Warning to fellow cat lovers

I have an 18 yr old cat that I noticed some dullness around her eyes a wk ago...thought was normal for an old cat - BIG mistake. I came home Wed, she was blind. Ripped my heart out to see her that way, she is a really good/healthy cat, she found her litter box in the back office, but not her food n water in the kitchen all day.

I took her to the on-call vet, detached retinas, caused by Hypertension, she has high blood pressure...doing more advanced blood/urine test to see if they can figure it out what is causing it, the kidney n thyroid tests looked ok.

They put her on med for blood pressure n her sight is coming back (much to my relief, I really messed up Big Time by not paying more attn)

If you catch it right away there is a good chance that the sight will come back w/meds, I got lucky...don't make my mistake.

Also in the process of understanding all this I did some research re hyperthyroidism, thinking this might be the cause. It's like an epidemic in U.S., some say due to U.S. high use of can cat food. I use natural - no by-products n feed meat, veggies mostly. She was raised eating veggies, so she likes them...usually if i eat it, she will give it a try. But meat is the main staple.

Years ago I had a Great Dane that got cancer and spent a lot of time reading on what caused it, most thought diet (by-products) was a contributing factor. Most of what I read was that the by-products were not fit for human consumption, so why would you pay for and then feed it to your pet? I know most vets say that by-products are fine, but from what I read...I don't think so.

What's in most can foods:
http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1

Better food choices:
http://www.catinfo.org/commercialcannedfoods.htm

Kitty face says it all "better to keep your eyes wide open" if you want to keep your kitty/doggy healthy:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p121/Cat_w_9_lives/KittySoccer.jpg

Ya, I know my kitty's old, but she is really healthy, nice coat, active, playful...so I hope to give her a quality life as long as i can.

Her reg. vet will be back in town Tues n figure it out I'm sure. Goal is to cure the issue that is causing the problem, so she does not have to take the meds. Meds have side effects, off her food a little, sleepy.

Smiles,

Peg

 

Thanks Halo, I will make sure they ran tests for diabetes, while they still have fresh blood/urine there. Diabetes is very common in older cats, did not think of it.

Smiles,

Peg

 

This is true. Our cat, 15 years old, is borderline diabetic. She has failing kidney's and they found it when we had her blood tests done last time.

Steve

 

Glad to hear her sight is coming back


Ive been Hyperthyroid for over a year (at least)
and have been a vegetarian for the last 10 years or so, as a result I eat a fairly simple diet.
I was not aware of any linking between by-products and this illness; but I do not doubt that impurities in what we (and our pets) eat are likely to cause health problems.

Had not heard of blindness being a side-effect of hyperthyroidism, however one of my eyes does stick out further than the other one as a result - so the potential link is definately there

Hyperthyroidism can have a lot of effects including some pretty serious heart issues and heat management problems, so if in doubt, it may pay to get her tested.
Would be interested to know what they treat felines with for this illness.
There is only one drug available in Australia for humans (apparently) - Carbimazole, not sure if they use that in veterinary science as well

Good luck, hope everything turns out well :wave

 

I've been feeding my 10 yr old tom on pre-packed gourmet cat mince (kangaroo meat or beef depending on the brand) since he was a kitten because he didn't like canned food and I thought it was cr** as well. But a few months ago it was reported on a local current affairs program that we are slowly poisoning our feline friends with this product!!

I have since changed the brand and the packaging says the ingredients are: kangaroo mince and preservative (220) but I'm still at a loss as to what is safe with this so called gourmet cat mince. Maybe fresh from the butcher? What do others think? My tom cat is very healthy and weighs 10kg but isn't fat - he's just one huge cat.

 

I've been feeding my cats Purina Cat Chow for a very long time, other than some weight issues, they are healthy as it gets.

The only thing I ever had to change is I filter their water now. The farm I live on has really bad water and I was just giving them water right out of the tap.

I do know that what you feed your cat has a big effect on them though. Cooked meat is not good for them at all, neither is a high vegetable diet. They need proteins that get destroyed in the cooking process.

 

This is why I swear by Nutro Brand foods for my dogs (they make it for cats too) Is 100% all human grade stuff, and I know that in the dog line, they make wet food, snacks, treats and even desserts as well (Yummy by the way)

All 4 of our fuzzy kids are from rescue situations, and I have seen firsthand how much it helps improve the dog's health. And no, I don't work for them. Just my $.02


~C

 

We have Purina in Australia - will check it out thanks.

I haven't come across this brand? And I do have a dog too he weighs less than the cat - my cat runs the house.:tas

 

Nutro is a good product, no by-products, I use it if I have to. They have many special diets now too. I have read that raw meat, with supplements is best for carnivores, but that is not always possible re work, leaving raw meat out, freshness. I know that cooked is not the best, but better than by-products and high carbs. I look at ingredients, if I would not eat it - why would I pay to feed it to my pet. If you change their diet it should be gradual, due to tummy issues.

 

www.nutroproducts.com More specifically: http://www.nutroproducts.com/australia.asp

Ok, so I have a little bit of time at work right now


~C

 

Sorry to hear about your "baby"!! I know it's tough...they are like one of your children...you just can't bare to see them suffer!! Glad you caught it and was able to rectify the situation!!

We have fed our cats Purina one from day one. The vet say it is very good food, especially for the price and availability!! I would prefer to feed them Eukanueba, but that stuff is crazy expensive!! Teh only time they get anything other than their regular dry food is about once a month we will surprise them with a can of tuna or wet food, as we call it. And believe you me...they know the sound of that can opening even though it is only once a month!!

Roger

 

Thanks Calltaker I see Nutroproducts is located in Queensland - I'm sure they would also distribute in NSW where I am.......

Called the 1-800 number and got onto someone really helpful, with great tips on changing over their diet and also for any other Aussies interested - I was given the Australian website with distribution addresses.

http://nutro.com.au/

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6956/picture002gx8.jpg

PS. Charlie thanks you too!
Our other cat (laying on his back) Felix was sadly stolen a week before Christmas.

 

Glad I could help snot..... (OK, that just sounds so wrong....) I love the way that nutro works with my furry kids. My other half is a Groomer for Petco, and I get inthere on a semi regualr basis, and have seen some of the clients who have switched to nutro, and the difference it makes in thier coats and skins. Am a firm believer.

~C

 

Thanks for your input and good vibes all, she is getting better. Will let you know if tests find anything interesting.

 

What kind of sick son of a bitch would steal a cat?

I suddenly feel very sick, annoyed, and wonder why an ELE event can't happen soon enough.

 

Some cheap bastard who wanted to give it as a Christmas present. It was amazing to see all the posters in shop windows, on power poles and ads in the local newspaper about 'lost' pets around last Christmas in my suburb!

Our Felix was micro chipped and recently desexed. My daughter bought him with her birthday money last September and then paid for his desexing. After advertising in the local mag about him missing a kind family donated a new kitten to my daughter - so now 'Max' has become a part of our family along with pensioner 'Charlie'.

 

'desexed' sounds so much nicer than spayed or neutered!!
my cat eats dog food. when we first got him we fed him tinned cat food on the counter. he would push it off and while the dogs were scrambling for it, he would go over and eats theirs, so we gave up on it. now when hes hungry he just stands there and the dogs make way for him! i feed the dogs a dry food called 'high pro' by star milling co. because its cheep. they have a feeder hopper so they have clean water and fresh food 24/7. all three are in excellent health. (although the cat does supplement its own diet with fresh catch of the day, and the dogs enjoy the fallen avocados which keeps their coats shiny.)