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Sara | 3 years ago
I Adopted A Feral Cat Just Over A Year Ago. My Elderly Father Was Feeding Him …

I adopted a feral cat just over a year ago. My elderly father was feeding him twice a day for two years. He moved to a condo when my mother passed and the cat sat at the empty house day and night waiting for my Dad to come home. I ended up taking the cat and have worked on taming him. I’ve been making progress but not quite where I can pick him up.
He’s been mostly healthy up until 8 weeks ago. He seemed to be straining to urinate in his litter box and had decreased appetite. I took him to an animal hospital. At this time, I couldn’t touch him. He was anesthetized and examined. His exam and bloodwork were all neg. He was put on a urinary diet and given mirtazipine to stimulate appetite. I was not able to consistently get the stimulate in his ear but he would eat, just not a lot.
Followed up with my vet who said maybe he isn’t that hungry because he doesn’t have to worry about food and just watch his weight.
Weight continued to drop and found out last week he has tapeworms. He got a topical dewormer. Since then, it seems like he’s lost more weight and his lack of appetite is worse. He does eat enough to poop and pee daily.
My vet does house calls only and is coming Thursday. She’s limited in what she can offer for interventions. I am contemplating taking him back to animal hospital for evaluation,
It gets dicey though because he’s not completely tame. When I went with him before I could hear the attending talking to resident on other side of door saying, “he’s feral, what does she expect us to do,” I get that, but to a point. Is it unrealistic for me to want Pinky treated? He’s getting sweeter and sweeter and enjoys being petted.

4 Responses

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  1. Shiria

    Hello,
    No it is absolutely not unrealistic. When we get feral cats at our shelter we try to treat them as best as we can, too. Obviously there are things that you can’t do with feral cats like you can with tame ones. But still we were still able do give daily fluids and feed them with a syringe, when they wouldn’t eat on their own for most of them.

    However for this it helped a lot that they are usually in large crates, as this makes daily handling a lot easier. We place them in pillow cases to feed them or give them fluids. Most stay calm when they can’t see.

    Also, a lot of needed exams can be done under anesthesia. Ultrasound (except heart), xray, bloodwork, urin analysis…
    Not all treatments can be done with ferals, but there sitll is a lot of possible. That also depends on how far you are willing to go, and how stressfull daily handling for him would be. Most, while obviously hating to be forced daily, were still able to build trust after treatment or even with ongoing treatment. However it is helpful to have a second person do to the “bad” things.

  2. Sara Post author

    Thank you for your response. He is currently hospitalized and being ruled out for a brain tumor. He is getting excellent care and the medical team is treating him well.

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!
    I applaud your dedication to this cat. It’s a hard case based on the cats temperament but it sounds like you are doing all you can. I wish you the very best of luck!

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Kristen | 3 years ago
My Sister Is Stuck In Cordova Alaska. Her Pet Cat Got A Blockage In The Urine …

My sister is stuck in Cordova Alaska. Her pet cat got a blockage in the urine and the local vet barely looked at him told her “ either he can be flown out to the emergency vet or be put down. “ she can’t afford to fly herself, the cat, and her 3 kids out to save this poor family member and she is devastated and just crying her eyes out.. is there anything at all she can do to save this poor little guy? She said it’s not in her heart to put him down and is trying home remedies..

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  1. Shiria

    If he is completely blocked and the local vet doesn’t have the possibilities to help him an she dan’t get the cat to an emergency vet…
    as hard as it sounds, putting him down can be the best option, as the death due to a blockage is extremely painful. If he can’t urinate at all his bladder can rupture and in the long run if the bladder is always to full – even when he can urinate a bit, the kidney will fail, too – together with everything that can cause. Pain, dizzyness, nausea…

    There is not something one can do at home with a complete blockage.

    I wish the ebst for your sister and her cat and really hope they can help him.

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Alexandra | 3 years ago
Hi! I Have Two Beloved Cats Who I Rescued About 4 Years Ago At The Age Of 2. …

Hi! I have two beloved cats who I rescued about 4 years ago at the age of 2. They are now 6 (biological brothers) one of them has always been on the more apprehensive side. This problem tends to go in phases but this time it’s lasting longer than usual. During the night time anywhere between 12-4 AM he is just a ball of energy and wants to play and will cry and run back and forth. Before we go to bed at night, I try to play with each of them for about a half hour. Is there anything else I can do? I feel bad that he has all this energy and just looking for love and attention in the middle of the night! I’m worried about when we go on vacation or something or that sorts because we won’t be able to comfort him when he is having these “moments”

Help!

-anxious cat mom

2 Responses

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  1. Laura

    Sounds like a typical cat to me! My old man would do the same in his younger years. As long as you’re making the effort to play with him when you’re both awake, he should be okay.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I agree with Laura. There are lots of things you can add to enrich the time you spend with your cat, and, lots of things you can add to your cats environment to help provide additional play enrichment. Think about toys, rotate and add new ones. Add a bird feeder outside a window. Games. Even teaching your cat how to walk in a leash with a harness r in a stroller. There is no limit to what a cat can learn and where you can go with that.
    Have fun. Literally.

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Michelle | 3 years ago
I Have A One Eyed Cat Who About 1.5 Years Old. He Had His Eye Removed Before …

I have a one eyed cat who about 1.5 years old. He had his eye removed before we adopted him but know he had multiple eye infections that led to the enucleation. He has always sneezed A LOT since we’ve had him and we thought it was likely a side effect from his eye removal. In the last few months, every few weeks a very large pocket of air fills up in area surrounding his eye socket on the side with no eye. The first time it happened our vet was flummoxed when he aspirated it with a needle, expecting fluid but only air came out. Since the first time this happened, the area has continued to refill with air every few weeks. We continually take him in and they remove anywhere from 10-14ccs of air. It doesn’t seem to hurt him or bother him but it gets huge and uncomfortable. We took him to an eye specialist recently who said any exploratory surgery and tests would cost no less than 4k just to start and they had no idea what it could be. Since this doesn’t seem to bother him, are we crazy to think we could try to aspirate his eye at home when it fills up? Has anyone ever come across anything like this? Every vet we talk to has never seen anything like it. Would love any help or advice!

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Well I have to say I haven’t had this experience with any of my patients. So we are in uncharted waters here.
    I suppose the answer is do you have to spend a whole bunch of money to try to find the reason for an issue that doesn’t really seem to be affecting your cat? The answer is both yes, because in my experience it can be really hard to know if this is truly causing your cat discomfort because they hide it so weep that often you don’t realize it was a problem until it’s gone and your cat acts happier. The answer is also no. If you can’t afford what the specialist offers (as many cannot) then it is acceptable to just go on as you have been.
    But my preferred answer is to find another vet who isn’t afraid to do an exploratory surgery and look for a fistula or draining tract that might be the solution to the problem. Keep looking there are vets out there who are very proficient in surgery and might be willing to try.

    Keep me posted. God luck.

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Brittney | 3 years ago
I Went To The Vet And Was Told To Put My Down My 5yr Old Male …

I went to the vet and was told to put my down my 5yr old male cat. He has a partial blockage but i have no money to pay what theyre asking. They said it would cost $2000-$4000 and wouldnt do anything for me besides ask how much money i have and that i have to decide to put him down or not. I just want him to get better and i cant seem to find anyone willing to help at a low cost i can afford.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. Here’s what I would recommend.
    One ask for an itemized invoice. Ask which are option and which are vital to unblocking the cat. Ie can you decline X-rays, bloodwork and possibly transfer to your vets office for monitoring. Ask for this with the vet. Also write down everything they say. If they decline to allow you to decline non vital items ask to speak to the owner or office manager. Again write down everything they say. Explain that you want to provide help to your cat but your budget only allows for the most vital items.
    Also ask if you can be referred to your vets office for care. Call your vet and ask.

    Keep calling and keep asking for help.

    If you do not find anyone to help use the invoice and written statements of your discussions and ask for assistance from your state veterinary board or social media reviews.

    I do think that vets need ti do a much better job of helping people and their pets on the owners terms or just our own. That is why state boards and online reviews are there.

    If all else fails there are documented and published protocols that do not include anesthesia. Some are coccygeal anesthesia blocks, decompression of rhe bladder and at home medications. There is always more than one way to treat an ailment. Remind your vet that you know this and they are obligated to offer you options outside of their way and euthanasia. When the public starts to demand better I think vets will have to start to listen. Further if the tables were turned I don’t know one vet who wouldn’t insist on being given affordable options were they the client.

    Good luck

    Let me know what happens.

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Isacc | 3 years ago
My Cat Is Currently Blocked And Has Been For A Couple Of Days Now. We Already …

My cat is currently blocked and has been for a couple of days now. We already paid for one treatment at a clinic, but the price was at a whopping 1000$, plus some change. Come Monday we sent him back to the clinic to get him to continue his treatment and check-ups; turns out he’s clogged back up again. We cannot afford another grand, or even more considering they mentioned they were gonna hold him for 3-5 days, nor can we afford an ER. What can I do, or where can I go to help my cat who is in current dire need of critical assistance.

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Jessica | 3 years ago
I Have A 12 Year Old Cat Who Developed An Aural Hematoma. He Had Surgery Two Days …

I have a 12 year old cat who developed an aural hematoma. He had surgery two days ago (Friday) to drain the ear and this evening (Sunday), it started to swell up again.

Is this to be expected? He started shaking his head as well and not sure how to prevent him from doing so.

Unfortunately it is late at night and I am not able to reach the vet. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

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megan | 3 years ago
A While Ago My Cat Became Sick, Around The Same Time We Noticed He Had Been …

a while ago my cat became sick, around the same time we noticed he had been leaving our house and stealing cat food from the neighbors who leave it out for other stray cats (therefore he was eating after other cats) his lymph nodes became swollen, he stayed in one spot all day and rarely moved, he wouldn’t eat or drink, and lost weight. We brought him to the vet and they examen him and did x-rays and said that it appears that he could have cancer/a tumor that has spread to his lymph nodes already as well as some other things like fluid/pus in his chest. They said the cancer was very aggressive since it’s already gotten that far and we just noticed it. A few days later his lymph node swelling went away, he started eating and drinking again, and he was acting like himself. We brought him back to the vet and they performed FNA on the tumor which came back inconclusive. They were also shocked that his lymph node? weren’t swollen anymore, and they said the tumor had moved places, and they started to question their diagnosis saying that he could just have an infection. The gave him antibiotics and sent us home. Since then the tumor has gotten bigger and moved places, it feels sort of soft and moves around easily. I’m questioning if this is just a lipoma rather than cancer because of the way it feels and moves, it has also been about 2 months since we very first noticed this, and to me it doesn’t appear or feel to have spread anywhere, his vet was also talking like he wouldn’t live more that a week or two and it’s been 2 months. No one can really come to a definite diagnosis… so if anyone could give advice or help on this i’d appreciate it very much!! (i’ve also included a photo below of the tumor though it’s a litte difficult to tell)

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  1. Laura

    Honestly, I’d be looking for an oncology specialist to determine if it really is a tumor of some sort.

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Maricela | 3 years ago
My Cat Is Going In For A TECA-BO In One Week. I Can’t Stop Crying …

My cat is going in for a TECA-BO in one week. I can’t stop crying because I am so worried for him. Has anyone been through this with their pet? I could really use some positive stories to put my mind at ease. Thanks in advance.

1 Response

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  1. Shiria

    Hello, just saw this :).
    How did the surgery go?
    I only knew one cat that got a TECA on both sides due to chronic changes in his ear canal skin. It was always inflamed and extremely itchy. One side even had a tumor in it. Both surgeries went well, but he had to wear a cone for a while, because he always wanted to sratch.
    After complete healing he was no longer itchy and loved being touched. before that was painful for him.

    I hope your cat heals fine, too!

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Christopher | 3 years ago
I Have An 11-year Old Female Domestic Shorthair Cat (Nala) Who Has Been Very Healthy Until …

I have an 11-year old female domestic shorthair cat (Nala) who has been very healthy until around springtime last year when she started to develop a snorty sound when breathing and rapid sneezing fits. We figured it was maybe allergies at the time, as ours were really bad too. But it kept lingering and we finally asked our vet and he was reluctant to do a full exam on her because of the expense, and he also diagnosed her as having herpes, and prescribed Chlorpheniramine 4mg and Duralactin paste 2.5ml for her. I give her a 1/4 of the pill crushed in her canned food once a day, but the paste makes her sick. I have been giving her the pill for about 3 months now with zero improvement. I have been doing a lot of research, and the closest thing I could find that matches what she is dealing with is a video I found of Dr. Magnifico performing surgery on a cat for a nasal polyp. The description she gave completely matches what Nala sounds like with the snoring sounds when breathing and the constant sounds of trying to clear her throat. She has lost a lot of weight because I think it’s difficult for her to eat a lot but otherwise she acts like nothing is wrong, she is very playful, and also eats (best she can) and drinks normally, and litterbox habits are still great. My question is if this diagnosis sound like it could be correct, and if so, is this something that could possibly be fixed without breaking budget?

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  1. Autumn

    Hi!
    Polyps in our kitty friends are quite common. I am a surgery technician that assists Dr.Magnifico and we have seen and removed more than a handful!

    We have noticed not many vet offices check for polyps and typically it’s what we end up finding. (Not always the case as some cats are chronic upper respiratory forever)
    This surgery is typically not a budget breaker. Please reach out and never be afraid to ask many questions to your veterinarian!, That’s what they are here for ,

  2. Autumn

    Hi!
    We always recommend reaching out to your vet or local shelters and asking about polyps. It is possible to have them removed, however we do see then reoccur in some cases(not all!!) With your cat being 11, your vet may want to dig a little further and see if there is anymore going on.