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Reply Ouch! Kitty First Aid and Ailments
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Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:55 pm


How to Tell There might be Something Wrong


It happens at one point or another when your kitty will get sick or need veterinary attention. Well go over the general signs that are red flags that give you a heads up to take Fluffy to the vet. When in doubt, the vet can disperse any worries. Better to be safe than sorry. Tight on funds? Ask your vet about a payment plan option, or assistance with funding the bill. Discuss this up front before you bring your kitty in so that you can be prepared when something does arise.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:48 pm


The Importance of Poop


Or box habits in general. This is why its important to scoop your cats box EVERY day. You can moniter how much waste is going in and out of the box. The vet will ask you what is normal for your cat. It is your job as the human to keep track of these specifics.

An increase in urination (more than what would be qualified as normal for your cat) is generally a sign of a UTI, kidney failure, or diabetes. Cats who have UTI's often avoid the box due to pain during urination.

If your cat is not defecating, it could mean he has an obstruction or is constipated. Try feeding a few tablespoons of pumpkin to help the cat pass along whatever is blocking him up. If nothing passes in a few days (more than 3) a vet visit is at hand.

Cats generally poop once to twice a day (more depending on what you feed your cat) and urinate generally 2 to 4 times. Please remember that your cat is different and it is up to you to determine what is normal for your feline so that way you can report to the vet any changes with box habits.

*Even outdoor cats should have an indoor box, or outdoor box, or both. That way you can monitor his waste and are able to tell the vet if something is up.*

Punkin Avis
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Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:54 pm


Food Worries


It might be harder to determine in a multicat home who is doing what. Who eats most of the food, who uses what box, etc etc. Scheduled feedings are ideal in a multicat home to ensure that you can moniter how much your cats are eating.

If a cat stops eating, it can be for a number of reasons. Be sure to clear it with your vet that it is medical and not behavioral. A cat that is not eating is a serious problem, for over a period of time, can start to depend on its body fat for resourses and develop kidney failure or fatty liver disease.

A cat that isn't drinking is a MAJOR concern. A cat can last for 2 days without a source of water. A good way to check for dehydration in a cat is to lift on its scruff. Immediate return of skin means the kitty has been drinking. If it goes slowly, your cat may be dehydrated.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:04 pm


Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde


Behavior is often unnoticed by cat owners and passed off as something as "My cats in one of his moods...hell get over it."

Any cat that is not acting in its normal fashion (aggression, extra talkative, in your face, hiding excessively, lethargic) needs to be checked out by a vet. Cats hide their pain very well and its up to us to try to determine if their problem is medical or behavioral. They can't physically tell us that something is wrong and we need to be able to understand the signs if our kitties are ill.

Punkin Avis
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Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:46 pm


Vomiting


Cats will occasionally throw up to dispel the contents of their stomach when they eat something that doesn't agree with them. Be worried if it happens more often and frequently. If your cat has never had a problem and is suddenly regurgitating all over the house, it could be a major problem.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:03 pm


Punkin Avis
Vomiting


Cats will occasionally throw up to dispel the contents of their stomach when they eat something that doesn't agree with them. Be worried if it happens more often and frequently. If your cat has never had a problem and is suddenly regurgitating all over the house, it could be a major problem.

However, puking while/just after eating (a new brand/flavour of food) isn't necessarily cause for concern in regards to "omg my cat puked from eating ___, they must be allergic" kind of way. Sometimes it's just that the new food is so awesomely wonderful that they do what I've started to refer to as the "scarf-and-barf" If kitty does puke up their new food, try again the next day - if they react again, you know not to feed that food anymore, but if they're fine, it was probably just a newness thing.

I've gotten into a 'habit' of really monitoring my cat when I introduce something new - if she's actually gobbling it up right away, after a few minutes I'll disrupt her and prevent her from eating for half a minute or so and repeat another time or two. I also make sure to prepare the banishment room (typically known as the bathroom - preparation just being picking up the floor mats and putting the shower curtain into the tub, basically) incase she does start puking - linoleum is so much easier to clean up than carpet - also move her feeding spot away from the wall so that if she does puke it's not all over that, as well.

~ Aki - Fairy ~
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Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:24 pm


~ Aki - Fairy ~
Good point. Freyja hardly ever throws up so when she puked all over the house and then didnt eat for 4 days, it was cause for concern. She threw up a little bit on Purina, and when I switched her to Halo, but other than that not much of a problem. Well be going to Orijen after were done with Natures Variety Rabbit. I have noticed she went from pooping once a day to twice a day on the NV. :/
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:18 pm


Punkin Avis
~ Aki - Fairy ~
Good point. Freyja hardly ever throws up so when she puked all over the house and then didnt eat for 4 days, it was cause for concern. She threw up a little bit on Purina, and when I switched her to Halo, but other than that not much of a problem. Well be going to Orijen after were done with Natures Variety Rabbit. I have noticed she went from pooping once a day to twice a day on the NV. :/

With Saphi, puke has only been with new flavours of wet - when I first gave her Wellness Shrimp, Lobster & something, and when she first tried Weruva (but the chunks of chicken/turkey in that were huge - I'd been tempted to cut them a bit, but figured maybe having to chew would be good for her... yeah, next time I'll just cut them - being so soup-like, I find the Weruva's hard to split into two meals, as well, so it's not something I'll be buying often anyhow).

Being fed only one meal a day (she doesn't eat until night, unless it's wet and then she'll have a bit when I put it out, so I don't bother splitting her daily serving in two anymore), Saphi only poops once a day, which is nice

~ Aki - Fairy ~
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Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:22 pm


~ Aki - Fairy ~

With Saphi, puke has only been with new flavours of wet - when I first gave her Wellness Shrimp, Lobster & something, and when she first tried Weruva (but the chunks of chicken/turkey in that were huge - I'd been tempted to cut them a bit, but figured maybe having to chew would be good for her... yeah, next time I'll just cut them - being so soup-like, I find the Weruva's hard to split into two meals, as well, so it's not something I'll be buying often anyhow).

Being fed only one meal a day (she doesn't eat until night, unless it's wet and then she'll have a bit when I put it out, so I don't bother splitting her daily serving in two anymore), Saphi only poops once a day, which is nice
Freyja gets a variety of wet food, from Whiskas to Friskies with chunks and gravy. I did notice some little spines in her new Whiskas food the other day (and bones) so I wont be buying that anymore. Its cooked bones so it could be a problem. :/

Freyja gets free fed kibble and she eats about 1/3 cup a day, then about 2 oz of wet food a day, then about 1/8 cup in her treat ball. Which currently is orijen sample poultry to help the food switch go easier. When on Halo, she pooped once a day. Now its twice a day again and the only things that have changed is her kibble food.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:37 pm


Punkin Avis
~ Aki - Fairy ~

With Saphi, puke has only been with new flavours of wet - when I first gave her Wellness Shrimp, Lobster & something, and when she first tried Weruva (but the chunks of chicken/turkey in that were huge - I'd been tempted to cut them a bit, but figured maybe having to chew would be good for her... yeah, next time I'll just cut them - being so soup-like, I find the Weruva's hard to split into two meals, as well, so it's not something I'll be buying often anyhow).

Being fed only one meal a day (she doesn't eat until night, unless it's wet and then she'll have a bit when I put it out, so I don't bother splitting her daily serving in two anymore), Saphi only poops once a day, which is nice
Freyja gets a variety of wet food, from Whiskas to Friskies with chunks and gravy. I did notice some little spines in her new Whiskas food the other day (and bones) so I wont be buying that anymore. Its cooked bones so it could be a problem. :/

Freyja gets free fed kibble and she eats about 1/3 cup a day, then about 2 oz of wet food a day, then about 1/8 cup in her treat ball. Which currently is orijen sample poultry to help the food switch go easier. When on Halo, she pooped once a day. Now its twice a day again and the only things that have changed is her kibble food.

Saphi gets Wellness, BFF, Weruva and Go! The Weruva was new at one of my stores last month. I found those packages of Wellness at my regular store the other day, so picked up a few to try (pretty sure you're the one that said they're chunky, instead of the pate that the canned is)

Saphi also gets 1/3 cup of kibble a day, water added; less kibble on wet days (one can a week). Shame the NV made her poop twice... it's one of those foods on my list to try at some point.

~ Aki - Fairy ~
Crew


Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:41 pm


~ Aki - Fairy ~

Saphi gets Wellness, BFF, Weruva and Go! The Weruva was new at one of my stores last month. I found those packages of Wellness at my regular store the other day, so picked up a few to try (pretty sure you're the one that said they're chunky, instead of the pate that the canned is)

Saphi also gets 1/3 cup of kibble a day, water added; less kibble on wet days (one can a week). Shame the NV made her poop twice... it's one of those foods on my list to try at some point.
Yes, the pouches were the chunked ones. smile Its a pity Freyja quit eating around the time I was trying it out on her. D: It just wouldnt settle on her already upset stomach.

Im not sure if I can pinpoint in on the NV. Shes currently on the rabbit kibble. It could also be her wet food. :/ Her feeding schedules been a little off since my gparents have been out of town. I feed her late, or they forget now, and she either poops in the morning, or right as were going to bed. Sometimes shell poop right after I scoop out the box. stare Just because she can.

I also officially finished my Tidy Cats off today. Im up to half Tidy Cats and half Swheat Scoop. So far, she hasnt minded it in there and I nottice a definate improvment with my allergies.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:45 pm


Punkin Avis
~ Aki - Fairy ~

Saphi gets Wellness, BFF, Weruva and Go! The Weruva was new at one of my stores last month. I found those packages of Wellness at my regular store the other day, so picked up a few to try (pretty sure you're the one that said they're chunky, instead of the pate that the canned is)

Saphi also gets 1/3 cup of kibble a day, water added; less kibble on wet days (one can a week). Shame the NV made her poop twice... it's one of those foods on my list to try at some point.
Yes, the pouches were the chunked ones. smile Its a pity Freyja quit eating around the time I was trying it out on her. D: It just wouldnt settle on her already upset stomach.

Im not sure if I can pinpoint in on the NV. Shes currently on the rabbit kibble. It could also be her wet food. :/ Her feeding schedules been a little off since my gparents have been out of town. I feed her late, or they forget now, and she either poops in the morning, or right as were going to bed. Sometimes shell poop right after I scoop out the box. stare Just because she can.

I also officially finished my Tidy Cats off today. Im up to half Tidy Cats and half Swheat Scoop. So far, she hasnt minded it in there and I nottice a definate improvment with my allergies.

It could definitely just be from the messed up schedule, than.
Improvements in litter are always nice... We're going to try out the pine stuff I got at walmart soon (hoping it works as well as the petland stuff, since it's half the price)

~ Aki - Fairy ~
Crew


Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:51 pm


~ Aki - Fairy ~

It could definitely just be from the messed up schedule, than.
Improvements in litter are always nice... We're going to try out the pine stuff I got at walmart soon (hoping it works as well as the petland stuff, since it's half the price)
Its hard to pinpoint it though since everything kinda fell into place at once. :/

Oooo. Feline Pine? I heard it smells like Christmas. D: Which would kill me. I had to use something smell free, chemical free, dust free, and biodegradeable. Swheat Scoop fit that perfectly and was half the price of WBL. And can be easily found at just about anywhere in my area. Thanks to Mom and Pop Shops, I have a feeling I wont have to go into major petstores anymore, saving on gas.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:03 pm


Punkin Avis
~ Aki - Fairy ~

It could definitely just be from the messed up schedule, than.
Improvements in litter are always nice... We're going to try out the pine stuff I got at walmart soon (hoping it works as well as the petland stuff, since it's half the price)
Its hard to pinpoint it though since everything kinda fell into place at once. :/

Oooo. Feline Pine? I heard it smells like Christmas. D: Which would kill me. I had to use something smell free, chemical free, dust free, and biodegradeable. Swheat Scoop fit that perfectly and was half the price of WBL. And can be easily found at just about anywhere in my area. Thanks to Mom and Pop Shops, I have a feeling I wont have to go into major petstores anymore, saving on gas.

I haven't seen the Feline Pine brand here. Name of the stuff from Petland escapes me, and I just tossed the bag the other day. I've started noticing more pine options all over lately, though, which is nice - Saphi and I so far like it (the Petland stuff isn't that strong of a scent - I get the odd whiff. I don't have allergies or asthma or anything, though, so I don't know how it would affect that.

~ Aki - Fairy ~
Crew


Punkin Avis
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:08 pm


~ Aki - Fairy ~

I haven't seen the Feline Pine brand here. Name of the stuff from Petland escapes me, and I just tossed the bag the other day. I've started noticing more pine options all over lately, though, which is nice - Saphi and I so far like it (the Petland stuff isn't that strong of a scent - I get the odd whiff. I don't have allergies or asthma or anything, though, so I don't know how it would affect that.
All we have pine wise is Feline Pine and some other off brands.....Heres their website

I have sinus problems. D: Any type of smells, weither it be perfumes, deoderants, shampoos, cleaners, etc, cause the onsaught of nosebleeds, stuffiness, itchy eyes and wheezing. sad I also cant use allergy medicine because it dries out my sinuses and makes it worse. So I have to make my place as scent free as possible to prevent the onslaught of sneezing and gasping. I know Cardinal 11 uses the Feline Pine. Im assuming its the same as whatever brand you picked up. :3
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Ouch! Kitty First Aid and Ailments

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