Ongoing diarrhea in 6 month old kitten

Hello,

I am hoping to find some help here because I honestly just don't know what to do with my cat Jasper. He has had diarrhea for about 2 months now. He has had multiple fecal samples that all came back negative for parasites/worms. He has taken two different de wormers and antibiotics, he has used forti flora on his food for about a month now. I even started giving him boiled chicken, rice and pumpkin to eat. His diarrhea has not gotten any better. About two weeks ago he started pooping on the floor around my house. My boyfriend and I went out and bought a carpet cleaner, so it gets the stains out. But it is a hassle, he does this everyday at least once a day. We changed the litter, we started cleaning the box twice a day... I have tried locking him in my bathroom with food, water and a litter box after he goes on the floor as a form of punishment. He's also very calm. He doesn't play, he's always been that way. We thought he was just timid, but I think it has something to do with the diarrhea. I've spent over $300 not including the carpet cleaner and my boyfriend is ready to give him back to the woman we got him from. We have another cat, Rwby, she is a little over a year and has not gotten sick. I don't know what to do.. As I am typing this I had to take a break to go clean up his poop on the carpet again. Please help!!!

I'm bumping this up for you. It sounds like a tough situation for everyone involved.

Have all the decals tests been done at your vet clinic, or have they sent them our? Has your kitty been tested for Campylobacter, Tritrichomonas, Clostridium and Cryptosporidium? All require a specific fecal test sent to an outside lab.

The next thing I would rule out is a malabsorption disorder. This requires a blood test. It's a feline GI panel.

Also, can you list all the foods you have tried and for how long you tried the food?

Did you get copies of the fecal test results, do you know what type of test they did? Some people have posted the test results and it helped in providing recommendations. If I had to guess it is some parasite that they type of test done will not pick up. Some cats have allergies to chicken. I would try another protein source and make sure it is a limited ingredient food Nature's Variety Limited Ingredients is a highly recommended food, I would try lamb as it is the easiest to digest. I hope you find out what is causing kitty this issue, it sound awful for everyone.

I believe all of the fecal tests that have been done were done in office. They had him in their office for an entire day and had someone taking samples throughout the day. He's been tested for feline leukemia and aids, but I don't think he's had any other blood tests done. The vet is wanting to do a full blood profile on him which will set me back another $100. What could possibly show up on a blood test? My poor baby is just miserable. We gave him a bath last night, he's a long hair tabby, the poop keeps getting stuck in his fur on his tail, so we wanted to clean him up.. after we were done bathing him we dried him off and he stayed cuddled up in the towel in my arms for over 2 hours. He drinks A LOT of water.. which is probably good since he has been having so many watery stools.. We did try duck on him and it wasn't helping.. that was reccomended by our vet as well. I really do appreciate all of your responses and help. 

I forgot to mention, He is tiny. He only weighs about 2 pounds. When I pet him I can feel his bones. He has a little bit of a belly, but that's it, if it wasn't for his long hair he'd look even smaller.. 

Mother of Cats said:

 
I forgot to mention, He is tiny. He only weighs about 2 pounds. When I pet him I can feel his bones. He has a little bit of a belly, but that's it, if it wasn't for his long hair he'd look even smaller.. 

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OK, i am just going to say it, OMG, you're cat is in trouble.  2 pounds is the normal weight for a 2 month old kitten, not a 6 month old kitten.  I don't like saying this but i think you're kitten is definitely not correctly diagnosed and is also at significant risk of dying. 

You ask what a blood test could show?  Possibly why he's at risk for dying because he isn't getting diagnosed.  And if all those fecal tests were done in house then they MUST be repeated off site using PCR testing (Polymerase Chain Reaction testing) that amplifies the DNA of the offending parasite and provides a definitive diagnosis if that is the problem. It's not expensive and results in 2 business days (in the USA)

I think @CatPack's post above was so dead on that i will repeat it here (emphasis mine):

"Has your kitty been tested for Campylobacter, Tritrichomonas, Clostridium and Cryptosporidium? All require a specific fecal test sent to an outside lab.

The next thing I would rule out is a malabsorption disorder. This requires a blood test. It's a feline GI panel.
Also, can you list all the foods you have tried and for how long you tried the food?"

Your kitten will not live if he remains at this weight.

I would actually go to a totally new vet if they know this is his weight at 6 months and have essentialy done nothing and haven't told you how serious this is.

Your kitten is VERY sick and needs help urgently. Please follow the advice above and I really would look for a new vet. Unfortunately many vets do pretty badly with kittens under around 2 or even 3 months old, but at 6 months any vaguely competent vet would realize your boy is in a very bad way and should have suggestions for ways to actually help.

He has not been tested for any of those. Just the in house fecal, luekemia and aids. All were negative. They could not find any parasites in his feces. I am worried and have been worried since this started over a month ago. When we first got him he was eating Friskies brand shreds. Turkey and Cheese, Beef, Chicken, Salmon, Tuna. The vet told me to start keeping him on one food, maybe his stomach is not liking the constant change. So I stuck with beef, that didn't work, so I moved to chicken. I bought Purina One Chicken and Rice (same for his dry food) Still didn't work. He is currently having boiled chicken, i don't add anything, just boil it in water, cut it up and keep in a tupperware container in my fridge. I am going to try that for a few days.and see how it goes. Earlier he pooped on the carpet, but it was more solid, thought it was getting better, then he went in the litter box and it was water... just brown water... I had to wipe his little bottom to get the rest off... 

Agree with everything is post #7. There is no chance of this resolving on its own and you need to get him to a different, better vet immediately or he will die.

Also, don't punish him for pooping on the floor. He is obviously extremely ill. It's not on purpose.

Yes, Mother of Cats, we are trying to put this as nicely as possible but you don't seem to be understanding- this is WAY past the point of trying different foods and hoping for the best. Your kitten should weigh at least 3 times as much as he does. He is dying. He needs urgent professional veterinary help from a vet who is actually competent and gives a dang, neither of which your current vet is . He definitely has a medical problem. Many of the likely possibilities are in fact treatable, but he has to be correctly diagnosed and treated absolutely as soon as possible. This is NOT a wait and see situation. He is not okay. It is miraculous he is still alive at his current weight.

FYI broiled chicken alone is also in no way nutritionally complete, and not at all fit for a long term diet, but that is so much the least of your concerns that it's not worth getting in to at this point.

Please get him to a competent, caring vet ASAP and pay to have the necessary tests done. Otherwise I am sorry but he will absolutely die.

Mother of Cats said:

 
He has not been tested for any of those. Just the in house fecal, luekemia and aids. All were negative. They could not find any parasites in his feces. I am worried and have been worried since this started over a month ago. When we first got him he was eating Friskies brand shreds. Turkey and Cheese, Beef, Chicken, Salmon, Tuna. The vet told me to start keeping him on one food, maybe his stomach is not liking the constant change. So I stuck with beef, that didn't work, so I moved to chicken. I bought Purina One Chicken and Rice (same for his dry food) Still didn't work. He is currently having boiled chicken, i don't add anything, just boil it in water, cut it up and keep in a tupperware container in my fridge. I am going to try that for a few days.and see how it goes. Earlier he pooped on the carpet, but it was more solid, thought it was getting better, then he went in the litter box and it was water... just brown water... I had to wipe his little bottom to get the rest off... 

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Your Kitten's condition in my opinion is at this point a Medical Emergency.

Please take this to heart.  Your kitten is either going to die, or is dying now unless new and immediate, and high quality vet care is performed. You are not getting that care now.  He should have been put on standard medicines just as a matter of protocol like Metronizadole as just one example.

His fecal samples MUST i repeat MUST be sent out for PCR testing for Giardia, Coccidia, Tritrichomonas foetus, Campylobacter, Tritrichomonas, Clostridium and Cryptosporidium, and he should be treated for the most common possibilities unless that's already been done in advance of a test result, as well as tested for mal-absorbtion issues.

He might benefit from an ultrasound, probably actually.

The fact that he hasn't died yet is a testament to luck and possibly his spirit, but his medical condition sounds as close to terminal as I have seen in a cat on this site in many years.   He is SUFFERING badly, and has been for a long time, and if you can't get the vet care you need, then i would consider euthanasia as a last resort.

I've never had a sick cat before. So I apologize if I sound like I am not getting it... I can't and do not want to even THINK about euthanasia. He's just a kitten... My heart is breaking for him.. My cats are my babies and I just want to fix him. I am going to call the vet and see what tests they have done.. and look into a different vet. I KNOW he can get better. We just have to find out what is wrong. 

Glad you understand. Act as quickly as possible, and please keep us updated.

I would go ahead and get all of his records so you can bring them to a new vet today.

Mother of Cats said:

 
I've never had a sick cat before. So I apologize if I sound like I am not getting it... I can't and do not want to even THINK about euthanasia. He's just a kitten... My heart is breaking for him.. My cats are my babies and I just want to fix him. I am going to call the vet and see what tests they have done.. and look into a different vet. I KNOW he can get better. We just have to find out what is wrong. 

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You don't have to apologize but i would suggest you don't have a lot of time.  May i ask approximately where you're located?  I think you need a new vet.

Also what treatments have been prescribed so far, with respect to a) de-worming meds b) anti-parasite meds and c) anti-diarrheal medications?  Please list them all if possible.

I'm in Houston, TX.

I'm not sureven the name of all the meds. He was on forti flora. He just ran out of that two days ago.

Mother of Cats said:

I'm not sureven the name of all the meds. He was on forti flora. He just ran out of that two days ago.

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If you need the name of a very reputable vet in Houston I have a friend there who can give me a reference.

Ok so we don't know what medications you have given him, maybe you can find out?

Has he had an ultrasound or xray?

Yeah I can find out. And yes, I would appreciate a referral.

Mother of Cats said:

Yeah I can find out. And yes, I would appreciate a referral.

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This vet has been used by my friend for 30 years and swears by him.

I'll send you more info by PM, but the basics are:

Westheimer Animal Clinic

713-622-1270

7005 Mapleridge St, Bellaire Tx.  

Near the 610 Loop in Houston