We adopted an older (approx. 14 years old) kitty about 3 months ago. When he came to us, his health wasn't in the greatest shape. He was obese and severely constipated. His coat of fur didn't look that great. He didn't use the litterbox.
In his previous home, he was fed conventional dry food and had it available all the time. As soon as the litterbox issues started to get bad, his previous owner started to contemplate abandoning him. His primary caregiver passed away several months ago, leaving him abruptly home alone all day.
We put him on a canned grain free wet food diet and added additional sources of fiber to the food (i.e. pumpkin, flaxseed, prunes). We started using CatLax. I tried carrying him around in a baby carrier and laying him on my chest snuggling to give him some extra touch time.
3 months later, his coat is sleek and shiny and his constipation is resolved. He's such an affectionate kitty and loves to rub up against us and lick us. He has lost weight as well and is getting much closer to a normal size.
We went to the vet and had a check up done. Because they could find no medical reasons for the litterbox issues, they prescribed him an anti-anxiety medication. They also ordered a pheremone diffuser, since he and my other cat fight.
It would probably be better for him to be an only kitty in a household, but staying in our household is the best option, since he's not really "adoptable" and his previous owner was unwilling to work with him on his issues and was ready to toss him out at the first few signs of trouble. So I can only hope and pray that eventually the two cats get along.
I know that we have a long ways to go with him, but I'm so encouraged at seeing the progress already!
Does anybody have any additional solutions for helping kitties get along?
In his previous home, he was fed conventional dry food and had it available all the time. As soon as the litterbox issues started to get bad, his previous owner started to contemplate abandoning him. His primary caregiver passed away several months ago, leaving him abruptly home alone all day.
We put him on a canned grain free wet food diet and added additional sources of fiber to the food (i.e. pumpkin, flaxseed, prunes). We started using CatLax. I tried carrying him around in a baby carrier and laying him on my chest snuggling to give him some extra touch time.
3 months later, his coat is sleek and shiny and his constipation is resolved. He's such an affectionate kitty and loves to rub up against us and lick us. He has lost weight as well and is getting much closer to a normal size.
We went to the vet and had a check up done. Because they could find no medical reasons for the litterbox issues, they prescribed him an anti-anxiety medication. They also ordered a pheremone diffuser, since he and my other cat fight.
It would probably be better for him to be an only kitty in a household, but staying in our household is the best option, since he's not really "adoptable" and his previous owner was unwilling to work with him on his issues and was ready to toss him out at the first few signs of trouble. So I can only hope and pray that eventually the two cats get along.
I know that we have a long ways to go with him, but I'm so encouraged at seeing the progress already!
Does anybody have any additional solutions for helping kitties get along?
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