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- Mar 20, 2014
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We live in China and have 5 cats, 4 of whom are always in perfect health (knock on wood), but one who is a bit overweight (not sure how much, he doesn't look obese exactly but he's definitely fat). Apparently he gets frequent UTIs. I had to wait for this current one to be sure it was frequent and not just a fluke. He's got his fourth one in the last 7 months. Each time he gets a five-day regimen of shots that we administer at home. Because we have 4 other cats, the food is out all the time, which isn't a problem for the other cats. I think if we fed them at controlled times each day, we would never be able to leave the house. I don't know anyone who'd go through that for us twice a day so we could go away overnight.
The problem is that I'm dealing with a vet who is, of course, Chinese. I am not, and that makes it hard to talk about things. I always have to do it with a kind friend who's willing (and has time) to do translation for me, and that makes prolonged consultation really difficult. I am afraid the cat may have diabetes, but I don't know. I really don't know what the possibilities are. Hypothyroidism? Either way, it looks like we have to change his diet and I don't know how to do that with so many other cats. What are the possibilities and what can I do about it? What do I need to ask that he be tested for? Everything I've read about dealing with diabetes sound like it might be feasible, though difficult, if you had just one cat or two, and lived in a country where you spoke the same language as your vet, but it sounds absolutely impossible in our situation. I'd be grateful for anyone who wants to weigh in on this.
The problem is that I'm dealing with a vet who is, of course, Chinese. I am not, and that makes it hard to talk about things. I always have to do it with a kind friend who's willing (and has time) to do translation for me, and that makes prolonged consultation really difficult. I am afraid the cat may have diabetes, but I don't know. I really don't know what the possibilities are. Hypothyroidism? Either way, it looks like we have to change his diet and I don't know how to do that with so many other cats. What are the possibilities and what can I do about it? What do I need to ask that he be tested for? Everything I've read about dealing with diabetes sound like it might be feasible, though difficult, if you had just one cat or two, and lived in a country where you spoke the same language as your vet, but it sounds absolutely impossible in our situation. I'd be grateful for anyone who wants to weigh in on this.
