Topic: Meet Buster (Read 6485 times)

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #69 on:** September 22, 2010, 08:09:15 AM »

Am going to post this in Health and Behaviour, now we have a sort of condition, to see what experience people have

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #68 on:** September 19, 2010, 12:28:19 PM »

WEll, I really shouldnt have said he was a good boy!! Fri night he took his scavenging to the next level, and jumped on the cabinet in my room where I keep the girls food, helped himself to some of the open pouch, then knocked Zi's renal biscuits on the floor to open them!! As annoyed as I was, he must have been starving to go to that extreme, which can't be pleasant for him. He had some wet and some chicken for his supper, and he still came up within 10 mins of eating to see what else he could have (had to stop biscuits again). I also got up yesterday morning to fine he had weed on the carpet protector in the bathroom, but slightly missed, so had to clean the carpet too. He has let me have lie ins this weekend though, which was very much appreciated!! Ellie went back to the rescue yesterday, which was rather sad as they had just started playing really well, so I will have to play more with him. My friend came round last night (she looked after him when I was away) and apart from him being so thin on his back end, she wouldnt say anything was wrong with him, his fur is better, he has loads of energy, but he is scavenging and still has tummy issues. Plus I can feel something on his back end, not sure if it is his kidneys or a lump, and I am convinced I can feel his thyroid. Unless the vet can convince me otherwise on Tues, I am going to demand a Free T4 test, and possibly an ultrasound of his stomach, intestines and bowel (and might relent and do the FIV/FeLV test)

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #67 on:** September 17, 2010, 08:18:42 AM »

It certainly is - he ignored the Da Sparkly when I was playing with Ellie last night (he sometimes joins in, he prefers Da Bird), but went mad for his piece of paper when I went to bed (it was on the landing). Little things like that really help when he is stressing me out (although he has been a really good boy this week, he's even stopped trying to get in my room overnight).

Janeyk · « **Reply #66 on:** September 16, 2010, 11:06:40 AM »

Bless him! it's amazing what things please them

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #65 on:** September 16, 2010, 08:05:07 AM »

Thanks everyone - he had brought up a few biscuits when I got home last night, so hopefully that isn't the start of something!! HIs new favourite toy is a piece of shredded paper, he goes bonkers for it!!

JackSpratt · « **Reply #64 on:** September 15, 2010, 10:29:53 AM »

Pretty good update for Buster, Desley. I'm really pleased for you.

Janeyk · « **Reply #63 on:** September 15, 2010, 09:04:45 AM »

Glad to hear he's doing better, maybe he's not gaining weight because he's so active.

Good luck for the check-up next week xx

clarenmax · « **Reply #62 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:56:12 AM »

good luck for next Tuesday, and surely it can't be a coincidence having solid poos with the yoghurt, so hopefully its having a positive effect on his tum

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #61 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:19:25 AM »

Well, the natural yoghurt seems to be working well, we are getting mainly solid poos (actually completely solid for a couple of days, then I introduced some dry yesterday - not completely solid this morning, but 90%, so I either gave him too much dry or not enough yoghurt). I am praying the the fact he is calming down on natural yoghurt is indicative of something less serious than cancer. He has also started to use 2 litter trays within quick succession for his wees and poos, although with the smell of his poos I can't blame him for wanting to go and find a different tray to wee in!! HE is incredibly playful at the moment, but I am planning on taking Ellie back to the rescue at weekend, so will be interesting to see how he copes without a cat to pounce on!! His scavenginbg hasn't stopped though - the other day he had a decent amount of wet food, some chicken and a small amount of dry, ate the lot and still went straight for Ellies bowl!! HE doesn't appear to be gaining any weight, but we shall see at his checkup next Tues.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #60 on:** September 12, 2010, 12:14:41 PM »

I have got him to eat some natural yoghurt so we seem to have more solid poos, not that it is stopping him wanting to scavenge though!! If that hadn't helped, I would have seen a different vet yesterday. i am goign to try him on some biscuits tonight, see how he goes. He actually seems quite happy in himself, he was bounding about the house playing yesterday, and little things like that make up for having to clean carpets!! He doesn't agree with me having lie ins though, he keeps getting me up early!!

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #59 on:** September 09, 2010, 08:04:53 AM »

Thanks Jane - typically PC is fine today, but first time this week!! Got home to a message last night from the vet - his urine sample showed no blood, but slight white blood cells, which the vet isn't bothered about. I did tell him I was more concerned about his poo than his wee!! His message said to see how he goes over the next couple of weeks (when he is up for a checkup), unless he is obviously losing weight. I am not best pleased at that approach, especially when he still isn't solid every day, but other than demanding a bowel scan, not sure whet else I can do at the moment - and that would mean another day at the vets for him. I think it is too early to see if he will refer me to a specialist, and especially as the main reason would be cos I think there is something wrong, rather than the vet, I think I would rather see another vet at the practice first.

Janeyk · « **Reply #58 on:** September 08, 2010, 13:46:18 PM »

Best of luck with the urine tests. It really doesn't sound to be thyroid with values so low so I hope that you can find out what the problem is and that it is something minor, hopefully no more blood in urine. Glad to hear he seems better after the wormer though

Janeyk · « **Reply #57 on:** September 08, 2010, 13:45:13 PM »

Desley asked me to post a Buster update as her pc is being a bit temperamental atm, hopefully she'll be back on shortly.

Took Busters urine sample up last night and finally got to speak to the vet (although I did camp out there for half an hour!!). He waffled on for a bit, but the general thing is he has no idea what is wrong with him, he wouldnt do a Free T4 test with his current thyroid levels (26), as they aren't in the higher end, and even if suppressed by illness he would expect to see higher, wouldnt have necessarily done a further test for pancreatitis with his current bloods, but isn't willing to rule anything out atm. He wants to see what his new urine sample shows, if there is still blood in, I dont know where we go, as he has already had a bladder scan, but the blood/anaemia is coming from somewhere (I am suspecting bowel, and bowel cancer was mentioned last night - I am not willing to rule out cancer at the moment, but praying it is thyroid instead), if it doesn't, we can rule out his bladder and look at something else. He is still weeing on things though, but is also happy to use a litter tray (urine sample consisted of putting him in a room with an empty tray, within 10 mins he had used it) - he finished his Cystaid on Sat. The only test the vet did seem to want to do was an FIV/FeLV test, in case that is causing the anaemia - he tried to give me the 'if money wasnt' an issue we could do loads of tests' - well of course it isn't, and he is insured. He is also due his boosters this month, so I have booked him in for 2 weeks time, and we will see whether the vet thinks he is well enough to do (although one of the vets comments was whether he will still be here in a years time), and maybe do some more bloods - unless of course he gets worse in the meantime. Urine results should be here today or tomorrow. On the plus side, he does seem better since I wormed him, his fur feels better (although that could be the extra chicken), and I am seeing more solid poos (although that could be pinching Molly's steroids).

paddypaws101 · « **Reply #56 on:** September 06, 2010, 19:23:40 PM »

Hi, just read this thread with interest.....did they check his blood glucose? I would also suspect pancreatitis...or diabetes with what you are describing.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #55 on:** September 05, 2010, 11:23:01 AM »

Thanks Jane - someone on CC has suggested pancreatitis, so will have to ask the vet what he thinks about that.

He did also wee on the bathroom carpet yesterday (different spot to last time, so clearly the Simple Solution did something), but I think that was my fault, I had a leaving do, so while I had scooped the trays at teatime, I didn't do them again before going to bed.

Janeyk · « **Reply #54 on:** September 05, 2010, 11:07:06 AM »

Where Byron was they usually fed them separately because of that problem, strays particularly behave like this or some cats just are especially in rescue or newly adopted but if you're convinced that it's more than this and Buster is physically ill then I hope that you can get to the bottom of this Desley

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #53 on:** September 05, 2010, 10:52:42 AM »

They had restricted food at the rescue because of Arthur Jane - am sure they do 3 feeds of wet and biscuits left down, but ARthur and Buster were in one of the rooms, and they were split up at mealtimes to ensure Arthru didn't eat it all, I think that is why when he first came he would leave food, as he wasn't used to being able to go back to it. I still think his hunger is thyroid related, but the locum vet wanted me to wait till my vet was back to discuss the Free T4 test - am getting annoyed now though, I have been waiting nearly 2 weeks for an andwer, if I am right, he could have been on meds by now. He has started going into the neighbours houses and pinching their cats food - and he has weed somewhere in my neighbours room, she can't find anything wet, so hopefully it was in the litter tray (she uses different litter, so it wouldnt absorb the smell like here). He has only had one solid poo this week and that was when he pinched Molly's tea with her steroids in, so am wondering if that is more indicative of IBS or lymphoma than thyroid related. Have wormed him today in case that is part of the reason, although we do flea and worm regularly at the rescue, and he was indoors only there, but has been going out for a couple of weeks now. He had his last Cystaid yesterday, so we shall see how he goes over the next few days - he has still weed on about one thing a week while on it, but a friend said her mum's cat will wee on dirty clothes, and apart from one bed, most of the things he has weed on have been down a few days, so maybe he just likes things very clean.

Janeyk · « **Reply #52 on:** September 03, 2010, 22:08:57 PM »

That's good news then, it's odd that you seem to get the scavengers Desley as Arthur was the same just wondering whether the rescue fed them differently not more than you but may be lots of times a day, it probably wouldn't be practical for you but may be a pattern they got in to and is causing this behaviour, just a thought and may be worth asking them and how he behaved at the rescue to try and get to the bottom of this

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #51 on:** September 02, 2010, 08:26:01 AM »

Yay, we have had a normal poo (still slightly stinky though), so I have given him some Sainsbury's food (he was iffy again with the Classic last night), and see how he is tonight, if he is fine, I will try introducing Purina One again (as he was still soft last time I tried it) - I need him to have some dry, as wet isn't filling him up for that long. I thought he would have been worse, as he pinched Molly's tea with her steroid in, but clearly not. His scavenging drove me crazy last night though, and he has learnt how to open my bedroom door now - I propped something behind it, but it didn't stop him trying for hours.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #50 on:** September 01, 2010, 08:18:04 AM »

Please ignore some of the random things that were on my bed!!

et visit was rather confusing, he is weighing in at 4.02, which is pretty much what he was 2.5 weeks ago, so going off that, he hasn't gained or lost any since then (Which would be odd with what he is eating). It is likely that the typo from last week was really 4.2, in which case he has lost 200g in a week, which seems likely except I wouldnt have said he had put that 200g on in the first place. i am in a bit of a quandry as to what to do next though, I think I am going to ask teh vet if a Free T4 test would show up Hyper-t if it is indeed being suppressed by the anaemia, or if we could try a low dose of Felimazole and see if his eating habits change. He had weed on the blanket on the landing when I got home last night, and he has also been sick overnight, poor boy (he only had RC sensitivity and chicken last night, but it doesnt keep him full for very long)

Janeyk · « **Reply #49 on:** August 31, 2010, 18:44:35 PM »

A couple of photos.......

Mark · « **Reply #48 on:** August 31, 2010, 09:43:31 AM »

Good luck today

JackSpratt · « **Reply #47 on:** August 31, 2010, 09:21:58 AM »

Hoping Busters vet visit goes well.

Janeyk · « **Reply #46 on:** August 31, 2010, 08:42:48 AM »

Best of luck at the vets today.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #45 on:** August 29, 2010, 10:17:26 AM »

WEll, another interesting few days - he was sick overnight on Fri and he still has diarrhea, but I don't know if it is the biscuits, the Classic he is eating, Ellie's Whiskas in Gravy that he is pinching, or Zi's supermeat/Renal biscuits that he is pinching!! I rang up yesterday for a wormer, and they had put his weight on Tues down as 2.2kg - I know he has lost weight, and friends/neighbour agree, but not that much (he was 4kg 11 days previously), I am hoping it is a typo, but even if they should have put 3.2, that is still a big weight loss, and I Can't understand why no one queried it while he was at the vets for the day. So I am going to pop him up on Tues and see just what the scales say, but if he has lost weight, he will need anohter vet check, and there is a possibility it isn't good - my vet is on hol this week, so we have a locum, which might be a good thing. I also thought he was off his food, but it turns out he is being picky about having Cystaid in his food (or maybe the Synoquin, not sure which), as given an unmedicated bowl of food he dived into it!!

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #44 on:** August 26, 2010, 07:59:22 AM »

Ellen - the anaemia is my worry, although am sure the vet said it was only slight, and he has no real symptomes (apart from the fact he looks thinner to both me and my neighbour), he certainly isn't weak and lethargic!! I trusted him with the bathmat yesterday and he weed on it again, although am sure it didn't smell quite as strong as it did last week.

R - have you not tried Cystaid/Cystease? Am not sure I would agree with your vet that it can't be cystitis just cos it is long wees and not short ones and stress related is normally spraying, not weeing. I actually would be tempted to ask them to do an ultrasound on his bladder, as that would show up anything like bladder stones, Busters was only £44.

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #43 on:** August 25, 2010, 23:03:49 PM »

I haven't been keeping up with Buster. Apologies Desley

. It all sounds far too familiar.

Freddie pees all over the place altho not on beds/clothes as far as I can tell so far. Blood and urine samples have only shown up microscopic traces of blood and protein in urine and very marginally outside normal for urea and creatinine in blood. Otherwise nothing. Vet says can't be cystitis as that would be short pees rather than the long pees that Freddie does.

I just have him on Zylkene atm with a feliway plugged in for the little good that seems to do just in case stress related (is Zylkene any good for humans

). It's exhausting getting no sleep due to worry where he is peeing now

Have reached the stage of being grateful if he pees on bathroom floor which is tiled unless I walk in it barefoot again.

Just sending a few

I keep meaning to try compost in litter tray but keep getting side tracked ............

Ellen2010 · « **Reply #42 on:** August 25, 2010, 22:41:34 PM »

Hi Desley it does not sound promising that he is anaemic

. This could be caused by several things and can see why the vets are not ruling out cancer. Hope everything goes fine for him and it is nothing too serious with him, but feel as though I have been here myself in the non too distant past.

Sending you both hugs

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #41 on:** August 25, 2010, 18:41:48 PM »

WEll, the vet is still puzzled!! He did admit the reason he was going straight for the scan was to rule out tumours/anything significant. Fortunatley nothing major showed up on the scan of his bladder, although the vet said we couldnt 100% rule out cancer (although if it is, it can't be seen). They also had a look at his kidneys, which look on the large side (apparently when measured they were at the top end of the normal scale), so there are concerns about his kidneys, esp as he also has protein in his urine, but there is nothing on the bloods. I do have a theory that I am going to run by the vets today.

HE did go on about a load of other tests we could do (but some carry a risk), but in the end we decided to try the Cystaid for another couple of weeks and then get another urine sample to see if there is still blood (and maybe protein) in his wee, and take it from there.

He was so wellbehaved they didn't have to sedate him for the ultrasound, and the receptionist fell in love with him!!

I do still find it odd that he is anaemic, yet all that is in his wee is microscopic traces of blood.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #40 on:** August 22, 2010, 13:13:37 PM »

Thanks Ellen - the Cystaid is just till his scan, so wasn't bothered about getting it through the vet - it was about £11 for a months supply, so if he needs it permanently, i will be getting it online, as Cystaid isn't a prescription item. Have never used Cystease, but his Cystaid should be covered by his insurance (need to do another thread about that actually). He can't get on top of the kitchen cupboards fortunately, and he favours material to wee on. I haven't even tried to wash the quilt, just glad I didn't throw my old one away. Touch wood he hasn't wee on anything since, although I got him some new biscuits yesterday so he has diarrhea today!!

Janeyk · « **Reply #39 on:** August 22, 2010, 12:57:16 PM »

Sorry Desley, only just caught up with this thread!

Hope that you manage to sort the weeing problem out and lots of luck with the scan.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #38 on:** August 21, 2010, 10:50:06 AM »

Buster's certainly making his presence known isn't he?

Ellen2010 · « **Reply #37 on:** August 21, 2010, 09:36:02 AM »

Was going to say about Cystaid but can also get one called Cystease which is considerably cheaper but does the same job

. You are now allowed if vets prescribe animals medication such as Cystaid to shop around for the cheapest source, unless it is a prescription only medication believe me this is a god send. Where I get mine and yes do get the cystease it costs me "17.75 for 100 tablets.

If he is weeing in unusual places check tops of cupboards in the kitchen also

.

Yes know the feeling of going to bed to find a wet patch on the quilt. Mine has come up fine after being washed, thankfully my quilt is the one that can be seperated and put back together so is easier to wash and get dry.

If you want to know where I get mine from just ask here or mail me and will let you know, I now have two cats on them permanently at the moment for a month have one on 2 a day and then will drop down to the same as my other cats which is one a day for the rest of their life.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #36 on:** August 21, 2010, 08:09:46 AM »

Well, Thurs night was the closest I have come to taking him back!! I got home and could smell cat wee, I went to check where, and could only find the litter trays (I have put an empty one down where he wees in the bathroom to protect the carpet from any further damage), and assumed the smell was cos he had weed in an empty tray (there are 5 down now and every single one had been used!!). About 7ish I had to do something in my room and found he had wee'd on the bed!! Luckily I need a new bed this year, but now also need a new quilt (and mattress protector till we are sorted!!). Last night I was so exhausted (first week back has been horrendous), and just before I went to bed he started playing with nothing on the landing, and made me realise why he is still here - my neighbour did pass comment on how happy he looks too (although like me, she thinks he has lost weight, so I am going to increase his food). Fortunately he took his Cystaid in his food no problem - I just forgot to put it in his breakfast this morning!!

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #35 on:** August 18, 2010, 08:20:53 AM »

Ellen - I wouldnt put it past some rescues, and I have found that being honest about some of their quirkks was more beneficial, although with quite a few, they lost their annoying habits once they had a home of their own and made me out to be a liar!!

His bloods were quite interesting, the only thing they showed were anaemia, so he is bleeding somewhere, and there were microscopic traces of blood in his wee, so the vet is suspecting either his kidneys or his urinary tract, but as his kidney values seem fine, he isn't sure about it being his kidneys. There is a slight chance of it being his bowels, especially as he started with diarrhea just before his bloods. The other thing the vet said was that while his thyroid values look normal now, they could be being suppressed by the anaemia/cause of anaemia, so there is still a slim chance he is hyper-t.

Our options are either to scan his bladder to see if there is a cause for the blood, or to try him on antibiotics for a UTI. The other thing he said was that the bloods wouldnt show things like early cancer. I said to the vet last night we would go with the antibiotics first, but I have changed my mind overnight, and am going to book him in for the scan instead, just in case it is something more than an infection we could be wasting time.

Will ring up today and see when they can get him in.

E & E - it is a good job he is so cute, I have cleaned up at least 6 lots of wee since coming back on Thurs eve!! I might have a home for Ellie!!

Buster loves to go outside and gets upset when he has to stay in for the night - he isn't allowed out in the morning yet, so just a few hours in the evening, not sure the neighbours cats like it so much though, as he keeps trying to make friends with them and they aren't interested at all, so a lot of noise between him and the current boss of the street (who only became boss when Sam went)

Guest · « **Reply #34 on:** August 17, 2010, 18:58:50 PM »

I love Buster - sooooo cute!

can you tell my partner the advantages of 3 cats

Actually go back to two and I can have Ellie. I think Ella, Effie and Ellie go together well ha ha!

miranda luck · « **Reply #33 on:** August 17, 2010, 18:22:43 PM »

Sounds like you have had an interesting adoption experience. If you have a spare 2 minutes, please fill out a quick and easy on-line 'Rescue Review' and go into a draw to win a year's free cat food!

Very many thanks! Miranda

Ellen2010 · « **Reply #32 on:** August 17, 2010, 11:01:28 AM »

Oh OK but I know that the branch of CP I was with would not mention sometimes little quirks they had if they thought it would affect them being homed. Is partly why I am no longer with them but won't go into what caused me to eventually leave them permanently.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #31 on:** August 17, 2010, 08:28:48 AM »

Ellen, I doubt the rescue deliberately forgot to tell me - partly cos it is something I have done as a fosterer, and partly because I volunteer for the rescue, and Buster wasnt actually on the adoption list, I asked if I could adopt him

Ellen2010 · « **Reply #30 on:** August 15, 2010, 13:30:59 PM »

Hope you get his wee problem sorted out. I am just wondering if the rescue deliberately forgot to mention his urination problem because as you say it would have put some people off.

Well off to check how my quilt is doing in the drying stakes can see me doing this daily for a few days at least but at least I have my little man home fit and well.

Author Topic: Meet Buster (Read 6485 times)