Quandry with my 8 year old cat

We just had a brushing session He came to sit beside my computer and kept yowling and nudging me (head bumps) so I brought out the brush and he loved it, got alot of hair off of him.

I like your philosophy about how I should have something highly valuable to him so he starts associating me with happy things and not being nabbed and medication forced down his throat. I'm going to keep some of his favorite treats in my pocket and throughout the day, when he comes to me, I'll hand him one or two of them.

We did have some play time today, but I am out of batteries for the lazer toy, for now. I loved your description of how your three little charges show up at your feet all interested in play, soo cute

My cat's all time favorite food is shrimp. Not sure how we got started on this, but he will literally dive into the frig when I open the door if shrimp is in there and or he will sit and stare at the frig door and yowl until I give him some, lol. He is highly addicted to shrimp and even the noises associated with cooking shrimp he reacts too, hahahaha. I've tried canned food that has shrimp in it but oh noooooooooooo, he has to have the real thing. He won't eat it from a dish either, it has to be thrown on the floor, haha.

Tomorrow will be trying the tuna and his gabapentin and see how that does and hopefully by tomorrow all the laxatone/miralax will have done it's job.

This website has been a lifesaver for me and I can't thank you enough Beth for all your insight and help with this

Thank you. That just brought a big smile to my heart. Once I get the money, I have to seriously go to school for something dealing with pets. Perhaps vet tech or something. Anyways, yes, cats are wonderful. Nina refuses to eat out of a bowl. Has to be on a plate. Small white plates, no. Green plates are out of the question. LOL!

Please keep us updated on your fur kid. I wish you guys the best of luck!


--Beth

That's soo funny about the type of plate and color Nina goes for. Animal behavior, go figure. I am now re-constructing my cat's eating area for him. I noticed that he much prefers to lay down when eating and drinking, so I elevated both his food and water so he doesn't have to bend down and he's finding this acceptable. He goes back and forth between the water fountain and the water in the bathroom. Soo funny when he sits on the bathroom counter and meows loudly to get me to give him fresh tap water, which I hate to give him. He gets filtered water in the water fountain, which I am hoping to get him to graduate to.

I gave him a mixture of pumpkin and Laxatone via syringe and he seemed to like that last evening, but no poop today in the box. So, he will get his daily Miralax (1 tsp) with tuna juice sometime today, soon, hopefully.

Today is day three and finally he pooped in the litter box. Not much but some. Last night I combined 2 tsp's of olive oil with 1 tsp's of Miralax (via syringe) and this morning he got his pumpkin and Laxatone (via syringe) and finally he produced something. At least he hasn't been vomiting which is what happens sometimes before or after and he didn't scoot all over the place this morning. He is much perkier and happy this morning, I guess I would be too if I was that backed up.

I'm worried if he goes this long between poops he may develop what is called Mega Colon and that's oftentimes fatal.

I have an appointment for my cat this upcoming Thursday to see the vet. I'm beginning to think there is more than meets the eye with him. A friend was watching him yesterday and commented how slow he has gotten and he seems depressed. Why didn't I see this? How come it takes someone else to recognize this?

I've tried all the home remedies/better quality food geared for this and it isn't improving his bowel health. So, need to step up a level. In my research I saw two medications. One is Lactulose and Rantidine accompanied with a low residual diet. Anyone go down this road before with this?

I don't have anything to add to the excellent advice and suggestions you've gotten but I'm watching this and hoping he comes around.

Thanks Mike

Things seem to have got a little better and thats good but have you thought of a second opinion if you are able. You never know a diferent set of eyes etc.

Good luck, I will keep watching (Im a TOTAL kitty person thats why Im watching)

I'm so sorry kitty isn't feeling well. I am for medication as a last resort, only...and try herbal and natural means generally. I even have a sweet grass growing in the yard (which I hate) just so Caleb can go chew on some when his stomach is upset for some reason.

I didn't know they were giving that med to cats (doh me) gabapentin! I can't take it myself and feel the same way about it as the cat is reacting.

I say the cat knows best.

Cat just can't speak to you in words, but is surely trying to tell you in cat language.

I'd leave the med alone, and see if there are natural ways to help with the fur balls and other issues. Hopefully the vet will have the solutions you seek for kitty.

Hi JD ~ Thank you for responding to my thread and your supportive words and thoughts

I have been battling my cat's constipation issues over the past year and it got much worse after he contracted Giardia. That was 4 months ago. I had him retested and it cleared his system, after treatment, but the constipation has continued.

I grow grass for him too, along with catnip. He gets 2 tsp's of Miralax in the am and in the pm, he gets 1ml (in a syringe) of combined pumpkin/olive oil/laxatone. He has been on Miralax for the past year and have been gradually increasing it. Over the last week, I added the pm regime. He seems to need the oil as Miralax on it's own is not doing the job.

I am trying to head off Megacolon, which is life threatening, hence why I feel it is time to see the doc.

I much prefer home remedies than medication myself. I have given it a year and due to his age and perhaps his neurological condition is playing a part in this, I need a second opinion. I also want to make sure what I am giving him is not harming him, long term.

He's on Gabapentin, prescribed by his neurologist, due to his neurological disorder he acquired while he had Toxoplasmosis and I was feeding him a raw diet, which I no longer do. Without the Gabapentin, his qualify of life would be very poor. With Gabapentin, he remains calm and his muscular symptoms disappear. What would you choose... medication that dampens down his symptoms to improve his quality of life or let him suffer with the feline muscular hyperthesia? He has a severe case of this syndrome and leads him into sudden flights of panic which can endanger his life. I have taken Gabapentin myself and it did nothing for my migraines, but it is helping my cat's quality of life. I would rather him not be on this drug too, but I am making this choice to improve his quality of life and keep him safe. It's that or put him to sleep. I'm choosing now to keep him alive, but if my vet advocates for a PTS, only then will I have to make a decision. I have taken him off of the Gabapentin over the last two weeks to see if this drug was worsening his constipation and apparently it isn't, but his hyperthesia has returned. So, am starting him back on this drug but not daily, just two times a week to see if this will hold off his symptoms.

Thanks for your kind thoughts JD, will update you when I get back from the vets on Thursday

Citrine ~ Love your nick (it's my birthstone). I am taking him to the vets this Thursday for a second opinion. I have given home remedies and changes in diet a chance over the past year and he is showing more symptoms of constipation and I trying to prevent Megacolon, which is life threatening.

Will keep you posted with the results