Artie and his Issues

[dustydiamond1]

Thanks again.. woke up early for mass... nose stuffy, smelling poop.. Artie was up against my side, which is strange, because he has been sleeping on the pillow..

Got up, put on light; found a huge piece of poop on my pillow, which I had smooshed...OMG!! Gag... stink, smell!!

Immediately took the pillow case off.. wiped off the poop, and sprayed Natures Miracle on it... I smelt like poop!! Could not find any on me.. Have to remove the pillow case cover and wash it also..
I had Just washed my hair late yesterday... Have to wash it again!!

Went into kitchen: poop smears all over the place. I could see exactly where Artie sat and then he did the bum scoot on the kitchen floor!! OMG

Everywhere I looked, I found a smear.. or a spot the size of his rectum...

Tried to go back to the bedroom, saw spots all over the laminate floor..

I spent 20 minutes just spot cleaning... washed hands several times.. as soon as I washed them, I saw another spot....

Nothing in litter box.. this was a good size piece of poop on the pillow: at least one inch...

Know what I am doing as soon as I come back from Sunday Mass: Stripping bed, quick vacuum, and a quick wash of the floors... sigh... and washing the quilt also...

My bedroom still stinks!!

I cannot get that 'dirty' feeling off of me...

Artie cannot help it, but jeesh... Not what I wanted to wake up to....

Trying to get him to poop in the litter box, but he refuses to go....

On another note:

 

[artiemom]

Again, To all of Artie's Army: Happy New Year.. may it be filled with tons of blessings for each and everyone of you, and your family!

Artie:
I think I know why there were so much poops, all over the house.. I had given him a new food: turkey/duck, on Saturday... I know he has a chicken allergy..

I thought it was was a bit weird that he seemed to almost want to vomit after eating it.. but took it as being because he ate so fast.. it was more of a gag than anything else.

Yesterday, I pulled out the container, discovering that the turkey/duck food, contained
chicken liver!!! Why be deceitful on labeling?? I would never have bought it, if it was labeled correctly... so mad...it was Nutro Frontier Line...
So now, we are dealing with his IBD issues, in addition to the Megacolon.. just as we did a year ago...

That is why Artie had the gagging--he always vomited, immediately after eating anything containing chicken, expect for the prescription food: W/D and the Fiber Response...

Wish he would go back to the W/D.. sigh...

He refused the Fancy Feast Beef!!! That was one of his favorites.. this cat is running out of food choices..
He did eat 1/3 cup of FR food during the night..

Artie was very subdued yesterday--I can't imagine how his tummy felt.. poor thing.

I also decided to try a probiotic on him.. I know!! I will run it by NVet on Tuesday..

Gave him Purina One Seafood Stew this morning.. he was waiting for food.
I mashed it down, and he ate 1/3 of a can.
left more out for him...

I am returning to his lowest dose of miralax today.. I really feel as if we are back at square one... sigh.. with food and his poops... sigh...

I got all of the chores done yesterday.. my entire spine was hurting.. and cracking.. I hope I do not have arthritis in the spine.. even the cervical (neck) joints were cracking last night.. lower back is really tight and sore.. still...

Ok-- new Year, back to normal chores!! and take down the rest of the decorations... Nativity set is next.. and the snowman..

 

[dustydiamond1]

Again, To all of Artie's Army: Happy New Year.. may it be filled with tons of blessings for each and everyone of you, and your family!

Artie:
I think I know why there were so much poops, all over the house.. I had given him a new food: turkey/duck, on Saturday... I know he has a chicken allergy..

I thought it was was a bit weird that he seemed to almost want to vomit after eating it.. but took it as being because he ate so fast.. it was more of a gag than anything else.

Yesterday, I pulled out the container, discovering that the turkey/duck food, contained
chicken liver!!! Why be deceitful on labeling?? I would never have bought it, if it was labeled correctly... so mad...it was Nutro Frontier Line...
So now, we are dealing with his IBD issues, in addition to the Megacolon.. just as we did a year ago...

That is why Artie had the gagging--he always vomited, immediately after eating anything containing chicken, expect for the prescription food: W/D and the Fiber Response...

Wish he would go back to the W/D.. sigh...

He refused the Fancy Feast Beef!!! That was one of his favorites.. this cat is running out of food choices..
He did eat 1/3 cup of FR food during the night..

Artie was very subdued yesterday--I can't imagine how his tummy felt.. poor thing.

I also decided to try a probiotic on him.. I know!! I will run it by NVet on Tuesday..

Gave him Purina One Seafood Stew this morning.. he was waiting for food.
I mashed it down, and he ate 1/3 of a can.
left more out for him...

I am returning to his lowest dose of miralax today.. I really feel as if we are back at square one... sigh.. with food and his poops... sigh...

I got all of the chores done yesterday.. my entire spine was hurting.. and cracking.. I hope I do not have arthritis in the spine.. even the cervical (neck) joints were cracking last night.. lower back is really tight and sore.. still...

Ok-- new Year, back to normal chores!! and take down the rest of the decorations... Nativity set is next.. and the snowman..

Poor Artie and Cindy. On their own cats eat mice so it's too bad they don't use them to make cat food.

 

[artiemom]

Yes, even though it is a New Year, I am feeling disheartened... I looked at all his food.. They all contain chicken.. I am so down...

I opened a can of W/D for him.. he is refusing it.. he is hungry, but I cannot read his mind as to what he wants to eat. I am thinking he can taste the chicken in the seafood stew and is avoiding it.... also, started a coughing/gagging for a minute after nibbling a bit..

Weighed him... 10 lbs... sigh

He did love being brushed...and played for a few minutes.. not much but alert.. He was really good when I trimmed his claws...have not done it for about 2 months. I found a new way: on the cat tree, with him cuddled up against me.. my arm wrapped around his body, lifting up one paw at a time.. for the back, I had one back paw hanging off the ledge, with my body supporting him. He could not get away, or fuss because His leg did not have anything to push against.. worked great.. He growled a bit, but not much..

Artie has been following me around.. I can tell he is wanting food..

I wish he was not so stubborn, and finicky with his food.. spoiled, but I do not know..
Artie was eating junk food before I adopted him... it was either Stop & Shop Grocery store, brand food, or Purina One (at shelter)....

Once a junk food junkie, always one.. but when it effects his health, it is so hard..
I know I did not make him this fussy...or did I??

Kind of feel as I did, one year ago.. BUT, I have NVet ~~~ just a bit down...If only he would eat the prescription food... There is a lot to be said for it.. they may have a ton of ingredients which you may not care for, but they do not change their formulas. They are consistent..

Thanks for listening..

 

[AbbysMom]

Cindy, I know you have mentioned it in this thread a million times, but what are you looking for in a wet food? Abby is allergic to chicken and I'm sure others here have cats with chicken allergies also. What are his requirements? Maybe one of us can make a suggestion for you.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

You are not quite where you were a year ago, you know, although I can see why you feel that way! Don't forget...there was DANGED CHICKEN in his food which was NOT on the label, so that's going to throw him off for a few days. With his innards, he isn't likely to bounce back in 24 hours! Hang in there, Darlin!

 

[tarasgirl06]

Yes, even though it is a New Year, I am feeling disheartened... I looked at all his food.. They all contain chicken.. I am so down...

I opened a can of W/D for him.. he is refusing it.. he is hungry, but I cannot read his mind as to what he wants to eat. I am thinking he can taste the chicken in the seafood stew and is avoiding it.... also, started a coughing/gagging for a minute after nibbling a bit..

Weighed him... 10 lbs... sigh

He did love being brushed...and played for a few minutes.. not much but alert.. He was really good when I trimmed his claws...have not done it for about 2 months. I found a new way: on the cat tree, with him cuddled up against me.. my arm wrapped around his body, lifting up one paw at a time.. for the back, I had one back paw hanging off the ledge, with my body supporting him. He could not get away, or fuss because His leg did not have anything to push against.. worked great.. He growled a bit, but not much..

Artie has been following me around.. I can tell he is wanting food..

I wish he was not so stubborn, and finicky with his food.. spoiled, but I do not know..
Artie was eating junk food before I adopted him... it was either Stop & Shop Grocery store, brand food, or Purina One (at shelter)....

Once a junk food junkie, always one.. but when it effects his health, it is so hard..
I know I did not make him this fussy...or did I??

Kind of feel as I did, one year ago.. BUT, I have NVet ~~~ just a bit down...If only he would eat the prescription food... There is a lot to be said for it.. they may have a ton of ingredients which you may not care for, but they do not change their formulas. They are consistent..

Thanks for listening..

Really sorry you've had a *crappy* NYE and hoping things calm down, even out, and become more "regular" so to speak. It's good Artie is "going" but yes, it would be so good if he could "go" in his box. I've dealt with this sort of thing before, though, many times, and all I can say is I'm so thankful for Nature's Miracle.
I know that Drs. Foster & Smith have many varieties and brands of food and some of them are billed as being limited ingredient formulae. Maybe there's something they offer that Artie hasn't tried yet. I can understand him turning up his nose at the Rx food, because I would, too. When my Sun's doctor tried to put him on one of those, he would not eat it and I was left with reading endless ingedient panels and trying to select only low-ash, low-magnesium foods. It worked quite well, because even with a diagnosis of dry-form FIP, he made it to a respectable almost 16 years.
A lot of people swear by Fancy Feast and some of the formulas are pretty good in terms of ingredients. Chicken is almost universal, though, I know.
Wishing you both a better NYD and beyond.

 

[dustydiamond1]

Yes, even though it is a New Year, I am feeling disheartened... I looked at all his food.. They all contain chicken.. I am so down...

I opened a can of W/D for him.. he is refusing it.. he is hungry, but I cannot read his mind as to what he wants to eat. I am thinking he can taste the chicken in the seafood stew and is avoiding it.... also, started a coughing/gagging for a minute after nibbling a bit..

Weighed him... 10 lbs... sigh

He did love being brushed...and played for a few minutes.. not much but alert.. He was really good when I trimmed his claws...have not done it for about 2 months. I found a new way: on the cat tree, with him cuddled up against me.. my arm wrapped around his body, lifting up one paw at a time.. for the back, I had one back paw hanging off the ledge, with my body supporting him. He could not get away, or fuss because His leg did not have anything to push against.. worked great.. He growled a bit, but not much..

Artie has been following me around.. I can tell he is wanting food..

I wish he was not so stubborn, and finicky with his food.. spoiled, but I do not know..
Artie was eating junk food before I adopted him... it was either Stop & Shop Grocery store, brand food, or Purina One (at shelter)....

Once a junk food junkie, always one.. but when it effects his health, it is so hard..
I know I did not make him this fussy...or did I??

Kind of feel as I did, one year ago.. BUT, I have NVet ~~~ just a bit down...If only he would eat the prescription food... There is a lot to be said for it.. they may have a ton of ingredients which you may not care for, but they do not change their formulas. They are consistent..

Thanks for listening..

Will he eat fresh fish?
I had read in one of the threads that someone was using human fingernail clippers to trim nails and since all of our pet nail clippers were splintering hers I gave it a try, worked great! I wait til she is in her 'melted butter' state and can get them all.

 

[artiemom]

AbbysMom ,
I am sorry if I am whining.. what I am looking for seems to be an impossibility..
I am just feeling sorry for ourselves/myself..

I do not think there is a food around that Artie will take to. I have tried them all..

Ideally, what I would like in a food is: No Chicken, but something that Artie would eat..
I have tried all the novel protein foods: buffalo, lamb, venison, pork, beef, alligator, kangaroo. The issue is: Artie will eat them for about 6 weeks, then turn his nose up at them. That is, if he eats it at all....

I have tried, Wild Calling, Hound & Gatos, Ziwipeak, Natures Variety (the clay worsens his megacolon) prescription food: Rabbit, Venison, Pork, Fiber Response (which does have some chicken in it) and most recently, the W/D wet and dry (contains chicken also).

It seems he wants a variety of food. He was raised on junk food.. all the junk food contain chicken.

I am just frustrated. so sorry..

He was eating the Fancy Feast Classics, the non-chicken; however, yesterday he refused the FF Classic Beef... and FF Classic Chopped Liver.. that is why I am feeling as if I am at my wit's end..

I absolutely cannot go raw. Artie free feeds.. in addition, I would have to buy a small freezer just for his food. I am afraid of raw feedings..

Sorry for whining...and I know I do more than enough of it.. just extremely frustrated...

I went out to noontime Mass today. Had to find someplace to get air for the tires. The cold weather has frozen a ton of the air lines at the gas stations. Finally found one working. A really nice guy helped me out with the air.. really needed it..

I came home, Artie came to the door. He then proceeded to follow me around..
I picked him up, he started heaving!! OH No.. Decided to definitely give him a Cerneia..
But, there was something in the vomit: a white fur ball!!! I wonder if that was what has been bothering him...

I had left out 3 foods for him: the dry Fiber Response, the junk seafood, and the W/D wet... He waited a bit, went into the kitchen and came out licking his lips. I do not know what he ate, but he ate-- no cerenia for him..

From past experience: If Artie gets sick from a certain food/protein, he will completely refuse that protein in the future... he never forgets it..

Hopefully, the fur ball will be the end of this issue, at least for a while...

NVet is back tomorrow, I hope... perhaps he can shed some light on this. Although, I know he will say: "One step at a time. As long as he is eating something".. but I am going crazy trying to find that 'something'.. and my procrastinating is not helping...
neither is the fact that my dad's anniversary is Wednesday, and I miss him a lot....just a bad time of year for me....which makes me sadder...blowing things out of proportion.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Crossing my fingers that all of this was, in fact, a fur ball!

 

[AbbysMom]

I'm also going to cross my fingers that it was the hair ball.

Listen, you are allowed to whine. Abby lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time recently and I was beside myself. Because of that we just had her annual done a little early on Friday. When we went back she had gained most of the weight back and her blood while was sort of OK. We need to try a few small changes, but nothing like I anticipated. I was making myself sick with worry in between the visits, and you have been doing so many visits with Artie and have tried so many things, you get to whine.

Abby is also starting to refuse some of her favorites recently. She goes through periods like that. You want to bang your head against a wall. I'll start looking through some of what I feed and see if any of it would work for Artie.

 

[artiemom]

Crossing my fingers that all of this was, in fact, a fur ball!

You know, anything is possible with Artie..

I think I am going to put on some laundry, and let NVet deal with this, tomorrow. I am beyond comprehension and thinking clearly.. really just whining more than asking for help, and that is not fair to anyone on here.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Hush. That's what we are here for, to support you in whatever way you need at the moment! We know what you have been through with Artie, and sometimes you NEED TO VENT!

 

[tarasgirl06]

You know, anything is possible with Artie..

I think I am going to put on some laundry, and let NVet deal with this, tomorrow. I am beyond comprehension and thinking clearly.. really just whining more than asking for help, and that is not fair to anyone on here.

Oh, gosh, no, Cindy! TCS is all about cat lovers helping one another and we wouldn't be on your threads if we weren't interested/didn't care! We all want Artie to be healthy and both of you happy. Just wish -- and I'm sure everyone else here does too -- that we could solve this problem.
I've always fed my cats a very varied diet. This can be hard if you are only dealing with one cat, unless you physically go to a bricks and mortar store and can buy individual cans rather than cases. But since you do, I guess you just have to continue experimenting. You say he never forgets, but I seem to remember back awhile when he ate something he had turned up his nose at in the past -- am I right? So I'd just keep getting a variety and make sure he has different foods so he does not get tired of them. I've read that cats have fewer taste buds on their tongues than we do, but still, their sense of smell is very good, and can you imagine having to eat the same thing all the time (like that pineapple you got tired of)? I think most of us like variety.
In your corner and supporting you! Artie's Army is determined to Keep This Cat Happy!

 

[dustydiamond1]

You are NOT whining! You are just venting, which is what we are here for. Moral support,we are here for that too. Gypsy will only eat FancyFeast gravy lovers wet. Purina One kibble.

 

[LTS3]

Is trying a home cooked diet an option? Even just temporarily? You could make up a small batch so there isn't much to store in the freezer. You don't need to use chicken. Other proteins are fine. UStew doesn't have any chicken. Two of the TC Feline products are chicken-free.

 

[artiemom]

Is trying a home cooked diet an option? Even just temporarily? You could make up a small batch so there isn't much to store in the freezer. You don't need to use chicken. Other proteins are fine. UStew doesn't have any chicken. Two of the TC Feline products are chicken-free.

I am thinking about it... If I did, I may try the pork first.. get a pork tenderloin or a tenderloin boneless pork chop from the butcher.. Will discuss with NVEt.. thank you

 

[nansiludie]

How about rabbit? I buy this food for my cat Mouse, she is allergic to fish and chicken. Among other things,Instinct by Nature's Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Cat Food
I and Love and You Wholly Cow Pate Grain-Free Canned Cat Food, 3-oz, case of 24
I and Love and You Whascally Wabbit Pate Grain-Free Canned Cat Food, 3-oz, case of 24
Instinct by Nature's Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Rabbit Recipe Natural Wet Canned Cat Food

They are expensive but these are the only foods I have found that do not contain any other protein than rabbit or beef. They also have fish flavors.

 

[nansiludie]

artiemom

 

[LTS3]

With Artie's many issues, N Vet may be reluctant to try a non-traditional diet It's worth discussing with him and giving it a try. Of course, Artie may decide he doesn't even want to try a home cooked diet