Worried pet of a cat that can't go # 2 UPDATE

Nekos' update.

           I had to take her into the vet today. Her constipation was starting to make her drowsy and she hadn't eaten since yesterday morning. The visit was expensive. At first they wanted to take an X-ray, but that was $300.00  upfront. And i do not have that kind of money, i am unemployed. So I asked if there was an alternative that I could give her to make her go #2. The vet  said sure, so they suggested giving her an enema and additional fluids to get things moving.  i agreed to that. and it did the trick. the doc said Neko had aback up of stool. it was normal looking and foul smelling. The doc said it was due to the food i have been feeding her. The doc also told me to go for a food for indoor cats or weight control (my Neko is 17lbs)

All in all, Neko is home safe and sound and my bank acount is $79.00 short but its better then paying 300.00.  I hope this never happens again. cats need fiber, like we do in our diet. 

^_^

That's great to hear! Glad he's doing well!

thanx ^_^

I'm new,

.  I have a cat with similar problems of constipation, and my vet suggested a small amount of olive oil.  it makes him sthirsty , he drinks water and 'goes'.  it also helps him with the hair balls.

I am very glad your kitty is ok now.

Ahlysha said:

I'm new,
.  I have a cat with similar problems of constipation, and my vet suggested a small amount of olive oil.  it makes him sthirsty , he drinks water and 'goes'.  it also helps him with the hair balls.

I am very glad your kitty is ok now.

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welcome to the site. I never heard of giving a cat olive oil. How much do you give your kitty. My cat however is so finiky tgat she dosnt drink alot of water so i put water in her dryfood and in her wet food.

I'm glad to hear the enema and fluids did the trick.

Originally Posted by Darkcrystal  

The doc also told me to go for a food for indoor cats or weight control (my Neko is 17lbs)

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Commercial foods labeled for indoor cats or weight control is a marketing gimic. It's a matter of feeding high protein, low carb, calculating calories and fat on your own, and determining what her daily intake should be. If you start a new thread in Cat Nutrition, we'd be happy to help you with food and brainstorm what might be good for Neko.

Originally Posted by Darkcrystal  

cats need fiber, like we do in our diet.

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Some cats do okay with extra fiber...some do not. A bulking fiber such as psyllium husk (Metamucil) is usually not good for cats prone to large stools or constipation as it bulks up the stool too much and makes them very difficult to pass. My Boo has chronic constipation, and has done exceptionally well since switching him to an almost ALL wet diet with a little Miralax mixed in to keep his stools soft. Before I had it under control, his stools became so impacted on several occasions that I had to rush him to the vet. He was in a lot of pain.

I read in your other thread that you feed Neko dry food in the morning. I suggest reducing or eliminating dry food and incorporate some wet food in the morning as well. Moisture is the most important thing you can give to a cat prone to constipation.

With funds being low, I strongly recommend a proactive approach to Neko's constipation. Chronic constipation can lead to a condition called megacolon. This is when the muscles of the colon are stretched and the colon enlarges in diameter. You do not want this for Neko. Trust me.

Megacolon: A Terrible Outcome for Constipated Pets

GoHolistic said:

 
Commercial foods labeled for indoor cats or weight control is a marketing gimic. It's a matter of feeding high protein, low carb, calculating calories and fat on your own, and determining what her daily intake should be. If you start a new thread in Cat Nutrition, we'd be happy to help you with food and brainstorm what might be good for Neko.

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I want her to be healthy. The only problem is, she is a finicky eater. Right now I am feeding her the Purina Catchow naturals. i have tried other dry foods. for her constipation this is the first time she has ever had a problem with it. I am seriously thinking about going all wet food for her, but then I realize that she only likes one type of canned food, and that is friskes Marinas'catch. I want her to eat well and lose the weight she has. 17lbs for a 6year old cat is a lot of weight on her joints. And yes I am well aware of the dangers that constipation can have on a cat. it can lead to serious complications and also can kill them.  I was instrucked by the vet to buy Laxatone for her to prevent future hairballs from clogging her.

I am glad she is better but you really do have to change her diet. At this stage, while her system settles down again, I would say that even Friskies' fishbased food is better than dry. Then try her with others in the Friskies range, mixing them in gradually. Usually all foods by one manufacturer have a lot in common and she may go for it, albeit slowly. Then you can do some research and try to get her on a better quality food, again changing gradually.

Thanks for the welcome DarkCrystle,

  With the olive oil, I let him taste it off my finger tips., then gradulally gave a half teaspoon in a bowl. 

He doesn' like the dark olive oil, but prefers the very light ones.  Funny, he is an olive oil snob. ;-)

I am also giving him some wet food mixed with a few tablespoons of water and a little olive oil as well. 

My vet said Sangria tends to not drink as much water as he should.  At least the oil makes him thirsty and he drinks. 

Ahlysha said:

 
Thanks for the welcome DarkCrystle,

  With the olive oil, I let him taste it off my finger tips., then gradulally gave a half teaspoon in a bowl. 

He doesn' like the dark olive oil, but prefers the very light ones.  Funny, he is an olive oil snob. ;-)

I am also giving him some wet food mixed with a few tablespoons of water and a little olive oil as well. 

My vet said Sangria tends to not drink as much water as he should.  At least the oil makes him thirsty and he drinks. 

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lol, your are most welcome and thankyou for the information. I must look into this olive oil stuff. one question thou....do you use the olive oil in a bottle or do you use the essences that you can get from a vitamin shop?

If it makes your cat thirsty to drink water, maybe it could do the same for my girl, ^_^

jennyranson said:

I am glad she is better but you really do have to change her diet. At this stage, while her system settles down again, I would say that even Friskies' fishbased food is better than dry. Then try her with others in the Friskies range, mixing them in gradually. Usually all foods by one manufacturer have a lot in common and she may go for it, albeit slowly. Then you can do some research and try to get her on a better quality food, again changing gradually.

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I know I have to change her diet, that is why i am going to finish off the food i already have then gradually switch over to all wet. she love the wet food so it shouldn't be a problem. and thank you for advise about staying within the fish based area. i know its alot better then the dry. I am thinking about getting her Blue Wilderness, but i have to some research on it to see if its as good as people say it is.

Just olive oil from the store.

  However be aware in case she throws up.  All seven of mine eat (drink) this, they will spit up, usually hair balls.   It makes their fur look amazing.

 Before you do anything, clear this with your vet first.  Given how finiky cats are, I don't know if yours has an allergy.   Your wet food idea mixed with water works great too.

I just phoned mine up and asked"hey do you know of a natural remedy I can use for constipation and hair balls? "

 She was/is a great vet, she suggested a pea sized piece of butter first.  Darn cat got addicted. LOL   I bounced the olive oil idea off her, she went back read up, came back saying."Why not. give it a try."

I

thank you so much.  an yeah i will as my vet first before i do anything.  and as far as the vet and I know she is not allergic to anything. 

I had just asked my mom today if she ever heard of olive oil giving to cats, and she told me that she used to give it to all her cats- i asked her why didn't she tell me earlier she just laughed and said i never asked lol.  anyway, as your cat being addicted to butter, that is funny.^_^

I tesed my vet about that.

"Doc. he's addicted to butter!!;-)  "How am I gonna get ;em off it?" "Your fault Doc.  hear that yowling?? Butter.   :-)   She laughed.

Ahlysha said:

 
I tesed my vet about that.

"Doc. he's addicted to butter!!;-)  "How am I gonna get ;em off it?" "Your fault Doc.  hear that yowling?? Butter.   :-)   She laughed.

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lol, i bet that was an interesting conversation. its kinda like me with my doc on the subject of cheese. my cat loves it and i swear she smells it a mile away. you could be in other room of the house and unwrap a slice of cheese. when you blink there she is out of know where practically in your lap beggen lol ^_^