Stray With Diahrrea

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
Hello all,

I introduced myself last night here...

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...1&page=1&pp=10

Where I explained about me and my life and kitties.

I am coming to you here at the Health forum because the kitten we rescued is still having problems with diarrhea.

She is wonderfully fine other wise, eats, drinks, plays, sleeps, loves to be pet, purrs the loudest of any cat I have ever heard.

I have been giving her Rescue Remedy, that helped with her initial stress of being brought inside. I started her on some non-dairy pro-biotics on Friday. I would have thought they would have kicked in by now.

When she first got here, she was having a VERY hard time making it to the littler box. Weather or not she just couldn't make it there due to the diarrhea, which was pretty explosive the first day, (she meowed at me when I was holding her, jumped out of my arms and squirted me with her tiny butt on her way down) This kind of thing hasn't happened since I started with the pro-biotics. She has a BM 3 or 4 times a day.

The problem is, about once a day, she has them on the carpet, in the same area she had them the first day, 2 feet or even inches from the littler box I put there. I sprayed the spots where she pooped before, they shouldn't smell like her. These are very runny. But sometimes look like they are beginning to firm up towards the last of the BM.

I want to take her to the vet. My BF won't let me, he doesn't want to spend the money on a cat that we might not keep. Basically, he wants her to stop pooping on the floor....as soon as she proves herself litter trainable, he feels she would be worth keeping. I am so frustrated with him. Our other cat loves her to death.

Could you all help me with OTC remedies for diarrhea? And ideas on how to keep her poo in the litter box? I feel he is on his last leg with finding brown surprises around his desk. A vet tech friend of mine suggested kaopectate, but that has been reformulated and contains a cousin to aspirin. I don't want to risk that.



Help me keep this sweet baby. Thanks Ya'll
Kristin
 

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
Kristin, it could be so many things that it would be both difficult and time-consuming to list them all here BUT - how long has she been eating the food you are providing for her? If she is new to this food, it may be just the digestive process and upset when introducing a new food too quickly. In light of the fact that she is a stray, you may not know what (if anything - poor baby) she was eating before, so it would be impossible to continue feeding that ... but a quick change in diet will normally cause very loose, runny diarrhea.

It could also be parasites. You will need to have a vet run a fecal examination to determine which - and don't forget to also have him check for coccidia or giardia. Both are so common in cats anymore that it seems almost a given to treat for them.

In either case, kittens dehydrate very quickly - make 100% certain she is getting enough fluids and go ahead and get her in to the vet. You ~know~ you are going to end up keeping her (*grin*) so you are not, essentially, spending money on a cat you aren't keeping.

Best of luck,

~gf~
 

gardenandcats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
2,514
Purraise
22
Location
Maine
If you can it would be best to get the vet to give her a good check up. It can be so many things that is causing the diareah. Try explaining to your boyfriend that she is not pooping on the floor because she isnot litter box trained. She is pooping because she has diareah and probably it comes on so sudden she just can't make it in time. Its obvious she is trying to get to the box in time as she is close to it when she goes.
By curing the diareah she will be able to make the box in time. And by taking her to the vet he will be able to get the the bottom of what is causing it.
 

beckiboo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
7,382
Purraise
4
Location
Illinois, USA
Do not give her OTC meds like kaopectate. Diarrhea is the body's way of getting rid of something-it is possible that by slowing it down you could be keeping toxins inside her.

Garfield's brother Odie died at my house of distemper. Diarrhea is a symptom of distemper. I hope that is not what your kitty has.

For your bf to expect a baby with diarrhea to always make it to the litterbox seems unfair to me. She may need medication to recover from it. And it could be contagious to your other cat. Honestly, it might be better to turn her over to a rescue agency so she can get medical care and then learn better litterbox habits.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
I have tried explaining that. Since I am not the one who is going to pay for it. He has the final word. Another thing he has a problem with is that Polly has been playing with the Kitty instead of spending time with us. He doesn't like that either. I think his, "if the kitten can't stop pooping on the carpet, she will have to go" thing is because he feels neglected by his Polly.

He's got issues. It makes me mad. I want to help this kitten. She just pooped on the floor again. What the HECK! She CAN make it to the litter box, she went poo in the big box this morning while I was in the middle of scooping it. I picked up the accident she just had, put it in the little box about 3 feet from the accident site and showed it to her. Said, "this is where you are SUPPOSED to do that. Took her little paw and scooped some litter over the poo. Patted her on the head and proceeded to finish the clean up job. Good news is this BM was the firmest yet.

To be honest, I am tired of cleaning up poo as well. I am tired of having to lock her out of the bedroom at night in fear of being pooped on. My house smells like poo. My carpets are dotted with obvious accident sites along the floorboards. She is always pooing up against something. The desk or the wall so far. It's odd.

Sorry to rant. I just don't know what to do. Taking her to the vet right now is not an option, unless HE comes to his sences.

Maybe I should just take her to the no kill shelter. At least she would get care there.
But then I worry about Polly. GROAN.
 

yosemite

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
23,313
Purraise
81
Location
Ingersoll, ON
Originally Posted by Yarra

I have tried explaining that. Since I am not the one who is going to pay for it. He has the final word. Another thing he has a problem with is that Polly has been playing with the Kitty instead of spending time with us. He doesn't like that either. I think his, "if the kitten can't stop pooping on the carpet, she will have to go" thing is because he feels neglected by his Polly.

He's got issues. It makes me mad. I want to help this kitten. She just pooped on the floor again. What the HECK! She CAN make it to the litter box, she went poo in the big box this morning while I was in the middle of scooping it. I picked up the accident she just had, put it in the little box about 3 feet from the accident site and showed it to her. Said, "this is where you are SUPPOSED to do that. Took her little paw and scooped some litter over the poo. Patted her on the head and proceeded to finish the clean up job. Good news is this BM was the firmest yet.

To be honest, I am tired of cleaning up poo as well. I am tired of having to lock her out of the bedroom at night in fear of being pooped on. My house smells like poo. My carpets are dotted with obvious accident sites along the floorboards. She is always pooing up against something. The desk or the wall so far. It's odd.

Sorry to rant. I just don't know what to do. Taking her to the vet right now is not an option, unless HE comes to his sences.

Maybe I should just take her to the no kill shelter. At least she would get care there.
But then I worry about Polly. GROAN.
I don't want to sound harsh here, but it seems to me that this is not the best home or situation for this little kitten. I would try to find it a new home or if push comes to shove take it to a no-kill shelter where it can be treated for whatever illness it may have.

If your BF is jealous of Polly, then I really believe he doesn't want this kitty and I am not comfortable about how he would treat it.

Please, find it a good home.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
It is not distemper. She has no fever, she is eating and drinking very well, and the diarrhea is firming, slowly. But firming.

Plus she has been spayed. She has recently been shaven and has a belly scar. She would have had her vaccines.

I just want some advice on helping make it to the litter box. She is capable of doing so. 3 out of the 4 times a day she poops, she makes it to the litter box.

Polly is our cat. Not the kitten. We have not named the kitten.

Thanks
 

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
If you can, try to give it a couple of more days to allow her little system to become used to the new food and environment. You could also try confining her to a much smaller space that contains her litter, food and water dishes, a few fun toys and a warm, comfortable bed. It might help her to make it to the litter when she suddenly feels the need.

Something I have used to help bind up a runny kitten is a little boneless, skinless chicken breast boiled in plain water ... I tear it up into smallish pieces then put it into the food processor with some cooked, plain, long-cooking white rice. I mix this with a little warm (not hot) water or KMR to make it goopy and give about a teaspoon of it several times throughout the day for one to two days. If I don't see results by the end of that time, to the vet we go.

I do have to agree with Beckiboo about the toxins though ... until you know what is actually causing the problems, it is usually best not to try and treat unknowns.
 

yosemite

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
23,313
Purraise
81
Location
Ingersoll, ON
Originally Posted by Yarra

It is not distemper. She has no fever, she is eating and drinking very well, and the diarrhea is firming, slowly. But firming.

Plus she has been spayed. She has recently been shaven and has a belly scar. She would have had her vaccines.

I just want some advice on helping make it to the litter box. She is capable of doing so. 3 out of the 4 times a day she poops, she makes it to the litter box.

Polly is our cat. Not the kitten. We have not named the kitten.

Thanks
I realize Polly is your cat - not your kitten. I simply read it that your BF is concerned Polly won't love him as much and may ignore him if you keep the kitten. If he really doesn't like or want this kitten, as I said above, perhaps it would be best to find it another home where it would be more accepted. I also read that you really love this kitten, but if it comes down to disagreements between you and your BF over this kitten, then that environment isn't good for any of you.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
Originally Posted by Yosemite

I realize Polly is your cat - not your kitten. I simply read it that your BF is concerned Polly won't love him as much and may ignore him if you keep the kitten. If he really doesn't like or want this kitten, as I said above, perhaps it would be best to find it another home where it would be more accepted. I also read that you really love this kitten, but if it comes down to disagreements between you and your BF over this kitten, then that environment isn't good for any of you.
Ok.

Sorry, i mis-read where you were reffering to Polly. I agree about finding her a home. I would prefer it be ours. She is super sweet and she and Polly get along great. I will give it a couple more days. The stools seem to be improving. I wish we could put her up somewhere in her own little space, but we have no extra rooms. The ONLY place she could go would be the small laundry "closet" or the bathroom. Both places we are in and out of consistantly. Oh my gosh, don't get me started on the NOISE! She is extreeeeemly vocal. Talk talk talk talk talk. It's cute. BUT not when you have her cooped up, like we did the first couple nights she was here. I thought she was going to meow herself to death. That is when I brought the Rescue Remedy into the picture. It helped tremendously.

The vet suggested Calcium Carbonate to maybe help her system calm down. Has anyone ever used this?

Okay, so let's say that she CAN make it to the litter box, but is just CHOOSING to go on the carpet, against the wall. What would be the best thing to encourage her to go where she is supposed to?
 

carolpetunia

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
9,669
Purraise
17
Location
Plano, Texas
Yosemite is 100% right. Your boyfriend doesn't sound like a person who knows or cares enough about cat health to make good decisions; and you need to recognize that just because the kitten SOMETIMES makes it to the box doesn't mean she's maliciously AVOIDING it on other occasions.

She's a baby! She's sick! She needs help, and if you aren't able to get her to a vet, you should do just what you suggested: take her to the no-kill shelter. At least the people there will treat her for her illness, and they'll eventually find her a more appropriate home.

I may sound harsh, too, and I apologize for that... but this is a baby, and she deserves better than to be trapped in a power struggle between her humans. Please... take her to the no-kill shelter as soon as you can.
 

carolpetunia

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
9,669
Purraise
17
Location
Plano, Texas
I forgot to mention: if her stools seem to be getting firmer, it could just mean that she's becoming dehydrated -- not that she's getting better. This is a tiny creature with very little margin for error. She needs medical help now.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
Oh my gosh!! Would you people stop!

She is WONDERFUL in every other facet visable health. The stools are getting better, every day.

She is not making the litter box every time. Once a day she poops outside.

This is not a 'sick' cat. She is gaining weight, she is not dehydrated, she is drinking well, she is eating reguarly. And pooping regualry, although soft. She has had a sever life change within the last week. I would like to see if it is the new food, home, people, other cat, that could be the problem first, as the vet suggested over the phone.

There has been NO deterioration in her condition. The diarrhea has improved every day.

She is just pooping outside the box every now and then and I would like to know what to do about it!!!

I should never have mentioned anything else. I should have just come on here and said....

"Hey, I have a kitten that is not making it to the box everytime. Any suggestions??"

I guess that is my own fault. So now I have half the board telling me to get rid of the cat. And that we are bad people for wanting to keep her in the first place. If the cat was in PAIN or getting worse, I would SKIP WORK to take her to the vet, or to the no kill shelter. But she is getting BETTER!!! HAS BEEN!!!

I just need help with the poop on the carpet.

Stop judging me.
 

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
I don't think it is fair for us to jump to these conclusions about what is best or what is not best for this person and her cat. This wasn't the question here ... the question is how to help the baby get over her diarrhea not whether it was best that she stay in this home. The ~immediate~ need is to get this kitten to a point where she can eliminate normally - I think decisions as to her future living arrangements can come down the line.

Carol is right in saying that firmer stool can and sometimes does denote dehydration. The most accurate way (barring a vet visit) to determine whether or not this baby is keeping her fluids up is to pinch up a flap of skin at the base of the neck, between the shoulders. Pull it up and twist it slightly to either side. Does it snap back into place quickly and evenly or does it stay tented up? If the skin doesn't snap back into place normally, then baby is compromised and must see a vet now.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
Originally Posted by gayef

I don't think it is fair for us to jump to these conclusions about what is best or what is not best for this person and her cat. This wasn't the question here ... the question is how to help the baby get over her diarrhea not whether it was best that she stay in this home. The ~immediate~ need is to get this kitten to a point where she can eliminate normally - I think decisions as to her future living arrangements can come down the line.

Carol is right in saying that firmer stool can and sometimes does denote dehydration. The most accurate way (barring a vet visit) to determine whether or not this baby is keeping her fluids up is to pinch up a flap of skin at the base of the neck, between the shoulders. Pull it up and twist it slightly to either side. Does it snap back into place quickly and evenly or does it stay tented up? If the skin doesn't snap back into place normally, then baby is compromised and must see a vet now.
Thankyou!

Yes it snaps back quickly. I had already done this test on her as I do with horses.

This was why I am not horribly worried about acute illness at this point. Dehydration would be the number one symptom of anything that would be wrong that includes diarrhea.

I just want to help her poop in the box and continue seeing the diarrhea improve.

worn out now,
kristin
 

yosemite

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
23,313
Purraise
81
Location
Ingersoll, ON
Originally Posted by gayef

I don't think it is fair for us to jump to these conclusions about what is best or what is not best for this person and her cat. This wasn't the question here ... the question is how to help the baby get over her diarrhea not whether it was best that she stay in this home. The ~immediate~ need is to get this kitten to a point where she can eliminate normally - I think decisions as to her future living arrangements can come down the line.

Carol is right in saying that firmer stool can and sometimes does denote dehydration. The most accurate way (barring a vet visit) to determine whether or not this baby is keeping her fluids up is to pinch up a flap of skin at the base of the neck, between the shoulders. Pull it up and twist it slightly to either side. Does it snap back into place quickly and evenly or does it stay tented up? If the skin doesn't snap back into place normally, then baby is compromised and must see a vet now.
You are right and I apologize if I was out of line, but I had read that her BF would not pay for a vet visit for this kitten and that she had to rely on him to make that decision. This being the case, my feeling was that if he won't pay to have the kitty taken to the vet to rule out any illnesses, then it would be better to give it up to someone else so it can be treated.
 

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
Yarra, calm down - it's OK. Let's just focus on your immediate need ...

to clean your carpet in order to make it less attractive scent-wise for baby, you will need something specifically designed to remove urine and feces. I use a baby formula laundry detergent for this. I put just a few drops into a bowl of hot water and clean the area with it. I then use an antibacterial spray over the area - I let it dry and then allow the cats access to that area again. They normally do not return to use it after this has been done. This also works well with vomit.

In the short term, can you move her litter box to the area where she is going on the carpet? You don't have to keep it there forever, just while her little system is adjusting and she is having a few accidents. Once she is recovered, you can put it in a more appropriate place.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #19

yarra

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
727
Purraise
1
Location
Texas
It is already in that area. The area is under the dining room table which is up against the wall. My BF computer desk is on the other wall. She poops allllll along the baseboard under the table, under the window beside the desk, and twice under the desk against the wall. No poops have been free standing, all have been against the wall. The first time there were 5 poos, we left for the day on Thanksgiving and were greated with that when we got home! (serves us right)

After that fiasco, we put a small litterbox under the table. She uses that one, AND the main covered litter box in the laundry room, AND once a day, poops by the base board right near the temporary litter box.

This morning when I cleaned up a poop she did over night, I also cleaned out the litter boxes thinking maybe they were too dirty for her. When I grabbed the little one from under the table, it was only urine. When I cleaned the other, she had pooped in there, numerous times. AS I was scooping it, she came over and pooped in it. I praised her when she was done and scooped that bit out as well.

When I came home from school, she had pooped up agains my BF computer desk. there was urine in the small litter box under the table. She has been in and out of the big litter box, but I think only to play.

This morning, I cleaned up the spot with petzyme. Then I sprayed all kinds of stuff around the area to deter her from using it. It obviously didn't work. I will try your suggestion of laundry detergent? Will Tide work? Or do I need to get a baby formula? What kind of antibactirial spray do you use?

Thanks for the help.
 

carolpetunia

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
9,669
Purraise
17
Location
Plano, Texas
As I said, I apologize for sounding harsh -- but you evidently believe the kitten is CHOOSING to poop outside the box sometimes, and I'm trying to explain that this is not a reasonable conclusion. Sometimes she can make it and sometimes she can't. I don't think there's anything for you to DO about it -- when she recovers, she'll stop doing it. Until then, if you aren't willing to take her to the vet, you need to accept that this is the way it is. She's not doing it deliberately.
 
Top