I'm baffled

white cat lover

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
Ms. Damita "I'm always sick & puke on all sorts of foods" went on a hunger strike....again.
I finally just slammed down some Eagle Pack Holisitc Anchovies & whatnot... Stupid cat....it's been 2 days, she's eating great, poops forming up, no blood in her stool, asking for food, no vomiting, & no hairballs. Not one single sign of an allergic reaction. Only downside to this food is that it will likely spike her urine pH back up off the charts. But, she's eating at least....

I thought she was allergic to chicken...the ingredients of the EP read:
Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meals, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat....

What the hoopla is up with this cat!?!?!
Seriously. I've fed her foods with chicken before & it seemed to be the common factor....but now I'm wondering if it's something less common she's allergic to? I really need to get a job so I've got the $$ to pay $100-$200 for allergy testing. Maybe she doesn't really even have allergies!


It says "hypoallergenic", which I did not know until just know when I looked at the website! Thoughts or comments on EP?
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
FIsh is NOT a HYPO allergenic diet FOR MOST CATs .,,I understand it in dogs ( yet I have one who is ALLERGIC to 99% of the fish )... But Damita is the cat version of Gigi so I am not surprised... It could be the AMOUNT of a protein or it may not be a general protein... ie Gigi is allergic to MANY OILS ( that may have a trace of protein )
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Silly question, but could it be something other than allergies? And can they do something similar to a upper and lower GI test in cats?
Maybe something in her digestive tract is off? ...that's certainly sent me on several day hunger strikes, food meant pain.
 

cloud_shade

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
2,807
Purraise
17
Location
Oregon
I've had similar problems with Odo. I thought the fish was what was causing him to throw up certain foods. But he threw up Felidae Chicken and Rice the other day, and he's been sneaking into Willow's fishy foods with no sign of puking. I think they live to confuse us.
 

beandip

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
2,322
Purraise
2
Location
under a pile of cats
That's interesting...I can certainly understand why you're baffled.

So she has itching and numerous digestive issues that all flare up at pretty much the same time? I wonder if it could be some sort of autoimmune disorder. Not that I really know what I'm talking about (I don't!!) but it comes and goes with apparently no relationship to her diet...so what could it be???
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

white cat lover

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
Autoimmune disorder was suggested several times before(& fits). I need to get her back to the vet to discuss what's going on. But, I want to wait until her ringworm clears up. Whenever she has ringworm, she seems to "catch" other things....so I figure the less exposure she has to the unkown, the better!

And her itching/GI issues don't always flare up at the same time, either!

Ophelia had loose stools last night.....so it is possible Ophelia has something & "shared" with Damita, too.
 

catsarebetter

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Messages
2,373
Purraise
2
Location
N. VA
I know some don't advocate this, but have you tried absolute raw, or just like premade raw medallians? I don't remember where I saw this, or I'd go look it up again, but I was just reading the other day that there is some chemical/additive they use in cat food that actually causes an allergy which is commonly thought to be an allergic reaction to something else like the meats. I'll rack my brain and see if I can find the info.. I just don't remember what it is or where I saw it at now.. but if she's not had complete raw yet, that might be the solution. Dunno....

Kahn goes through these phases.. not with pukey belly, but with the, what *do* you think you're feeding me and it was *alot* worse before we started him on raw. He was a feeding nightmare for two years.. wouldn't eat more than a few bites at any sitting, would only eat one thing for a few days max.. wouldn't touch dry...wouldn't eat most types of canned food...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

white cat lover

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
I've never tried straight raw for more than 24 hours.
 

jpawz

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
255
Purraise
1
Location
New England
What about Candida? Yeast overgrowth (candida albicans). Not as common in cats but they are still susceptable

Symptoms include but not limited to:

* Itchy, inflamed skin
* Smelly, itchy ears
* Rubbing the face or muzzle on floors & furniture
* Recurring ear infections
* Frequent eye infections
* Chronic bladder or urinary tract infections
* Persistent respiratory problems (wheezing, coughing, nasal discharge)
* Stinky dog syndrome: smelly skin, bad breath, stinky ears, etc
* Joint pain
* Anxious or nervous behaviors
* Dull or greasy coat & excessive shedding
* Food or environmental allergies and sensitivities
* Chronic gastrointestinal problems (loose stools, gas, IBD)
* Leaky Gut
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Originally Posted by Jpawz

What about Candida? Yeast overgrowth (candida albicans). Not as common in cats but they are still susceptable

Symptoms include but not limited to:

* Itchy, inflamed skin
* Smelly, itchy ears
* Rubbing the face or muzzle on floors & furniture
* Recurring ear infections
* Frequent eye infections
* Chronic bladder or urinary tract infections
* Persistent respiratory problems (wheezing, coughing, nasal discharge)
* Stinky dog syndrome: smelly skin, bad breath, stinky ears, etc
* Joint pain
* Anxious or nervous behaviors
* Dull or greasy coat & excessive shedding
* Food or environmental allergies and sensitivities
* Chronic gastrointestinal problems (loose stools, gas, IBD)
* Leaky Gut
That is likely cept she eats very little grain and or yeast... Oh and any idea how to test a cat for it??
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

white cat lover

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
Originally Posted by sharky

That is likely cept she eats very little grain and or yeast... Oh and any idea how to test a cat for it??
Yes....any idea how to test a cat for it? Because....she has quite a few of those symptoms.....
 

jpawz

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
255
Purraise
1
Location
New England
Gosh I haven't worked in a vet setting for 5 yrs now but I dont' think there is a conclusive test? It might be a diagnosis made by ruling out others (and going with the differentials It's one of those 'zebra' diagnoses....usually found by surprise and by elimination. And CA mimics so many other diagnoses!

Let me get some links (now that I mentioned it I am more curious!)

http://shop.robbinspetcare.com/resources/yeast.html

http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=568&t=

http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/Skin.html

More common in birds than cats, so here is a link that may help (or not!):
http://www.wellvet.com/candida.html

Hmmm...not sure I am being helpful so I will cease and desist. I was more thinking outloud because it does seem to be such a mystery, and a frustrating one for all of you!

The ringworm you mentioned could definitely be a catalyst...somehow lowering either immunities or tolerances?
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Ringworm can actually be a sign that the cat's immune system is low already. Without treatment cats can fight it off after a few weeks... and who knows how much hair loss...

That she keeps getting it or has problems getting rid of it (even with meds) would suggest something else is definitely going on.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

white cat lover

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
OK. I've been Googling "Auto Immune Disorders in Cats" for days now & not coming up with much that all fits togehter. One site contradicts the next.


Does anyone have any realiable info on them?
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
UMM no wish I did ....

You may want to look up a few human sites and then go back to the animal
 

cloud_shade

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
2,807
Purraise
17
Location
Oregon
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

white cat lover

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
She's got hairballs(aka an allergic reaction). I am having an impossible time trying to determine who's poop belongs to who!
Someone still has loose stools, but I dunno if its 'Mita. I fed her some Natural Balance Salmon canned that she loved. She also seems to like the Merrick Cowboy Cookout I believe(the red can).

Her so called "ringworm" is almost 100% healed looking. So, either the meds worked really well, the ringworm is still there, or she never had ringworm. Who knows...but we'll continue the meds for the 30 days. They meds, however, are not making her sick!!


I might book her for a recheck of her urine pH for next week. Just to see if it's going up again or not. But, with all the "tweaking" I've done to her diet...I wouldn't be surprised if it is!
 
Top