It looks like a violet now, but of course it won't by day 2. I'm using Lizbeth Grape Splash in size 20.
Squijum seems to be doing a little bit better. He was mad at me for a couple of days for making him go to the vet (it's really the car ride he hate more than anything-- once we get there, he's very well-behaved, and the vet is very good, able to get a needle in and out of him before he knows anything is happening). He started speaking to me again on Saturday, and by yesterday he was even asking for hugs again. Even despite his avoiding me for two days, he's seemed a lot more relaxed than I've seen him in a while, so I hope this means the itching is subsiding.
I am having a hard time getting him to take his fatty acid supplement. In the past when I've had a liquid medication to give him, I just held the syringe down in front of him and he would take it in his mouth (because he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth) and I could squirt it in with no problem. Well, he must really dislike this stuff, because that only worked once. Then I tried putting it in his food and he simply didn't eat for two days (another contributing factor to his anger, no doubt). So now I'm mixing it in yogurt, one of his favorite treats, and he does sometimes take some of it. The next thing to try will be tuna juice, but I hope I don't have to resort to that. Me being a vegetarian, Squijum is the only one in the house who will eat tuna, so I would have to give him the whole can, or else throw it out. The occasional can of tuna is OK as a treat (or an apology for taking him to the vet), but it's not good for cats to eat lots of canned tuna all the time-- too much sodium and not the right nutrient balance. So buying cans of tuna just for the juice really would be a last resort. For heaven's sake, the supplement is made from fish, he ought to like it, why can't he just eat it???? It's enough to make me start tearing my hair out too.
On the upside, with a bit of further thought, I may possibly have identified the cause of the allergy. I remembered that his symptoms first started shortly after I got a new bedspread. I washed it, of course, but it's made from a microfiber material that I've never had in the house before. Microfiber is supposed to be hypoallergenic, but that doesn't mean you can't be allergic to it, and I sure can't think of anything else. So I've taken the bedspread off the bed to see if he gets better. I really hope I'm right about this, because it would be nice to have such an easy fix.
And if anyone else knows a good way to get a medicine inside a cat, I'm all ears!
Brute force, I'm afraid, but it works! I place the cat on a table and hold his mouth open and squirt down the side if the mouth with the syringe quite far in so he swallows everything. Usually is quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteFor pills I used PillPockets with Misha for years and he ate them happily till he was quite ill. Then he was more difficult, poor baby.
Our Main Coon had to be on 'Tissue rejection med' for several years and it was nasty... The only and un-traumatic way to get him to take it was mixing it with tuna water... Then as a reward after I gave him some tuna in a dish. I greatly dislike tuna so I didn't want it and didn't want to waste it... Each cat would get a spoonful and everyone was happy ... It's really not as bad for them as one would think... And the natural oils in it are good for them. There is a reason cats like fish naturally!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fox, I just hold mine by the scruff and squirt. How long does this have to go on?
ReplyDeleteMy other suggestion, for cats that lick their fur off, is Feliway.
http://www.feliway.us/
It is expensive, but it can have dramatic results. Best luck. (I have seven cats, a mistake, but I swear by Feliway!)
I am a dog person, so I probably shouldn't interject here...but being wrong has never stopped me before! Perhaps, if you got Salmon oil. It is sold in the pet stores here in the states. Though it is more expensive than the pills, perhaps kitty would like it. After all, it is fish. My whippet loved it. But, he was a dog (accident of birth).
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, it is really hard to have a sick pet. It's worse than having a sick kid since they can't tell you what is wrong.
I wonder if butter would work I don't have a cat any more but they loved butter. Dog takes a pills with peanut butter but not sure if cat's even like that. let us know what happens.
ReplyDelete