cats and dogs. How old is Molly?
Antibiotics quite often result in the runs. As long as she is drinking as not to dehidrate. Worth keeping an eye on.

[catcarol47]

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply. It is over 2 months since she was treated for the cystisis and although she had a bit of diarrhoea then, it is only in the last week it has got worse. I will try some fish (I will probably get a small amount so it doesn't all end up in the bin) but I am not holding out much luck as she has never liked cooked fish or chicken in the past. I will keep you posted.

Carol
x

[Jac]

Carol, has she eaten something possibly when out?
What kind of fish did you try before? Get another kind. Steam it, get the old saliva going hehe. Keep us posted.
Fingers crossed.

[catcarol47]

Hi

I will try the HiLife. I did starve her for 24 hours as the vet suggested so thought she would eat anything after that! The vets are closed now until after New Year but I still have some of the worming powder left so will carry on trying with that. At least the diarrhoea has stopped but then of course she doesn't have any food inside her.

Cuddles to Teddie and your other moggies.

Carol
x

[wooly wonka]

hi carol, my heart go's out to you and your poorly molly , great advise from DM and AG , welcome to catsey i hope you find this site as warm and welcoming as i did ......... good luck ..regards sooty sweep Ian ..

[catcarol47]

Hi

I have tried all sorts of fish both steamed and boiled. I don't think she has eaten anything outside as she does not stray far and this has been a bit of an ongoing thing. I don't think her being nervous helps either. As I replied to DM though I will try some fish again. She did like Tuna for a while and then went off that. She is a fussy little madam but I love her to bits!

Thanks for your support
Carol
x

[alexgirl73]

The other thing to try Carol is Promax paste or canikur granules to help bind her a bit. I swear by both of these now, and as neither of them are prescription only you can buy them over the internet, google for them. They have both helped Teddie tremendously.