The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Travel
Posted by Helen Jeter (Great Neck, Ny) on 12/20/2011
Leaving in 20 days from Long Island, NY to Fort Lauderdale, FL with FIVE cats in a car. I network and plus a family member that went cross country in her car with 2 cats, said Pet travel solution is great to have for the cats. What can you suggest?
Coconut Oil
Posted by Sheila (Post Falls, Idaho) on 12/20/2011
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Wondering if coconut oil would work on older cats?
Thyroid
Posted by Ruthie (Spalding, Lincolnshire) on 12/08/2011
I would like to know if I could use apple cider vineger for my cat, she has lost a lot of weight very quickly, has been eating loads. I took her to the vet last week and she had blood test done, the results are that she has an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). I would like to give her a natural product instead of drugs from the vet.
Jaundice
Posted by Asma (Karachi, Pakistan) on 11/13/2011
I have a 4 year old male persian. A month ago he was diagnosed with pre-hep jaundice. He went thru a 5 day anti-biot injection course. Relapsed. Was put on oral anti-biot for 7 days. Relapsed again. And is now on a 3 week course of the same oral anti-biot. Test results at the time of relapse #2 showed that jaundice was due to a parasite, which we are treating.
He's been doing better - a little fussy about food, but has developed a skin rash on the frontside of his neck and two spots on the backside of his neck. Before the jaundice I had noticed a abrasion/lesion which I cleaned with antiseptic and chalked off to a scuffle with a neighbourhood cat. Now that same lesion is purple with small specks of scab and has spread.
I dont want to pump my poor Manoscheher with more anti-biots. I haven't taken a single anti-biot in 25 years and resort to natural remedies myself. I hate having to give him these anti-biots, but I dont understand his ailments and how I can help him with natural remedies that will bring relief to him asap.
Would really appreciate some advice regarding tackling to his internal parasitic infection and the skin rashes. Bless!
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Posted by Psychokat_xb (Houston, Tx) on 11/11/2011
Thought I should post to this. I had a kitten with this and later needed to put her down. She was very ill and in great pain. I did have 2 other adult cats at the time whom fell ill similar to sassy (the kitten). I changed their diet to home cooked chicken, beef, pork with rice and bottled water. I also added a vitamin supplement. In addition to the bottled water, I added soymilk and chicken broth so they will get plenty of hydration. They recovered.
Aging Cats
Posted by Diamond (Salisbury, Usa) on 10/31/2011
Maximom; I have a kitten she had the same problems, I am almost positive she has upper respiratory infection because of one eye running constantly & red/itchy she is always coughing & what I suspect may be seizures, also she continued to throw up after eating, I started my kitten on ACV right away & what a blessing, she has totally stopped all her ills, she is now so very playful an the pain that all kittens are (just joking)she has grown up into a two year old beautiful fluffy kitten. She is still healthy & shows signs of getting even better. I understand that upper respiratory infections are incurable but at least I can make her as comfortable as possible, good luck!
General Feedback
Posted by Kay (Columbia City, Indiana) on 10/11/2011
I just got back from the vet. He took out about 140 ml of fluid from the cats lungs. It was sorta red, probably high in protein, so not good news. Cougar is breathing pretty good now. I will try the essiac tea tomorrow. If anyone has other things to try please let me know. I don't know how long he will be okay.
General Feedback
Posted by Kay (Columbia City, Indiana) on 10/11/2011
My cat has pleural effusion and pulmonary edema also dyspnea, also cancer. My vet says nothing can be done. They gave him a Lasix injection, and today he gets a tap thorax. The cancer is too advanced for any treatment to help. Is there anything that might help my cat? I don't want to give up hope, but it does not look good.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nike (Goteborg, Sweden) on 10/01/2011
Hi Maximom, hope your baby is all better now! I had similar issues with my russian blue, Figaro, he refused to drink water. I even tried with bottled water... However, he loved to drink cream or half-and half. You could try that next time when Maxi needs liquids ASAP.
Back Leg Issues
Posted by Nia (New York, Ny) on 09/19/2011
It's always good to get a second opinion from a reliable reference from another pet owner.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nia (New York, Ny) on 09/19/2011
One good thing you can do for sure is stop giving him commercial food: vet prescribed, top brand, whatever = junk; this stuff will speed his deterioration. Give him food that cats ate when they lived healthier, longer lives, like before there was a pet food industry. I learned this lesson with my cat who also had some issues that various, expensive vets with all of their tests and prescriptions could not figure out and after thousands of dollars returning only a sickly, miserable cat - I had to figure something out. I started out giving him stewed, chopped up chicken liver from the grocery store's butcher dept. And then transitioning into a variety of meats other than beef and whitefish. My cat has no problems eating now and is much healthier. These days, sometimes I add a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to his meals and this aids in his digestion. Commercial food is the reason most of our pets get sick. I also have Whiskers Holistic Pet Supply (Phil and Joseph) in NYC to thank for much good advice on my cat's health. Good luck to you:)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Leah (Costa Mesa, Ca.) on 09/18/2011
Lactoferrin- It's a good brand. What lactoferrin is... It's from the very first milk of the momma cow. It is a very strong immune booster. My baby cat almost died three times for horrid upper respritory issues. Did I spell that wrong? probably! Anyways, give her a mashed up tablet twice a day for three days and then once a day for a week and see how and if she improves. Mash it to powder with the bottom of a spoon and to one teaspoon of wet food add this and a tablespoon of bottled water. I never use tap! Only a teaspoon of the wet food because you want to be sure she eats all of it. More food might make the chance of it all not being ingested. It is safe too. for people and animals.
Bladder Crystals
Posted by Superman (Hamilton, Ontario) on 09/14/2011
★★★★★
Cranberry juice for crystals. I had a 3 yr old cat that developed crystals, and started urinating blood, and won't often have difficulty urinating. I gave him Cranberry Juice for 3 days, problem went away, and didn't come back.
Herbs
Posted by Xanadu1jw (Memphis, Tn) on 09/14/2011
First start adding a little tiny bit of canned food to their Kibble every day, gradually increasing until it is all canned. When you have accomplished this then it is time to start to add tiny bits of raw chicken breast chopped very fine and then gradually increasing that until your cats are all raw. Recipes can be found online in the barf (bones and raw food) cat sites. Their health will be reward enough for all your trouble.
Herbs
Posted by Jr (Coloma, Mi) on 09/11/2011
How did you get your cats to eat raw meat? My cats have been on kibble for years. I switched my dog to raw and have tried and tried to get the cats to eat raw and they will NOT touch it. You would think I was trying to poison them.
Herbs
Posted by Diamond (Salisbury, Usa) on 09/10/2011
I started my dogs on a raw food diet and later found that meat while still alive were injected with many experimental shots to name a few/steroids, antibiotics etc. My dogs in the process were getting sick(breaking out with blisters/boils/ their skin turning red) so I decided to stop them, now they are doing better with just raw veggies, with occasional chicken livers. And even a few doggie treats.
Herbs
Posted by Jujucat (North East, Pa, Usa) on 09/10/2011
That's great that you've gone raw, but why are you buying it from a company? You can easily do this yourself and it's so cheap! We buy chicken livers by the tub at Wal-Mart and they also have packages of chicken hearts and gizzards for cheap-our kittens also like skinless, boneless breasts. You just bring it home, wash it in hot water and throw it in ziplocs and freeze. I bring enough down for one day and let it thaw in the fridge and before feeding, I fill a bowl with hot water (not boiled, just hot tap water) and sit the ziploc bag of thawed meat in there and let it get warm. This does not cook the meat-and please, do NOT microwave the meat as this kills all the nutrients. Also, it is essential to let them have raw meaty bones-no, it does not harm them, no they do not choke. Just make sure they are raw bones, not cooked. Cooked bones fragment and are brittle and dangerous. Anyways, when the meat is to room temperature after a few minutes, I put it in their little ceramic dishes and they gobble it up. If there is blood, don't throw it away--my cats love sipping the blood that comes with the meat. The main thing is freezing first, as I've read that this kills any parasites that may be in the meat... Although, we are feeding them human grade meat from our grocery store. I supplement with occasional treats of herring, mackerel, sardines, fresh Lake Erie perch and salmon (bones and all). On occasion I give a can of good quality GRAIN FREE moist food such as Blue Buffalo, Nutro, Avoderm or Wellness. I know feeding raw is best, but adding a can supplementally once or twice a week just makes me feel better, because these are foods with added minerals and whatnot that cats need and that way I know my 3 sweethearts are covered. For water, we use a fountain and also a ceramic dish that I clean and refill daily. It would be easier to just plunk down dry food and let them have at it all day, but I know I'd pay down the road in vet's bills for cystitis, urethritis, bladder crystals, etc. , not to mention obesity. My cats will eat dry kibble-the good stuff, the bad stuff-any of it, they will eat it and this is just useful information for us for when we need to go away for a trip somewhere and our pet sitter will be able to feed the cats without dealing with the raw meat, etc. (plus, I am fastidious about cleaning after handling raw meat, and would prefer not to have anyone else in my kitchen attempting to do it). Cats are obligate carnivores--why anyone would feed them grain is beyond me. But that's the conclusion I came to when I knew I was going to adopt the first 2--I did tons of research about everything, from foods, to bedding, to toys, to cat litter (clay is evil, for cats and for the environment) and by the time we finally brought them home, we were READY and when we rescued #3, we were all prepared and she's taken to the raw meat like a champ and she's only 8 weeks old. Thanks for listening and good luck with your kitties. Sounds like you're a good mama-but you can ditch the raw food company and do it yourself for tons cheaper, just wanted you to know that.
Hugs, Jujucat
Echinacea, Vitamin C
Posted by Margaret (Portishead, Bristol, Uk) on 08/31/2011
Hi, my cat is sick with mucous dribbling from his mouth all day. You say half capsule of Echinea - what size was the capsule please so that I can judge if I am giving the right amount?
Thanks, Margaret
Aging Cats
Posted by Glad (Lakehills, Tx) on 08/11/2011
Hi, Suzan. Hug your cat, tell him you love him. Keep him as comfortable as possible and if he appears to be suffering, do the right thing and take him to the vet for a final hug until he sleeps in peace. His behavior is absolutely normal for an old cat. You will also notice that he gets very thin even though he is eating well. In the last part of your cat's life, his kidneys will begin to fail him. His other organs will follow suit. Keep him warm. He has very little fat on his body. Are his teeth OK? Many older cats find it hard to eat hard food. That having been said, don't make any sudden changes to his diet. Your vet may add a high-fat soft food to it, though. They sell a very good one for sick and old cats. Good luck to you, Suzan. My best friend, Max lived to be 17. He was a blue point siamese. He used to walk on a leash through the crowds at DFW airport. He was amazing! He's been gone for 4 years now and I still miss him so much. Cherish your cat while you still have him.
Aging Cats
Posted by Suzan (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 08/09/2011
I have a female (fixed) cat. She is 17 years old. She is an indoor cat and was really healthy all her life but now she pees and poops right were she lies. Is this normal for an old cat. My friends say I will need to put her down soon because all she does is sleep. What do you think I love my cat
Kitten Issues
Posted by Meccamoo (Pinetop, Az) on 08/08/2011
Please help me understand why my 11 year old neutered male cat continually humps these kittens. Any advice? Anyone?Also is there anything I can feed the two kittens to help them wean?
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Posted by Cat Lover (Vancouver, Bc) on 07/31/2011
Has anyone ever claimed success in treating/curing a cat suspected of suffering from FIP? Please post a reply if you have any idea how to help in the fight against this supposedly 100% fatal feline disease.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Maximom (Vancouver Island, Canada) on 07/26/2011
Hello fellow pet lovers at Earth Clinic; I have a beautiful 8 month old Russian Blue X kitten named Maxi who has recently begun having coughing fits that wake him from his sleep in the middle of the night. He got so dehydrated a few days ago that he needed subcutaneuous fluid to survive! I took him to the vet to the tune of nearly $1000.00 and even with a radiogram, xray, CBC, urinalysis and fecal test, the vet was unable to pinpoint his exact ailment! So Maxi's now on Cefa-drops (antibiotic) for his bronchitis as well as fenbendazole for possible lungworm infestation. My family and I are beside ourselves with worry over Maxi's condition! (my teenage son even pitched in money to pay the vet bill! ). But Maxi will only eat (the best$$ wet food we can get) if we encourage/pet him and he won't drink water at all. He's slowed down so much for an 8 mo kitten and is sleeping a lot the last few days too. We thought he was recovering yesterday when he was really hungry, but today is back to being tired and not eating - he had another coughing bout yesterday morn too - so sad :~( My vet wants to run more tests - we love our baby, but WOW is it expensive! And we're not sure these meds are working! I hope I found the sight with the cure here! Has anyone seen a cat recover from this type of malady by using ACV? What would be the right dose and method of delivery for a cat with the above symptoms? If anyone at all coud help us, we would be so very grateful! Love nor money alone isn't working to heal our baby! We need to try something else! Thanks so much for any help received - Maxi's Mom
Boric Acid
Posted by Crickett (29palms, California) on 07/08/2011
Just a quick lesson in the difference in a poison and over indulgence. The roach dies when it eats, EATS Boric acid mixed with sugar. It gets a fatal dose of changed digestive PH. Boric acid is not poisonous to roaches, it eats it from the inside due to overinjestion, it is like a human drinking a gallon of hot sauce. A little is great on food, but go to far, make it too hot and you are going to get a stomach ache, drink a gallon and you will end up like the roach. So a note to people using Boric acid on pets, Check the Ph of the solution you are going to use to see if it is compatible with your pets PH, if you do not know what I am talking about or do not have the means to do so, that is a clue that you are not qualified to use this method safely, so don't! Same goes for Vinegar, remember it is an acid too, and there are differing acidic levels in Apple cider vinegar, it is usually listed on the bottles.
My suggestion is use the lowest acidic content apv you can find.
Feline Neuropathy
Posted by Lela (Modesto, Ca) on 07/05/2011
This may sound unusual but check your cat for signs of an ear infection. If it has one, it will affect balance and coordination. Especially falling to one side and not steady enough to walk. In this case an antibiotic is needed. You can go to a feed store and tell them and they can give you it at a lower cost. Home remedy work to restore ear health and I use a natural product called Walley oil. My cats don't mind it but you have to be gentle because those ears can to sore. Also, with warm water clean the ear and around it. I don't know if clay is a good idea (ingested) I've never seen a cat do that naturally and clay litters can form a lining in the intestine. I wouldn't use it routinely but maybe ok for an emergency. You might have to call someone like at a feedstore or veterinary for assistance. Sometimes they will talk to you about it without a visit.
At healthfood stores there is a product call yeast plus made by twin labs. It is a complete food and I've seen it help a lot of sick animals. For a small cat, (some will eat it on thier own) one tps mixed in water. Use an eye dropper. Watch for signs of improvement. Unless it is a chronic condition it shouldn't be needed all the time. Hope your kitty gets better.
Bladder Issues
Posted by Angie (Equality, Al) on 06/29/2011
please keep up the apple cider vinegar (organic raw with the mother) diluted half and half with water. it really does help the uti and 1 T spoon to a gal. of water for their drinking water would be a good maintanance dose and has many other benifits also. my cat actually likes Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with plain yogurt as a treat. just don't ever force them to drink it undiluted as this burns the mouth and throat. Best wishes to your cat. also their is a homeopathic remedy that works great called 'uti free'
Bladder Crystals
Posted by Fiona (London, England) on 06/24/2011
Hi, I've read from so many sources that dried cat biscuits (kibble) is a big/main factor in the cause of crystals. Please research and see for yourself. I am trying to get my cats onto a raw diet, though one of them does not want to eat much except for biscuits and fish (mainly biscuits... He's mad for them and prefers them to chicken, beef, prawns, salmon and white fish... seriously) Guess which one get UTI's from time to time.
Kitten Issues
Posted by Meccamoo (White Mountains, Az) on 06/18/2011
About a month ago, two kittens found me. I let them inside, they're rocking cute. Problem is they need kitty mother's milk and I don't know what to feed them. They have fondly taken to my male Oreo kitty - he's 11 yrs and very furry. They all get along really well. They knead his belly (which is now pink) looking for food. Oreo's is kind enough (or lazy enough?) to allow this often - though he has no milk to give. He is hot for the girl kitty which makes me wonder if he was ever really neutered. Two questions: What can I feed the little one that isn't very expensive and will provide them with nutrients they need. (They have been eating Oreo's dry cat food and sometimes I give them plain yogurt and or milk). How can I keep Oreo from humping the female kitten?
Thank you very very very much.
Feline Neuropathy
Posted by Christel (Nolanville, Tx, United States) on 05/31/2011
On 23 March of this year (2011) I rescued a newborn kitten, which the queen abandoned (along with 3 others, who died quickly after I decided to take them in since mom didn't seem to show any interest). The queen is a feral cat living close by, so I was able to see she was not going to take care of them. Another little sister hung on for 5 days but then gave up the fight. So I now have the sole survivor of the litter. I fed him newborn formula, and weined him with partially cooked and minced chicken, which I now leave raw, and I changed from the baby formula to goats milk. I also add a paste to supplement turine and various vitamins and minerals. He thrived and seemed to get through it all just fine. He is now almost 9 weeks young. About a week ago though, I noticed him limping a bit on his left hind leg. I checked him therally, nothing seemed to be stuck anywhere or out of place. I moved his limbs with no adverse reaction. Only when I stroked along his left side towards the back did he seem to feel discomfort. I always make sure he is not on top of anything that he could fall off of, so it is unlikely that he fell when I was not there. This condition progressed to him sitting down a lot on that left side. I attempted a clay wrap over night, and the next morning he had managed to get it off, but he seemed to be able to put more weight on the leg. I assumed that maybe he had sprained or pulled something and in time would get better on its own. Yesterday, however, I went to feed him and he pulled himself along the floor towards me. At first I thought he was playing, but he remained on his belly while eating. After he had finished, he still did not get up. So I gently picked him up (which didn't seem to bother him) and set him on his legs. He cried out and immediately collapsed, as if it was painful for him to put weight on his limbs. His appetite has not deminished, he's alert and playful, and moves his limbs, he just won't stand up on them.
In doing some research, so far I've come up with only one explanation: feline neuropathy. Not the kind caused by diabetes, because he shows none of the symptoms for diabetes, such as excessive drinking and peeing, lethargy and everything else I read on the subject. So last night I gave him a warm clay bath, and also gave him some clay water with a dropper. Today I did the same thing with msm dissolved in filtered water. I sprinkled clay over his food which he devoured as usual. When I came in tonight after work, he was holding himself up on this front legs, which he could not do last night. This is all so weird and scary. Has anyone ever experienced something like that? A vet is out of the question as my finances will not allow it (aside from the fact that the vets around here are more interested in pushing pharmaceuticals-my experience with my dogs taught me as much).
Could this have something to do with him not having any care for probably more than 24 hours before I took him in? That is probably why the other siblings died so quickly, and little sis didn't make it because their organs were too far gone. I sure hope there is someone out there that can shed some light on the subject. I read that a certain vitamin B12 could be helpful if it is a neurological issue. Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Iodine
Posted by Derravarra (Dublin, Co Dublin, Ireland) on 05/21/2011
Hi there, I'd appreciate it if you could give me the dosage and the way to administer (on skin or by mouth) lugol's or nascent iodine to my 12 year old female cat whom I believe to be suffering from hyperthyroidism.
Thank you for your time, Maire
Flea Dips
Posted by Diana (Boston, Massachusetts, United States) on 05/16/2011
This reply is to
Mary from Regina, Saskchewan regarding fleas.
Make sure you only use food grade Diatomaceous earth to treat your home and your pets. Pets will lick their fur and the food grade is safe to ingest. The pool grade you use is not ingestible. There are only four mines that provide food grade DE. Food grade DE is cheap can be purchased on amazon.com in bags or jars. The food grade can also be used to add a little dusting to their wet food to rid them of internal parasites. I have done lots of research on in recently myself and just purchased a ten pound bag from amazon. You do wear a facemask when applying large amounts of it since you dont want to inhale it.. But you will only be using a little on your pet. If apply it in the house on carpets to kill bugs (lice, fleas, etc) you can apply it with a pest pistol also sold from amazon. Wear the mask when applying large amounts of it.. Then you can open the doors to ventilate. All natural. Do a google search on Food grade Diatomaceous earth benefits. Its great for people too in water to decrease cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. Good luck.
Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Diana (Boston, Massachusetts, United States) on 05/16/2011
★★★★★
This reply is to Diamond from Salisbury, Ma...
It sounds as if your cat is having problems with infestation. Fleas? Ticks? Mites or lice?
Have you tried food grade diatomaceous earth as a treatment? Look into it. You put in on their fur and in their food. It kills the mites, lice, fleas and ticks on the body. Its all natural. Make sure you get the food grade Diatomaceous earth. You can add a little dusting of it to their wet food as well. If you reasearch it you will see that it is a natural form of getting rid of these problems on pets, in the house, on your carpets and on your garden. Buy only the food grade. Constant flea infestation and the irratation it brings can cause your cat to have trouble breathing, stuffy nose, runny nose.. As well as mange. (loosing hair on their body. ) I just bought some myself after all my reasearch on it as an alterative to collars and other things they sell that are dangerous to pets to control any infestations. I am convinced it will help with many of their problems. I hope it works for you!
Herbs
Posted by Mae (Chicago, Il) on 05/05/2011
★★★★★
Hi Lesa, I've an 11-15 year old? Chartreaux (I'm her 4th owner, no one cared enough pass on her history).
When I got her she was severly overweight, borderline diabetic, and in the process of losing a major canine due to diabetes onset. The vet also found a heart murmur. My baby had no energy, didn't talk or play, and looked perpetually miserable.
After two different vet consultations I was talked into beginning an insulin regimen to manage her diabetes.We tried two different insulins in a 2 month period beginning with ProZinc.
During that time she went from just above borderline diabetes sugar levels (pre-insulin injections) to levels in the high 300 - low 400 levels while the vet was trying to get the insulin type and amount right. She was a mess and went from being lethargic, timid, and docile to being agressive and panicky. She lost all the hair at her injection sites. She was itching like mad all over. It was horrible watching her go through this.
I decided to leave my vet, ditch the insulin and go a holistic route. I did a ton of research during the insulin crisis and settled on a few things that have helped immensely over the last year since.
Raw Food:
When I got her I put her on Innova Evo, weaned her off dry kibble and moved to a 95% protein diet. She went from 21 lbs to 10 and has remained at 10 for 4 years now - obviously her 'healthy' weight as she doesn't budge from here unless she's stressed.
Innova sold out to P & G so I switched to raw. The cost is well worth the amazing changes I've seen in her overall wellness.
Her heart and diabetes are no doubt due to the artery damaging, high carb crud that she was fed for so many years.
The high incidence of diabetes and heart disease in humans due to the Western Diet is now mirrored in the poor health of our pets as a result of corn/carb laden commercial pet foods.
I've had her on a raw food diet for almost 2 years (this prior to the insulin) - I prefer Primal over Nature's Variety as Primal includes Taurine in their feline formulas. People will tell you there's enough naturally occuring taurine in meat, thus it's a non-issue, but feline taurine needs are higher than canine needs, thus I'd rather not take a chance.
I feed her at regular 3 hour intervals to keep her blood sugar steady. I do use both 'Tripsy' (to combat the diabetic impact on her kidneys/UT health) and 'Mellit' for diabetes.
I alternate the drops every other day with a daily herbal regimen to address her heart and blood sugar.
In a small bowl I mix the powder from 2 capsules of Nature's Way 'Blood Sugar Formula' (diabetes and kidney support - chromium polynicotinate is the key), 1 capsule Doctor's Best CoQ10 (Heart support), and 1 capsule of Jarrow's 'Hawthorn' (FABULOUS for both human and pet heart health) 500mg.
These are powerful herbs and I made the mistake of giving her one day's dose in one feeding the first time - MISTAKE!
Her little heart was racing as the hawthorne was that effective at increasing circulation.
I found the best method is to divvy it up over each feeding.
I use a kitchen measuring spoon set, choosing the tiniest spoon labeled 'Smidgen', I put enough of the mix to cover the bottom 1/4 of the spoon and sprinkle it over her defrosted raw food nugget.
Ultimately she gets what amounts to a 1/4 capsule of the herbal mix over a 24 hour feeding cycle.
Every other day I giver her 5 drops of Tripsy and Mellit in the morning and 5 more at night.
Since begining these she's testing/averaging BSL of around 130.
Her energy is through the roof, she's vocal, and so very loving. A 180 degree shift from her demeanor during the nightmare insulin incident.
One last thing to report... Last month I went to a new vet to get her yearly check up done. I did not mention my regimen to the vet, nor did I mention she had a heart murmur (I did tell them she'd been diagnosed diabetic and I was refusing insulin).
The vet did not find a heart murmur and was impressed that her blood sugar was borderline without injections despite having been diagnosed so many years back.
Herbal therapies may not work for all pets as there are many varying factors, but the pharmaceutical alternatives in her case were wrecking what was left of her health.
I took a chance and it is working in her favor.
I hope our story may inspire you to do a little herbal research for your baby. I'd definitely suggest Hawthorne and CoQ10 for the cardomyopathy.
I like to occasionally comb the pet forums to see if anyone else has had similar success with herbs. I'm not finding as much pet experimentation as I thought I would.
I should also add I'd NEVER use an herb that's not been deemed safe for felines.
As an example I considered ALA as there's so much sucess with it in human use, but I found a holistic pet forum that says it's specifically toxic to felines.
Good Luck*
Bladder Issues
Posted by Jill (Aguas, Mexico) on 05/02/2011
Leigh from Australia... I am wondering how your cat has done for the last year and a half? I hope you will see this post and answer me. My cat is having similar problems but didn't respond so well to the ACV as your cat. But I was afraid his urinary tract might be too alkaline already and that would just make it worse. I have him on special food, but he's still peeing so little each time. His spirits are pretty good, though sometimes I think he might be in pain or at least distressed from the peeing problem. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help!
Echinacea, Vitamin C
Posted by Maybefebruary (Austin, Tx) on 04/12/2011
Update: I forgot to come back and update this post. My cats were entirely healed. One of my cats was left with a really watery eye ever since, though. I'm looking for a remedy for that so if you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!
Back Leg Issues
Posted by Caroline (Bournemouth, Uk) on 04/09/2011
Hi there I have a neutered male cat (11 years old) and almost overnight he has become very cautious jumping up/over anything or using his back legs, I have taken him to the vets and they have given him antibiotics for a possible urine infection and a suppository for possible constipation. However 3 days later and he appears to be just as cautious using his back legs - I am just concerned this could be a spinal injury/tumour/arthritis - do you have any suggestions or advice how long I should leave it, I want to do the best thing for him and am happy to pay but want to avoid unnecessary stress to him
Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Diamond (Salisbury, Ma. Usa) on 03/30/2011
Well I can truly say I had a tiger by the tail. My kitten was a stray and a mess, I didn't know what she had, I just figured she was itchy until I found this god send of a site that showed me what mange really is. I first tried Apple Cider Vinegar with some results, but then I found this using borax and peroxide message an decided to try it, I was not accurate on the amount of time but I tried approx. an hour & a half, I also tried mayo. Prior to the borax & peroxide then I tried to give her a bath, it seems as though I got most of the water then she did, after her bath I put vit. E on her, she was fighting and kicking for dear life with all fours straight up, thankfully she did not scratch me, also I used surgical gloves. She is now sitting close by me washing her self off, so I decided to check her fur for any signs of mites, and of course there are still red spots rather then red with black dots almost as before, I really don't know if this process needs more work as she is losing trust in me and it's a huge fight for her. I use a steamer humidifier for her as she is congested, I even have to wipe her snotty nose like a little baby because it was stuffed up. All I can do now is pray it did help immediately or try it again later, but I do need to give her a bit of a rest in between as her system is weak. She is looking at me with those big eyes of her as if to say AND I trusted you. (chuckles) More later on in the week when she is doing a litle better. Thank you every one for your input.... And much thanks to Ted that made all this possible.
Spraying
Posted by Meredith (Chicago, Il) on 03/27/2011
Cats spray out of frustration resulting from many factors. In this case your Siamese is clearly upset by the newcomer, doesn't feel safe any longer, and/or perceives a threat to its territory. In response it's spraying in frustration, fear, and/or is marking in a (futile) attempt to maintain its territorial boundaries against the invader.
You didn't describe the new cat but I hope it's both younger and smaller than the other cat so the Siamese perceives it as less threatening than otherwise. It may also be that the Siamese was #1 and is stressed because it perceives that the new cat is vying for his spot in the pecking order. Siamese are a particularly emotionally sensitive breed, so I also hope you introduced the newcomer very slowly. Suggestions:
- Most importantly, immediately get a pheromone collar for the Siamese. About $13 each, it emits a "you're safe, be happy! " smell that should change your Siamese's mood immediately from stressed to calm. It will last about a month of constant wear. I've used these collars in the same situation and they work wonderfully! In addition, you could buy a plug-in diffuser version that consistently sprays a bit of the same scent into the air; it's more costly but if your furniture is being ruined the cost probably doesn't matter in comparison. But in any event please buy the collar. The most popular brand smells to humans like lavender.
- Keep two litter boxes so that each can have a bit of its own territory in that area at least. After three or so months, change back to one large box (if they let you - ha! )
- remove as much of the spray odor as possible. The proteins in cat urine are almost impossible to remove completely. You may wish to try an enzymatic cleaner worked in and covered with a warm wet sponge first, then a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (after you test for color fastness) which you can vacuum off after it dries. Physically cover and/or block the area so the cat can't return to the same spot to spray again, as they usually do.
- You don't mention if the new cat is fixed. If it's not, do so when it's old enough.
- Give the Siamese more time and attention. Don't punish it for spraying other than to bring it to the spot and tell it "no! " once or twice. It's nervous and unhappy already so you don't want to make it worse. Good luck!
Herbs
Posted by Lesa (Birmingham, Alabama) on 03/14/2011
This is what I have found by trial and error. Use your own judgment. You know your cat better than anyone. Thanks for all the suggestions about ACV and Dandelion.
My BillyBob (main coon/Manx) is a big, red, bobtailed ball of attitude. He has had cardiomyopthy (sp?) all his life. I was told "he might live to be 5" If he makes it to April 22 he will be 12. He has only been sick 1 time in his life about 5 years ago. He has now got renal failure. Possibly because of the heart meds all this time.
I have been studying and using herbs for 20 years but did not know much about what was safe for cats. Like most of you, I have spent mmaannyy hours on line trying to educate myself so I could do the best by him. TTOOTTAALLY frustrating and confusing.
I found some things on "petwellbeing" Trispy and plantaeris but then the next website said "do not give him anything with parsley in it because it is a diuretic" I agree but don't you want to flush the toxins? Be careful to watch for low potassium due to that. Muscles twitch and jerk. Also puts stress on the heart. Like when we are low on electrolytes due to heat.
I give him 1/4 pill crushed in watr with a syrenge. It works.
I also read that you need to give a lax because the over active kidney system pulls moisture from everywhere and makes the stool hard and dry so they have problems 'going". I use mineral oil to help. 1T or more 2 times a day, any way you can to get it in them.ha
Dandelion root is also good for the liver and digestion.
Throwing up white foam due to stomach acid:
I found one place that said SLIPPERY ELM was good but I did not know how much to give him. IT WORKS. I later found a place where they said that you could give up to 5ts a day. I just cut open ONE cap and (again) mix it in water and squirt it in the side of his mouth.
Important: Be sure to feed them and give the elm before bedtime since it will be a long sleep and the acid will build up overnight.
Thank you for all the suggestions. I am definitely going to try the ACV. I hope this helps some of you and your 4 legged children. This is a great site. Keep up the good articles.
