Did My Cat Minnie Swallow a Lake, or WHAT???

@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
December 28, 2009 12:21pm CST
Until just recently, she urinated maybe twice a day, pooped about the same, & that was that. Not any more! I can't call my vet 'til after New Year's Day, so I'm hoping someone here can tell me if something is wrong. Here's the current state of affairs: Minnie had a bad rash, at least, that's what the vet said it was. It was purplish red, & she actually bled through it. It was on her belly, & on her foot in back. It looked to me like a bruise, but the vet gave her a cortisone shot & some sticky yellowish gunk in a tube, with which I treated her twice daily. She liked the taste of it, so she licked it. Her "rash" did clear up, & her fur looks very nice, but I began noticing an increased amount of urination. It's still increasing... I use clumping cat litter, Sam's store brand, different from my old Tidy Cat. Now, after just 3 & one half days, I have a trashcan close to full of clumps (around 11 to 15 pounds worth! 8^o)--some as large as 5 inches long, & an inch to 2 inches thick!--of urine balls. (The poop seems not to be increasing, at least. ) These are the only things new. Her diet hasn't changed (dry), but I have to repeatedly refill her water dish--several times a day! So, is this normal? Was her old routine normal? What is normal for the average-sized house cat?? Any ideas, suggestions? Help??? I know only this--it's not hydrophobia! TIA for anything you can do to resolve this mystery! Maggiepie CELEBRATE ALL 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!
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9 responses
spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Definitely do take your cat to the vet as soon as you can Maggie. Of course, there's no way to diagnose her over the internet but excessive thurst and urination are symptoms that need to be looked at. I've also had a cat with diabetes and that's how she started. She was on insulin as well and did fine for several years until she suddenly went downhill quite fast. That's when the vet looked further and discovered that she had cancer which had started in her pancreas and had spread to the point where there was no hope. So, don't let your vet just treat the symptoms...insist on finding the source.
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Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Dec 09
Thanks, hun--I surely will! I do know it's not diabetes, as David checked her for that before he gave her the shot, & she's clear, there. But don't worry, I will get to the bottom of this as soon as the clinic reopens! He's an excellent vet, by the way. People like to say of him that he has "cat magic." I can tell you that there's a loooong waiting list for new clients; he's very popular! His clinic even takes in strays (even squirrels!) & mends them, often keeping the more friendly ones, who lie atop the counter & greet customers. :o) Thanks for being here for my little girl. And I'm sorry you lost your friend. May you always remember her at her best! Maggiepie MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^..^
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Mar 10
Oh our vet is magic! He loves all sorts of animals, & he & his crew have taken in strays & neutered them--even patched up injured squirrels! There's a loooong waiting list (we got in just under the wire!) to see Hyde Park Clinic vets--for excellent reasons! I know exactly what you mean about that soul bond. I don't have it with every animal, even though I've loved them all, but when it happens, it's a real piece of Eden. And when they have to go, I feel as if I've lost a bit of my soul. I hope someday to be joined with them again. Minnie's doing very well, now, begging for her "treat" (canned cat food or canned chicken) when she gets her insulin shot. And at all other times of the day, too! Maggiepie "There really is more unknown (& unknowable) to the Universe than any of us can dream!"
spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
30 Dec 09
I'm glad you have a great vet...having a good vet is just as important in my opinion as having a good doctor for myself. I think I mentioned to you once that I usually notice your discussions because I once had a cat named Maggie...this was her. She was 16 years old when she developed diabetes so her vet assumed it was age related. She was 19 when I had to let her go. She underwent surgery but the cancer was too advanced so they gave me two choices...close her up and we could manage her pain but not the diabetes for the last few weeks of life that she had or put her down while she was still on the table. As hard as it was, I had to let her go. She was more than a pet to me...she looked right into my soul the first time I saw her (and I was only visiting a friend who happened to have new kittens at the time)...and our love for each other was very strong. There was no way I could let her suffer so I let her go. A Seminole Indian friend told me that Maggie was my spirit guide and that her spirit is still with me today. I do hope that your cat is okay.
minx267
@minx267 (15526)
• Hartford, Connecticut
29 Dec 09
How long ago did she get the cortisone shot? Cortisone or steroids will increase the cats drinking and therefore increase her urination. If it wasn't too long ago it may just be the after effects of the shot. However if it's been a while there could be something else going on.. Kidney problems or diabetes. Curious as to what caused that rash in the first place.... hmm? How old is she?
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Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Dec 09
It's been about 2 weeks, now, & she's still sogging out the litter-box! But others here have told me about the cortisone effect, & although I'll ask the vet when he returns, I'm pretty relieved that that's probably all it is. I am sure it's not diabetes. That really spooked me 'til Elic mentioned he'd tested her for that, too, when she was in for the rash. I don't know about the kidneys, of course, but I've seen other cats with that, & they all tended to avoid the litter-box, as they associated the pain with it. I wish I knew what caused the rash, too! As to her age, no idea. I'm guessing she's 4 or 5, but she's a stray. She came to me tame & fixed, so that's all I know. Maybe the vet gave Elic some idea of it. I'll ask. Thanks for the concern, hun! (Oh--btw, Minx, off topic, but, one of my screen names elsewhere is Shamanwolf. Like it? (BEG!) ) Maggiepie (aka Shamanwolf) MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^..^
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Mar 10
I could tell you, but then I'd hafta kill you... Maggiepie "There really is more unknown (& unknowable) to the Universe than any of us can dream!"
minx267
@minx267 (15526)
• Hartford, Connecticut
30 Dec 09
Love the Shamanwolf name.. Hmm - I wonder where you got that from? hehe
Gabs
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
28 Dec 09
Hi there Maggie All I can think of is that the Shot is making the Cat more Thirsty then normal I know when Gissi gets a shot he always drinks a lot more then usual even during the Night or with her licking the cream that could make her Thirsty to Just keep am eye on her and see how she goes, if she acts ok and that then I think it is the Meds If no better after New Year see the Vet
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I stopped giving her the salve, as her rash went away, & shouldn't her shot--given about 12 days ago--have worn off by now? Whatever, yes, I'm definitely keeping a close eye on her, & I will take her to the vet if need be! Thanks for the good advice, Gabs! Maggiepie CELEBRATE ALL 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS! (AND New Year's Day!)
Loverbear
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
29 Dec 09
How long ago did he give her the shot? Also was the yellowish gunk a type of cortisone? The reason I ask is that cortisone is a form of steroids and steroids will cause an increase in appetite and thirst. Since the vet felt that she had a rash the first thing they do is give the animals steroids...which is normal for rashes and controlling itching and whatever is causing the rash. Next, have you recently purchased cat food? Sometimes the machines making the cat food will go haywire and add too much of some sort of ingredient...like salt. I lean more towards steroids. My Mom had to give them to her poodle because the dog was allergic to weeds. The dogs drinking and eating habits went through the roof and she peed and pooped like a race horse (which was something for a toy poodle. The only other time that she peed and pooped like that was when she ate 7 pounds of cat food out of a ten pound bag...and she ate the 7 pounds in less than one night! We were headed out on a trip and we had to pull off the road every thirty minutes for three days so that the darned dog could poop!!!) I will check my cat books and see what it might be, but I am kind of thinking that she was given steroids and is reacting to them. I don't get the feeling that it is hydrophobia. But again I need to check my cat medical books to see if I can find anything out. Will reply asap with what I find.
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Dec 09
As I just told Minx, it was roughly 2 weeks ago, but Elic told me that the stuff can stay in the system for a long time. Guess I'll need to roll my chair out onto a street somewhere & hold up a sign that says, "Will draw your portrait in exchange for a small bag of clumping cat litter," because she's using huge-mungous amounts of the stuff! I'll check out the nano-print on the tube & see what's in it. Who the heck invented such itty fonts?? Probate or insurance lawyers? I did consider the food, but she was eating from the same bag before she went to the vet's, so I'm ruling that out. So, you were previously plagued with prodigious piles of petite poodle poop, you say? (GGG) I think you've sussed it; I think it's the steroids, too. Thanks for looking in your books, hun! (Hmmm...note to self: buy such books!) Maggiepie MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^..^
TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Dec 09
Doesn't sound normal. Can you look up what's in the ointment and see if one of the ingredients causes excess urination?
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Dec 09
That's next on my agenda...if my leakish geezer brain can remember to do so after all these hours of MyBotting! LOL! Thanks, Dawnald, but if you look at the rest of the posts, you'll see I've narrowed it down to a couple of possibilities--both of which won't kill her by January the second, so I'm not in panic mode any more. But I do appreciate your concern! Don't get me wrong! Thank you, dear! Maggiepie MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^..^
katerina
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
28 Dec 09
Hi Mags, I know nothing about cats I'm afraid so can't advise except to suggest it may need a tad more time outdoors in the fresh air. Doesn't your vet leave someone there who can assist?
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Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Dec 09
No, that's not it. She gets plenty of fresh air, either by going out when Elic leaves open my doors to refresh my apartment, or by ducking out between our legs to the Great Outdoors (which, for her safety's sake, I'd rather she didn't when we can't watch her; it's dangerous out there!), or simply by sitting in front of the patio door's screen, watching the world go by. BUT. I did find out that the vet has already checked her for diabetes, & she's free of that, so that's one worry down, at least! I'm thinking it's the cortisone shot. Elic says that will last months. I hope so! Maggiepie MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
29 Mar 10
I don't monitor my cats potty habits that closely but it's possible that she's dehydrated or that the cream she licked up might have made her thirsty and of course, what goes in (water) must come out. As long as she's going, that's a good sign. I'd be worried if she stopped going though. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Mar 10
Three weeks ago, the vet retested her. The shot she'd been given to combat her allergy made her go diabetic. She now sometimes needs insulin. She doesn't mind the injections, though, since she gets a bit of a wet food treat afterward! It's the honey I have to squirt into her mouth when her sugars are low that she hates! Her excessive urination has stoopped, though her, um...solid waste has picked up, of course. And now I'm getting mugged morning noon & night for "treeeeeet, Mommy!!!" Maggiepie "There really is more unknown (& unknowable) to the Universe than any of us can dream!"
ANTIQUELADY
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Maggie, i know nothing about cats but i sure hope yours is alright & gets better soon. Happy new year.
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Thanks, Auntie! But don't feel lonely; Elic says she doesn't even know what it is about, either--& if she doesn't know, the how on earth do the rest of us mere mortals ever figure it out? I need a vet!!! But thanks for the good wishes! And hugs to you! Maggiepie CELEBRATE ALL 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS! (AND New Year's Day! )
jb78000
@jb78000 (15139)
•
28 Dec 09
i am pretty sure that this will be the medication - either the shot or the ointment. it will probably pass fairly soon. the fact that she is eating normally is a really good sign - is her behaviour in other ways normal too? phone the vet when s/he returns if it continues but i suspect there is nothing to worry about. acknowledgments to thea for passing on an animal discussion.
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Dec 09
No, I rarely use the central heating. I've only used it briefly, when I shower, if it's really really cold. So far, despite the sleet & snow & frequent rain (it's dripping now), it's been pretty warm inside my place. Good thing, too, given our "skyrocketing fuel bills!" I found out it's not diabetes, at least. Elic said the vet checked her for that when he gave her the steroid shot. I'm pretty sure now that's the reason. I just hope I can afford to keep her in cat litter; she's loading up the box all day! Maggiepie MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
jb78000
@jb78000 (15139)
•
28 Dec 09
oh and another possibility is that she is becoming more dehydrated than normal due to central heating.
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