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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / July 2004I have about a month to get this cat healthy...need some help.
Greetings ~ I have my mom's cat (sh was originally my cat) for about a month while mom is recovering from a nasty bout with pneumonia. Fatass is an indoor cat, about 15 years old, living in my mom's (a smoker) one-bedroom apartment. She does not clean herself and sheds a great deal. She also has dandruff and her coat is not in very good shape. (It was worse, there was a time when she had matted hair knots.) She also has a raging case of ear mites. Oh, and she is a fat a.s. I would say three or four pounds overweight, at least. Anyway, I have her for a month, maybe more, and only in the past few days in my big house she is showing improvement. Her eyes are brighter, her coat is getting a little better, and the cat seems more alive. What I have been doing is using Mite-X on her ears every other day, and also cleaning the ears with Q-tips dipped in baby oil every other day. There was tons of ear mite crap in her ears - there is less now after 5 days, but it still seems like I am barely making a dent. I am also brushing her coat every other day or so, but the shedding is never ending - and the dandruff remains. I also have these cat wipes that are like big baby wipes to clean the cat. Those I will use about once a week. I am feeding her mostly dry food (Purina One for old cats) and maybe a tablespoon a day of canned food. (which she barfed up all over my rug one day.)I made her a window perch to sit on and watch the birds, let her on the couch with my wife and I while watching TV (She didn't even run away when I was on my feet screaming when Mueller drove in Damon for the winning run last Thurs - the Red Sox fans know what I am talking about), and she generally seems to enjoy being in my house. When she starts to clean herself again, I will know I jumped a big hurdle. What else can I do for this cat to make her happier and healthier? She may be with me permanantly so both short and long term ideas will be appreciated. Thanks, Bluesman > Greetings ~ > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Bluesman I'd get her to a vet to get the ears checked and cleaned out thoroughly if nothing else. I'm not familiar with Mite-X. The vets I've seen recently have used Revolution for treating ear mites. With a cat this age, the dandruff and poor coat condition could be from an underlying health problem so another good reason to get her to a vet. I'd get her on a good quality food (a Google search of this NG will find recommendations and discussion of that) and be vigilant not to overfeed the cat. Here's a link where you can get the calorie and nutrient values for various foods. http://www.sugarcats.net/sites/jmpeerson/canfood.html there is a link at the bottom of this page for dry food values as well. Ask the vet when you're there how many calories this cat should be getting and they can help you develop a plan to get this cat back to a healthy weight. Good luck with your kitty. W >From: "Wendy" wendypart@nospam.com >I'd get her to a vet to get the ears checked and cleaned out thoroughly if >nothing else. I'm not familiar with Mite-X. The vets I've seen recently have >used Revolution for treating ear mites. > >With a cat this age, the dandruff and poor coat condition could be from an >underlying health problem so another good reason to get her to a vet. I completely agree. A 15 year old cat needs a complete physical, preferably every 6 months, or at least once a year. Considering the mites & coat condition, the sooner the vet visit, the better. Congrats on your new Red Sox fan :) Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm > Greetings ~ > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Bluesman Try a higher quality food than Purina for one. Gradually mix in some senior Science Diet or other premium food. I wouldn't use the over the counter ear mite stuff as it usually isn't going to do much of anything. The cleaning is probably doing more. You might get her vet checked and get some ivermectin. Usually one does will do the mites in. Over all sounds like she is doing well. The brushing and combing will make her feel better too. I will say, sometimes you plain just can't get rid of the dandruff. I have a kitty that has had dandruff all her life. Better at certain times of year, but just never completely goes away. Some say adding a bit of fish oil to food helps. SNIP > > What else can I do for this cat to make her happier and healthier? > > She may be with me permanantly so both short and long term ideas will [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > has had dandruff all her life. Better at certain times of year, but just > never completely goes away. Some say adding a bit of fish oil to food helps. I second Wendy and Karen's recommendations and add encouraging this cat to play, a little. Granted, you're not going to undo 15 years of inactivity at once, and it may take the cat a while to get started. I would say try a fishing pole type toy--or something stuffed with catnip. Persist, even if she doesn't seem interested at first. But gentle exercise is as good for cats as it is for humans, and some activity will help her to work off some of the extra weight. Not only that, it will probably be good for her general spirits to be a little more active. Don't want to overdo it in a cat that's both elderly and overweight, though. Getting away from tobacco smoke has also probably been good for her. Good for you for wanting to improve her health. Melissa > What I have been doing is using Mite-X on her ears every other day, > and also cleaning the ears with Q-tips dipped in baby oil every other [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > that are like big baby wipes to clean the cat. Those I will use about > once a week. Have a vet check her out if you haven't yet. It may not be mites. My cat, Jeffrey, has been battling an ear infection that looks to me just like mites, but the treatment is actually cleaning twice daily with DRY q-tips. It's getting better slowly but surely. I had assumed it was mites and my vet told me it wasn't and that the mite treatment made the infection worse because of the wet in his ears. Also, my vet told me that the OTC mite treatment is pretty ineffectual. For the dandruff, a better diet might help, as might supplementing with oil. They have oil for the coat to add to the food at the pet store, but plain vegetable or fish oil might be fine, too. Wet food helps the coat if she'll eat it. I *think* some brands even have formulas specifically for cats with dry coats. Let us know how she gets on.  Signature-- ~kaeli~ What, me, normal? http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace > Greetings ~ > > I have my mom's cat (sh was originally my cat) for about a month while mom is recovering from a nasty bout with pneumonia. First, I hope your mother has a speedy recovery and is back on her feet in no time. Your caring for her cat tells a lot about how you feel about Mom. She's lucky to have you, and I hope she'll be okay. > Fatass is an indoor cat, about 15 years old, living in my mom's (a smoker) one-bedroom apartment. I remember Fatass! [snip] > Anyway, I have her for a month, maybe more, and only in the past fewdays in my big house she is showing improvement. Her eyes are brighter, her coat is getting a little better, and the cat seems more alive. Wonderful! > What I have been doing is using Mite-X on her ears every other day, and also cleaning the ears with Q-tips dipped in baby oil every other day. There was tons of ear mite crap in her ears - there is less after 5 days, but it still seems like I am barely making a dent. It sounds like you are doing great things, but I think she needs to see a vet. > I am feeding her mostly dry food (Purina One for old cats) and maybe a tablespoon a day of canned food. Bluesman, I changed my cats to mostly wet (for Buddha, Fatass' kindred spirit in weight, a bit more than half a 3-oz can in the morning and the other half at night, plus maybe a little more from a new can if it looks too skimpy) and she has LOST weight and looks overall healthier, has more energy, has no dandruff, etc. Buddha is a tuxedo so her dandruff shows. Or did when she had it. I also leave maybe one-third a cup of dry down and Buddha rations it herself all day so it lasts. She mainly wants the wet food.\ >(which she barfed up all over my rug > one day.) My cats did this at first because the richness was new and different, but now they rarely do. If you want Fatass healthier, from what I have seen in my two, canned food is the deal. And I don't even use a GOOD canned food, just one they really love. It's worth cleaning up a bit of kitty puke for a week or so. Also, Inow get much more attention since feeding canned. Nobody noticed when I put the dry down, but now at feeding time both cats stare at me as though I am Queen of Cat World and talk to me, and "mrrrrp!" to each other when they hear the can lid zip off, and eat with gusto. I think your Mom might like that! >I made her a window perch to sit on and watch the >birds, let her on the couch with my wife and I while >watching TV (She didn't even run away when I was on >my feet screaming when Mueller drove in Damon > for the winning run last Thurs - the Red Sox fans know >what I am talking about), and she generally seems to >enjoy being in my house. Aww, it sounds great for her! And she can BREATHE, that has to be a plus. > When she starts to clean herself again, I will know I > jumped a big hurdle. I think weight is key there, and you will find good results with canned food. As for how much to feed--when you take Fatass to the vet he will advise you. >Fatass is an indoor cat, about 15 years old, living in my mom's (a >smoker) one-bedroom apartment. She does not clean herself and sheds a >great deal. She also has dandruff and her coat is not in very good >shape. Probably good idea to get the cat to the vet for a senior citizen checkup. She could probably also use a dental cleaning. To lose weight they say to reduce the calories by 5% at first. I'd give her diet cat food and measure the amounts in a measuring cup. I'd throw in some supplements for a healthy coat. You can also brush the coat a few times a day. I have to do this with my cat when it's hot as he really sheds. I use a rat come with finer teeth. I dampen it then I can really get the excess hair out. I would also start exercising the cat, say 20 minutes of playing with a laser mouse or toy on a string. Over the counter mite medications don't really work. Ivermectin is great for ear mites. Sounds like you're doing a great job with that cat. > I have my mom's cat (she was originally > my cat) for about a month while mom is [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > getting a little better, and the cat > seems more alive. Part of her improvement may be from being out of the smoky environment, which can really wreak havoc on a cat's health. > What I have been doing is using Mite-X > on her ears every other day, and also [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > less now after 5 days, but it still > seems like I am barely making a dent. She may not have ear mites, and could have a yeast infection. This issue is not something that can be properly diagnosed at home and your best option would be to take her in for a vet check. While you're there it would be wise to have a full blood work-up done as she is a senior and there could be underlying medical issues that are not visible to the eye. I think this really is a priority considering the poor overall health you've described. >I am also brushing her coat every other > day or so, but the shedding is never [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > a day of canned food. (which she barfed > up all over my rug one day.) That could be a result of her having a hairball she was trying to throw up. Ideally, especially considering that she is obese *and* a senior, switching the cat to a high quality canned food diet fed on a 12 hour schedule would be healthier for her as it is going to be about as close as you can get to what a cat would eat naturally short of feeding raw or catching mice.;-) Not only will she receive a higher water intake which is better for her kidneys and urinary tract health, but canned food is also better for her coat and will help to clear up her dry skin and shedding issues, which in turn will lessen the number of hairballs too. Another good reason to feed canned food is that it is generally less calories per cup than dry, does not have the carbs that dry food has (which a cat does not utilize and will turn to fat) and as a result the cat will lose weight effortlessly. She'll also probably be a lot happier getting a variety of canned foods rather than the same old boring dry food day in and day out. One brand I highly recommend that is also lower in calories than most and has quite a variety of flavors is Wellness. Check out the following website for a lot of good information about why dry food is not a good diet: http://www.catnutrition.org >I made her a > window perch to sit on and watch the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > she generally seems to enjoy being in my > house. I really hope she stays with you. I know your mother likes this cat, but the current condition of this cat is clear evidence that your mother cannot properly care for her. It would not be fair to return the cat to her former environment. > When she starts to clean herself again, > I will know I jumped a big hurdle. That will likely happen once she gets some weight off. > What else can I do for this cat to make > her happier and healthier? She may be > with me permanantly so both short and > long term ideas will be appreciated. Give her the life she deserves to have. It sounds like you've made a good start. Megan Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray Hi Everyone ~ I am the OP, and I wanted to thank all of you for your input. I am switching Fatass to canned food (8am and 8pm) with a bit of dry in the bowl throughout the day to supplement. She loves canned, I just always had the impression that canned = fatter...but the Atkins analogy makes sense, dry is full of carbs, canned full of protien and fat. I am also making an appt for a general checkup, teeth cleaning, and ear check so I can get some effective medication for the freakin' ears, because this Mite-X stuff does nothing. She has taken to playing with the strings from the window blinds. She seems into it - I am going to attach a catnip mouse to a shoestring and go to town. Thanks again, and if there are any other ideas - or vet reccomendations for the Boston area, let me know. later, Bluesman > Hi Everyone ~ > > I am the OP, and I wanted to thank all of you for your input. I am switching Fatass to canned food (8am and 8pm) with a bit of dry in the bowl throughout the day to supplement. She loves canned, I just always had the impression that canned = fatter...but the Atkins analogy makes sense, dry is full of carbs, canned full of protien and fat. This is true. I always thought canned was bad for my cats, and so fed dry. But it appears to be true that in cats, just as in humans, if you give someone something that doesn't really satisfy, they keep eating trying to get that satisfaction from quanitity alone. Buddha got FATTER on Iams dry food for overweight cats, because she ate more of it. > I am also making an appt for a general checkup You're a great guy, taking good care of this girl. We want photos of Fatass! > She has taken to playing with the strings from the window blinds. She seems into it - I am going to attach a catnip mouse to a shoestring and go to town. This will be great exercise. I want to mention that there have been cases of cats getting hung up in window blind cords and asphyxiating--so maybe keep an eye on her and put them up when you're not around. Also, maybe try a lazer pointer. My fat cat goes mad over it, I call her the remote control cat because she runs as hard as she can wherever I point it! It's hilarious, too, which is very good exercise for you! It's kind of like a kitty makeover :) > > Hi Everyone ~ > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > her the remote control cat because she runs as hard as she can wherever I > point it! It's hilarious, too, which is very good exercise for you! Oo. Just a note about window blind strings. Make sure they are not one big loop. If they are, cut them and tie them off to make two. Someone on this group came home to a hung cat one time :( Cat dancers are like 3 bucks at the pet store and very very fun. I bet you would enjoy playing with her with it. Karen > Hi Everyone ~ > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Bluesman >Cat dancers are like 3 bucks at >the pet store and very very fun. I bet you would enjoy playing with her >with it. Agreed. And for some reason ours seemed to "wear out". Jewel and I played with one every nite, then she finally didn't seem too interested in it anymore even though I tried. Not sure why, but I got another one, and she chased it all around like she never saw anything so cool before :-) Teri > Hi Everyone ~ > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > analogy makes sense, dry is full of carbs, canned full of protien and > fat. <snip> > She has taken to playing with the strings from the window blinds. She > seems into it - I am going to attach a catnip mouse to a shoestring > and go to town. > > Bluesman I'm glad to hear you have switched to canned food. Stick with it, even if your cat resists for awhile (which is common...and normal). I once had the same idea you mentioned -- I thought dry food was better for my cats, that it helped clean their teeth, etc. I always provided "quality" dry food, and my cats were healthy. However, there was a world of difference when I changed to Wellness canned food. Holly is a black cat, and dandruff shows up easily. She always had some dandruff -- but suddenly I became aware that her coat was even glossier before and that there was *no dandruff.* She had also put on about a pound of extra weight the previous year (which is a big percentage in a cat); that extra pound came off easily while on a measured diet of Wellness canned, and she has stayed steady at her optimum weight. The difference in Duffy is truly remarkable. When I started, his coat was dull and scruffy; now he has a gorgeous, fluffy coat. However, it is harder to make a true comparison for him because I started all of this at the time I adopted Duffy, and he had been in a cage at the animal shelter for 3 months (and fed anything that was donated). Incidentally, I feed my cats on a 12-hour schedule, or as close to that as possible. I want to add my warnings to what others have said about cords on your window blinds. I suggest that you cut them short enough so they cannot be used as cat toys. Also, do not let string or cords of any sort lie around the house unless you are on the other end of the cord playing with the cat. There are lots of good cat toys that are safe, and cats have been known to strangle in cords. Window cords that make a loop are the most dangerous, but even those that are cut into two lengths can become entangled around the cat's neck or paws. *Please* keep this cat in your own home. It is obvious that your mother cannot provide a good environment for him. Good luck! MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly) http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in") |
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