When Erin isn't happy

**bmccasland** · 10-09-2007, 07:56 PM

I think we need a "fURRY BeAST" category, but I digress...

Anyway, when Erin the cat isn't happy, NO ONE is happy. She's sick, again, down to 5.6 pounds. Had her at the vet on monday. So she's home on antibiotics and an antihistimine with a side effect of triggering her appetite. I think it has another side effect - that of making her anxious. For a cat that's usually quiet, she's been wandering around crying for hours. Should I mention that her crying is weak and pathetic, with some nasal congestion thrown in? Won't settle down in my lap (her edits with the cap lock on the first line). At least *I* get a break. Tomorrow I'm off to Lowell, MA for a conference and all the kitties (3) will board at the Vet's. She'll be through with the antihistimine by the time I get back.

I sure wish someone would figure out why she has chronic sinusitis, and fix it once and for all. She's not sick enough to be put to sleep, but she does have me worrying.

**sgtiger** · 10-09-2007, 08:07 PM

I'm sorry Erin is not feeling well. Hopefully the antibiotics will help clear out the nasty buggies in her system. It's not easy when our babies are sick, furred or otherwise.
[[[[[[bmccasland+Erin]]]]]]

**salsabike** · 10-09-2007, 08:12 PM

She sounds so little--5.6 lbs. isn't much for a cat. But at least she's in a reasonably safe place for the next three days.

When you get back, if you can you might want to look into getting a specialist. E.g., we have an emergency animal hospital here with specialists in internal med, gastro, and cancer. They found a solution to a problem one of our cats had that almost killed her. So just a thought...maybe you can ask your vet if he/she knows some specialists.

**bmccasland** · 10-09-2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by salsabike

She sounds so little--5.6 lbs. isn't much for a cat. But at least she's in a reasonably safe place for the next three days.

When you get back, if you can you might want to look into getting a specialist. E.g., we have an emergency animal hospital here with specialists in internal med, gastro, and cancer. They found a solution to a problem one of our cats had that almost killed her. So just a thought...maybe you can ask your vet if he/she knows some specialists.

One of her vets is an internal medicine specialist. So far Dr.M hasn't wanted to send her up to LSU Vet school. Chronic sinusitis is a problem with some kitties, and Erin is one of them.

Thanks for the warm thoughts, Erin likes to be warm.

**salsabike** · 10-09-2007, 08:30 PM

Poor little cookie.

Our 17 year old cat (speaking of warm) with kidney disease spends most of her time in her heated round bed. I want one of those.

**Zen** · 10-09-2007, 09:33 PM

I know how cranky sinus infections make me, at least I can sleep sitting up. poor thing.

**crazycanuck** · 10-09-2007, 09:35 PM

BMC..(((((kitty)))

Poor kitty

C

**elk** · 10-10-2007, 12:22 AM

what does she eat?

Have you tried changing her food? Sinusitis is inflammation which can be triggered by allergy... GENERALLY, allopathic vets and specialists don't (the pet food companies give lots of money to vet schools...) give enough attention to diet.

If she's eating a cat food with grains/preservatives etc, it can certainly affect her.

There are some excellent new foods on the market you might want to just TRY...They have made huge differences for lots and lots of animals...

If you have a "natural" pet food store near you, pay them a visit. Since the whole wheat gluten tragedy...shops which sell the better foods (NOT Iams and science Diet) have been popping up all over the place...

I used to only make the food my dogs eat...and for the first time in 16 years, I've been adding a kibble to their diet, because it's just so good!!
(It's called Orijen and they make cat food too)
http://www.championpetfoods.com/orij...ducts/cat.aspx

(i have no financial interest in any of this...;-))

poor kitty....hope you all get resolution soon!
elk

**makbike** · 10-10-2007, 04:17 AM

First, have they cultured the drainage from her nose? Second, have they drawn blood and tested her thyroid levels? Cats with hyperthyroidism will become very vocal, lose weight, may develop diarrhea and vomiting, are unsettled, etc. Finally, have they taken xrays of her head/face to make sure there are no foreign bodies in her sinus cavities?

Keep us posted and good luck.

**bmccasland** · 10-10-2007, 04:38 AM

Elk - I'll see what Whole Foods has, that's about my only option. Will also check the web link. Heck, I'm willing to try just about anything. Better food costs less than vet bills....

Matbike - most recently she did have a blood draw, when she first was sick (both ends) two months ago, and x-rays. Thyroid leves were normal, WBC was high, but on a subsequent blood draw two weeks later it was coming down. Noting on x-ray. She has had a nasal lavage in the past. The best she ever got was after a round of azythromycin (2 x daily, 30 days, fortunately tuna flavored).

I think part of her irritability was hunger. Little piglet snarfed down a large serving of canned (from WF) cat food this morning. For some reason she has trouble eating kibble. Last night I locked her in a spare bedroom with a little box, food (kibble), and water. She ate about 1/2 cup, with a lot spread on the floor.

Well, I need my morning coffee. Then get dressed and off to the Vet.

Y'all have fun, and be safe out there while I'm gone!

**sbctwin** · 10-10-2007, 04:50 AM

Hugs to Erin and bmccasland. I hope you have a safe trip.

**Thorn** · 10-10-2007, 05:52 AM

Poor thing...

Just wanted to pop in and second Elk's comments. My girl cat has always been the allergy cat. Her weight dropped down low and I thought she was headed out. The vet tossed up her hands. Figuring that she was old, and probably dying, I switched out her food from the "healthy" stuff to the rich stuff (hey, if it was me, that's what I would want

). Surprise of all surprises, she has perked up and is now a healthy, bouncing troublemaking 13 year old cat.

Changing the food is easy...and if they really like the new stuff, you feel a little less awful when they cry.

Good luck with the fur kid.

**LBTC** · 10-10-2007, 06:29 AM

{{{{{BMC}}}}} and {{{{{{{Erin}}}}}}

sending healing, happy, calm butterflies to you both. I hope Erin gets to feeling herself way soon!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-10-2007, 07:05 AM

We had 3 cats get kidney failure, one after another, on various foods.
Then I switched them all to Paul Newman's Organic dry cat food, and they are thriving. PN's has no wheat, no "meat by-products" (made from diseased or dead animals arriving at the slaughterhouse) and only organic vegetbles- so no pesticides.
Our one cat Lydia that was a large cat but only 6.5 pounds and skeletal an dragging around miserably is now 6 months later sleek and sassy and shiny and happy and bouncy. They love the food, and it smells so good when I open the bag, like fresh roast chicken.

**ibcycling** · 10-10-2007, 07:50 AM

Warm thought for your kitty. Hopefully the change in food will help her. Cats are better designed to eat wet food than they are kibble. Their sharp little teeth are made for tearing soft stuff, not crunching hard stuff. They also tend to not eat of they can't smell so a strong smelling can of food may tempt her to eat more than kibble. The health of my old man improved drastically when I switched him to a quality canned food!

I hope she's doing better when you get back.

Lora

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