Ragdoll Cat Forums

Meeko started to have diarrhea on Saturday. It's been mostly liquid. He's still eating - but less than usual. He's drinking plenty of water so hopefully dehyrdration isn't an immediate concern. His energy levels may be down a bit - but he's still playing and not completely miserable. (though he is miserable about all the back-end baths he's had to clean up the mess and the litter that's sticking to his bottom and his back legs)

I know this is horrible...but I literally don't have the money to take him to the vet. I'm not saying I shouldn't spend the money - I actually don't have it. I'm trying to borrow from my family but not sure if I can pull it off.

Is there any home remedy I can try? I've heard plain yogurt can help. He was on antibiotics a month ago but he's been off them for almost 3 weeks and the diarrhea just started. I figure it's probably too long for that to be the cause.

It's been a big stress for both of us - the mess and the worry and my inability to get him to the vet when I know that would be best.

Is there still a chance now that we've hit the 48 hour mark that it could resolve itself? Can it come out of no where and not be something needing treatment? He did have a clean fecal exam at 16 weeks. There's been no change in his diet (dry Wellness kitten food and Nutro canned kitten food) or his environment.

Charge card??? If he's had liquid diarrhea since Saturday, then I would get getting him to the vet. Call them and ask if you can do it on a payment plan or something.

You can see if he'll eat some pumpkin (plain in the can, not the pie kind) which can help, and maybe just give him baked chicken and boiled rice, and take away all the other food for a while and see if that helps.

I'd certainly use a charge card if that were an option. Believe me, I'd go without food for myself if that would help. The timing on this is just really bad in that I have $60 to live on for the next 10 days. No vet around here will allow a payment plan. I tried. I had Care Credit years ago and last time I went to the vet found out they had closed the account due to "inactivity". So much for my emergency back up plan. I re-applied and was denied. I called and was told with the current credit climate they have become very very strict. (even though the one time I used them the bill was paid in full on time)

Please don't doubt for a minute how much I love him and HATE that I can't get him to the vet right away. I'm a wreck over this.

I have no doubt that you love them and would take them if you could. I guess I'm a little peeved that a vet wouldn't consider a payment plan.

Maybe something can be worked out with the vet. Ours wants payments right then too but they will let you owe them. We have to sign and say when we will pay them by and that is it.

I do hope you can find away to get the cat to the vet and never do we think you do not love your pet. Life sometimes gets in the way. Much prayers are going on for you and your baby.

I'm going to call again now and beg and plead (literally). I've had the same job (thank god, knock wood) for 14 years so I would HOPE that would give them some confidence that I'd pay in full if given a bit of time.

The same thing happened with Dex when he was about 4-5 months old. I brought him to the vet because I was so worried and the vet thought it was just cuz he was teething! He suggested giving him canned pumpkin. Hope you figure something out!

Was Dex having actual liquid diarrhea or just soft stools?

It was liquid. This is gross, but it seemed like he couldn't even hold it in, he would just go on accident. Everything was going straight through him.

Just got off the phone with the vet's office (again). Receptionist will talk to the doctor but she doesn't believe they can do anything. She said to bring him in for the office exam (which I can pay for if I pay the phone bill late - no problem since I'm never late) and discuss treatment options I can afford. The thing is - I KNOW they'll need to do a fecal exam and he'll give him some meds. I literally can't afford even $10 above the cost of the office visit so I'm not sure there's a point. How can the vet treat him if I can't pay for medicine of diagnositcs?

I may do it anyway and hope they take pity on us but it doesn't sound promising.

I was really hoping it would go away but it's been 48 hours now and no improvement.