Need advice and input

Hi,

I am just about at my wits end. I adopted a cat Brandon in April as a companion to my resident cat Kabou. It became clear early on that Brandon had some health issues which I thought had been resolved after $1,000 of vet bills. His main problems were tape worms, hook worms and large amounts of bacteria in his feces. He has been tested for giardia (the special test that is supposedly 99% accurate), cocchida (sp), and everything else the vet could imagine. Brandon was on antibiotics (flagyl) for over a month to get rid of the bacteria. His poops are still light in color, not very firm, and still have some odor, but he does not cover it up, so that may be adding to the smelly problem. Kabou was treated for hook worms as well even though she tested negative for them. The last time I spoke with the vet about Brandon, she said that some cats just have stinker poops than others. Not sure I buy that.

Now I have a problem with Kabou, whose stools in the last 2-3 weeks have become lighter in color, looser, and more odorous. Then late last Thursday night she developed horrible diarrhea. By Friday morning she was vomiting bile and I took her to the vet. The vet said she was running a low fever, had some bacteria in her stool or a small infection and couldn't guess where she picked it up. She is now on amoxicylyn (sp). She has never been sick, is an inside cat only. My instinct tells me Brandon still has something going on intestinal wise and Kabou has picked it up. But why wouldn't the vet think of that? I am taking Kabou back to the vet tomorrow for a follow-up exam and plan on questioning the vet if this is something Brandon could still be passing along. But if they have tested for every type of bacteria in Brandon, what else could it be? Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

change thier food and watch them closely

its obviously a gastric thing

what are they eating ?? Has is changed ? if so what was the old??
did you worm both cats together???

Assuming you haven't changed foods, I would definitely ask the vet about the possibility that Brandon has passed something to Kabou. If they were using the same litter box, I think it's something to check into.
Good luck with your babies.

Thanks so much for your responses! To answer your questions, both cats are eating Nutro Natural Choice. Kabou is mostly on wet with a little dry and Brandon is mostly dry, with a little wet. He is not an easy convert to wet.

Kabou has been eating Nutro ever since I got her, which was about a year ago with no problems, and Brandon since I adopted him in April. Both cats were wormed at the same time.

I don't recall whether or not I mentioned in my original post that I was wondering if perhaps Brandon has some kind of food allergy. But I guess I am rethinking this because Kabou's symptoms (runny stinky poops) are exactly what I have been dealing with on Brandon. I love Kabou so very much and am really frightened that Brandon has passed something on to her that so far can't be identified. I'm truly puzzled.

When my boys were loaded with intestinal parasites it took several courses of doxicillin, alternated with medranizole, to clear it all up, over several weeks. They are very nasty things and fight the meds.

Originally Posted by Crt

Thanks so much for your responses! To answer your questions, both cats are eating Nutro Natural Choice. Kabou is mostly on wet with a little dry and Brandon is mostly dry, with a little wet. He is not an easy convert to wet.

Kabou has been eating Nutro ever since I got her, which was about a year ago with no problems, and Brandon since I adopted him in April. Both cats were wormed at the same time.

I don't recall whether or not I mentioned in my original post that I was wondering if perhaps Brandon has some kind of food allergy. But I guess I am rethinking this because Kabou's symptoms (runny stinky poops) are exactly what I have been dealing with on Brandon. I love Kabou so very much and am really frightened that Brandon has passed something on to her that so far can't be identified. I'm truly puzzled.

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Well they are eating a good food , I would have to ask what flavor >>??
If you suspect food allergies use Natural Balances venison and pea for 6-10 weeks and see if they improve

Thanks Sharky. They are eating the regular Nutro Natural Choice adult dry food (not indoor) and the turkey & liver, chicken & gibblets pouches. They are the only ones that Kabou likes. I also occasionally give them nutro canned chicken pate and shrimp/something bisque.

Question: If I switch them to a hypo-allergenic food as you suggested, do I do this slowly by mixing with Nutro, or switch all at once?

even though they eat the same food stubby has way stinkier poos than OG, i can always tell when he goes

Hello, I am still in the throes of trying to find out what is causing the loose stinky stools in both of my cats. You can see my original post for background. After Kabou developed horrible diarrhea, the vet found the bacteria spirochetes/spirocetes, in her stool. This bacteria is fairly rare according to the vet and not the type of spirochetes that is related to Lyme disease or venereal disease. She was put on amoxicillin for 10 days. On the 10th day, her diarrhea was really bad again, so we returned to the vet. Finally, the vet agreed that perhaps Brandon is passing along some kind of bacteria, infection, parasite to her that has not shown up the the fecal exams. We are presently having a lab do a special fecal analysis. The vet has prescribed Flagyl for 10 days for Kabou. Brandon was on Flagyl for at least 14 days when his symptoms first developed. I have suspected and still suspect giardia even though neither have tested positive yet. They have both been put on Hills I/D for the time being. Also, Kabou's stools are much better now that she is off the amoxicillin. While I am waiting for the results, I would like to disinfect as much as possible any surfaces they come in contact with. I am presently using the new Lysol spray that is child safe, for hard surfaces, litter box, etc.

My questions are:
1. Has anyone had experience with spirochetes?
2. What disinfectant is safe to use around cats that can also be used on furniture and carpeting, my bed linens, since they both sleep with me? Or would a steam cleaner be best? I searched the forum and couldn't find any hits on safe furniture disinfectants.


Thanks so much for your help. Cris