Plan B for Miley girl - she is gone now...RIP Sweetheart

[Bengalz]

Sallyanne,

You have been through so much with Miley in her life and this must seem terribly unfair on all sides. I hope the new arrangements work and are comfortable for that sweet little girl and that you are able to feel more relaxed with her condition. Please give Miley lots of hugs and kisses for me.

Also, many hugs to you dear lady for being such a great meowmie

[jazzcat]

I'm so sorry to hear the extent of Miley's problems. I never had a clue it was that bad. You have my sympathy and my support. I really wish I had some great advice but as you already know I can't even solve my kitty problems. I am very happy to hear there were no accidents yesterday. Sounds like this might work. Fingers crossed.

Ripley is a behavioral sprayer and shows us his discontent by peeing on things. He usually gets this way when we change something in the house like paint, flooring, drapes. Yes, he has marked all of those brand new things in his protest. Now being a kidney patient makes it even worse because he acts out when he feels bad. Well to add insult to injury he started having constant diarrhea and if he couldn't get to his "preferred" litter box he would just go in the dining room. Thank goodness my vet recommended Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach. As long as he eats that and nothing else, not even on tiny treat, he has regular poop. Now of course his thing is to go beside the box but he only does that out in the garage on the concrete so it's not a big deal. With all his other issues it's hard to deal with him and trust me when he is feeling grouchy, peeing and pooing inappropriately and just generally miserable which in turn makes the whole house miserable I have to really consider quality of life - he's over 15 years old. I hate to put it like that but it is the truth.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know I understand how you feel.

[Catty1]

I hope she continues to be accident-free. Is the allergic food the same as the gastro-intestinal?

If she is doing well on it, that is wonderful. During the tainted cat food tragedy, when I was reading every label everywhere, I was surprised that my vet presc food contained corn and other starch fillers. Just a thought if Miley's tummy troubles return (God forbid! )

Give her scritchies for me!

[Vermontcat]

I'm sorry to hear that Miley hasn't been feeling well.
Hopefully she will do better in a smaller space and the other campers will stop bugging her.
Give her some scritchies from me, I know she loves getting one on one attention.
Let me know if you want some company or if you want to send the other rowdy campers down here for a vacation.

[sasvermont]

I think as long as she has nothing to poop on/in, other than a litter box, she will be fine. I cleaned her box this morning, fed her, etc. and she was content to be in the cage. She didn't even attempt an escape.

JuniRose was on the top of the cage when I left this morning. I have a blanket over the top, to prevent peeping kitties from putting their peeping paws in the cage to terrorize Miley.

So, hopefully, this confining will do the trick. I have been looking in to Prozac for kitties, too. I shall talk to my vet. Prozac is cheap these days, so it might be an alternative for me/us. We shall see.

Thanks for listening.

Sas and her Campers!

[Barbara]

Good to hear that there were no accidents in two days and good to hear that Miley feels quiet and well. Anyway she is not VERY rambunctious for an Aby. Give her some kisses from me. I still can feel her raw little tongue on my arm

[sasvermont]

So far so good. She is quiet and seems ok with the new arrangement. I don't know how long she can tolerate being held captive. She sleeps quite a bit, but then don't most cats? It sure has made my life easier, not worry about where to look for the next pile of poop.

[Pawla]

I had to confine Ellie. I dealt with issues for almost seventeen years with him. He was confined to the kitchen by a baby gate, and this worked really well for us. I would allow him out when I was home, but when I was at work or in bed, he was in the kitchen. Good luck, because I've been there and know the frustration this brings.

[Barbara]

Dearest Miley,
I agree with you. We are so different you can make a rule out of it.
Sending headbumpies with my little wooden head (that's what my mom says about it )
Filou

[Christiansmommy]

Sorry to hear about Miley girl I have a soft spot for her, she was Gabe's "adopted" sister after all!!

The only thing I can think of as far as her IBS, which I have no experience with, but I know when my kiddos and dogs have had upset tummy issues, there are certain foods that help to firm up the stool and that are gentle on their sensitive tummies. Pediatricians tell us to use the "BRAT" diet for upset stomachs/diarrhea...meaning, "Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast"...now I know 3 out of the 4 things I just listed would never be consumed by a cat, but the rice is an option if you wanted to give it a shot...they make the powdered boxes of rice cereal in the baby food aisle. It's cheap too. Maybe you could try mixing some of that into some canned food? To thicken it up and try to firm up her poos. I am sure she would hate it just mixed with water, but maybe with some canned food, it would help get it into her system to firm things up? I don't know, maybe it won't help at all...but it's worth a try, right?

We all know you are a great cat mom, SAS...you will do everything you can for your sweet girl. (((HUGS))) though,I know it can't always be easy!!

Robyn

[sasvermont]

Well, tonight wiped out any progress we've made. She pooped several times in her cage and once right after I got home, while I was watching. She is out of control now. I will clean it all tonight, removing her into a different container for a short while. I will call the vet in the morning, to see if there is one last ditch medication that might help her. I am thinking Prozac. It's cheap and easy to come by. I have tried so many things, including a colonoscopy, resulting in her diagnosis of IBD. I don't think I am doing her any favors at this point. Maybe I will feel differently in the morning, when I talk to her vet.

This has turned out to be a bit more than I had planned on. I didn't know she could poop so much.

I don't think she is in pain, but it is so hard to tell with cats.

I am exhausted over this.

[Pam]

I am very sorry Sallyanne - for you and for Miley girl. Let's hope the vet thinks Prozac might be the answer.

[jenluckenbach]

JMO, but when Lucas was diagnosed with cancer I did not believe he was in terrible pain, either, BUT.....having diarrhea almost constantly could NOT have been joyful. Thinking about how we humans often have bloating and cramps that go along with diarrhea, I just felt that Lucas must also be suffering, even if silently. With Lucas, the tumors were growing rapidly, and even though that was the majority of the basis for my decision on euthanasia, the toll the diarrhea was taking on his insides was also a consideration.

I realize Miley's problem is not that same, but I hope that my "logic" (such as it is) can help you through a difficult time.

[sasvermont]

Jen, I know that she is probably uncomfortable at best. When she is off the prendisone, she begins with the blood in her stools. She is on prendisone now keeping her out the the painful part of her diahrreah (sp) .... I just don't know ... I am torn..... Cats are so stoic.

Gosh, I thought the cage thing would work. There is no relationship between a cage and IBD. What was I thinking? What was my vet thinking? Is Miley trying to tell me something by going all over her cage while she is confined! I need to go to bed early tonight and deal with this tomorrow. She is breaking my heart right now.

I will let you guys know what I decide tomorrow. I don't even know if my vet has hours tomorrow. She is not in every Saturday.

Night all.

[Karen]

Oh, Sas, you and your Miley-girl are in our prayers.