Possible FHS? Help!

vivabecks

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 11, 2015
Messages
1
Purraise
1
My 6 year old cat recently started attacking his own tail. All he does is chase it, bite it and he's done some really bad damage to it. He's mutilated it and it's so sad. He's currently wearing a come which in all honestly doesn't help too much, I'm at a loss as to what to do. He's so depressed with it. I get o sleep because I'm up all night trying to stop the behaviour.

I'm so glad I've stumbled upon this forum, I took him to the vets not knowing what to do. He had an X-ray which showed a shadow on his sacrum bone and the vet has seemed to transfix on this. She doesn't know what this shadow on his bone is and said possible infection or cancer but she wasn't 100%. He could of had it all his life and be nothing?

If I'm honest I think it is totally unrelated, all the symptoms, all the comments relating to FHS are spot on with my cat. He's currently on a strong 3 week antibiotic course because the vet thought he might have an infection. I doubt this very much, he has no symptoms relating to an infection at all.

Now reading all your comments and experience I think I might suggest FHS to my vet, she has already suggested amputation with just the X-ray and symptoms to go on but that really wouldn't stop his behaviour I don't think. I really want to try a changeover diet first before I suggest medicating him, this however is where it gets complicated. The only problem is my cat is currently on a urinary food (Royal canin urinary s/o) because he's had problems with blockages and urinary retention.

Is there any any cat food that is grain free and helps with urinary problems too?

Anything suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated smile.gif
 

mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
46,565
Purraise
23,328
Location
Australia
Hi @vivabecks and welcome to TCS! 


I'm so sorry you haven't received a response to your question.  I've moved it here, to the nutrition forum, in the hope that someone will have some advice to offer.
 

cinqchats

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 8, 2015
Messages
394
Purraise
62
Is your cat prone to struvite or calcium oxalate crystals? I ask because one of my dogs had issues with struvite crystals, but there was too much salt in the prescription food she was eating so she would drink too much. Her old lady bladder couldn't hold that much liquid! Now she eats a non-prescription food, but gets a methionine supplement twice a day. The official name is methioform tabs. It's a sulfur-based amino acid that acidifies her urine just enough to prevent the crystals from forming. Maybe ask your vet if your cat would benefit? Then you may be able to feed him whatever you like. 

(I saw that no one had responded to you, thought I'd give it my best shot.)
 
Last edited:

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,126
Location
Arizona
The problem with changing his food is, as you know, you might be playing with fire here.   As Cinqchats mentioned, it depends on the type of crystals your guy had.

Maybe this thread will help:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/302645/food-help-please

And DO discuss with a Vet the possibility of using methionine if appropriate with a food change.   I would definitely bring up FHS to your Vet too.  At one point I thought one of my cats might have it, so I brought it up to our Vet.  I see absolutely nothing wrong with doing that, and if your Vet is not receptive, then, IMHO, you need to find another Vet.  But amputating his tail probably will NOT solve the problem if it IS FHS, just as you are thinking. 

Here is another thread where the member was thinking about tail docking.  They never came back (to that thread) to say what happened:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/305797/fhs-tail-docking-help

One last thing....I guess you have definitely ruled out any type of rash, flea bite, that type of thing on his tail?  You didn't mentioned that he growls at it or anything, so that's why I ask.  Also didn't mention if his skin ripples, so of the other common components of FHS.
 

paiger8

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
574
Purraise
163
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
I do not have a cat with FHS, but I was leaving a review on Amazon for Primal Freeze Dried cat food today, and saw this review. I just started both of my cats on Primal within the last couple weeks, and I am very impressed with the food. Sorry for the giant picture, I am on my iPad, and it won't let me copy/paste the review. I hope it helps. :-)



 

mullen1968

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
2
Purraise
0
I have a female cat that is approximately four years old who recently started growling and hissing and at nothing or her own tail prior to this she was not the friendliest cat once she became rather nasty so she's not one to be handled or touched so I'm concerned because giving her medication is going to be impossible but she can be very aggressive
 

mullen1968

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
2
Purraise
0
I have a female cat that is approximately four years old who recently started growling and hissing at nothing or her own tail prior to this she was not the friendliest cat. Once she was fixed she became rather nasty so she's not one to be handled or touched so I'm concerned because giving her medication is going to be impossible but she can be very aggressive. Anys thoughts
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,126
Location
Arizona
I have a female cat that is approximately four years old who recently started growling and hissing at nothing or her own tail prior to this she was not the friendliest cat. Once she was fixed she became rather nasty so she's not one to be handled or touched so I'm concerned because giving her medication is going to be impossible but she can be very aggressive. Anys thoughts
You might think about a change in food, as has been mentioned above..food seems to play a big part in helping cats with this.  Also, if medication is needed, try to figure out a way to hide it in stinky food.  Those are my only thoughts when you have an "unmanageable" little friend.
 
Top