Mishka is sick

[aguu]

When I got Mishka 3 weeks ago he developed an upper respiratory infection within a day or so.
It turned out that this virus going around in Toronto and that most of the cats at the rescue place where I got him from ended up having it as well. He ended up on an antibiotic (Clamavox) for a week. Within a day of being on the antibiotic he ended up having diarrhea. I heard this was an usual side affect and since he was otherwise active I did not worry too much. Well, he has been off the antibiotic since Thursday but his diarrhea persists and I am worried.
Last night I heard him in his litterbox and OMG! It would have been funny if I wasn't so concerned. He was so loud...(I will not get into more detail)
He is otherwise a typical healthy young cat - very active, curious and he has a HUGE appetite (he does eat at the speed of lightining, I'm pretty sure he doesn't chew..)
I will take him to the vet this week but does anyone have any thoughts, pleease? should I be worried?

[Barbara]

I think as long as he's got appetite and is active it might not be too problematic.
On the other hand if he has diarrhea you should see that he gets enough water otherwise he could be dehydrated.

[emily_the_spoiled]

The diarrhea is probably a left-over side effect from the antibiotics. Give him unflavoured cultured yogurt for a couple of days and that will probably help the diarrhea. You want to try and build up the bacteria in his system. If he is still eating and drinking okay, then I wouldn't be too worried about it.

[jenluckenbach]

1) make sure he doesn't have worms
2) My Amber had really bad diarrhea like that after her dose of antibiotics, and it went on after I stopped the medicine also, so it could be that
3) ask you vet about koapectate (that is what they gave Amber) or they also have anti-diarrheal medicines availale as well.
Best of luck, and as stated above, make sue he's drinking.

[aguu]

Great.. he absolutely loves yogurt!
How much do I give him though?
I mean what would be TOO much???

[emily_the_spoiled]

If you give him a tablespoon full a couple of times a day that should the trick. If he loves it that is even better. Make sure that you get the unflavoured kind. Good luck

[NoahsMommy]

Aww, poor thing. Micah has diarrhea right now too and was given Katopectate in the shelter as well.

Good luck at the vet, give Mishka some lovin' from me!

[AmberLee]

Oh, poor baby. I've forgotten, how old is Mishka? He's still in the kitten months, right? 8 months or so?? They tend to be voracious eaters... Fingers crossed that the diarrhea is just due to the medicine. Do keep us informed as to what the vet says.

[luckies4me]

I'd take him to the vet and get a stool sample, he could have tapes. Does he have fleas? If so h most likely has tapeworms. Does he have his shots?



Great job for rescuing him!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I sure hope that Mishka gets better soon and that his diarrhea isn't caused by anything serious. All paws and fingers are crossed for a full and speedy recovery. Good luck and please keep us updated on his condition.

[aguu]

Thanks for your advice everyone!
Well Mishka's problem seems better today.
I fed him some yogurt last night - he was VERY happy about that.
He does have all his shots and he does not have fleas but I'm still going to take him to the vet this week just in case.
(Oh, and he is 10 months old)
So I have another question;
Does anyone else have a cat that ALWAYS seems to be hungry?
Every time I step foot in the kitchen day or night, Mishka follows me in, runs over to his food bowl and starts to meow at the top of his lungs as if he was starving to death.
I have never had a cat that was THAT dramatic.
He is however much more vocal (and loud!) than any of the other kitties I've had...

[emily_the_spoiled]

I am glad that Mishka is doing so much better (and the yogurt was a hit )

Tanner (my 5 month old kitten) does exactly the same thing as Mishka. I leave dry food out all day (and there is plenty of it), but everytime I set foot in the kitchen he is there asking for food. When I have supper I have to fight him off so that I can actually eat my meal. I had his shot series completed a couple of weeks ago and the vet said that he was doing just fine (weight wise), so I know that he is not starving. I think that he is just trying to see how strong my will is...

[aguu]

Hmmmmm, the difference is Mishka inhales his food right away (both wet AND especially dry!) and then starts to "scream" for more! I don't think it will be possible to leave food out all day with this one - I think whatever I put in front of him, he'll just gobble up!

I'm know giving him enough, so maybe (I hope) he's also just testing my will. We'll see what the vet says.

[ChrisH]

Glad Mishka is a little better today. Fingers & paws crossed he will be fully better soon.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Tanner is the same way, he inhales his wet food immediately. I can even hear him slurping the food. I leave dry food out to allow my cats to free feed. Even then I can the "poor poor pitiful" meow the minute I walk in the door at night...