As you've been so helpful before, I wondered if anyone had any experience of long term digestive problems in cats... possible inflammatory bowel syndrome.

I started this thread in July when my kittens were around 3 months old, and I'm sad to say not much has changed for one of them (thread is about my kitties having the runs!)!

(http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...poorly+kittens)

They've been to the vet so many times I'm worried I'm becomming an obsessive "mother" but poor little sylvie doesn't seem to be improving!
She's pretty much had the runs ever since we've had her (nearly 4 months). The vets just kept saying she'd be fine and keep worming her etc. When I took her a few weeks ago they decided to do some testing on a poo sample, and it came back negative for everything. As she's been on a hypoallergenic diet for a bit now, the vet has decided its possibly an "individual quirk" as she calls it..... She gave her antibiotic injection plus another one which escapes me at the moment but i think it was an anti-imflammatory for the bowels. She had these on friday, and on sat and sun we kept finding little drips of poo around the house (only a drop each time, like it had just slipped out). Found none today so hopefully this was just a temporary affect of the injections.
She's back in for a check up on Friday, but I've been trying to do some research and come up with inflammatory bowl syndrome. Anyone have any experience?
I feel so bad for my poor little one, and the vets just don't seem to be concerned. Am I overreacting!?

If anyone has any tips or experience I'd greatly appreciate it!!

xx

I would either ask your vet to be referred to a specialist or I would get her seen by another vet. I don't know what it could be, but personally speaking, I think I would want a second opinion.

No your not an over reacting mum at all. I have 3 kittens and its not them but there mum that has the problem. She will just leak sometimes i think she doesnt know or cant help it at all her mum was like this before and shortly after she had her as well. Sorry for the questions
Have they been tested for gardia.
What sort of food are they being fed at the moment and what flavour. Beef ones tend to make them run
Have you changed there diet recently and if so did you do it gradualy as well.
Are they on biscuits as that can give them the runs
I was getting realy desperate last year with maisey and thought of putting her on james wellbeloved. I even phonned them up. They said there diet takes at least 7 wks for you too notice any improvemnets at all. I then found out if i fed her whiskas lamb in pouches she went back to normal.
Have you got any type of plant in the house that they might have eaten at all or flower.
I realy do feel for you kittens. I have IBS and it is awful. I wouldnt stress too much as it might upset your babies.

They're being fed a mixture of Proplan kitten food in turkey flavour (the variety for sensitive digestive systems) and James Wellbeloved kitten food(white fish) on vets reccomendation and have been since 14th sept, so that is only 3 weeks.
Before that they were on wet food with a mixture of the proplan in it. It is all dry food theyre on now. (i have noticed theyre drinking LOTS of water now, but im presuming this is just due to going onto only dry food)

Our only house plant is a yucca which i couldnt find any bad reports on for cats, and i also notice they use it in some cat food, so guess it cant be too bad for them?

As for gardia, im not sure. I'll ask the vet on friday. She said theyre tested for the different types of worms etc, but 2 other diseases too. But my mind is currently a bit blank (i blame tiredness!)

Thanks so much for your kind words. I just want to poor thing to get better!

List of plants dangerous to cats
Bulbs: Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily, Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange Day Lily, Tulip

Ferns: Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern

Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia

Garden Perennials: Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose, Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane

House Plants: Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman), Devil's Ivy, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Taro Vine, Warneckei Dracaena

Lillies: Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily

Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe "American", Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree Philodendron, Yucca

Succulents: Aloe (Aloe Vera)

Trees: Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (aka Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut, Schefflera, Yew (aka Japanese Yew)

Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet, Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy

Misc/Uncategorized: American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow

I hope it helps but it does say yuccas are poisonous to cats

Thanks for that Maisy. I didn't know Aloe was poisonous. Have now moved mine to where the cat can't get it.

I had some washing up liquid with Aloe in it. One of my cats stood on the bottle and it got on his fur. It took about 3/4 of the fur of each front leg it just came out in clumps

Oh god, i searched loads about yucca when we got cats and couldnt find anything about it being harmful. I'll move it straight away into a room they dont go into and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks for that maisey moo.....
Hope i havent been doing it to them all this time

Just phoned vet, she's off there tonight. Will mention yucca and see what they say.

Thanks for your help MaiseyMoo.

I only thought about plants because i do think it started my guinness and kado off when they where still kittens. I got a realy big bunch of flowers as a pre thankyou for cat sitting for my friends. There where 9 cats all together. My cats started eating them and within 2 days they had runny tummys. Dont know the name of the flowers but it dyes your hands if touched. I dont have any plants at all now i darent at all. A couple of years ago someone else brought me flowers and i stuck them in the bathroom.

It would be great if it can be resolved by removing the yucca, but I suspect it may not be as easy as that.

Kittens do often have runny tummies when you get them, several of mine did - but for weeks rather than months.

My youngest cat has IBS, he was diagnosed at two years old. He had always been a bit 'loose' even as a kitten, although it didn't bother him and he always seemed very fit. He started to actually be very poorly with it at 2 years old though - sickness, diarhhoea and refusal to eat. He's now successfully treated with diet and daily steroid tablets.

Has she been blood tested for, e.g., FIP? It would probably also be a good idea to try a different diet regime. I agree that it would be a good idea to get a second opinion from another vet.

It's the worst its been today, like she hasnt got proper control anymore. There was a trail of poo drops around my house when i got in from work (Ive had to come home sick myself!!)! And my OH just told me she was curled up on his knee last night and when she got up she'd done a poo on him!

She's booked into the same vet as usual for this eve, but its not the same woman she normally sees as she's on holiday so this one might have a different idea on it.

Just breaks my heart to see her like this.

EDIT: oh and in reply to lippencote, shes had no blood tests only tests done on her poo. Should i request some?

I would request some blood tests they might be able to get too the root of the problem it has being going on for a long while. Let us know how she gets on after the vet visit

Would you perhaps try a raw diet....just meat, nothing else?

I know there are fans of raw food diets on here but I really really would not try this with a kitten who currently sounds extremely poorly. With constant diarrhoea to the extent of incontinence the kitten will not be absorbing her food - the situation really has to be addressed asap.

I would definitely request blood tests OP.

I wonder if the antibiotic injection has made the situation worse - it can happen. The other injection she had would probably be a steroid jab which should have calmed down inflammation (the standard treatment for IBS).

Best of luck and I hope you get some help when you see the vet (personally I would see another vet ....)

I agree with you.

Thanks Lippencote. Helpful advice.

Basically vet was a waste of time and she pretty much told me I was making the poor thing worse by causing her the stress of going to the vet. Said she's not worried about her because shes not losing weight, her coat is really healthy and she seems fiesty.

Said its common in kittens, unlikely to be the plant. And to keep up with the food we're on as it can take at least 7 weeks to show its affects.

Made me feel a bit of a fool for worrying about my kitty. She's given her probiotic to take everyday and basically see how she goes.

Going to look into another vet i think. Blood tests came up, and she said she doesnt want to go down that root yet.

God its just so frustrating.

I also think you now should go too a different vet the one you go too now seems useless. The vet shouldnt have said what he said either. Your kitten is your kitten and you only want to help and make her feel better.

It is true that kittens do commonly have runny tummies but I have never known it to go on so long or to such a drastic extent with leakage, so I am bewildered that the vet thinks it's all okay.

It is good to hear that kitty looks in good condition.

But any vet who told me I was causing my cat stress by taking her to the vet unnecessarily would be crossed off my list and I would be immediately looking for another vet. The vet should understand and address your concerns, not add to them.

Is there another vet in the area you could consult?

When my cats have an upset stomache i stop there food for 12hrs. They still have there water down i wouldnt ever deprive any animal of that. When my maisey had the runs we found we where feeding her too much and her bowels couldnt cope with it and she leaked all the time. She also was like this when she found us. With vera she is addicted to milk and will drink it if given the chance. Cats can be lactol intolerance so if we have any milk products out she has too be out of the room. The others have cat milk every so often and it doesnt bother them. Vera is a scavinger and will anything that is left out. Everything has too be put away doesnt matter what it is she will find it and try to eat it.

UPDATE TIME!

I'm just bumping an old thread to give a bit of an update on my poorly kitties, as i've been asking advice on here for what seems like forever!!

Well, I dont want to jinx myself, but it seems theyre getting better!!

Sylvie was put on antibiotics a fortnight ago, and when some weaker ones seemed to be showing some slight improvement after a week, she was put on a two week dose of stronger ones plus a change to Royal Canin sensitivity control diet for both of them (Lola had runny poo but not the blood in it/ diarrhea sylvie was having).

So we're onto the third day when we've had no poos on the carpets, and all poos in the litter trays are good solid ones!
Sylvie still has six more days of antibiotics left but she seems so happy now. Her tail has finally shot back up (she was keeping it down all the time to protect her very sore bottom, which has cleared up a lot!!).

So all in all, I'm a happy bunny (except for the gashes down my arms/chest/hands from giving the little one tablets daily!!)

Hoping it keeps up. And then we'll have to decide if its best to keep them on this food for future.

Thanks for the update. Its realy nice to see how they are getting along.

I have to say maisey moo you're one of the people I thought of when I thought Id put an update on here, because youve been very helpful.

And little Sylvie is sitting here watching me type, so I like to think she's saying thanks too!

What a nice thing to say thank you