Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Rosella moggy on May 01, 2007, 09:16:03 AM
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Probs with Butu - bleeding from bottom (only discovered last night) and losing hair on tummy and backlegs. Has lost weight but he needed to and is still podgy. Otherwise showing no discomfort and eating fine. Aged about 10ish but not sure as originally a stray. Has had eczema probs in past but no sign of skin irritation. Recently wormed with drops on back of neck. Any ideas? Going to vet.
Probs with Zimmy (different neighbour) - aged about 14, acts like he is starving, calling out loudly for food but very skinny and fur coat in very bad condition. I suspect thyroid probs. Neighbour one to have a word with neighbour two about visit to vet. Neighbour 2 only just moved back into house after living elsewhere for a year. Neighbour 1 extremely upset at condition of Zimmy and trying to find the right approach to see if neighbour 2 realises there is a problem and it isn't just Zimmy's age.
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Any ideas?
Plenty, but all lead to an urgent vet visit. If nothing done by neighbour no 2 immediately I would ask the RSPCA inspector to have a word.
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as below both need vet treatment asap.
not sure on butu but i'd be very suprise if zimmy wasnt as you suspect hyperT.
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Should have said neighbour 1 has fed Zimmy a number of pouches over last few days so he isn't starving. Neighbour 1 will definitely speak to neighbour 2. We have known neighbour 2 for many years and she is not a bad person. She has a 9 month old child and I suspect that is partly why her eye is off the ball when it comes to Zimmy. Not offered as an excuse, just a possible reason. It is also much easier to see a slow deterioration in a cat's health if you haven't seen them for a while rather than if you are with them every day. Having said that, the very poor condition of his coat should have rung alarm bells. :( Will keep you posted.
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Butu, neighbour 1's cat now sorted. He had a small blockage in glands at base of tail. Vet unblocked and was splattered :sick: No infection and he's fine.
Neighbour 1 has yet to speak to neighbour 2 about Zimmy but she spoke to vet when she took Butu in and vet suggested sounds like thyroid or diabetes so neighbour 1 will speak to neighbour 2 very soon. Meanwhile Zimmy continuing to be fed by neighbour 2 twice a day and he is now sleeping in her back porch on the mat in the sun. I have no doubt he is also being fed at home. I hesitate to interfere just yet as neighbour 1 knows neighbour 2 better than me altho neighbour 1 has said she will blame me for raising the matter which is OK with me.
For all I know Zimmy may already be under treatment. Neighbour 2 not looking to home a 4th cat but is open to taking Zimmy on board if neighbour 2 unable to look after him. There is of course a history here that would take too long to go into. Suffice to say, until neighbour 2 moved out for 12 months, he was regularly fed by neighbour 2 and must have jumped for joy when he realised he was back home.
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He had a small blockage in glands at base of tail
Was it the anel glands?
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I assume so. Neighbour 1 left me a note this am which said "glands at base of tail". She has same vet as me and I rate him highly so, if he says Butu is OK, I'm assuming he is. He is certainly in no discomfort altho it would be nice to understand why he has lost fur on his tummy and legs. Am sure I'll hear more when I see neighbour again. She is working all hours at the mo due to local elections altho made time for vet visit of course. She's a big wig in the council (former mayor don't you know :wow: lol)
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The hair loss thing can sometimes be down to fleas or over grooming from the areas you have described. In can be other things too but these are quite common.
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OK update time. Neighbour 1 was caught by neighbour 2's son complaining to another neighbour about neighbour 2s bad parking. At same time neighbour 1 told me last Sunday that she has decided neighbour 2's cat Zimmy just needed feeding up and he's OK now. I suspect she just didn't want to approach neighbour 2 after the car parking incident.
ME and OH on cat sitting duties for neighbour 1 since Fri and I just went in for 1st time this am (the big clean up) and saw Zimmy for first time. He just lets himself in thru neighbour 1's catflap much to the annoyance of resident cats. He looks awful. He is thin as a rake and fur mats all over his back even though he is short haired.
As soon as I saw him I started ranting so that neighbour 2 could hear and then went round to see her (8.45am). As she stood in the door holding her 9 month old baby girl, who I completely ignored, I think I said Hyperthyroidism 3 times, easily treatable 3 times, he needs to see a vet urgently 5 times; all the time shaking more and more and getting redder and redder thru anger and nervousness. She obviously isn't starving him as she said he eats all the time but she thought it was his age. How can a teacher (head of English Dept no less) be so :censored: thick?
Anyway, I have now followed that up with a note to neighbour 2 (copied to neighbour 1) with a little card and a FAB fact sheet on hyperthyroidism. I have asked her in the note to let me know how she gets on at the vet and offered to take him if she has her hands full with the baby.
I just have no tact and hope that neighbour 2 doesn't take umbridge as I want her to take Zimmy to the vet. I hate this sort of thing but have no regrets.
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ME and OH on cat sitting duties for neighbour 1 since Fri and I just went in for 1st time this am (the big clean up)
Whoops, obviously OH has been catsitting meanwhile! (which includes sitting with them 1 hour in am and 1 hour in pm). He's just not that tidy!
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I hate this sort of thing but have no regrets.
I know what you mean but we are an animals only voice, so good of you I say. :)
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Lets hope this gets sorted for Zimmys sake
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Latest news via neighbour 1 is that neighbour 2 bringing Zimmy to vet today. At last!
Neighbour 2's story is that Zimmy is aged 20 and she is scared of taking him to the vet in case vet says she has to pts. She "loves" Zimmy and doesn't want to lose him. I should add that I know for sure that our Tom (age 17 1/2) is at least 1 year older than Zimmy and, if she had brought him to the vet sooner, there would be a lot less chance of vet suggesting pts altho I'm virtually certain a vet would suggest no such thing when he is eating everything put in front of him. I'm just so angry about her lack of care.
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Have just caught up with this thread. How have things gone?
Do you think Zimmy's owner really has any interest in him? I wonder if it's worth asking the RSPCA to pay her a visit, as mentioned earlier. The trouble is, you can't trust them not to take the cat away.
I hope things improve. Do you think Zimmy's owner might have post natal depression so has lost interest in things like her cat?
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Rosella - sadly people who dont have a lot of knowledge with cat health do think like that, hopefully explaining things like thyroid that can be treated will help a lot.
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I'm leaving it to neighbour 1 to follow up now as I am certainly persona non grata with neighbour 2 now and neighbour 1 is still on speaking terms so she's in a better position to find out. No I don't think post natal depression is the problem. I think Desley is right that she may have had Zimmy a long time but has not taken the trouble to find out about cat health issues and didn't link up (chose to put her head in the sand) the excessive eating, losing weight and matted fur shows signs of illness not old age.
Last I heard, Zimmy's owner is going on a weeks holiday and Zimmy going into a cattery for that week so his injections must at least be up to date and perhaps, if vet visit has identified problem, then at least cattery will be able to administer any meds initially.
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I agree with leaving it to neighbour 1, as they know her - a lot of people do associate weight loss with old age, but talking about hyper-t and how it is easily treated can help, i have managed it with pretty much a complete stranger - she even stopped me in teh street a few weeks after to tell me they had taken him and I had been right, and still smiles at me now, so it can work (and I had taken their cat home for the night cos I was concerned about him sitting on the windowsill of a dark house on a cold Nov night, so they could have been incredibly annoyed and offended at me!!)
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Nice one Desley. You obviously had a tactful approach. My approach wasn't the right one, that's for sure and I have had a bad week as a result. I was however very shocked when I saw the state of Zimmy and just took off without thinking it through.
There is a history of our 3 houses catsitting for each other, sort of, except whilst we would always cat sit for Zimmy we never asked neighbour 2 to catsit for us as we never trusted her to do the job right. Whenever we were sharing catsitting duties with her for neighbour 1's cats, she would often send her young son to feed cats who not surprisingly didn't do a thorough job. She told OH that Zimmy was only allowed in enclosed back porch whilst she was on hols when he was younger but we ignored her and she never made that stipulation again. Lets put it this way, she talks the talks but her actions do not match her words.
Thankfully, we are blessed with nearer neighbours who do really love animals so thankfully she is not the norm in our neck of the woods.
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Not sure about tactful, I think I was just lucky - I couldn't convince my next door neighbour who I knew well, and had to watch his cat decline slowly due to kidney issues, and then die slowly because he didn't believe in euthanasia, I still feel guilty about her, cos I loved her as much as my own (more when Pebbles was annoying me!!).
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and then die slowly because he didn't believe in euthanasia, I still feel guilty about her
An old friend of mine left her cat like that, i tried so hard to get her to do the right thing and offered to go with/take the cat myself but nothing worked. The cat lost the ability to move and died that night, i felt so bad like it was me who had let her down. Other than stealing her i was powerless :(
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My mate told me the other day that I must let her know if and when I thought it time for her Lucy to go as I was getting so upset about Zimmy! I know threads have a tendency to morph into something else (of which I thoroughly approve BTW). Just wanted to say IMO Zimmy ain't ready for pts at all yet. He just needs to try meds and see how he goes. This is meant to buoy us all up a little coz I ain't at all ready for Zimmy's departure yet.
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Rosella - if it is his thyroid, there is prob no need for his owner to consider pts, but I find a lot of people just think a vet will immediately suggest it due to age - and some vets are less willing to try things with older cats, but they are not all liek that, and some will bend if pushed enough by the owner.
MM - I had the same, my only option was stealing and a bit hard when you live next door to the person, and she didn't go out much - plus she was an ex-feral who didn't like humans, I could do more with her than her owner could, so even if I had been able to steal her, I couldnt have taken her anywhere.
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so even if I had been able to steal her, I couldnt have taken her anywhere.
I have changed my mind about what I posted, well not exactly changed my mind about what I wrote but perhaps it should not be read. Some people may get the wrong idea. It was nothing bad about any of the posters. :innocent:
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What a mess!
Neighbour 1 went on hols only this am for 16 days, yours truly catsitting her 3 boys (Butu, Red & Smudge all of whom I love to bits). Neighbour 2's promise of vet visit with Zimmy never seems to have materialised as no sign of shaved fur so no blood tests. Zimmy is upsetting neighbour 1's 3 boys by staying in their house more than his own home and eating their food to the extent that they won't use catflap and Butu keeps coming over to our back garden (2 houses away) and scaring our Billie who just came in with big fluffy tail. So I collected Butu and brought him home and fed him his fresh fish separately in front room and collected Smudge and put him in his house and Zimmy has disappeared and Freddie came out the front(!!!!) to neighbour 2's house and wants to know what the blo*dy hell Ma? Thank God for the bank holiday and my week off next week. Neighbour 2 on hols from Saturday and promised neighbour 1 she would put Zimmy in a cattery. I hope she does now although if she doesn't I am bringing him to vet next week. He certainly has plenty of life in him yet but is causing ructions!
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Am now very depressed. Neighbour 2 has gone on hols leaving Zimmy behind (cattery my backside). Zimmy has pretty well turfed neighbour 1s cats out of their house. I think I'm going to have to catch all 4 of them each night and lock them all in neighbour 1s house as I can't turf Zimmy outside. Can't bring him to ours due to work starting on house. Am really p*ssed off.
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Aww, the poor baby. Good luck with him.
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Thanks Desley. After numerous phone calls to PDSA etc, I have found a vet that will see Zimmy late this afternoon (a result I'd say for a bank holiday sunday) and agreed to carry out an inhouse Thyroid blood test only if he thinks Zimmy may have HyperT. Of course I could be completely wrong about this and perhaps it is just his age. Apparently will only cost circa £50 but I'll believe that when I see it! If they are going to do a thyroid test I will also ask for full geriatric profile as might as well.
Spent last few hours collecting everyone in and settling 3 lads upstairs in bedrooms and leaving Zimmy by the food downstairs. The only thing going for us at the mo is a gazebo that the mom of 3 boys erects for them every summer that has 3 little cat igloo beds in covered in thick plastic sheeting so anyone staying out overnight has somewere dry and war to kip.
I've just left a message with cramar cat rescue to see if at all poss to board Zimmy with them for the week altho unlikely as I have no idea whether his jabs are up to date and suspect they aren't.
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Sorry for boring everyone to death but latest is that b****y vet (Manor Vets in Halesowen) cancelled appointment at last minute saying they had an emergency but in any event they were not prepared to carry out blood test when Zimmy not my cat (needless to say this was all discussed this morning and agreed OK then) but Cramar Cat Rescue, god bless em, have agreed to take Zimmy from Tuesday to Sunday (in isolation as no evidence of vaccs but Zimmy doesn't like other cats so that's OK and I will pay of course).
I think I'll explain circumstances more fully so they understand neighbour has effectively asked me to look after him by leaving him with other 3 (and somehow her catflap got stuck and she forgot to give me key to her house) and hopefully their vet will accept I am "in loco parentis" so to speak and look at him.
He was curled up in basket an hour ago and sneezed a couple of times but big purrs. Poor old fella. I am still so shocked at how this neighbour has treated a cat she had for so many years and scrabbling around for any excuse I can think of but coming up with nothing.
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Good luck with him.
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Poor old fella. I am still so shocked at how this neighbour has treated a cat she had for so many years and scrabbling around for any excuse I can think of but coming up with nothing.
Sad, and depressing, isn't it? :'(
If he's been left alone for the week it effectively means she has abandoned him, couldn't you take him to a different vet and ask for tests on a stray cat you've taken on?
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Fib and say he's your cat! That's what I would do in this situation. :sneaky:
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couldn't you take him to a different vet and ask for tests on a stray cat you've taken on?
What a thing to suggest, I am sure none of us in rescue would have dreamt of such a thing. ;D
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Until yesterday, the idea that Zimmy's owner had abandoned him really hadn't sunk in as I have "known" the owner for so many years. I was therefore inclined to follow vet advice.
I value the good judgment of people working in cat rescue and will rely on Janet at Cramar Cat Rescue to coach me in the words I need to use but, now that I know no arrangements were made to look after Zimmy, I do feel as if he is mine at the moment.
Cramar have a vet right next door. Cramar's owner is completely devoted to the welfare of her charges and I will pay so Zimmy will be in the best hands from tomorrow until Sunday. When the parents of the 3 get back from hols the following Saturday, they are very likely to take him on and if necessary he can stay in our spare room in the meantime as most of the noisy bathroom work and central heating should be completed by next weekend (famous last words)
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couldn't you take him to a different vet and ask for tests on a stray cat you've taken on?
What a thing to suggest, I am sure none of us in rescue would have dreamt of such a thing. ;D
No, no nobody has ever suggested anything like this, and I have never done exactly the same thing, oh no :shify:
Glad that Zimmy is geting real help, anyway :Luv:
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Are his owners just away for a week?
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Lets hope they are having a really
nice :censored: time where ever they are >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( selfish horrible owners dont deserve to have fur babies
xx
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I don't know Desley but suspect so as she has a boy and girl in their teens still at school. Not sure what will happen when she returns. I haven't figured out what I will do. Will have to play it by ear but Zimmy is booked in to Cramar till Sunday. I keep wondering if she left it to her hubby to sort out (he came on the scene about 18mths ago) and he may be responsible for all this upset. I don't know him at all and I'm still looking for excuses for her!
I suspect what will happen is that I'll collect Zimmy and bring him home here for a week in spare room and see if she comes to try and find him and if she does see what her excuse is. I am not however inclined to give him up if I feel he is in danger. She has apparently sold the house and they will be moving out very soon altho no dates mentioned. For all I know she may already have B*ggered off with no intention of coming back which would at least sort out that problem!
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have pm'd you
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Thank you for the info Desley.
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just read thrrough all of this thread in one go and my head is reeling with neighbour 1 and Neighbour 2 etc so not sure if I have followed it all correctly but I think what you have done Ros is very courageous and selfless.
I can understand how the Vets have covered themselves in case they get prosecuted etc but I can't bellieve thet can't use some commensense and at least offer to check Zimmy over and carry out any urgent treatment needed . They would surely do that much for any accident victim brought in off the street with no apparent owner. Shame on them.
Anyway the reason I was adding my 2p Worth is some kind soul on this very forum recommended electronic catflaps to me and they might be a solution to your predicament.
They work by reading your cat's microchip all of which have a unique number . Once you have programmed your cat into the catflaps memory it will only let your cats in and out .
It has loads of differant combinations including a curfew .It has an inbuilt PIR which senses when it gets dark and locks the catflap one way to prevent your cat going out for the night. When its light in the morning it opens the flap again.
Fully automatic once programmed you never really need to touch it. Since fitting one at each end of my kitchen (front and back of house) no other cat has been able to get into the house. No more fighting, spraying or eating our food .
The peace of mind this has given me when i go to work for the day cannot be measured. I know my cats have a safe refuge all day in the house whilst I'm away.
heres a link http://www.petporte.com/
sorry having problems posting anything at the moment
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Anyone else having probs with the link?
Shame I don't like collars, otherwise I'd try to set this the other way round - to let them out at night, and lock them in during the day - would save me having to get up at dawn to lock my two in (Polly has had ear-cancer and has a white nose too, so vet said to keep her out of sun.) Yawn!
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I might look into those, I wanted a magnetic catflap, but got told they can get out through them without a collar, which is no good for the fosters - and if I turn it round, I am risking the other neighbourhood cats coming in and not being able to get back out - and 3 of them spray!!
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Shame I don't like collars, otherwise I'd try to set this the other way round - to let them out at night, and lock them in during the day - would save me having to get up at dawn to lock my two in (Polly has had ear-cancer and has a white nose too, so vet said to keep her out of sun.) Yawn!
I think that's the point Hippy, you don't need collars the one Nick linked to works by reading their microchip. I love the idea of a 'curfew' setting :evillaugh:
Fingers crossed for Zimmy, hopefully the other neighbour will adopt him. Good on you for caring and actually doing something about the situation.
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Well done for this Roz I had a similar situation with neighbour sadly there cat passed away because their kidneys had suffered so badly :(
Finger crossed for Zimmy xx
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Sorry Nick. I prob confused neighbours 1 & 2 :-[. I can't use names for obv reasons.
Lets call em goodguys (with 3 cats that I am catsitting while they are on hols till 9 June) and bad guys (where Zimmy lives who is elderly & poss ill). Good guys have soft spot for Zimmy as they have done catsitting for years and Zimmy visiting not a big problem whilst good guys at home and good guys are very likely to keep him if bad guys abandon him. I discussed this with good guys before they went on hols.
Bad guys have gone away leaving their cat flap locked till, I assume, 2 June leaving their cat Zimmy to enter good guys catflap and upset the resident 3 cats who would not come into their own house whilst their owners are away unless I force em. I couldn't possibly lock Zimmy out of goodguys catflap using magnetic catflap or anything else, if that's what you were suggesting (sorry if I've got that wrong but I'm in such a muddle over everything at the mo!). I have got major refurb of house happening for 3 weeks from tomorrow so can't keep him here until this weekend when the worst part of work on house should be finished.
Having said all that, things alter daily and the 3 resident cats came in more easily this afternoon and may be getting more used to Zimmy since I started locking all 4 in house together for a few hours at a time. I therefore plan to see how they ALL are later this evening (locking them in if I can get em all) and tomorrow morning and may change my mind about putting Zimmy into Cramar Cat Rescue (aka 5* Cat hotel) and just book him into my vet for a check up explaining that he has been left in my care. I have to weigh up upsetting an elderly cat by putting him into a cattery against ensuring the other much younger 3 cats are fed, warm, dry and not likely to stray from home.
It's good of you to call me courageous and selfless but certainly don't feel it; just gotta be able to sleep at night. On which thought, me and OH were thinking of buying badguys a jar of horlicks ;)
All I can say is I don't know what I'd do without you lot to whinge to as I know you understand my predicament. Cheers everyone :)
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I think you are coping magnifanctly sp? and I do hope that someone will treat poor Zimmy, I would say its your new cat that you just rescued!
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sorry everyone this link should work. My ISP went down when posting earlier
http://www.petporte.com/
there are about 5 maybe 6 settings altogether on these catflaps and you can set to any choice at any time by pressing some buttons on the flap.
Because they are electronic you will need a 230v ac socket nearby to plug the power adaptor into but they providfe a 5 metre extension cable.
Lardass loves the new flaps and goes out the front charges round the neighbours garden under the garden gate and comes back into the rear catflap looking all pleased with herself then does it in reverse groan.As I spend most of the day at the kitchen table between the 2 flaps its driving me nuts lol
Ros
good guys and bad guys .... this is beginning to sound like the mafia now hee hee :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Just don't bring any more cats into this or I am going to completly lose the plot lol :Crazy: think I need a horlicks meself
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Fingers crossed Rosella, and Zimmy is very lucky that he has good people nearby and care for him.
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What a morning! Billy wouldn't let me put him in carrier so took just Freddie and Zimmy to Cramar on 1st trip. Billy had seconds thoughts when I got back due to extreme noise from workmen who are demolishing my house and we eventually managed to get him to Cramar too. Thomas still here and doesn't give a hoot about the noise, he was eating his breakfast on one side of the wall while the other side of the wall was being drilled!
Anyway, I took Zimmy to vet next to Cramar (I explained neighbour gave Zimmy to me as she no longer wants him). Vet suspects Zimmy to be HyperT due to enlarged thyroid and heart beating very fast (240 per min?). He did normal blood tests and tested for HyperT. Thyroid results come back late tomorrow or Thurs but vet just rang me to say liver and kidney tests not bad at all. He mentioned one enzyme test (I didn't quite hear due to drilling) that was 188 but normal usually about 110 which is what he would expect if thyroid problem? So Zimmy in isolation in rescue part of Cramar and Freddie and Billy in cattery part of Cramar together and my house a disaster zone. Think me and Thomas may move in with neighbours 3 cats. OH is off to London in a while .....
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thats great news Ros. Well done. My cats have got used to me swearing and shouting and throwing things about the kitchen so don't bat an eyelid anymore . They are much better behaved than I am lol.
Did the vet think he is Hyper or Hypo ? can't remember Zimmy's symptoms now but if he is overweight lethargic and low metabolic rate with insatiable appetite I think he is likely to be Hypo T well those symptoms sure fit me anyway hee hee
That enzyme test you sure he wasn't quoting you the charge £188 lol :Crazy: :'(
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Nick, you should lose you appetite if you're hypo! The insatiable appetite goes with hyper-T. I'm also hypo, very rare for a man to get thyroid problems. (I assume Nick refers to a man.) Maybe the thyroxine is bringing your appetite back, or you're just fond of cream cakes. :rofl: Much easier to treat hypo (with thyroxine). For hyper there are thyroid activity suppressants used for humans and animals, but in healthy humans an op is usually recommended, or radio-active iodine treatment.
I bought a book on the subject when I went hypo around the same time I went through an early 'change' - read about anything friends or me have wrong......don't trust doctors. :evillaugh:
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Vet suspects hyperT as our Zimmy is a bag of bones I'm afraid. Vet cost £75 yesterday which I thought reasonable. I couldn't resist calling in at Cramar at lunchtime and he ate OK overnight. I didn't go to see any of them as didn't want to disrupt them. Will let you know thyroid results when I hear but meanwhile thought I'd treat you to photos of my bathroom and a photo of Tom showing how bovvered he is by the noise.
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Whoops and the bathroom!
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Whoops and the bathroom!
You could have cleaned the bath a bit before taking a pic. ;D
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god rosella thats such a familiar sight :evillaugh: i think i've had every room in my house reduced to that "minimalist" style at some point :evillaugh:
waiting for the cody lookie likey pics by the way ;)
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waiting for the cody lookie likey pics by the way ;)
You're a hard task master lol. Will try and get around to it tomorrow. "Our" Red is a stunning babe so not really that much of a trial taking his photo. He also has the most adorable personality; tall boy but such a whimp! I am at last making inroads with his brother Smudge too. Me and the final one of the trio, Butu, have been pals for years now.
Back to topic and just spoke to vet and blood results show Zimmy is definitely HyperT and medication will start tomorrow. Didn't ask cost but will find out soon enough!
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oh good,,well not good but good its now diagnosed, official and being seen too !!!
PS meant to say..i'm so observant NOT.. my alloy nuts has caps just like yours on them too :evillaugh:
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ah you're my little heroine of the week Rosella :)
I think you're wonderful . especially as O/H is knocking your house down around your ears.
Good to hear that poor old Zimmy is going to get some treatment thanks to you. Has his former owner definitly left for good do you think?
Hippy kitty I must be the exception to the rule I guess . I was diagnosed as Hypo T 2 years ago. 3. I am supposed to take my thyroxine but haven't taken any tabs since the first one gave me some pretty awful side effects . I know I should cos everything is packing up . I am now 18 stone but you wouldn't think it to look at me as I just look like a heavyweight boxer .
Maybe I should try again I'm sure it would transform my life
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nick - Hypo is actually very rare in cats.
Rosella - if he is on the meds that most Hyper-t cats are on, you can get it cheaper through online places (and then one of the rescues on here can have a donation too!!). Am glad that he is going to get some treatment finally.
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I feel quite sick. The owner contacted me last night and went ballistic. It seems that Zimmy is now an "outdoor" cat (supposed to use her shed but actually stays in neighbours house) as owner has a baby and she arranged for someone to come and feed him twice a day. Despite my many notes, the feeder only contacted the owner yesterday. She said she brought Zimmy to vet and after spending £30 that she can ill afford, was told there was nothing wrong with him. Obviously no blood test was done. As I tried to explain the problem she got extremely angry and hung up threatening to get police involved. Think I'll have to collect him on Friday so he is here when she returns but don't know what to do about starting meds today. Will have to chat with vet. I'll collect and pay for meds so she can start when she gets back.
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Aww, sorry to hear that the owner isn't being co-operative - fancy making a cat of that age an outdoor cat though.
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The owner contacted me last night and went ballistic. It seems that Zimmy is now an "outdoor" cat
Lets hope that Zimmy likes being an outdoor cat and that he doesn't suddnly decide it is not for him and wonders off. ;) How tragic that would be.
Do you know if he is chipped?
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Stick to your guns Rosella you have done everything right for the cat which is what matters.
If there was nothing wrong with the cat the Vet wouln't have proposed any treatment .
The owner is obviously angry that some `do gooder' (in her eyes) has interferred in her life and probably feels embarrassed and indignant but is clearly not looking at things from the cat's welfare point of view otherwise she would have been grateful for your concern and help (and considerable expense). She now sees you as the devil so sounds unlikely to be reasonable with you . You might be better off finding someone as an intermediary to talk with her.
So sorry its worked out like this but it is always a risk. People don't like to feel they have been made out to be irresponsible or inadequate (she obviously is !) You've paid for the meds and the cat needs them so I was thinking it might be best to administer them but then if she is unlikely to keep giving the meds long term the poor cat's metabolism is going to go up and down like a yo yo .
I would be tempted to get someone else to persuade her to sign the cat over to them (not to you obviously) maybe Nice neighbour ? afterall she clearly doesn't want the cat if she is happy to lock it out of the house now
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I know its difficult for you being neighbours etc but a mention of the animal welfare bill and possibility of prosecution might make her more willing to sign poor Zimmy over.
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I'd be inclined to get the RSPCA involved. As she isn't giving proper care to an ill cat she is violating the Animal Act. They would probably give her notice to improve the cat's living conditions. Maybe, if you phone them, withhold your number, explain the situation and ask if they would persuade her to sign the cat over to you or your 'good' neighbour.
Nick, you were probably starting on too high a dose of thyroxine. This can cause symptoms of hyper, such as palpitations and nervousness. See your GP and try a lower dose to begin with. Your GP should give you regular blood checks to see how you're responding, and adjust your thyroxine in accordance.
You really will feel better on the thyroxine; I lost weight, became more energetic and lost that constantly drained feeling.
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I'd be inclined to get the RSPCA involved.
My only worry about that would be that of the family were not prepared to pay a vet bill and for on going treatment. what would happen to the cat in view of its age.
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Well I went to vet this am and settled up. Only £7.86 for first course of meds. I got a copy of the blood tests results which clearly shows Thyroid problem as Thyroxine level is 178 (normal range 19-65). Perhaps someone could tell me if that is "high" as shown on report or extremely high?
Ela, the vet checked for a microchip but there isn't one.
The lady at Cramar said Zimmy needs to stay with them till at least Sunday as previously arranged and gave me a copy of summary of new Animal Welfare Act to give to the neighbour with copy blood test results. She said I should make sure I explain to owner how ill Zimmy appeared when I brought him in, hence blood tests and also that he has sniffles. She said I should threaten to report owner to RSPCA if she doesn't agree to home him properly and give him his meds. Zimmy looked very comfortable and eating well as all his breakfast gone.
Nick I completely agree with what you say. I am hoping the owner will calm down a bit but can't see that threatening to report her to the RSPCA will help. The only nice neighbour that could act as intermediary is on hols and I am catsitting for her!
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yes you are right I'm sure Rosella. Bringing in the heavies at this stage is the last resort which is only likely to inflame the situation and make her even more intractable. You are obviously being very senstitive in this difficult situation and I'm sure if anyone can find a way through so that Zimmy gets the best resolution it will be you to achieve it. Good luck oh and if both your neighbours are away where are you bathing at the moment lol :Crazy: :innocent: :-[
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Nick, you were probably starting on too high a dose of thyroxine. This can cause symptoms of hyper, such as palpitations and nervousness. See your GP and try a lower dose to begin with. Your GP should give you regular blood checks to see how you're responding, and adjust your thyroxine in accordance.
You really will feel better on the thyroxine; I lost weight, became more energetic and lost that constantly drained feeling.
yes I think you are right. I started on a pretty low dos 5mg but I was very ill at the time and eating nothing so I am sure it was not really a fair trial but the side effects are awful and put me off. I had 3 -4 hours of feeling dreadfully anxious and nautious and giddy and palpations so not keen to repeat that. I could try half a tab on a full tum I suppose . wuss :doh:
I feel so completly exhausted all the time I am dog tired when I wake up after 10 hours sleep forcrissakes .I have to really concentrate to do anything and don't feel motivated to do anything much .
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Rosella how awful for you..what ever route this takes i hope it works out ok both for you and for zimmy. You have done nothing wrong and i cannot see the police taking mcuh interest to be honest.
rspca..i think again would be on your side and not her if they need to be involved
ela i understand that concerns...however im fairly confident rosella wouldnt let it come to that.
Nick YOU MUST GET BACK TO YOUR DOCTORS and get more appropriate dosage and get yourself sorted...you will feel SO MUCH BETTER as hippy said once you get stabalised...please promise you'll go and get seen to...i dont know any hypo T humans but have known dogs and the transformation in them is just amazing. (animals and humans share pretty much same symptoms so i reckon would be same in humans too)
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(animals and humans share pretty much same symptoms )
well if continual hunger is anything to do with it I certainly do share a lot with animals lol.
re quacks I'm afraid I have given up on them they are useless the lot of them.
I swopped practice because my previous paractice did nothing about my chronic UTI (5 years now)
The new Dr had to be practically threatened to test my urine sample I brought in and then only did a litmus stick test which is useless.
I have given up. This particular bout of infection has now lasted nearly 3 months without a break fortunately at least my kidneys do not hurt this time and the infection hasn't got them them otherwise I have to sleep in an armchair due to the pain of lying on my back . Grrrrrrrr don't start me off on quacks lol :censored:
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but as you are hypo t then you will be susecptible to all kinds of infections..have you not had/got skin infections and thickening yet ?
get your hypo t levels sorted out, as hippy said you were obviously sensitive to the dosage, even if you are not rushing back to the docs if you still have the tablets what about starting off with half the dose and see how you get on with that, your cant possibly give up after one tablet..whats the point of that...would you do that with your cats ????? NO i bet not !!!!!!!! (hey can you tell i'm a nagging old housewife ha ha..well less of the old !!!!!! )
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yeah yeah yeah ( peanut cocks a deaf ear :evillaugh:)
Thickening ?.................... thickening what ? .............. :Crazy:
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untreated hypo t leads to thickening of the skin which then ends up getting secondary infections.
fluffybanana a deaf ear all ya like -------- GET YOURSELF SORTED.
Its a simple thing to sort out, you just have to stop being so stubborn and take care of yourself.
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untreated hypo t leads to thickening of the skin which then ends up getting secondary infections.
fluffybanana a deaf ear all ya like -------- GET YOURSELF SORTED.
Its a simple thing to sort out, you just have to stop being so stubborn and take care of yourself.
ho ho ho I've decided I need a naggin wif ha ha :evillaugh: :rofl: ................... lardee dardee da (peanut covers his ears )
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I was going to make the comment that if my son doesnt do as he is told he eventually would be taken over my knee and have his backside skelped !!!
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peanut pricks up his ears and makes a dash for the catflap :sneaky:
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Good luck oh and if both your neighbours are away where are you bathing at the moment lol :Crazy: :innocent: :-[
The nice neighbours have given us the freedom of their house until they get back 9 June, thank god. Just had a short kip in their bed as got no sleep last night (they changed sheets for us in case we got too cold at our house :))
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ahhhhhhhhhh now thats what I call nice neighbours. :hug:
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Ick! Rosella, have been there and got the t-shirt in terms of feeling sick after your neighbour finds out you've dared to look after their cat properly. It's horrible. :Crazy: :hug:
Am so glad you're sticking to your guns for Zimmy's sake. I'm disgusted that she's decided he's now an outside cat. Can't add any more advice other than agreeing with what the others have said.
After our neighbour calmed down we eventually sorted things out - if you offer to sort out his medication long term you might well end up with an extra cat living with you.....
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Sorry to temporarily morph this thread.
Nick, I've got a book called "Coping with Thyroid Problems" by Dr Joan Gomez.
Firstly, your dr should investigate the cause of your hypo, as it can be due to autoimmune probs (something called Hashimoto's disease), an excess of iodine, the aftermath of inflammation of the thyroid, other medication, diet, starvation (especially lack of carbos) and other illness. I remember having several blood checks in the beginning, especially for Hashimoto's.
Quote:
"If you are over 45 or severely hypo, you must start treatment at a low dose. Your dr will increase this in small steps over weeks and months. It is not worthwhile to test your thyroid status until two months after you have started the treatment. The final dose will depend on how you feel as well as on the test results.
Some people have harmless palpitations when they first take thyroxine. A small dose of a beta-blocker will tide them over the uncomfortable phase, which is temporary and not dangerous. Other people get aching in the muscles, which is similarly temporary, and of no serious significance. Indications that the dose is too high too soon are muscle cramps, angina, shortness of breath or ankle swelling. It is a matter of adjustment."
A frightening fact: there is a rare condition which results from years of shortness of thyroid hormone: psychosis. "The victim may lose contact with reality. She, or less often he, feels puzzled and afraid and thinks that other people are her enemies. Sometimes she believes she can hear them plotting....."
There are probably websites devoted to this subject. I bought the book when I was diagnosed. (Like you, I don't trust doctors, so double-check everything by researching it.)
Nag: GO BACK TO YOUR DOC ASAP!
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Nick, you were probably starting on too high a dose of thyroxine. This can cause symptoms of hyper, such as palpitations and nervousness. See your GP and try a lower dose to begin with. Your GP should give you regular blood checks to see how you're responding, and adjust your thyroxine in accordance.
You really will feel better on the thyroxine; I lost weight, became more energetic and lost that constantly drained feeling.
yes I think you are right. I started on a pretty low dos 5mg but I was very ill at the time and eating nothing so I am sure it was not really a fair trial but the side effects are awful and put me off. I had 3 -4 hours of feeling dreadfully anxious and nautious and giddy and palpations so not keen to repeat that. I could try half a tab on a full tum I suppose . wuss :doh:
I feel so completly exhausted all the time I am dog tired when I wake up after 10 hours sleep forcrissakes .I have to really concentrate to do anything and don't feel motivated to do anything much .
Have been taking thyroxine for many a year even 0.5 can make a diff not takeing your med could cause long term probs i would really sugest geting them to give you a lower dose by what you you say i would reduce it by 2 and see how it goes
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Just splitting hairs here: thyroxine, now prescribed as levothyroxine, is given in mcg (micrograms) not mg (milligrams). mcgs are much smaller, not sure by how much, would image 100 times.
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I am with you Nick, some doctors are flaming useless and I will not go to mine unless I really really really need to........no confidence in them at all.
Back to poor Zimmy, in view of his problems I would not call in RSPCA cos if they take him away , I wouldnt have much hope for him.
I wish I knew the best way to help poor Zimmy, you have done so well, whether threatening with Rspca would work, I dont know cos peeps like this dont have a clue and would probably think , thats Ok they will just take Zimmy away. problem solved :'( :'(
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Hi Gill
I've put the following concilliatory note thru her letterbox (not mentioned Animal Welfare Act or RSPCA yet)
"H. Sorry if I caused offence. I didn’t know that Zimmy was now an outdoor cat so didn’t know why the catflap was locked when I tried to put him in your house and I was told he was going into a cattery during your holiday.
J & S went on holiday on Thursday morning. I tried to contact you or whoever you asked to look after Zimmy from Saturday to explain that J and S’s cats wouldn’t come in when Zimmy was in their house. I was therefore having difficulty feeding them and the weather has been awful. When I heard nothing, I eventually found a place for him to stay on Tuesday. I know J and S don’t mind him coming to theirs and they obviously don’t have similar difficulties feeding their cats when they are at home.
I didn’t get a chance to explain that Zimmy almost fell over a couple of times when eating on Monday and started sneezing a little. I didn’t know if he is normally that unsteady although I realise he is elderly. That’s why I asked the vet near the cattery to take a look at him.
I realise that having Zimmy tested for Hyperthyroidism was not my place but I only did it out of concern and I was told the test was positive for the condition and I enclose copies of the results. I apologise for doing this as it clearly upset you. The vet put him on treatment from Thursday involving 2 tablets a day for a few weeks to see how he responds. Further treatment then needs to be discussed with vet. The tablets don’t cost much.
I will collect Zimmy on Sunday and bring him home. My main concern was that J and S’s cats might wander off if they were unsettled for the 16 nights J and S are away. I am not concerned about a week.
Can we talk about his please as I’ve tried to be brief? Naturally I’ve no intention of asking you to pay for this.
Rosella"
That really is the best I could come up with. I just popped out and no sign of lights on at their house. No idea what to do tomorrow :scared: Needless to say, I am not keen to give him back until she sees that
1. He needs to have access to indoors
2. He needs his medication
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Hi Rosella
Think that very good note and hope they see sense and let him back in the house, have feeling about the meds tho!
Well done. keeping fingers crossed
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Fingers crossed for him.
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One day, when I have nothing better to do with my life, I will bore you all with the shenanigans with horrible neighbour. Just thought you'd like to know that nice neighbour has plans to rehome before nasty neighbour leaves with or without official consent. Nuff sed. Meanwhile, he ain't cold, wet or starving and moves afoot to ensure medication given regularly!
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Great ;D
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Am glad that things are going as well as can be.
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Really pleased that things are being sorted out and Zimmy is safe. Hope it's not been too stressful for you!