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Tracy | 1 year ago
Hello! I Just Got Back From The Vet With Maizy, By Baby Ginger Kitten Who Is …

Hello! I just got back from the vet with Maizy, by baby ginger kitten who is three months old. I got her as a stray from a feral colony of cats. The vet is concerned about her left ear. He can’t see down her left ear canal. He said it’s jammed packed with black sludge. He gave her medicine for an ear infection, but he isn’t convinced it’s that. He thinks it may be a polyp that grows off her eardrum and will eventually grow all they way up her canal. He said if she was a year or older he would be sure it was that but he has never seen one in a three month old kitten. If that were the case, the options would be euthanasia or complex surgery that goes into her jaw to get to the ear canal to remove it. It would require a specialist vet who would not be around my home town. He said it would cost roughly $4,000-$5,000 (he had a patient go that route a few years ago). I need more information about this. He didn’t give me a name and I was too shocked to ask. Can you help clarify this for me? I was super shocked and didn’t ask many questions.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!

    Thank you for rescuing!

    Kittens bring both the joy of watching a life come to life and the conundrum of not really knowing for sure what is simply a problem due to neglect and what might be a longer term issue that needs medical resolution.

    In my experience almost all of these guys resolve their issues on their own with just simple basic tlc and time. So I wouldn’t worry about this until time and patience decides otherwise.

    I would diligently treat the ear for dirt, mites abs possible infection and follow up with the vet as indicated.

    Cross each bridge as you get to them and not before. Kittens will amaze you every time.

    Good luck.

    Keep us posted.

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Kenna | 1 year ago
Butterfly, Patterned, Itchy, Rash/scab On The Top Of Cats Head …

This cat has had this butterfly, patterned, itchy, rash/scab on the top of her head for the past several months… Please help identify
I’ve had this poor baby in a cage in isolation treating her with Benadryl and with Neosporin and coconut oil and a bunch of stuff and she seems to get a little bit better when she’s in the cage but it’s just not worth it as far as keeping her trapped in there day after day because it doesn’t get all that much better.

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  1. Kenna Post author

    I’m sitting in the dark with no power, and no water bill paid for two months, so I cannot take this cat to the vet regrettably. But I want to help her so much. I am incapacitated physically myself and abandoned by the system so I need to find a solution myself for this cat.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello

    I would be very worried about allergies. Ear mites. And ectoparasites. Please talk to your vet about any and all of these. Also think about revolution plus and an ecollar.

    1. Kenna Post author

      But would any of those things cause this very specific pattern?

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Lilith Broquard | 1 year ago
Hello! I Have A 2.5 Year Old Indoor Cat. At His Last Check-up The Vet Showed Me …

Hello! I have a 2.5 year old indoor cat. At his last check-up the vet showed me that he has red gums and suggested a mouthwash-type liquid (DentiCan) that I apply every day with my fingers (it’s really a spray but I’ve found that dipping my fingers in the liquid and running them over his gums is the only way to apply the product.) I haven’t really noticed any improvement. Is there anything else I can do prevention wise? What might be causing this issue in the first place? None of our other cats have gum issues and they all eat a high quality Hills diet. Thanks for your input!

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Alexandra | 1 year ago
** Cat Who Is Veracious Around Feeding Time Help** Hello! I Have 3 Cats That Are Patients There. …

** cat who is veracious around feeding time help**

Hello! I have 3 cats that are patients there. I have had 2 cats, Blink and Havoc for about 5 years now. They are biological brothers. They have always shared everything and we never really had any problems with food or their weight.

About 2 months ago, we adopted a blind cat, Gemma who is about a year old. Her foster said that she would free feed her at her house and that she never really had any aggression with food. I’m not sure what happened because once we adopted her and brought her back here, she has became very veracious with her food. Our solution now is to feed her the dry food in a separate room (we feed her according to the package instructions) because if we do not, she will race through eating her food so she can start trying to eat the boys food as well.

With wet food, I monitor them and am constantly shooing her away so the boys can finish their food as she always inhales her food super quickly.

When we separate her, she will cry until we open the door and then she comes running full speed to the food bowl.

I’ve never really seen anything like it! She is so sweet and other than that there really is no issues I’m just looking for advice if there is anything I can do to make feeding time not so chaotic.

I want her to feel secure that she will always be fed but I can’t leave food out because I don’t want my other cats to eat hers.

I guess my question is, is this a behavior that can be changed or do we just work with it the way we are now? She seems to have a lot of anxiety around food and I’m sure being blind doesn’t help so I wasn’t sure what else we can do.

Thank you!

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  1. Laura

    In all seriousness, get her bloodwork done. A cat that crazy about food might have a thyroid or other medical issue.

    You’ll probably have to separate to feed for a long while yet. If she starts to calm down about it, maybe you’d be able to try feeding in like…a dog crate, perhaps. In the same room, so she can smell their food. It’s a good test while allowing them the ability to eat their own food peacefully.

    You can also try bowls which only open for the right collar. Amazon sells them, but they are NOT cheap: https://www.amazon.com/Sure-Petcare-SureFlap-Selective-Automatic-Stress-Free/dp/B00O0UIPTY/ref=sr_1_17?crid=O9337BSZVCPE&keywords=cat%2Bautomatic%2Bopen%2Band%2Bclose%2Bbowls&qid=1695900727&sprefix=automatic%2Bopen%2Bcat%2B%2Caps%2C57&sr=8-17&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1

  2. Shiria

    I have those bowls that only open for the right cat. Expensive but so worth it…
    One of mine needs to take medication twice a day but doesn’t take treats and both are very slow eaters. So I either had to seperate them the whole day, or she wasn’t getting her medication.

    As Laura says, get her checked up and if everything is fine, maybe try feeding her more?
    I have learned that kittens and young cats can eat as much as they want, so they can learn that there is always enough food. This way they get calmer with food later on. Also – young cats burn a lot of more energy than older ones. Some can eat more than double the recommended account and still not get fat.
    Also maybe feed more wet food. It has more volume than dry food, while having less calories. this way she feels full faster. You can also add a bit of water for more volume. A friend of mine added special food cellulose for more volume for her cat.

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Jess | 1 year ago
-EMERGENCY- Hello Everyone, I Very Much Need Help. To Preface This I Am Located In Los …

-EMERGENCY-

Hello Everyone,

I very much need help. To preface this I am located in Los Angeles. On August 18-20 I noticed my cat’s behavior change. He started peeing outside his box, and was irritable. When I noticed glitter in his urine and I white pus material I knew from past experience that he had a UTI.
We took him into the vet and set up a urinalysis. While getting the urine sample his litter box behavior’s was erratic. But no more crystals, and I never saw any blood. And he was always able to go to the bathroom.

This past Saturday (9th) I noticed very early in the morning he was going to the box and nothing was happening. He did it twice in a few hours. He also started licking his private areas. I knew from past experience he was likely he was blocked. My mom is a vet in another state so I was able to bring my concerns to her.
We both agreed I needed to be on our vet’s doorstep that morning when they opened.

Long painful story short I took him in and we determined he was blocked. After going through all the options with the vet and his cat dad we were barely able to afford unblocking him. We waited that day hoping they would call us with good news. SO SO HAPPY! He got unblocked and I was able to come get him and bring him home.

They gave us both pain meds and doses for his crystals, every 12 hours and he got them consistently. We switched to only wet food back at the first vet visit. And since the Sat visit he has only gotten prescript for urinary cats (Royal Canine/Hills)

He was fine for a few days, peeing and pooping normally. I was monitoring everything. Then yesterday morning he stopped going to the bathroom again. All day yesterday, nothing.
We waited all day yesterday. His belly is bloated and he’s getting irritable again. He is off the pain meds now, but still mostly laying around.

This time around he doesn’t even try to go to the bathroom. And he has started licking himself again. Thankfully he doesn’t seem to be in pain. He is eating normally.

We could barely afford to have him unblocked the first time, this past Sat. Applying to Carecredit and Fetch both yielded no results. My roommate and I are trying to figure out a way to have him unblocked again. But with the strike and everything things are just so limited. I don’t want to loose him because we can’t afford to help him.

I have reached out to multiple charities and called so many vets. It’s all taking too long, and we know that it will escalate fast. I’m going to call the vet today and see if maybe we can at least drain the urine. Ideally, we can get him drained and I know there’s a procedure they basically snip the end so it won’t happen over and over.

We can we do?!! Please help!! Call me directly, I don’t even care. I just want to help him 619 931 3747

I have included a picture of our dear boy, he’s 7 and 6 months..so almost a senior. This is his first UTI bout. His name is Jerry, and he’s wonderful.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello.

    I’m so sorry to hear about your kitty.

    Where do things stand now. Did you find anyone to help? Is he urinating?

    I have answered this question many times before. You can use the search to see all the previous answers.

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Ted | 1 year ago
Hello Community. I Have A Wonderful 7-YO Spayed Female Snowshoe Named Poppy. Poppy Has Been The …

Hello Community. I have a wonderful 7-YO spayed female snowshoe named Poppy. Poppy has been the picture of perfect health since I first got her with her litter mates. at 7-8 weeks. She is an indoor/outdoor cat who leads an active social life, and has always had a healthy appetite powering her Alpha status in the household of 5 cats. She and her housemates only get the best food possible and carbs were cut out completely about 1.5 years ago. She currently eats Dr Elsey’s wet food (Turkey or Duck/Turkey), Stella & Chewy’s freeze dried raw morsels, along with some lightly roasted chicken meat with a multi-organ/glandular freeze dried blend for added nutrition.

Last week I noticed Poppy had a hard lump on her left hind leg on the outside of the upper thigh about 1 inches below the hip joint and just outside the leg’s leading edge. It is a hard mass about a dime in size, raised and moves with your finger just a little bit. It is under the hide and above the muscle and feels attached to the muscle or sinew tissues. I took her to her vet last week and they attempted to aspirate but got no fluids, and so have recommended surgery to remove the cyst and biopsy the tissue. While I await their cost estimate I got a second quote from a local board-certified surgeon and that came back at $2500-3000 not including any imaging, biopsies or panels.

I am asking if anyone knows what a likely market price is for such a surgery or has recommendations on alternative treatments? Poppy is behaving normally and has had no change in diet or activity, and does not react at all to touching the cyst. The cyst was first noticed about 10 days ago, and I am constantly handling this cat so it has developed very rapidly. I had first thought it must be from a playful bite from one of her wrestling matches with my 2-YO male, but there are not external signs of any such play. Any insight is appreciated. Especially a means to get this cyst removed and biopsied at a price much more reasonable than that already quoted.

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  1. Autumn

    Hello!
    Unfortunately lumps and bumps are a case by case scenario… some may not be worrisome while others seem to change drastically.
    Cost all depends on everything being done and the severity of the case.
    I am glad your kitty is doing everything normal and overall a healthy fur baby.
    Removing lumps can give us answers and hopefully lead us to ways that can help treat.
    Hope this helps some,
    let us know.

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Vanessa | 1 year ago
I Have A 12 Month Old Male Rescue Kitten That In The Past Three Weeks Has Blocked …

I have a 12 month old male rescue kitten that in the past three weeks has blocked twice. We’ve spent thousands to unblock him. The emergency vet hospitals in my area have all quoted me a price of over 8,000 dollars for PU surgery. He is currently not blocked but is having trouble and discomfort while urinating and his volume isn’t great. He’s on a prescription diet and we’ve done everything we can to keep him healthy. But we feel that PU surgery is inevitable and is our only option to save his life. The emergency vet told us that if we couldn’t afford surgery they would euthanize him for us. He’s the sweetest boy and deserves a chance at a long life. We are desperate for help. We would be willing to travel in order to get him what he needs if that’s what it would take. Please help us! We love our little Loki

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,

    Im sorry to hear about your kitty, I get this question/request A LOT!

    It sounds like he is doing well now.

    There are a lot of things you can do to prevent and prepare for any future episodes. You could find an online group to help educate and support you. Or ask to volunteer or work at a cat clinic to help understand how to monitor and care for your cat. Also reach out to your vet for advice.
    Call and ask everyone you know about finding local affordable resources.. If you do please let me know.

    Things to ask about now, to try to prevent future issues are;
    learn how to palpate the bladder at home.
    learn how to giv sq fluids at home
    ask about starting prednisilone
    ask about adding cosequin
    ask about a prescription urinary diet
    have an emergency plan ready
    ask about adding gabapentin (for stress and pain)

    if you need a pu surgery call the clinic and i will do all i can to help

    here are some of my blogs that might help;
    https://kmdvm.blogspot.com/search?q=blocked+cat

    I hope this helps

    keep me posted

    i am trying very hard to help these cases but it will only happen if the public helps me too!

    krista

  2. Vanessa Post author

    Dear Dr. Magnifico,

    First, please let me say a big thank you for getting back to me. We are so grateful for your time and knowledge.

    Yes at this moment Loki is doing ok. Friday evening we became very concerned. He was spending a considerable amount of time in the litterbox and making an awful face as he was trying to urinate. I found a considerable amount of urine mixed with light pink blood Saturday morning on my kitchen floor. So we know at the moment he isn’t blocked.

    I have exhausted a lot of the suggestions you made without much progress or success. None of my local vets will entertain PU surgery as they feel it is too complicated and dangerous.

    Some things we have done at home:
    Feliway diffusers all through my house
    added extra litterboxes
    We started him on prescription science diet food but it has come to our attention that every time he needs more food the emergency vet will need to see him to do a “re-check”. So we put him on non prescription Royal Canin urinary food and have gotten him off almost all dry food and on mostly all wet.
    We got a supplement called Tinkle Tonic.
    We have gabapentin from his hospital stay but they will not give me more.
    I also have a cosequin supplement but want to supplement slowly.

    I’m just bringing you up to speed on the measures we have taken so far.

    I would love to be able to volunteer it would fulfill my heart. But right now I’m a stay at home mom raising daughters! It’s not my season just yet.

    Thanks again for responding!

    Vanessa

  3. Vanessa Post author

    I just read your blog from April 2023 and I’m devastated because this was my exact experience with Loki except I’m nearly 4,000 in the hole. I’m doing everything I can at home and I’m absolutely terrified that he is going to re block and then we will be out of options all because of how much we’ve already spent. I’m crying even as I type this. Because it is absolutely unethical. He’s just a baby…

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Sheena | 1 year ago
Hi, Where Are You Located? My Cat Has Something Wrong With Her Esophagus, I Was Told …

Hi, where are you located? My cat has something wrong with her esophagus, I was told by the vet after I did (X-rays, blood work, urine exam and it was like $1000.00) that I have to go to a specialist and they said they need to put a camera to see what it is and that alone cost $2200.(they said that would be just to look at what is going on and does not include treatment.) I cannot afford it because I live alone. I have two cats and I’m just doing my best, (I just moved as a single young woman by myself with my 2 cats to a new state and just trying my best) if I had the money I would’ve definitely done it right now.

The vet gave me some thing to coat her esophagus(SUCRALFATE) to try to help but I don’t see a difference(she licks her food and coughs & it discourages her from eating but I know she wants to eat) and I don’t know what else to do. I feel so very helpless, I was wondering where you are located, maybe I can get her help,she really needs help right now. Her name is Penelope and I love her.

My email is sheenar2265@gmail.com

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I do not have an endoscope. These are typically only found at a specialty office.
    Has your vet taken an X-ray? At my clinic we sue them and forward them to a radiologist. They are often able to give a diagnosis.

    We are in northern Maryland. Jarrettsville Veterinary Center

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Lisa | 1 year ago
Help Please I’m Stressing Out . Is This Going To Happen Again? He Has Been Peeing …

Help please I’m stressing out . Is this going to happen again? He has been peeing
Playing, eating but I noticed he’s only peeing 1 or twice
A day is that enough? He is drinking water I need to know how to palpatate his stomach ???? I’m not able to afford much more I cannot find a affordable vet in vero beach I’m running out of options ???? I’m going to take him back if I can’t get a solution before he blocks again. I have never dealt with this. I have had female cats .

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It sounds like he is doing well now. And while I realize that you are stressed I don’t think returning him while he is well is in his best interest. There are a lot of things you can do to prevent and prepare for any future episodes. You could find an online group to help educate and support you. Or ask to volunteer or work at a cat clinic to help understand how to monitor and care for your cat. Also reach out to your vet for advice.
    Stressing out and surrendering him don’t help you or his situation. Will a shelter take care of him if he blocks? Have you asked them for help?I have offered to help but surrendering him to me is not the answer either..
    Life is full of challenges. It is in these moments that we decide who we are and who we want to be remembered as. I was once a very poor very young and very desperate cat mom. When I had no one to help me when these kinds of situations happened. I decided I would never be in that position again as I loved my pets more than anything. so I worked for decades to get myself as much animal experience from as many people and places as possible. It took me almost 20 years to become a veterinarian. It was cases like this that made me who I am. I never give up and I never feel like I didn’t have options. I also help everyone I can.
    I wish you both luck and health.
    Sincerely
    Krista.

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Lisa | 1 year ago
Babybear Had His 2nd Blockage Which Now The Cost Is 1,600 I Live In Vero Beach Florida …

Babybear had his 2nd blockage which now the cost is 1,600 I live in Vero beach Florida and these vets are notorious for charging you as much as they can .
Unfortunately it’s gotten me to the point of having to make A difficult decision you see? I adopted baby bear from the pound and I had no idea that male cats were prone. To this urinary blockage.
I only make a little bit of money and if I don’t find Somebody that can treat him for a fair amount of Money. I will have to give him up when I first brought him in. It was 8 o’clock at night and they took a minute and they charge me. I think the first cost was like, almost $300. Just to look at, um, no, no, give me some pills and sent me home. Then at 12 midnight, he just. Started laboring and I had to bring him back. And that was another $600. Which day just put a calendar in relieved to urine? And set me home with some more pain. Medicine and an anti inflammator a month later, it happened again. And I took them to my vet. Thinking that it was going to be a lot more reasonable. Well, that’s not the case at the end of the day. She took a minute, she. You know how to know how to add it to? She, I guess relieved Tim and then church me. I think it was 760 dolland the only medication she gave me was antibiotics which I had to pay for on top of that this has become a real heartbreaking situation. I need help, I need a good vet. I live in Vero Beach, Florida. Help me, I’m baby bear.

2 Responses

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  1. Autumn

    Hello,
    I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Unfortunately, once a kitty has a blockage, we typically see it reoccur in some cases. I would highly suggest that you talk to your vet about a PU surgery (Perineal urethrostomy). It is a surgical method for alleviating a urethral obstruction. We also always recommend switching your cat to a veterinary recommended Urinary diet for the rest of your kitty friends life.
    Hope this helps some!

  2. Autumn

    To add to my original response, I would talk to your vet about fluids and pain meds to do at home. Also, if your kitty will eat wet food, We highly suggest it over dry.