Sneezing and liquid stool - what else do I try???

My kitten, Murray, is 8 months old.  I adopted her from a shelter about 3 months ago.  When I adopted her she was sneezing constantly (a lot of snot) and her stool was completely liquid.  This has not changed at all despite my numerous trips to the vet.  The vet gave her a long lasting antibiotic shot which didn't help the sneezing, and despite changing all of her food to blue buffalo about a month ago her stool is still completely liquid.  I don't know what else to do! I recently ordered kittybloom hoping that might help, but it hasn't come in the mail yet.  Could the sneezing be a result of allergies?

Have you had the stool tested?  There are a number of causes of this and since presumably the kitten was wormed before you got him, it's one of the more unusual things.  Suggest you consult the vet again and take a sample along for testing.  Thinking Coccidia, Giardiasis, and T (Tritrichomonas) foetus here.  And yes, I copied and pasted that long word!

The sneezing may well not be connected.  Viruses are common in rescue cats, and antibiotics don't make them go away, they treat secondary infections.  You could try L-Lysine which is a white powder in his food for the sneezing.  Yes, the sneezing could also be allergies.

Her stool has been tested and she doesn't have worms.  Are those other things you mentioned something they would have also tested for?  My vet seems so not concerned by this, telling me each time I go in that kittens have digestive problems all the time and it's difficult to pinpoint what the problem might be.  I just didn't think it would last so long!

It shouldn't last so long - there is something wrong. Try adding canned unsweetend pumpkin to his food - that can help calm the digestion. But it sounds as if he does need testing for some other things.

My cat had loose stool for months as well.  All tests came back negative.  I did try the canned pumpkin (not the kind with spices for pie - 100% pumpkin only), and it did help.  1tsp mixed in with her food 2-3x a day.  The vet recommended a small amount of Metamucil Clear & Natural that is grit free and taste free. I mix  very xmall amount, less than 1/8 tsp into her food now twice a day instead of the pumpkin.

I used to have her anal glands expressed every two months, because of the loose stools they were not getting expressed by her.  Since switching to the Metamucil, it has been 4+ months and I have not noticed her scooting, and her stool is firmer.

Have you perhaps consulted with a holistic vet?  They may have some insight to the allergies and the loose stools.

jennyranson said:

It shouldn't last so long - there is something wrong. Try adding canned unsweetend pumpkin to his food - that can help calm the digestion. But it sounds as if he does need testing for some other things.

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Agree - it shouldn't last this long, especially since it's not changing from liquid to any kind of solid form, and, agree, plain cooked pumpkin is really good for firming up stools. Plain yogurt can help too and some cats really like it, especially if you get the full fat version.

At least some of the parasites Oriental Slave mentioned don't show up on the basic test vets use to look for worms (round, tape, etc.) so they would need to send a sample to the lab. Even then, a cat can have a parasite and it doesn't show up. In those cases, when parasites are suspected and the diarrhoea continues, all the vets I've worked with prescribe medication such as Flagyl (Metronidazole).

Is she dehydrated? Losing so much liquid every day in the litter box could make her so. You can test for dehydration by lifting the a small part of her neck scruff up then letting go. If it drops back in place quickly, she's fine but if it moves back slowly then she's dehydrated.

It sounds like you are being a lot more responsible and concerned than your vet. Is there another vet  you  can go to?

While I'm all for adopting from rescues and shelters (I have been a foster parent for one for years), the environment can lead to a lot of cross-infection and your cat could have a virus (calici, herpes) that will continue to reside in his nasal passages and cause him problems. I'm very surprised the humane society put a cat out for adoption who was sneezing and had diarrhoea - but I'm very glad  you adopted her and are caring for her so well.

I'll definitely try the pumpkin.  I've had a few friends suggest that as well.  She isn't dehydrated so that's a plus.  

The shelter I adopted her from initially told me she was a male (hence the Bill Murray name tag) and also told me kittens usually get an upper respiratory infection when placed in a new environment, so I should expect sneezing to be around for a week or so after bringing her home.  Surprise - it's been 3 months!

When I took her for her initial check up at the vet the day after I got her, the vet did give me Enisyl-F Lysine Treats.  Initially she wouldn't touch them, but in the past few weeks she's been eating a few a day.  The vet told me feline herpes is pretty common, and that the treats should help her out should she have it.

Thanks for all the suggestions!  I'll mix some pumpkin in with her food starting tonight and give it a few days.  If things don't improve by this weekend, it's back to the vet. I just hate that she's uncomfortable!

Chevalcs said:

I'll definitely try the pumpkin.  I've had a few friends suggest that as well.  She isn't dehydrated so that's a plus.  

The shelter I adopted her from initially told me she was a male (hence the Bill Murray name tag) and also told me kittens usually get an upper respiratory infection when placed in a new environment, so I should expect sneezing to be around for a week or so after bringing her home.  Surprise - it's been 3 months!

When I took her for her initial check up at the vet the day after I got her, the vet did give me Enisyl-F Lysine Treats.  Initially she wouldn't touch them, but in the past few weeks she's been eating a few a day.  The vet told me feline herpes is pretty common, and that the treats should help her out should she have it.

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They already have the virus, the stress of a new home lets it take hold.

Suspect you will get a lot more Lysine into your kitten if you switch to buying capsules or powder, and sprinkling it on her food.

Very sweet kitten.

I'm already seeing a difference with the pumpkin - wow!  Thanks for the tips.  I'll probably still take her to the vet on Monday for a check up to try and address the sneezing.  Thanks so much

Thank you for letting everyone know the pumpkin is working. Please let us know more after the vet visit.
 

Pumpkin is a great thing   So glad your kitty is responding to it.  There is some type of virus there it sounds like.  Additional testing is probably going to be needed.  You didn't say which antibiotic the vet prescribed.  Perhaps another antibiotic is also in order.  Thanks for updating about the pumpkin and please post the outcome of the next vet visit if you have time.
 

Was she ever tested for giardia?