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Expert: - 11/23/2008


Question
Hello and thank you in advance! My cat ran away for 4 weeks, then returned at about half of her body weight. It has been one week since she returned. She has had two dramatic episodes of vomiting and messy uncontrollable diarrhea. At first I fed her small amounts of Turkey Gerber baby food (a vet told me many years ago that it was good for sick or constipated animals). She used to get it as a treat only and she LOVES it. I have now been incorporating her usual Science Diet dry food (Hairball control adult) which is what she always ate. She had another episode last night. That's 2 in one week. Am I feeding her incorrectly? What would you suggest feeding a cat who needs to be reintroduced to food? By the way, it's Sunday and my vet's office is closed. Thank you!

Answer
Shawn,

It is possible that this kitty needs veterinary care. In cats who have been starved their organs can be doing odd things that could cost them their lives when they have a source of food again. I would recommend that if you aren't going to take this kitty to the emergency vet clinic that you keep things light and only offer small amounts (about a tablespoon or so) of food frequently. It's possible that this kitty may need to be hospitalized until she stabilizes. Tomorrow morning at the latest this kitty needs to be cared for by a qualified vet. I would recommend speaking to your vet about blood work (pre-anesthetic profile and a CBC) and a urine test to see how everything is working. The pre-anesthetic blood work will provide valuable information about how this kitty's major organ systems are functioning. The CBC will tell the vet if there is any anemia or infection going on. The urine test will tell if there is an infection or issues in the urinary tract. This kitty's condition is quite serious and I would strongly urge you to have her to the vet clinic today, I realize that will be more expensive, however this kitty may have serious health issues as a result of her time without food.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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