My cat literally slashed my mother - Please Help :(

[kkoerner]

You shouldn't be mad at yourself. Him eating WAS important, and sometimes that means feeding whatever he'll eat.
Many people feed Friskies wet food and their cat has no issue. It's the patè style that is best to feed of that food, so if you do want or need to feed him Friskies, it IS ok.

 

[Columbine]

You shouldn't be mad at yourself. Him eating WAS important, and sometimes that means feeding whatever he'll eat.
Many people feed Friskies wet food and their cat has no issue. It's the patè style that is best to feed of that food, so if you do want or need to feed him Friskies, it IS ok.

I'd be very surprised if the food had caused the high blood sugar. You have nothing to beat yourself up about. Just focus on moving forward. You will get through this

 

[grizzlysapien]

Well, @KKoerner  the food chemist said that the whole brand should be off the shelves, cause their ingredients are lame compaired to others, like ProPlan.. I really don't know..

You are right though, about the fact that he HAD to eat, so I should give him whatever he would eat.. 

I gave him the patè Gourmet Gold.. both before and after the surgery.. Now, I've withdrawn from all these "well known" brands, and sticking to English, Swedish and Canadian brands.. Thank God, he is eating like a horse. Except for the Canagan dryfood.. He eats when I offer him nothing else to eat. And it is vital for him to eat the certain food..

Today he is even better.. He runs, he makes - what I call - his "Cirque De Soleil tricks" all around the house. My mom came back from work and he was there to welcome her.. Thank God my mom, was a lot calmer...

Last night we had a rather funny incident but it was a bit risky..

A cockroach sneaked into my room.. I'm guessing I left the mosquito net open at some point.. Anyway, it FLEW around my room.. I got Grizzly out to the balcony, but he could still see in the room through the window..

I went to my mom's room and asked her to come and kill the cockroach.. 

 I cannot do this mysefl! So, there we were, 2 grown women jumping around like crazy, on and off my bed, with flip flops launched in the air to get the cockroach 

 

 

 I made a stupid move and hit the cockroach in the air, sending it ... God knows where! LOL We lost it.. But after all that locomotion, Grizzly was frightened again and started getting into that aggressive mode.. AGAIN.. Thankfuly, he was out in the balcony, so he couldn't harm us, but had he been in the room with us? We would definitely have ANOTHER incident.

As soon as I saw that, I showed him to my mom and told her "see? this is how he looks when he's afraid.. was he like that last week?" and she said "yes".. So, I explained her AGAIN that this wasn't HER fault or HIS fault.. It's just that, cats interpret things differently. He saw us screaming and yelling "get it! get it!" like crazy.. so, he got scared. I  then, started to speak calmly and in a sweet way to him, so to relax him.. He gradually relaxed and within 5-10 mins he was OK again.. Of course, my mom  had "flown" back to her room by then 

 and she didn't have the chance to see it.

@Columbine  I hear what you  say. I know I wouldn't have done anything on purpose.. But just to be on the safe side, I will discuss it with the vet and also get a 2nd opinion. I suspect high glucose couldn't have been ONLY by the food, but maybe the food, caused some damage.. I applied the deworming drug yesterday and I've been feeding him the proper food. So in 2 days, we'll know.. Until then..? Fingers crossed!! 

 

 

[kkoerner]

Oh I'm glad your mom got to see what "afraid" looks like and compare it to the other night! I wish she had been able to see how easy it was to calm him down, but it still sounds like progress on her part too!

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

**Oh! Sometimes when I cook steamed chicken or turkey, I side it with Basmati rice, peas, carrots and potatos (all steamed as well) - he eats them too (in smaller proportion than the protein). Also, I never add anything for flavour, cause steaming really "highlights" the natural flavour of the meat and the rest of the ingredients. So, no salt or spices in there. Not even oil/butter.

***@KKoerner
! I forgot to mention it: His glucose index was 250, when it should be between 70-120 :shame:

It's not unusual for cats to get stress-induced hyperglycemia simply from having to go in to the vet. A cat's blood glucose can shoot up to even 300-400 mg/dL during a vet visit. The thing is, a blood glucose reading is just a snapshot in time... and a single reading should never be used to diagnose diabetes. A proper blood glucose curve is needed to help diagnose diabetes, plus you need some other physical symptoms and test results to aid in that diagnosis.

I would not worry too much about the "snapshots in time" of Grizzly's blood glucose at a vet visit ... it's also important to note that (from reading this thread!), I see that Grizzly has had some stressful times lately!

Your vet will know what to test further if you want to look into the possibility of diabetes... but, having had a diabetic cat for four years before I lost her last year, it does not sound to me like Grizzly's blood sugar is not explainable by stress-induced high blood sugar.

Best wishes!

 

[grizzlysapien]

Oh I'm glad your mom got to see what "afraid" looks like and compare it to the other night! I wish she had been able to see how easy it was to calm him down, but it still sounds like progress on her part too!

Yes @KKoerner! She is a lot calmer since last night! After I wrote my previous post, she was more than willing to sit in the balcony with Grizzly and me.. Althgouh, Grizzly napped during the whole time.. Not good for PR! LOL But anyway, the good thing is that there has been some progress and makes the stress go away, little by little. 

It's not unusual for cats to get stress-induced hyperglycemia simply from having to go in to the vet. A cat's blood glucose can shoot up to even 300-400 mg/dL during a vet visit. The thing is, a blood glucose reading is just a snapshot in time... and a single reading should never be used to diagnose diabetes. A proper blood glucose curve is needed to help diagnose diabetes, plus you need some other physical symptoms and test results to aid in that diagnosis.

I would not worry too much about the "snapshots in time" of Grizzly's blood glucose at a vet visit ... it's also important to note that (from reading this thread!), I see that Grizzly has had some stressful times lately!

Your vet will know what to test further if you want to look into the possibility of diabetes... but, having had a diabetic cat for four years before I lost her last year, it does not sound to me like Grizzly's blood sugar is not explainable by stress-induced high blood sugar.

Best wishes!

@PushPurrCatPaws  thanks for joining! 

The vet did mention that high glucose is something that we should worry about after Grizzly has been dewormed again. Last deworming was 4 months ago. She said that worms might cause high glucose. But what worries me, personally, is that high glucose has triggered other indexes to rise as well.. Can this be caused by stress, too? Or is there some other underlying issue? She also warned me that it might be nothing at all.. But it's worth looking into.

She said that if after deworming the glucose is still up, we'll need to look at it more closely. Tomorrow morning, I'll give her a call, so to arrange when to take Grizzly there.. The bad thing is that visiting the vet is always stressful for Grizzly and I have the previous vet to thank for that 

 His assistant was terrified of Grizzly, when he was just 5 months old.. Go figure.. So, she treated him rather firmly and Grizzly got REALLY anxious from that point after.. So, the previous vet recommended me to start taking him to another vet, that might get along better with Grizzly. The current vet, has her way with animals. She generaly takes on difficult cases, with mainly strays and outdoor cats and dogs. So, she's kind of a trooper on this.. That's why she handles Grizzly more efficiently into showing him "who's the bigger cat".. 

So, my question is: could glucose index get high again due to his stress by visiting the vet? and in such short time period? If stress causes the glucose to rise, we'll never be able to see the real indexes! It has been one of my concerns these last few days..

 

[Columbine]

So great that your mom got to see Grizzly's fear response without being in danger. Understanding an animal's motivation can make an enormous difference to confidence levels when handling them.

With food brands - some of the German brands are really good too - mine love Catz Finefood and it's reasonably priced too. One to consider for the 'I'm not eating' emergencies is Thrive Complete - not cheap, but seems to be 'kitty crack'...in this house anyway It's one of the purest brands I've come across too, and is definitely 'purrfood'!

 

[handsome kitty]

@GrizzlySapien   I noticed you had no dancing bananas on your own thread.

 

[kskatt]

 
Well, @KKoerner  the food chemist said that the whole brand should be off the shelves, cause their ingredients are lame compaired to others, like ProPlan.. I really don't know..

You are right though, about the fact that he HAD to eat, so I should give him whatever he would eat.. 

I've been following your thread with much interest. So hoping you can find a solution for Grizzly. I feel so sorry for all of you, it has to be so frustrating! Easy to understand your mother's fear, it is much like PTSD. What she went through was very traumatic!

I got very interested in your discussion on food. It is awesome to hear advise from a food chemist! I must admit getting confused, in post #80 you said the chemist said not to use anything by Purina. Then, in the post quoted above; "whole brand should be off the shelves". Are you referring to Friskies or Purina? "their ingredients are lame compared to others, like ProPlan. ProPlan is a Purina product.
I am trying to feed my crowd as good a food as I can afford. Fourteen cats eat a lot!

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

. . .

So, my question is: could glucose index get high again due to his stress by visiting the vet? ...

Yes.

. . .

So, my question is: ... and in such short time period?...

Yes, absolutely.

. . .

So, my question is: ... If stress causes the glucose to rise, we'll never be able to see the real indexes! It has been one of my concerns these last few days..

Yes, indeed, this is what is hard about blood glucose, stress-induced hyperglycemia, and diagnosing diabetes.

Knowing if a cat is prone to getting highly terrified at a vet already lets one know that a higher BG reading is to be expected.

If you want to delve further into possible diabetes, a blood curve test needs to be done, testing the cat's blood glucose over a 12+ hour period, at the least. Usually the blood sugar is checked every 2-4 hours during this "blood curve testing". A sort of graph is made of the rise and fall of the blood sugar for the time period. (Even then, this blood curve is a sort of "snapshot in time" as well, just like a single, one-time glucose reading - sigh... because the whole episode is causing stress to the kitty.)

Usually a cat is housed at the vet for the entire time, and practiced vet techs or the vet him- or herself will do the blood sugar tests throughout the 12-hour curve.

A blood curve (which gives a more general idea of the rise and fall of the cat's blood sugar before eating/ just after eating, and about 8 hours after eating, etc.) will be used in conjunction with urine testing, fructosamine testing, the blood panel results, any behavioral symptoms your cat is showing, etc. to help diagnose diabetes.

 

[nansiludie]

I've read over the thread. I feed my kitties canned friskies pate food. I will tell you dry food is far worse than any canned food. First off it is dry and lacking water, secondly, it is high in carbs, any dry is high in carbs given they are dry kibbles. Here is a link to Dr. Pierson's blog. I do hope little Grizzly does not have any diabetes, with the fasting sugar that high, I am concerned how high it would be with him having been fed. I am glad that your Mother and Grizzly are getting along again.

 

[grizzlysapien]

Today I gave him Canagan again along with Simpson's Premium, specifically this one:

chicken salmon shrimp-500x500.jpg

• grizzlysapien
• Aug 2, 2015

(Sorry for the large thumbnails, but I wanted you guys to be able to see the products and read clearly the details)

Also, I do need a high callory food for Grizzly these days, since (as I have mentioned) he has lost weight. So the dryfood I've selected to help him gain weight healthily, is Canagan Free Run Chicken, which is this one:

catchicken.png

• grizzlysapien
• Aug 2, 2015

About Dryfood vs Wetfood, I must say that initially, I was against dryfood. But all the vets I had talked to, recommended dryfood. I still disagreed. Grizzly at first was all about wetfood. He wouldn't eat dryfood. The vet insisted I had to start him on dryfood. I couldn't make it happen. Grizzly would just reject it and went away. He was 3-4 months old back then and I was afraid that if he didn't eat, he would have development issues.. One day he started vomiting.. real good! The vet strongly recommended for Grizzly to quit all wetfood and start eating dryfood. So, I had to not let him eat for at least 8 hours straight. Then I took my chance and gave him dryfood. That was it. He took it!

After a while, he started drinking water.. He didn't drink that much water before.. And then, his hair begun to look better. He was more active, more playful.. More everything "positive".. So, I'm thinking, a combination of dry and wet food? could be more ideal. And I'm saying that from MY experience on the CERTAIN cat. Of course, as I wrote in a previous post (the one I describe what I feed him), he eats other things as well.. Coming to think of it, he almost ate my mother! 

 

[Columbine]

Yes, wet food and canned food are the same thing. My guys love the nature's menu too. They've just launched 4 new flavours of pouches in their 'Country Hunter' section I'll be trying them out as soon as I can get them.

A lot of people find a wet and dry combo works best for them and their cats. The Canagan is a decent dry too.

 

[siamiam2]

Just sos ya don't feel so bad Grizzly? I got my head slashed when my child wanted to stay outside. It'd been a loong winter. I want her inside and we stick to a schedule but after the cold passed I got scared to let her go out. In truth I deserved it and she was sooooo sorry. I know your situation is very different but just thought I'd share. As for a cage? We're against those. Annabel only knows cages at the vet. She has never swiped me again. Never would and as I said? We stick to a schedule. Only certain times are for outside. Sorry to hear about your dad hope he feels better. I guess Siamese are easier than some other cats but if I can reiterate? It's love and giving your cat attention that makes a happy cat. Does your cat have issues with your mother? Talk it out with her and see or feel it out with her. On...one more thing? Boundaries. Annabel will never go far from home and lets me know or I ask her how she feels. Again, IIno every day is a Siamese but every cat should be heard. Just what's going on there?

 

[grizzlysapien]

Yes, wet food and canned food are the same thing. My guys love the nature's menu too. They've just launched 4 new flavours of pouches in their 'Country Hunter' section

I'll be trying them out as soon as I can get them.

A lot of people find a wet and dry combo works best for them and their cats. The Canagan is a decent dry too.

@Columbine  I haven't had the chance to get my hands on the new flavours of Nature's Menu. But I will ask for them at the local pet shop, where I get the other foods as well. Canagan is decent, indeed. It just takes longer for Grizzly to get used to it. For example, Hill's and Nutram? He's just fine as soon as I put it in the bowl. Canagan? He turns away the first few times (even if he is hungry), but starts eating it later. By the 2nd day he's totally fine.. I also use Akana sometimes and another brand, whose name slips my mind right now. I only remember what the package looks like 

Just sos ya don't feel so bad Grizzly? I got my head slashed when my child wanted to stay outside. It'd been a loong winter. I want her inside and we stick to a schedule but after the cold passed I got scared to let her go out. In truth I deserved it and she was sooooo sorry. I know your situation is very different but just thought I'd share. As for a cage? We're against those. Annabel only knows cages at the vet. She has never swiped me again. Never would and as I said? We stick to a schedule. Only certain times are for outside. Sorry to hear about your dad hope he feels better. I guess Siamese are easier than some other cats but if I can reiterate? It's love and giving your cat attention that makes a happy cat. Does your cat have issues with your mother? Talk it out with her and see or feel it out with her. On...one more thing? Boundaries. Annabel will never go far from home and lets me know or I ask her how she feels. Again, IIno every day is a Siamese but every cat should be heard. Just what's going on there?

Hi @siamiam2  and thanks for joining.

I am not sure I follow what you are saying to me..? As I said many times, I am Greek, so my English might not be so good. I think you're using a "slang" type of English on your post above, and I'm not sure I understand completely what you say 

 Not your fault! I'm assuming your cat hurt your head when she wanted to go out, and you didn't want her to? And you stick to a schedule to avoid it from happening again?

I agree that a cat and every animal we keep in our homes, needs attention, love and care. Grizzly does have all of that. And no, there are no prior issues between my mom and Grizzly. On the contrary, they're "besties" 

 I also don't let Grizzly out at all. He is 100% indoor cat. I don't live in the suburbs or any area where it might have been safer for Grizzly to go out. I live in an appartment and there is a lot of traffic going on in the streets surrounding my home. So, letting Grizzly out, is a "no-no" option. 

I hope I answered properly.

 

[siamiam2]

Thanks for the reply Grizzly. No, its not that I wasn't allowing her to go out its that I was scared to. I was supposed to have her from kittenhood and it didn't turn out that way. I got here back after age one. Missed her first birthday by a few months. We have a strong bond and I'm super overprotective. Glad to see your mom and cat get along. I believe in fresh air which is why I let Annabel go out when she can. I never heard of the cat food you mention in the thread. Greek? They have Iams here which I hope to be able to afford soon. She has lots of allergies. Yes slashed iis slang. See also: slashed prices or cut prices to make them lower. Same term used differently. She has her claws I would never take those from her. It's really nice to have human to human contact,I've been forcibly isolated for decades with little else so thank you for responding to me.

 

[grizzlysapien]

Thanks for the reply Grizzly. No, its not that I wasn't allowing her to go out its that I was scared to. I was supposed to have her from kittenhood and it didn't turn out that way. I got here back after age one. Missed her first birthday by a few months. We have a strong bond and I'm super overprotective. Glad to see your mom and cat get along. I believe in fresh air which is why I let Annabel go out when she can. I never heard of the cat food you mention in the thread. Greek? They have Iams here which I hope to be able to afford soon. She has lots of allergies. Yes slashed iis slang. See also: slashed prices or cut prices to make them lower. Same term used differently. She has her claws I would never take those from her. It's really nice to have human to human contact,I've been forcibly isolated for decades with little else so thank you for responding to me.

I can undesrtand why you are super protective of her. Especially since things didn't turn out to be like you wished - be there for her kittenhood etc. But your bond cannot be overridden by anyone or anything! 

If you mean the Canagan dryfood, no, it's not Greek. It's English. It may be sold where you live. Actually, I don't think there are Greek brands on petfood that are respectable enough to buy! 

 There are a couple, which are really cheep, so.. I don't even go near them, cause God knows what's in them! LOL I'm talking about 0,90 euros for a 400gr canned food.. That can't be a good quality food..

And I totally agree with you on the declawing matter.. I've heard people doing that..! It's totally inhumane and they leave their cats defenceless in case something bad happens. They cannot defend themselves against a cruel human or another animal attacking them. Awful!

I hope your forced isolation - for whatever reason it happened - comes to an end soon or has it already? So, you can be with Annabel and watch her grow, as you deserve it 

 

 

 

[Columbine]

Just checking in. How're you all doing/healing now?

 

[grizzlysapien]

Heeeyyy, @Columbine  ! 

It's been another hectic week!

We went to a different doctor for my mom, cause she started having pains that she shouldn't have and we got worried. So, it was good we got worried, cause the stitches caused problems after all. The surgeon told us that the 1st surgeon shouldn't have stitched her AT ALL, because it caused a serious infection and instead of healing propely, the wound came to be actually a bit worse in some spots.. The infection caused some tissues to "die", so, the dead tissues, had to be removed and a small crater was left in the dead tissues' place 

The best way to deal with wounds like that is to leave them as they are, sterilize them with peroxide of hydrogen + Betadine, covering them with sterilized gauzes and leave them to extract any fluids or pus that might have to get out.. The stitches kept all that in.. So, this caused some tissues to "fail".. Now, we're like 10 days behind on my mom's wounds to heal, which is devastating.. I have to clean that "crater" everyday for her and remove any dead tissues left.. This procedure, as you can imagine, is too painful.. But needs to be done.. The 2nd surgeon will see her tomorrow for a follow up.. 

My dad, keeps having tests but I believe, we've found the problem and it is manageable, after all.. 

With all that fuss, I haven't been able to take Grizzly to the vet for his follow up... Thankfuly, he eats well, plays around, he's gotten fisty again..! So, I am hoping I will be able to take him to the vet next week.. I kinda want to see if the nutrition I've put him up to, is working so to gain some weight and drop the glucose index.. So, I guess that taking him next week to the vet, will actually be a better idea.. 

 

[Columbine]

Oh my god! Your poor mom!!! I'm so, so glad you found a doctor who knew what to do before the damage got any worse. I can't imaging how painful that wound clean out must be I really hope everything heals properly and quickly now

Great news that Grizzly's back to his normal self The more I think about it, the more I think the high glucose levels must have been stress related. :cross: that all's as it should be at his follow up appointment.

Hang in there - you're doing amazingly :nod: I'd be a total mess if I were in your shoes