Ragdoll Cat Forums

Benito went to the vet yesterday. I was concerned with his peeing in the sink (which stopped a few days ago) and am not pleased with his poops being too soft (although not runny or full blown diarrhea.

Since he had a empty bladder when I took him in (he peed in the open litter box before we left) Benito had to stay at the vets all day so they could get a sample from him. Benito ended up having a fever but his urine sample and stool sample came back normal. Today the vet will call with the culture report. Because of the fever he prescribed antibiotics for the 14 day course. I am somewhat happy that he did not present with a UTI or other urinary problem but am concerned with the fever. Benito was never off his food or water and he plays and acts normal so the fever was kind of a shock for me.

I learned how to "pill" a cat at the vets using poor Benito with using treats as the pretend pills. He seemed quite cooperative but I bet as the days go on and I pill him for the next 13 days it will turn into quite the adventure. I hope whatever is causing the fever will resolve itself with the antibiotic.

For the loose stools we are trying a mixture of the Nutro and science diet sensitive stomach. Equal parts of each. Julianna has NO problem with the added new foods as her stools remain firm with a very healthy appitite. Benito's stools are presenting a bit loose like mudpies. I talked to the breeder and she stated he does well with Friskies. I reallly don't want to feed him that but would like to find an alternative higher grade food that will help him out. This is because since they eat together, sometimes at the same time I cannot feed Benito one type of food and Julianna another type of food. They each get a bowl but the food is the same in each bowl. I hope this makes sense.

I appreciate any input with your experience with a adult not tolerating the higher grade foods like Nutro and what you have done to help them.

Thanks!!

Rebecca

You need to give a fair chance for a cat to adjust to a new food that you are committed to feeding. Sometimes a change will cause loose stools and that cause will go away over time.

Hi Rebecca -- I don't have any advice, but I'm glad they have him on the 14 days of antibiotics. Hopefully that will help clear up anything going on. Good luck with pilling him!! The vets always make it look so easy, but I've never found it so!!

I am sorry that I have not updated sooner. I was out of town up north for a girls weekend during the holliday.

All of Benito's tests came back good. Since the vet could not find the cause of the fever he is on Baytril for the 14 day course. The food adjustment is going really well (this kind of shocked me) and Benito's stools have firmed up within three days of cutting back the Nutro and adding in the science diet for sensitive stomach. He stopped peeing the in sink and seems to like the uncovered litter box with the freak corncob type litter called Fresh Results. The problem I have here is that Wallmart sells this litter and I have a really hard time finding it (went to three different Wallmarts and none of them had any) It almost seems like they are flakey about stocking it.

So the result is that Benito issue with the sink peeing seems to have righted itself. He does use either litter box covered or uncovered, clay or corncob. I also think it might be healther that they have a choice of using the litter box instead of sharing only one. I am debating trying the hybred litter called FreshAire which is much more available than the hard to find Fresh Results. This is with the hope that everyone will be happy with litter that contains both types of litter and be easier on my back and ashma.

Any comments/experience with FreshAire? I would love to hear from others out there that use this type of litter.

Thanks!

Rebecca

So glad that things are better. Even though the vet couldn't find a problem, it may be that he had a UTI which the Baytril has corrected and that is why he has stopped peeing in the sink as opposed to the change in litter. I've never had experience with FreshAire -- I use the Special Kitty Multi-Cat litter from Walmart. I've found it clumps harder and tracks less, and has no smell (and i mean the clean litter isn't scented -- the girls do have the tendency to "scent" it a little between scoopings)

Not to promote Walmart or anything, BUT... you can go online to their website where they have MANY more items available than they carry in the stores (even the Superstores) and you can order from the website and have it delivered to your local Walmart where you can pick it up. Maybe that's a way you can get the litter 'Fresh Results' from Walmart without having to go to different ones hoping they have some in inventory.

Wow Valerie-- I'd never thought of doing something like that -- thanks!