What did you learn the hard way?

emilymaywilcha

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I think we all learn some things about keeping cats healthy or, if that is not possible, managing a cat's symptoms. Sometimes it takes a death. Other times just a huge vet bill does the trick. How did you learn what the dos and don'ts are for having healthy or asymptomatic cats?

What I learned: Feed your cat wet food only from the beginning that is better than Science Diet.

My big mistake: By only feeding Emily dry Science Diet, I increased her risk of kidney failure.

How I learned it: I read online cats are more likely to get ARF when they eat dry Science Diet.

Change to make: Buy Weruva Nine Liver and Paw Lickin' Chicken on Amazon in cases of 24.

I know there are other causes of acute renal failure, but as an indoor-only cat, Emily could not have ingested any toxins that cause ARF. Only her bad diet can explain the ARF because she had no allergies, dental problems, extra weight, or steroids.

Last year, I learned it is a good idea to buy the stainless steel Drinkwell 360 or a similar product for a cat who refuses to eat wet food.
 

swampwitch

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A tiny bit of a lily flower (or any part of the lily plant) will cause acute renal failure in cats, even a few grains of pollen fallen to the floor, or brushed against the fur if licked off and not treated in time, will be fatal. Many owners are not even aware that the lily plant caused ARF in their cats. There are other plants that are dangerous too, but the lily is "exquisitely" poisonous to felines. I don't know if you ever had house plants or cut flowers, but indoor cats can and do die of this, more often than we think.

I've learned way too many things the hard way to list them here. I'm sorry about your Emily. 
 
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