A question for cat lovers...
By paula27661
@paula27661 (15811)
Australia
August 23, 2009 1:42am CST
My thirteen year old shorthair kitty Friday has a habit of vomiting small amounts of clear fluid every second or third day. He is otherwise well, is groomed daily, has Cat Lax for fur balls three times a week, is wormed regularly, his weight is fine and a recent blood test showed no concerns. He has FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) which is managed by a prescription diet and in that respect is doing very well. He has always been a 'vomiter' all his life but these days it is very frequent.
Any cat owners out there have any ideas? My vet suggested steroid injections for Irritable bowel syndrome.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Aug 09
Try to do a search for natural pet remedies that might be available in your country...
Here's some info about FLUTD and use of apple cider vinegar
http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/cystitis.html
There's this natural pet remedy website but don't know if it ships to Australia
http://search.onlynaturalpet.com/search.aspx?st=cat-feline-natural-holistic-healthy-products&avs|Pet+Type=Cats&avs|Health+Condition=Bladder+Problems
Try and see if you can get the equivalent of this product in your country...has cranberry in it..just as cranberry juice is beneficial to people with urinary tract problems it's also good for pets
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Cranberry-Wellness/999157.aspx
Your Friday is a beauty...reminds me of my Pyewacket
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
24 Aug 09
These links are great, thanks Pye! I have saved all three and I'm going to have a good read of them tonight. I know we will get on top of Friday's problem, the trick is to do it as inexpensively as possible (better said than done), the prescription diet alone is over twenty bucks a week just for him and I have another three pets to feed! But enough of my complaining, I chose to have my animals and they are worth every penny even if I have the money owing on my credit card for a while!
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@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
23 Aug 09
This is one thing that I've never been able to figure out is why cats vomit so much when they do and why some cats do it and others don't. I'd go with your vet with the steroid injections for they surely couldn't hurt but please understand this, if you do decide to go this route, remember that steroids make a person or animal VERY hungry so let your cat eat something in between meal times because he'll have an upset stomach if he doesn't have something to coat the steroids. Trust me, I know because I've been on steroids several times due to having lupus and it's no fun! He'll gain a lot of weight with it too and that's no fun either but a fact of life when on steroids.
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@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
24 Aug 09
Thanks for the info. We are on the steroids at present. It is to rule out anything else. The vet is hoping to settle the condition over time so that he does not have to stay on the medication. He has been vomiting more frequently over the last few days and this is to give him some relief over the next 6 weeks or so. I don't like the idea of him being on the steroids permanently and I will be looking at some more natural remedies during that time unless we discover his vomiting is due to something else. Then he probably will require an ultrasound. We will get on top of it, it's just so darn expensive! Thanks for responding and for the advice Cats, I really appreciate it and I will take it on board.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
23 Aug 09
My older cats vomit often, we often give Cat Lax type meds each day especially during shedding times. We also brush each day and I have tried different diets
right now we are doing well, we give a little Wellness brand cat food, this is a human grade canned cat food and I give dry cat food at their choice. Right now I have not FLUTD with these cats and they are free to hunt for voles which they do.
I watch their coats closely and have one cat who's coast will turn dull in a matter of hours if he's got stomach upset. I wouldn't give steroids unless there is no other choice. Remember cats are carnivores and limit the carbs he intakes. Good Luck.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
23 Aug 09
Thanks pat. Friday was vomiting clear fluid a couple of times a week but during the last few days it has been daily and tonight he threw up actual food. I will go back to the vet again tomorrow. I am getting a bit worried about him, at least we know he doesn't have cancer or anything like that because the blood tests were clear. I don't feel so good about the steroids either. I'm hoping it's just an age thing because he is 13 now. I am wondering if I should increase the Cat Lax from 3 times a week to every day perhaps...
Thanks again pat!
