kitten with manx syndrome, any advice?

[shylie]

JackJack1.jpg

• shylie
• Nov 6, 2013

I can identify, this is baby JackJack. He was one of 4 kittens born 7 weeks ago on my birthday. Only one of the 4 was born with a tail, the rest were manx. One died after about 3 weeks. JackJack is one of the favorites in the house but he constantly has poopy-butt too and I'm pretty sure when he pees it just all falls out. Poor baby we've been helping his rear end twice a day too and he hates it. Do they make diapers for kitties?? We'll do whatever it takes for this little guy. The other one without a tail is Raffy and she seems to have better control, but still kinda drops a poop once in a while where she stands. She walks better too, JackJack hops like a bunny too. Good luck with your little one!

 

[colleendebra]

I have a female Manx with Manx Syndrome who is the sweetest little thing and I am so glad I didn't put her to sleep...yes there are many issues to deal with...my vet is a big help because I panic when she isn't well and he has been very supportive in my decision to care for her....my first suggestion is pet insurance.....she was extremely tiny when we got her and even preemie diapers were to big....what we did was get preemie baby sleepers with the snaps that snap on the tummie with no legs....like a t shirt that snaps on....we had to adjust the snaps higher to fit .....she didn't enjoy the diaper lol. So we then started using panty liners.....she has always had a bath from 8 weeks old and even though she is now almost a year she will still cry threw it...no scratching it biting just complaining.....our routine is a bath before I got to work with a clean outfit and a regular pad now that she is bigger.....when my daughter gets home from work she gets another change and her bum washed before her pad change.....then when I get home I bathe her and another outfit and pad change.....its just habit now...yes sometimes I have to manipulate her anus to help her pass a stool but there are foods you can add to help this problem...raw canned pumpkin mixed into a bit of wet food or my cat just likes it by its self....plus the vet carries a brand if food for cats like this where constipation is a issue.....I have been told by friends and family members that I should if put her down but my feeling is this....dogs wear diapers....and if you look on line there are thousands of products for digs with medical problems ...why are cats not given the same chance.....my cat Shadow is a family member and yes its a bit of a hassle at times but so what.... So if your willing to put in a little extra time you will have a living pet...they eventually get into the routine with you...I will post a few pics of Shadow soon to show you

 

[colleendebra]

I have to say JackJack looks like a cutie....hope things are going well....

 

[manxs owner]

I found the smallest little abandoned manxs cat in my apt parking lot she was dehydrated and couldn't stand up straight at first. Being a absolute cat lover of 28 my mother taught me how to bottle feed and stimulate kittens and so forth. So I did and then I noticed her rectum was protruding but she could not push any feces out. I took her to the vet who gave her a quick exam and just dismissed it as her having an extra layer of skin over her bottom and dident listen to the things I was telling him. So I brought her back home. Rubbed her bottom with a warm for at least 20 mins till I got the first poop out of her ever! I felt awesome thinking she was finally going to be ok! And last night when I tried to assist her in pooping again I noticed her behind was still swollen from the night before and almost looked like the opening was extremely small but popped regular size the night before I have bought her all of the necessities. Abut now I am out of money and unable to take her back to the vet. Has anyone felt with this exact problem before do I give her mineral oil or some sort of laxative to help with her unusually small opening?? Signed hopeful manxs owner in corpus texas

 

[colleendebra]

If you mix up a teaspoon of plain yogurt and canned raw pumpkin and get the kitten to eat it , it will help with the pooping.  My cat loves it and she has a history of being inpacted that cost alot of money at the vet to treat.....

To help with the pooping the malipulation of the butt should go no longer then five minutes at a time because that will cause the swelling....I learned this from experience.....a warm bath and moving around with play can also help stimulate the urge to pooh...

If all esle fails to give a enema can be tricky....I use a very small syringe....with warm water and slightly inserted into the bum....veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy slowly push in to water......if the cat gets uncomfortable and upset then stop....I am not a vet only someone who has dealt with these issues and have found these work for me...

Hope this helps

Debbie

march 2014 007.jpg

• colleendebra
• Jul 8, 2014

 

[dubbah22]

I have an older cat with chronic constipation and low potassium that makes him a bit wobbly. He's not manx, but bear with me. My constipated guy would drop poop all over the house because he'd get started in the box but continue outside the box. I don't know if he thought he was finished or what he was doing... anyway... we've tried lactulose, pumpkin, fiber, etc.  Then I learned about slippery elm bark, an herb that is safe for cats, made into a syrup. I bought some slippery elm bark powder (no additives), followed the simple stovetop recipe and started giving to him in oral syringe. It has worked very nicely. He has not pooped outside the box in weeks. He goes every day.

Now to the manx syndrome: I also volunteer with a local cat rescue. We recently took in a litter of 3-week-old kittens. Three of them are without tails and have manx syndrome. They were having terrible constipation and I thought of the slippery elm bark. So we have been giving them a little in oral syringe. They are doing much better on this. No poops stuck to their butts.

This "juice" as I call it soothes the digestive tract lining and it has fiber. We are hopeful that starting them early on this will prevent colon damage as they grow. 

For more information about slippery elm bark, visit the Feline CRF site:  http://www.felinecrf.org/holistic_treatments.htm#SEB1  (the recipe is there) or search the web to find out more about it.

 

[colleendebra]

I will try this for sure   thanks  

 

[yup meow]

Okay I know this sounds cliche...but take him to the vet. HERE'S WHY -- My vet saved my kitty who has no tail. She always had litterbox issues -- but I thought it was anxiety. I was REALLY wrong. She suddenly got really sick, lost interest in her food, lethargic...and dropped weight. I took her to the vet. He told me what was wrong and my jaw dropped. I had never heard of "Manx Syndrome" or anything like that. So apparently she couldn't go on her own at all anymore. It's over my head. All I really understand is the brain nerves aren't communicating with the butt nerves? But the upshot is she's doing good now. I have to squeeze her twice a day. The vet showed me how. She doesn't like it, but she puts up with it and is a happy little cat other than that. It doesn't take long, and it's not hard.

I HAVE had to experiment with her food. That made quite a big difference. Expressing the bladder..no biggie. Bowels? Tricky. But getting the right combination of food makes it easier.

Don't give up on your kitten. But DO go to the vet. I WISH I HAD TAKEN the kitty in earlier! She must have really been miserable. 

 

[yup meow]

Oh man that's rough. Maybe try a different vet? Some will work with people who are short on funds. Also there are veterinary websites where you can submit questions and get advice. Good luck.

 

[Norachan]

Hi @Yup Meow  Welcome to The Cat Site.

This thread is a couple of years old so you probably won't get any response here. Why not start a new thread about your cat if you have something to share?

 

[laurafhl]

After reading this thread I think I might have found out what is wrong with one my my feral cats kittens.. Only one in the litter of four has a tail, two have half tails and one has no tail.. Momma cat has half a tail which we thought was due to some kind of accident but now I'm thinking no.. All the manx kittens seem fine but one. She (one with half a tail) leans to the left and her back legs don't work well. She hops more than walks and her back legs seem 'floppy'. These kittens are about 6 weeks old and momma just brought them out of hiding a couple of weeks ago. They are all eating well. Momma is trying to wean them. We give the kittens soft food but they are also chewing on hard food. I'm wondering what I should do about the kitten that seems so off balance. She is the only one of the kitten that lets us hold her and love on her. The others still run off when we get close. I'm afraid to say I'm attached to her.

 

[Norachan]

I'm wondering what I should do about the kitten that seems so off balance. She is the only one of the kitten that lets us hold her and love on her. The others still run off when we get close. I'm afraid to say I'm attached to her.

Can you bring her inside? She won't live very long outside, a predator will pick her up in no time.

Actually it would be great if you could bring all the kittens and the mother cat indoors. The kittens are still young enough to be socialised, so once they are used to people they can go to new homes.

The mother cat will need to be spayed so she doesn't have kittens every 3 months.

Do you have a room you could keep the cat and kittens in for a while? If you let us know which state/city you are in we can help you find cheap spay and neuter clinics, rescues etc.