Need some advice

angi

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Hi everyone,

I have a cat that is about 2 years old. We got her in December. She's a big girl, my guess is around 13 lbs. Lately, she seems to be having troubles cleaning her rear end. I've noticed the last 3 days or so, that she has soft stools, & they are somewhat lighter than usual, a more yellow tone. The only thing I can think of for the soft stools, is we changed her cat food. That was about a week & a half ago. All I noticed, was it had a bit more protein/fat, & it contains wheat, where her normal food didn't. This is dry food BTW. After she goes to the litter box, it seems that some of it sticks to her a little bit too, & it's sometimes found on the floor later. I've been trying to gently hold her down to clean it, but she's not having that at all & I don't want to hurt her. The area also looks like some of the fur is gone, & it's red & raw. I did give her a bath 4 days ago, because I noticed she smelled like urine (which she never has before), but it didn't seem to help.

Unfortunately, we don't have the funds right now to take her to the vet.

Does this sound like a very serious situation? I'm very worried, I don't want her to be going through some horrible thing.


Anyone have any advice about this?

Thanks.
 

icklemiss21

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Welcome to TCS
Changing her diet (especially if it is a dry food) can cause some tummy upsets, did you gradually switch by mixing her old food with new or just give her the new food, because mixing them usually helps.

If she is having problems cleaning, she really needs to lose some weight, try to get her to play for a decent amount of time each day, if you have stairs, make her climb up them by putting food downstairs and the litter upstairs (or the other way around) and only feed her what she NEEDS to be fed (usually around 30 cals per lb of cat for maintenance, but you should at least call and speak to a vet about a diet as it varies according to how much they exercise and their body type and other illnesses etc)

If you really can't take her to the vet, I suggest switching back to the original food that she seemed to be doing ok on, the red and raw look could be from the runny poops / intestinal problems, but if it carries on, I would try to find a way to get her to the vet
 
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angi

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Originally Posted by icklemiss21

Welcome to TCS
Changing her diet (especially if it is a dry food) can cause some tummy upsets, did you gradually switch by mixing her old food with new or just give her the new food, because mixing them usually helps.

If she is having problems cleaning, she really needs to lose some weight, try to get her to play for a decent amount of time each day, if you have stairs, make her climb up them by putting food downstairs and the litter upstairs (or the other way around) and only feed her what she NEEDS to be fed (usually around 30 cals per lb of cat for maintenance, but you should at least call and speak to a vet about a diet as it varies according to how much they exercise and their body type and other illnesses etc)

If you really can't take her to the vet, I suggest switching back to the original food that she seemed to be doing ok on, the red and raw look could be from the runny poops / intestinal problems, but if it carries on, I would try to find a way to get her to the vet
Thank you icklemiss!


Her food was mixed, but I think that it was more of the new food than the old.

I have been trying to play with her a little more. I sit on the floor, & watch her run around me, chasing a ball on a string.
I actually don't do it too long though, because she seems to stop after only a few minutes, & I didn't want her to have a heart attack or something...which I don't even really know if that's a threat or not.

The stair idea sounds great, but we don't have any stairs. I'll just keep trying the string.

I will get food situation straightened out, & if it persists, I'll try my best to find a way to get enough money to take her to a vet.

About the red/raw area, I was wondering if there would be something I could put in a bath for her, to soothe it. She will take baths, she doesn't mind the water, she just doesn't like the confined area. I thought maybe epsom salt? But that may harm her.


Thank you very much icklemiss for your reply!
 

missk

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When you switch to a new food you should mix it with the old and gradually fade into the new food. If you just switch it the cat will get diarrhea or perhaps soft stool. The redness concerns me. If your cat is not better by now you should go to the vet.
 

beandip

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Has she been scooting on the floor after she poops? The soft stools can cause some issues with the anal glands (they don't empty like they should). Then kitty rubs their butt on the floor because of the full glands and then it gets more and more sore.
Firm stools will normally keep the glands expressed so the cat won't scoot.
 
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angi

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Originally Posted by missK

When you switch to a new food you should mix it with the old and gradually fade into the new food. If you just switch it the cat will get diarrhea or perhaps soft stool. The redness concerns me. If your cat is not better by now you should go to the vet.
I did mix it somewhat, but I guess it wasn't enough. Her new food is the same colour as her stool, so that's probably it. I think I will take her off of it.

& believe me, if I had the money to take her to the vet, I would have by now. I just don't have it though.



Beandip, she did scoot once, after the first day she had softer stools. She had a little stuck to her, & I think she was trying to get it off. That's the only time she has.

Thanks for your replies everyone!
 
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angi

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Hi again everyone.

Roxy has developed diarrhea now & I'm very worried. I know I should take her to the vet, but that's just not an option right now.
I don't want her to become dehydrated or something, anyone know what I can do? I feel so terrible. I had to follow her around earlier & wipe her bum, I nearly cried because I could tell she was really upset.
I've looked a few things up online, & saw that I can give her shredded chicken, or low-fat yogurt to help with the diarrhea...anyone know if this is ok or if it works??
 

mcat

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You could try some canned pumpkin, not pie filling, if she'll eat it. It might help the diarrhea. Also Pediatlyte so she gets nutrients and help with dehydration. I hope you can get her to a vet.
 
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angi

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Originally Posted by Mcat

You could try some canned pumpkin, not pie filling, if she'll eat it. It might help the diarrhea. Also Pediatlyte so she gets nutrients and help with dehydration. I hope you can get her to a vet.
If Pedialyte is safe for her, I could try it.

I just gave her a soak in the tub, to try & soothe her backside a bit. I think she may need one of those "lamp shades" so she can't keep licking the area every 5 seconds & make it more irritated.

Thanks Mcat.
 

beandip

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Have you switched back to her old food?

Pedialyte is safe. On the yogurt, I was told NOT low-fat, i.e get the "regular" yogurt.

I hope she feels better soon.
 
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angi

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Originally Posted by beandip

Have you switched back to her old food?

Pedialyte is safe. On the yogurt, I was told NOT low-fat, i.e get the "regular" yogurt.

I hope she feels better soon.
Yes, she's back to her normal food. I actually went through the mixed food, sorted it, so she only has what she originally had. I have given her a bit of wet food today & yesterday, but maybe that's not a good idea, or would it help her to stay hydrated better??


Thanks, I'll try to get some Pedialyte soon.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions.
But is there anything safe to put on her back end? It's raw from her continuous licking, & I wish I had something to soothe it.

I appreciate everyone's help very much, thank you all.
 
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angi

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A little update...

Roxy doesn't have the soft stool or diarrhea anymore.
We did get a cone, & put it on her around 7:30 PST Saturday night. (It's now around 5 AM Monday here) We've been taking it off for a little bit since, & she goes to eat. She hasn't eaten much with it on though, & she hasn't gone to the bathroom much either. She actually only peed once & only had one bowel movement within 24 hours...though she hadn't eaten much during that time.

Just taking it day by day, hoping that everything is alright with her.

Oh, & since we put the cone on & she couldn't lick her backside, it's not raw & red anymore, so we're happy about that.
 

batgirl2good

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Originally Posted by Mcat

You could try some canned pumpkin, not pie filling, if she'll eat it. It might help the diarrhea. Also Pediatlyte so she gets nutrients and help with dehydration. I hope you can get her to a vet.
Pedialyte is good, and it will give her a little more energy. I've used it with both of my cats.

My cats are also 14 pounds, but they are big, long cats.

We do the best we can. Good luck, and keep us updated. I'm praying for your sweet girl.
 
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angi

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Originally Posted by batgirl2good

Pedialyte is good, and it will give her a little more energy. I've used it with both of my cats.

My cats are also 14 pounds, but they are big, long cats.

We do the best we can. Good luck, and keep us updated. I'm praying for your sweet girl.
Thanks.


She's doing much better. She doesn't have the cone around her head, & she isn't licking much anymore. The only thing is, it seems she's having less bowel movements, only once a day, where she used to have them sometimes twice or three times. I guess it's good she's going though, & it's back to her normal stools. She's also got a lot of energy, & seems happier than she was a few days ago.


Thanks everyone for the well wishes & advice.
 
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