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Question
This is another question concerning Teah, the stray cat that adopted us. We took her to the vet recently, as she seems to be having trouble urinating and we noticed small drops of blood in the urine. Also - she was starting to (a) avoid using the litter box and (b) vertical spraying throughout the house.
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We did find that there was a bladder infection which we are in the process of treating with medication. The vet stated that the vertical spraying is not from a medical condition and is most likely caused by stress. Teah gets along well and even sleeps with my Russian Blue from time to time, so I was not certain where the stress might be coming from. Then the vet asked if there were other cats coming around the house. While I have not personally seen them, I do know that at least one stray must be roaming the property at night, because I have to clean up the mess in the flower beds each day. Our cats never go outside.
The vet said that this might be enough to trigger a reaction in Teah and has recommended that we put her on Prozac. Now, I am much more used to dealing with dogs (Anatolian Shepherds), and it has been my opinion that vets sometimes tend to be quick to go with the pill route. I don't like putting more chemicals than necessary into any body.
Could you suggest an alternate method that we could try? Teah is only a couple of years old, and I do not relish the idea of her spending the rest of her life on Prozac.
Thanks (again) in advance,
Carl
Hi Carl. I would recommend first trying a product called Feliway. It's a synthetic pheromone, a hormone that has a calming effect on cats. Cats release it through their cheeks and paw pads, and also in their urine. Feliway comes in an plug-in diffuser, which fills the air with odorless pheromones to reduce anxiety, making cats feel less of a need to spray. I use it at all times in my own home. See www.feliway.com to learn more. I would give it a couple weeks to see if it works for you. It's a little on the pricey side, but I find the benefit worth it. I have found the initial set up least expensive at amazon.com and the refills least expensive at entirelypets.com.
However, if this doesn't entirely solve the problem for you, I wouldn't be adverse to the Prozac. Most cats only need it for about 3-6 months, and then they can taper off without experiencing a relapse. There are those occasional tough cases who need longer treatment, or rarely, lifelong treatment, but I've had a couple of cats who've had to go on it, never for longer than 6 months.
Best wishes!
Jessica
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | I have gone to Jessica with a wide array of questions dealing with our cats. Her answers are always timely, logical and easy to understand. You can tell that she cares about what she does, and I am very grateful for the assistance that she has provided us. Carl | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Jessica
Expertise
The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.
Experience
I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.
Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience
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