Obstructions (Monthly Cat Care Article)

julius_sick — photo by Clarabelle Fields

Disclaimer: the staff writers here are not vets nor are they qualified to give medical advice. This article’s purpose is strictly to share stories/information and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Please take your cat to the vet if you suspect anything might be wrong with them. Your vet will know best what to do in your specific situation.

In light of this month’s article about all the tasty crafty things that Julius (and many other cats) enjoy, it seemed appropriate to discuss intestinal blockages and obstructions in this installment of Cat Care. Many cats, especially younger ones, will often ingest or attempt to ingest items that are not actually edible. Common items that cats ingest include ribbons, rubber bands, string, and plastic items, among many others. Some of these items, although not technically “edible”, can pass through the digestive tract without causing problems. Sometimes, however, these inedible items can cause potentially serious health problems for the feline who has ingested them.

Ingested foreign bodies can get stuck in and obstruct the stomach, small intestine, and/or colon. If left untreated, an obstruction can become a perforation, in which the object pokes or cuts a hole in the intestines, and this can lead to a dangerous systemic infection. The obstruction can also sometimes result in a condition called bowel ischemia, in which blood supply to the bowels is restricted or cut off, and this can result in tissue death and other serious complications.

Signs that your cat could have a gastrointestinal obstruction include:

Vomiting
No appetite
Weight loss
Diarrhea/constipation
Pain or discomfort when abdomen is touched
General lethargy or unusual behavior

Obstructions, as well as their resulting complications, can result in the death of the cat if not treated appropriately. Therefore, if you suspect your cat has ingested something it shouldn’t have, or if it’s showing symptoms of obstruction, it’s important that it receive veterinary treatment as soon as possible. Vets can diagnose obstructions via x-rays, physical examinations, ultrasounds, and endoscopies. Obstructions can often be successfully treated with surgery or other procedures, especially if they are caught early. Although common and usually treatable, obstructions are still a serious health condition and should not be taken lightly.

Prevention is also important when it comes to obstructions. Rather than having to treat the obstruction through surgery and other invasive means, it’s even better to prevent the obstruction from occurring in the first place. Items that your cat might find tasty or tempting should be kept out of its reach or otherwise concealed where your cat won’t be able to get to them. It is especially important to note that ingesting string or yarn is extremely dangerous for cats. For this reason, cats should be supervised when playing with yarn or string, and every attempt should be made to prevent them from ingesting it.

Cats are curious creatures, and their curiosity can often get the better of them. Remember, curiosity killed the cat, so as much as our kitties might love their shiny, stringy things, pet parents need to beware and make sure such toys are carefully put away when playtime is over.

July 1, 2019 0

Weight Management (Monthly Cat Care Article)

Cats, just like humans, often struggle with weight management. It’s not uncommon for cats, especially if they are exclusively indoor cats, to be overweight or even obese. And, just as humans’ health can be negatively impacted because of unhealthy weight, overweight cats can also experience a range of health problems stemming from their bulky figure — including but not limited to diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and breathing problems. Cats that are older, female, spayed, and kept indoors are at highest risk for becoming overweight or obese, but any cat can have weight problems, even young ones.

Your cat’s vet is your best resource for determining if your cat is overweight. Healthy weight ranges can vary widely, depending on your cat’s age, breed, sex, and personal body build. In general, though, you can determine if your cat is overweight if you cannot feel their ribs when you touch their sides, if your cat struggles to run and play easily, and if your cat does not have an obvious waist. These things could all indicate your cat might benefit from a diet.

There are many ways that pet parents can help their cats obtain and maintain a healthy weight. Encouraging your cat to exercise is an important part of weight management. Getting your cat fun toys and dedicating a fixed amount of time, perhaps 15-20 minutes per day, to playtime is a great way to prompt your cat to exercise. Another important part of weight management is limiting your cat’s access to food. Cats should be fed fixed portion sizes at specific times of day and should not be allowed free access to food or treats. Some vets might recommend or prescribe a special diet cat food to help you cat lose weight.

Your cat’s weight loss journey will likely be a long, ongoing process, but with the help of your vet, you can design a plan that will be perfectly suited to your little one’s needs and that will ensure they will stay healthy and playful long into their old age.

June 1, 2019 0

Diet Rage

I am very angry right now. I have been angry for a good number of weeks. The humans in my household have taken audacious steps to ruin and interrupt the glorious mealtimes I used to have. Service is worse than ever before, and I no longer enjoy the benefits of a self-serve buffet. Mealtimes have become downright horrendous. Quality is poor. Serving sizes are too small. Everything is awful. I’m going to leave this establishment a terrible review on Yelp, without a doubt.

I had been living a good life until now. My humans were lenient, letting me have all I wanted. Milk, yogurt, chicken, beef–whatever I asked for, I received. But I knew the day would come when they tried to stop me. I laughed in the face of the vet tech who staggered trying to lift me onto the table. I was doing more splendidly than ever before. My cat tree was overflowing with my glory, all 18 pounds of me. Why couldn’t the stupid humans realize that this was a good thing? I saw, in the vet’s disapproving eyes, the confirmation that my good days were coming to an end. I endured jokes and puns about my frame, cruel words thrown around above my head as the humans contrived their evil plan. Garfield. Obese. Big-boned. And then I heard the most dreaded word of all, the death sentence for my happiness. Diet.

That was months ago, and the torture has yet to cease. I am subjected to only two meals a day now, breakfast and dinner, with an agonizing 12 hours in-between, and no more treats from the kitchen. I try, sometimes, to get them for myself. I open cabinets and cupboards; I snuffle around in corners like a pauper, looking for crumbs and scraps to soothe my hunger. I sit in front of the pantry door and cry for hours, bemoaning my fate, lamenting that I lack the thumbs that would allow me to at last open the door and take all the kibble my heart desires. I even ate lettuce once when it fell on the floor. I am that desperate. My dignity has been crushed beyond hope.

I do not know when the vile vet will be appeased. She was happier last time but still demands even more. I am losing strength. I do not know how much longer I can endure this barbarity. I repeat: I only get two meals a day now. Only two. The injustice is incredible. I hope I survive, but I cannot be certain I will. I am surely skin and bones now, a shadow of my former self. I hope to write to you all again, if I do survive this. Maybe the vet will decide to be merciful and release me from this plight. I will return to my habitual post now, sitting resolutely in front of the pantry door, waiting for some angel to come and open it for me. The humans do not care. They watch, they listen, and yet they do nothing. All they say, day after day, is “You’ve already eaten”, but they will never understand the torment of only having two meals a day.

Until next time, provided that there is one,

Julius

June 1, 2019 0