- Joined
- May 20, 2018
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Hi all,
I've been dealing with some issues with one of my cats for about a year now and I'm at a point now that I'm even considering re-homing as a last resort. I really need some advice, especially from anyone who has gone through this. The issue is with my female cat who is now grooming to the point of baldness and scabs. So here is the summary of all that has happened so far:
I have two bengals, both my cats are young, female is 4 yrs old, male is 3 yrs old, I've had them since they were 10 weeks old. This all started after I went out of town for some weddings back to back. Up until the weddings, my cats were fed a home cooked diet with Alnutrin Eggshell supplement (Obviously, I did not think this through for when I ever had to go out of town!). Since I needed to go out of town, I needed to find something easier for the pet sitter to feed as well as have something for them in case she was unable to come one of the days. I went with Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Chicken and Rawz can wet food. Everything was fine at least I thought, until the female started urinating outside the litter box and started to lose fur around belly and scabs.
9/2019 - Took her to the vet, found out that she stressed herself so much that she developed struvite crystals which resulted in a UTI. The vet said that the food had nothing to do with her condition and that she is just an overly sensitive cat and me being out of town just put her over the edge. After a bill of $310 for ultrasound, antibiotics, steroid and ointment, she recovered but has not been the same.
4/2020 - The fur loss and scabs reappeared again. This is probably due to the change of everyone being home due to Covid? Took her to vet, was given antibiotics and steroid and charged $110.
6/2020 - Took cat to different vet as the fur loss and scabs did not seem to disappear. Was told the same that she is stressed, was given antibiotics, Gabapentin (kitty Prozac) for as needed and different ointment. Was charged $100 for an exam, ointment and meds. Antibiotics and ointment helped clear scabs, but not completely.
9/2020 - Took cat back for recheck, this time after charging me $80 for meds and ointment, the vet said to put her on Gabapentin (kitty Prozac) regularly as her condition is due to stress.
10/2020 - I wanted a second opinion before putting her on Gabapentin (kitty Prozac), so went to different vet, who after charging me $300 for a fungal culture, skin cytology (stain), antibiotics and steroids, she said that it's allergies and wants her on a hypo allergenic diet and suggested Royal Canin. After looking at the labels for Royal Canin, I'm wondering if this vet has any idea what she is talking about regarding nutrition!
My cats are and have been on 20% - Primal freeze dried rabbit & venison, 20% - Rawz can wet food (shredded variety chicken & duck) and 60% home cooked organic chicken, beef, turkey with Alnutrin Eggshell. Primal & Rawz are two of the most cleanest labels I could find.
If my cat has allergies to food then I don't even know where to begin to eliminate. The only issue I can see is maybe the home cooked beef?
Please advise as I'm having a very hard time with this as she is my baby and I only want what is best for her. She has become a very anxious cat. This has also effected her relationship with the male cat who is very playful, but now she doesn't want to play with him. And now they are getting into fights regularly and she is starting to spray during fights. And when they are not fighting, then she is growling/hissing at him as soon as he is within her view. I'm afraid that this is going to start effecting him health wise.
I am currently unemployed and can not afford to have a major issue with either of the cats. I've already spent enough money with no solid solution. I'm trying to see if there is a decent holistic vet in my area, maybe they might be able to shed some light on this. I don't know how much more I can do this, my house smells like cat piss, I have to constantly keep the cats separated due to all the fighting and more piss! Please HELP!!!
I've been dealing with some issues with one of my cats for about a year now and I'm at a point now that I'm even considering re-homing as a last resort. I really need some advice, especially from anyone who has gone through this. The issue is with my female cat who is now grooming to the point of baldness and scabs. So here is the summary of all that has happened so far:
I have two bengals, both my cats are young, female is 4 yrs old, male is 3 yrs old, I've had them since they were 10 weeks old. This all started after I went out of town for some weddings back to back. Up until the weddings, my cats were fed a home cooked diet with Alnutrin Eggshell supplement (Obviously, I did not think this through for when I ever had to go out of town!). Since I needed to go out of town, I needed to find something easier for the pet sitter to feed as well as have something for them in case she was unable to come one of the days. I went with Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Chicken and Rawz can wet food. Everything was fine at least I thought, until the female started urinating outside the litter box and started to lose fur around belly and scabs.
9/2019 - Took her to the vet, found out that she stressed herself so much that she developed struvite crystals which resulted in a UTI. The vet said that the food had nothing to do with her condition and that she is just an overly sensitive cat and me being out of town just put her over the edge. After a bill of $310 for ultrasound, antibiotics, steroid and ointment, she recovered but has not been the same.
4/2020 - The fur loss and scabs reappeared again. This is probably due to the change of everyone being home due to Covid? Took her to vet, was given antibiotics and steroid and charged $110.
6/2020 - Took cat to different vet as the fur loss and scabs did not seem to disappear. Was told the same that she is stressed, was given antibiotics, Gabapentin (kitty Prozac) for as needed and different ointment. Was charged $100 for an exam, ointment and meds. Antibiotics and ointment helped clear scabs, but not completely.
9/2020 - Took cat back for recheck, this time after charging me $80 for meds and ointment, the vet said to put her on Gabapentin (kitty Prozac) regularly as her condition is due to stress.
10/2020 - I wanted a second opinion before putting her on Gabapentin (kitty Prozac), so went to different vet, who after charging me $300 for a fungal culture, skin cytology (stain), antibiotics and steroids, she said that it's allergies and wants her on a hypo allergenic diet and suggested Royal Canin. After looking at the labels for Royal Canin, I'm wondering if this vet has any idea what she is talking about regarding nutrition!
My cats are and have been on 20% - Primal freeze dried rabbit & venison, 20% - Rawz can wet food (shredded variety chicken & duck) and 60% home cooked organic chicken, beef, turkey with Alnutrin Eggshell. Primal & Rawz are two of the most cleanest labels I could find.
If my cat has allergies to food then I don't even know where to begin to eliminate. The only issue I can see is maybe the home cooked beef?
Please advise as I'm having a very hard time with this as she is my baby and I only want what is best for her. She has become a very anxious cat. This has also effected her relationship with the male cat who is very playful, but now she doesn't want to play with him. And now they are getting into fights regularly and she is starting to spray during fights. And when they are not fighting, then she is growling/hissing at him as soon as he is within her view. I'm afraid that this is going to start effecting him health wise.
I am currently unemployed and can not afford to have a major issue with either of the cats. I've already spent enough money with no solid solution. I'm trying to see if there is a decent holistic vet in my area, maybe they might be able to shed some light on this. I don't know how much more I can do this, my house smells like cat piss, I have to constantly keep the cats separated due to all the fighting and more piss! Please HELP!!!