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I need some advice regarding my nans cats please

post #1 of 12
9/2/11 at 3:26pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all
Sinc I have passed my driving test I've been to see my nan a couple of times and I'm starting next week to go and do her cleaning as she just can't manage anymore.Anyhow she has 2 cats one who is 12 and the other is 7,both males and nuetered.Both of my grandparents are quite forgetfull and the cats are their babies,I have noticed that they aren't really in the best of health.The younger one has a flea allergy and they took him to the vets for an injection which worked for a bit but I have noticed that both of the cats skin is like wrinkly towards the back end like a pug dog and they both severely over groom.I am also worried about their diet to be honest.They don't offer water just give them full fat cows milk or cream and raw chicken breast,no added vitamins or anything else.
I love my grandparents to pieces and I know if I said anything to them I would greately offend them and also upset them which I really don't want but I believe that the diet has a great effect on the cats skin.
Please if anyone could offer me some advice I would be very appreciative
Thanks
xx
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post #2 of 12
9/2/11 at 3:38pm
If they won't listen to you, I would offer to take both cats to a vet immediately and have the vet Write Down his opinion on the situation. With a diet of whole milk and chicken breast, both cats are apt to develop blindness or heart failure.

(Sorry, this just upsets me a lot. )
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post #3 of 12
9/2/11 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minka View Post
If they won't listen to you, I would offer to take both cats to a vet immediately and have the vet Write Down his opinion on the situation. With a diet of whole milk and chicken breast, both cats are apt to develop blindness or heart failure.

(Sorry, this just upsets me a lot. )
Hi,thanks I think I sort of put it all wrong,don't get me wrong I don't think that they are in great danger or anything,they have both been to the vets in the past 4 months and obviously the vet didn't think there was a huge problem or they are in bad health or he would have said something and they had full check ups.My grandparents have had cats since I can remember and the last cat they lost was 21 and in great shape.I just think as they have got older they think that they are doing their best by giving them what they feed them.Honestly if I thought the cats were in bad bad health I would take them immediately to the vets.Like I said they do take them for check ups and if there is anything wrong with them they do take them,they aren't cruel they really believe they are doing their best.I was really just asking for advice on how I can tell them that the diet that they are feeding them isn't the best for them.x
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post #4 of 12
9/2/11 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruthyb View Post
Hi,thanks I think I sort of put it all wrong,don't get me wrong I don't think that they are in great danger or anything,they have both been to the vets in the past 4 months and obviously the vet didn't think there was a huge problem or they are in bad health or he would have said something and they had full check ups.My grandparents have had cats since I can remember and the last cat they lost was 21 and in great shape.I just think as they have got older they think that they are doing their best by giving them what they feed them.Honestly if I thought the cats were in bad bad health I would take them immediately to the vets.Like I said they do take them for check ups and if there is anything wrong with them they do take them,they aren't cruel they really believe they are doing their best.I was really just asking for advice on how I can tell them that the diet that they are feeding them isn't the best for them.x
Unless they specifically mentioned that they were only feeding milk and raw chicken, the vet wouldn't know to look for the signs of taurine/mineral deficiencies. The vet is going to presume that they are fed a complete diet.
And if the vet Did know... well your grandparents need a new vet.
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post #5 of 12
9/2/11 at 4:04pm
The thing is, if the vet doesn't know that the cats only eat chicken and cream, he won't be able to tell just by looking whether the cats are taurine deficient (which they certainly are if that's all they eat). Taurine deficiency is kind of a silent killer; you don't know the cat is deficient until he drops dead of heart failure or goes blind.

Maybe buy a few tins of cat food as "treats" for the kitties? They can't object to someone "spoiling" their kitties, really. If the cats like it maybe they'll continue to buy some. While it's still not an ideal diet, at least they would get some taurine, maybe it would be enough to keep them healthy.

As for water, maybe the cats have another source. Do they go outside? Do they drink from the toilet or the sink? Maybe offer the kitties some water while you're there, and if they drink it just make a fuss about how refreshing a good drink of water is, how he must have been thirsty, just cutesy comments like that. I don't know if it will help but it's worth a try.

And maybe buy some flea meds for them, show them how to use it. . .back before the modern flea meds came out, fleas were so hard to get rid of, just something you had to live with. Maybe they're not aware of what's available now.
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post #6 of 12
9/2/11 at 4:09pm
Thread Starter 
My grandparents are incredibly honest about what they feed their "boys" and I would imagine my grandad saying to the vet all about what they eat. Perhaps if I suggest taking the cats to my vet for a health check and just kind of say I think its time that they went and I will take them to save them the hassle.I just am not sure like I said don't want to upset them,they've had the same vet for years. I would just really like to be able to tell them that their diet at the moment is not brilliant without upsetting them.I really 100% do not believe that the cats are in any great danger but yes prolonged bad diet will cause problems this is why I need to say something now.I know the younger one will be going back very soon for his next check up for his flea allergy.x
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post #7 of 12
9/2/11 at 4:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post
The thing is, if the vet doesn't know that the cats only eat chicken and cream, he won't be able to tell just by looking whether the cats are taurine deficient (which they certainly are if that's all they eat). Taurine deficiency is kind of a silent killer; you don't know the cat is deficient until he drops dead of heart failure or goes blind.

Maybe buy a few tins of cat food as "treats" for the kitties? They can't object to someone "spoiling" their kitties, really. If the cats like it maybe they'll continue to buy some. While it's still not an ideal diet, at least they would get some taurine, maybe it would be enough to keep them healthy.

As for water, maybe the cats have another source. Do they go outside? Do they drink from the toilet or the sink? Maybe offer the kitties some water while you're there, and if they drink it just make a fuss about how refreshing a good drink of water is, how he must have been thirsty, just cutesy comments like that. I don't know if it will help but it's worth a try.

And maybe buy some flea meds for them, show them how to use it. . .back before the modern flea meds came out, fleas were so hard to get rid of, just something you had to live with. Maybe they're not aware of what's available now.
Thanks for the advice.They do flea them they buy the flea stuff from the vets -frontline and also the younger one has to have the injections.They do go out and so I do think they drink water infact I hve seen them both drink from the bird bath I just think it would be beneficial for them to have water available maybe if i buy a big bowl and leave it outside and when I go keep it filled up,if they see the cats drink from it they will fill it up themselves.I will buy them some cat food,I could say my cats don't like that brand have brought it down to see if your cats would like it?If they do I know they will feed it and continue buying it for them.Believe me they love their cats to pieces and their memory between them is horrendous so they need to be told alot but not in a way that upsets or offends.I will 100% keep an eye on the cats and if for one minute I think they aren't right I will intervene but I know at the first sign of illness my grandparents would take them to the vets anyway.I just want to prevent a problem before it arises iyswim.x
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post #8 of 12
9/2/11 at 4:47pm
Read this website http://www.fabcats.org/owners/heart/article.html starting at "Onset of signs in cats".
The signs of heart failure are hard to detect without a keen eye. It's very likely that if you cannot convince them to add wet or dry food to their diet, they will simply collapse one day and not be able to recover. I don't meant to scare you, I just want you to understand that you will most likely not be able to notice the signs and the cats will pass away when you least expect it.

I think if you approached them with hard evidence that their cats will die of heart failure if not provided with the proper nutrition, they could not possibly be mad at you for anything.
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post #9 of 12
9/2/11 at 5:06pm
I wouldn't bother buying them any dry food--cats accustomed to eating cream and chicken probably won't like kibble! And a lot of people think of wet food as a treat, so they can feel like they're spoiling their kitties still. Something nice and smelly, a brand that they can buy at their local grocery store (yeah, probably not the greatest, but has taurine at least). Also, some brands of dry treats are "complete and balanced", meaning they should have taurine, too. Who can object to giving their kitties treats?

I understand the whole grandma thing! But if you sneak it in nicely there shouldn't be any trouble.
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post #10 of 12
9/6/11 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,an update,well been to my nans today to clean and I have explained a little about the raw diet and cream,so they have put a bowl of water outside for the boys and they have been out today and bought lots of wet food tins and dried food and the chicken they said will now be a treat. I explained that I was a member on here and I have asked advice they were fine about it and said they are glad that I told them.The boys were a little bit funny about the wet food but I said just persevere with it and also its a hit and miss game on what they will like.I have also advised a vet check for both boys which they will do.
They are both very healthy looking cats I am just concerned about the wrinkly looking skin on their back ends and they both over groom,hopefully the diet change will help this and the vet visit will provide more help.
Thankyou for all your inputs.x
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post #11 of 12
9/6/11 at 6:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruthyb View Post
Hi,an update,well been to my nans today to clean and I have explained a little about the raw diet and cream,so they have put a bowl of water outside for the boys and they have been out today and bought lots of wet food tins and dried food and the chicken they said will now be a treat. I explained that I was a member on here and I have asked advice they were fine about it and said they are glad that I told them.The boys were a little bit funny about the wet food but I said just persevere with it and also its a hit and miss game on what they will like.I have also advised a vet check for both boys which they will do.
They are both very healthy looking cats I am just concerned about the wrinkly looking skin on their back ends and they both over groom,hopefully the diet change will help this and the vet visit will provide more help.
Thankyou for all your inputs.x
Great news!
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post #12 of 12
9/6/11 at 7:03pm
Aw Ruthy, you're such a love! I'm so glad you talked to your grandparents and they both listened and understood!
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