You are all going to hate me.

kscatlady

kscatlady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,847
Purraise
1
Location
Mulvane, Kansas
We might have to give up Cammy. I can't think of another option.

She's puking again. We've gone through all our savings since Dylan's been born. I'm not working, and we just have one car. There are a few places near walking distance I could get a job, but after paying for daycare I wouldn't even be making anything. We have nothing to sell. Everything we have is a few years old and we wouldn't get much for it. There's not much we can give up. We don't eat out anymore, we don't go to the movies, we don't smoke.

Between student loans, the car loan, diapers formula, groceries...we're stretched thin.
 
bellaandme

bellaandme

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
2,001
Purraise
22
Location
Indianapolis, IN
How very sad!! Do you have a trusted friend or relative that can keep your kitty until you get through these hard times??
I've certainly taken in kitties for friends and sometimes people I barely know, just until their owners get back on their feet again.
Some times these things happen to us-we don't have any control over them. You're having a streak of terrible luck.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5
kscatlady

kscatlady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,847
Purraise
1
Location
Mulvane, Kansas
Originally Posted by zoeysmom

Do you know what is causing the vomiting? You said "again"...what was it in the past?
Click to expand...
They thought she had a bowel obstruction, so they opened her up and he intestines were all clenched up.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=208176

The vets here are stupid and they didn't figure out what exactly it was. We switched her food and it worked for a while.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6
kscatlady

kscatlady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,847
Purraise
1
Location
Mulvane, Kansas
Originally Posted by Bellaandme

How very sad!! Do you have a trusted friend or relative that can keep your kitty until you get through these hard times??
I've certainly taken in kitties for friends and sometimes people I barely know, just until their owners get back on their feet again.
Some times these things happen to us-we don't have any control over them. You're having a streak of terrible luck.
Click to expand...
Not really. Family members either don't like cats, have a dog or aren't in a situation to take her. Especially since she's sick.
 
F

fifi1puss

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
2,150
Purraise
13
I know this sounds really bad but I would probably stop paying my student loans. Are they yours or his? If your not working I wouldn't pay and call and get a deferment (sp) Only you know what you can or cannot do and whatever decision you make will be difficult. I am so sorry you are at this point.

What did the vets say was going to happen if changing the food doesn't work? I wonder if she is getting chronically constipated which is leading to dehydration which causes the bowels to constrict even more. She may need i.v. fluids than something to get her bowels moving again. Just a thought.

I am so sorry you are faced with this.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10
kscatlady

kscatlady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,847
Purraise
1
Location
Mulvane, Kansas
Originally Posted by LDG

I'm so sorry.


Have you tried just putting her on boiled rice and chicken for a few days?
Click to expand...
She's very, very picky. I'm going to buy some canned food and see if she'll eat that. Maybe if she's puking because she's dehydrated it will help.
 
melorix

melorix

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
139
Purraise
1
Location
San Diego, CA
How awful to have to face such a decision. Sending loads of positive thoughts your way.
 
carolina

carolina

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
Is this vomiting or regurgitating? When they opened her up, did they do a biopsy for IBD? Have they tried putting her on prednisolone?
 
cat person

cat person

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 31, 2010
Messages
1,880
Purraise
27
Originally Posted by kscatlady

We might have to give up Cammy. I can't think of another option.

She's puking again. We've gone through all our savings since Dylan's been born. I'm not working, and we just have one car. There are a few places near walking distance I could get a job, but after paying for daycare I wouldn't even be making anything. We have nothing to sell. Everything we have is a few years old and we wouldn't get much for it. There's not much we can give up. We don't eat out anymore, we don't go to the movies, we don't smoke.

Between student loans, the car loan, diapers formula, groceries...we're stretched thin.
Click to expand...
I for one do NOT hate you. I can understand your situation as I had a similar one years ago. Do you want me to try and find you a low cost vet in your area? Also if you can not rehome her maybe it would be less cruel to put her down?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14
kscatlady

kscatlady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,847
Purraise
1
Location
Mulvane, Kansas
Originally Posted by Carolina

Is this vomiting or regurgitating? When they opened her up, did they do a biopsy for IBD? Have they tried putting her on prednisolone?
Click to expand...
I don't know...how do you tell? (about the vomiting) They didn't do a biopsy, I don't know why.

I was thinking though, last time they gave her a cortisone shot and an enema. Maybe if we just do that and they don't keeP her for observation we figure out a payment. I have some ideas. I'll update more when I'm not on my phone.
 
minka

minka

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
2,437
Purraise
49
Location
Denton, Texas
Maybe someone from TCS lives fairly close and can take her in? There certainly are a lot of us here.
 
orangeishcat

orangeishcat

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 17, 2009
Messages
622
Purraise
2
Location
KS
There are a couple of us who live in Kansas!
Your profile says you live in Mulvane, and that's about 3.5 hours away from me... as of right now I am not in a position to take in another cat, but I will absolutely ask around and see if anyone I know would be able to help you.
 
carolina

carolina

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
Originally Posted by kscatlady

I don't know...how do you tell? (about the vomiting) They didn't do a biopsy, I don't know why.

I was thinking though, last time they gave her a cortisone shot and an enema. Maybe if we just do that and they don't keeP her for observation we figure out a payment. I have some ideas. I'll update more when I'm not on my phone.
Click to expand...
Regurgitating it is soon after she eats, and you see whole pieces of the food, kibbles - that is a super easy fix - it does not mean she is sick.
Vomiting, on the other hand, is digestive food, and in cats you often see bile - the yellow liquid stuff - that can be more complicated.

I can NOT believe they opened her up and did not do a biopsy - sorry, but that's stupidity at the highest degree
(on their part)

Well, too late now......

But, here is one thing you can try, and it is CHEAP: One of the main causes for vomiting in cats (since you already did an exploratory surgery and saw nothing), is IBD. When it is on the upper digestive system, you see vomiting, instead of diarrhea. That can be easily manageable with prednisolone - that is a very affordable treatment, and you can easily do a trail period with your vet instead of doing a biopsy.
Ask him/her to start her on prednisolone now (if this is vomiting) and see how she does - usually you start at a higher does - like 10mg a day for 10 days/2 weeks, then you taper her off to the lowest level that works for her - even once every couple of days.
If that works, it can solve your problem.
If this is regurgitation, there are other things that can solve it.....
Don't give up yet, we might be able to help you out here
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18
kscatlady

kscatlady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,847
Purraise
1
Location
Mulvane, Kansas
Originally Posted by Carolina

Regurgitating it is soon after she eats, and you see whole pieces of the food, kibbles - that is a super easy fix - it does not mean she is sick.
Vomiting, on the other hand, is digestive food, and in cats you often see bile - the yellow liquid stuff - that can be more complicated.

I can NOT believe they opened her up and did not do a biopsy - sorry, but that's stupidity at the highest degree
(on their part)

Well, too late now......

But, here is one thing you can try, and it is CHEAP: One of the main causes for vomiting in cats (since you already did an exploratory surgery and saw nothing), is IBD. When it is on the upper digestive system, you see vomiting, instead of diarrhea. That can be easily manageable with prednisolone - that is a very affordable treatment, and you can easily do a trail period with your vet instead of doing a biopsy.
Ask him/her to start her on prednisolone now (if this is vomiting) and see how she does - usually you start at a higher does - like 10mg a day for 10 days/2 weeks, then you taper her off to the lowest level that works for her - even once every couple of days.
If that works, it can solve your problem.
If this is regurgitation, there are other things that can solve it.....
Don't give up yet, we might be able to help you out here
Click to expand...
Ok, I think it's regurgitation then. I also thinking maybe it's from stress. I have some ideas. I started a thread earlier about letting her outside. I haven't yet (except when she sneaks out) because she isn't vaccinated for being an outdoor cat). I'm going to get her vaccinated. I'm going to try and add some more vertical space for her to get away from the baby. Maybe his newfound mobility is stressing her out. I'm going to take her to the vet clinic that takes payments and tell them I'm on a very strict budget, and I'll have to give them postdated checks and they need to run any costs by me.

Last night she came to Jon and me in bed and was so sweet. She usually doesn't do that anymore. She slept cuddled up by me most of the night. Rehoming her is definitely a last resort. My old job wants me to come back for a new position. It won't be much, but assuming I can find child care for Dylan and he's happy. I can start another cat fund.

Carolina, what are my options since it's regurgitation? And what should I ask the vet? I never know what questions to ask. Like the biopsy thing.
 
denice

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,874
Purraise
13,202
Location
Columbus OH
Does she eat real fast. That often will cause vomiting whole kibble right after eating. If she does you can do some things to slow her down. Putting her bowl on a low stand like they do with dog breeds that are prone to bloat will slow her down. I have also heard of putting a ping pong ball in the bowl with her kibble. She has to move the ball around to eat around the ball and it will slow her down. I am sure there are other ways to slow her down those are just the two I have heard of. I too can't believe they didn't do a biopsy after they opened her up and there was no blockage since IBD is fairly common in cats.
 
carolina

carolina

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
Originally Posted by Denice

Does she eat real fast. That often will cause vomiting whole kibble right after eating. If she does you can do some things to slow her down. Putting her bowl on a low stand like they do with dog breeds that are prone to bloat will slow her down. I have also heard of putting a ping pong ball in the bowl with her kibble. She has to move the ball around to eat around the ball and it will slow her down. I am sure there are other ways to slow her down those are just the two I have heard of. I too can't believe they didn't do a biopsy after they opened her up and there was no blockage since IBD is fairly common in cats.
Click to expand...

Regurgitating is not a big deal, and doesn't mean she is sick at all.... I am glad to hear this might be the issue - no need to put her outside either, if this is why you are thinking about doing it.
Yes, the most common reason for regurgitating is eating too fast.
You can do several things:
Elevate the food bowl - this can be easily done by placing a thick phone book below it.
Like Denice said, put a couple of clean ping pong bowls in the plate. There are slow bowl feeders, but this is a cheaper alternative.
Buy bigger kibbles - dental variety is best - the bigger the better, this will help her chew.
You can also create feeding toys, by making holes in a small water bottle and putting her food inside of it - she the needs to play with it, and will eat slower.
She can be having some hairball problems as well - once a week, just for good measure, give her 1cc of 100% pure vaseline (one inch on your finger) or another hairball medicine. IMHO pure vaseline is the very best (helps that it is the cheapest too.
These things should help a whole lot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top