10/27 Egon PMPS 191 +1.5 149 AMPS 57 (Any suggestions for calming aid kitty with FIC?) | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

10/27 Egon PMPS 191 +1.5 149 AMPS 57 (Any suggestions for calming aid kitty with FIC?)

My other kitty just got diagnosed with FIC that is associated with us going out of town and him staying with the sitter. Does anyone possibly have suggestions for an herbal calming aid (other than FELIWAY) that might help him? I am looking at Prana and Fera supplements. I have used theanine and passion flower for my dogs and that does seem to help.
 
IMG_3122.jpeg


Egon helping me to check in on his friends
 
Mady & Egon said:
My other kitty just got diagnosed with FIC that is associated with us going out of town and him staying with the sitter. Does anyone possibly have suggestions for an herbal calming aid (other than FELIWAY) that might help him? I am looking at Prana and Fera supplements. I have used theanine and passion flower for my dogs and that does seem to help.
Click to expand...
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear this!
I hope you get some good suggestions soon to help kitty ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹
 
When we were transitioning Esse to indoor life, we used calming treats that have thiamine (vitamin B1), L-theanine, and chamomile. They did work for us. I can dig up a link for you if you're interested BUT I'm 99% sure they'd be considered high carb, they were little crunchies. But maybe that doesn't matter since they're not for Egon?
 
Lauren & Esse said:
When we were transitioning Esse to indoor life, we used calming treats that have thiamine (vitamin B1), L-theanine, and chamomile. They did work for us. I can dig up a link for you if you're interested BUT I'm 99% sure they'd be considered high carb, they were little crunchies. But maybe that doesn't matter since they're not for Egon?
Click to expand...
Yes! Simon can have carbs. I’d love to know about crunchies. He loves lil snacks. I think that would be better for him than a powder in his food.
 
The packaging has changed a bit from what I remember but I'm pretty sure it was these: Pet Honesty Cat Calming treats.

Additional details just for fun: The instructions said 1 piece/lb of bodyweight which meant Esse got 10 per day. We called it "ten treats game" and made it an enrichment activity by either putting them in one of those toys they can bat around to free the snack or tossing them around the room and making him chase them, haha. That would tucker him out a bit and then an hour later he'd be super relaxed. Made the evenings a lot easier when he was still getting used to living inside and would cry at night.
 
Lauren & Esse said:
The packaging has changed a bit from what I remember but I'm pretty sure it was these: Pet Honesty Cat Calming treats.

Additional details just for fun: The instructions said 1 piece/lb of bodyweight which meant Esse got 10 per day. We called it "ten treats game" and made it an enrichment activity by either putting them in one of those toys they can bat around to free the snack or tossing them around the room and making him chase them, haha. That would tucker him out a bit and then an hour later he'd be super relaxed. Made the evenings a lot easier when he was still getting used to living inside and would cry at night.
Click to expand...
Amazing thank you for the tips!!
 
Mady & Egon said:
My other kitty just got diagnosed with FIC that is associated with us going out of town and him staying with the sitter. Does anyone possibly have suggestions for an herbal calming aid (other than FELIWAY) that might help him? I am looking at Prana and Fera supplements. I have used theanine and passion flower for my dogs and that does seem to help.
Click to expand...
Jude was diagnosed with FIC earlier this year. We have Gaba for the flares, though the FIC group recommends Bupe because it's stronger and more effective in handling the pain (apparently, FIC is quite painful). We might switch to Bupe, but wanted to see if Gaba would do the job first. He also has a prescription for Prazosin, which is an anti-spasmodic--we haven't used this yet. He also takes the following supplements: d-Mannose (1/8 tsp 2x a day--it's typically 1/8 tsp. once a day, but Jude is nearly 18 lbs., so we give more); Urinary Gold; Cornsilk Extract (Cornsilk Extract w/o Alcohol); Cystease (this is by Feliway, and Amazon is currently out of it; I just ordered mine from Australia; you can also give Cosequin which has basically the same ingredients minus l-tryptophan, which is good for relaxation--you can also make this yourself if you want to follow the ingredient list on the package). All of the supplements are supposed to help to heal inflammation in the lining of the bladder.

Also (and you may know all of this already) LOTS of water (Jude gets his in his food), and an extra litter box (all boxes should be kept clean).

You originally asked about herbal calming supplements: we use Feliway and the Cystease has l-tryptophan in it, which can be calming. Some kitties take Gaba daily for relaxation as well as other prescription drugs such as Prozac. If you check on the FIC FB group, they are a font of information.
 
Mary & Jude said:
Jude was diagnosed with FIC earlier this year. We have Gaba for the flares, though the FIC group recommends Bupe because it's stronger and more effective in handling the pain (apparently, FIC is quite painful). We might switch to Bupe, but wanted to see if Gaba would do the job first. He also has a prescription for Prazosin, which is an anti-spasmodic--we haven't used this yet. He also takes the following supplements: d-Mannose (1/8 tsp 2x a day--it's typically 1/8 tsp. once a day, but Jude is nearly 18 lbs., so we give more); Urinary Gold; Cornsilk Extract (Cornsilk Extract w/o Alcohol); Cystease (this is by Feliway, and Amazon is currently out of it; I just ordered mine from Australia; you can also give Cosequin which has basically the same ingredients minus l-tryptophan, which is good for relaxation--you can also make this yourself if you want to follow the ingredient list on the package). All of the supplements are supposed to help to heal inflammation in the lining of the bladder.

Also (and you may know all of this already) LOTS of water (Jude gets his in his food), and an extra litter box (all boxes should be kept clean).

You originally asked about herbal calming supplements: we use Feliway and the Cystease has l-tryptophan in it, which can be calming. Some kitties take Gaba daily for relaxation as well as other prescription drugs such as Prozac. If you check on the FIC FB group, they are a font of information.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info Mary! I don’t have facebook so this is very helpful. We do have Gaba for once the flare up has started. I was hoping to find something to help him have a smoother transition when we leave.

We did try the bupe. Simon ended up having an opposite reaction and he was in a panic for four days. It was really stressful and awful. I know that’s a rare side effect, but I won’t be using it again.
 
Mady & Egon said:
Thank you for the info Mary! I don’t have facebook so this is very helpful. We do have Gaba for once the flare up has started. I was hoping to find something to help him have a smoother transition when we leave.

We did try the bupe. Simon ended up having an opposite reaction and he was in a panic for four days. It was really stressful and awful. I know that’s a rare side effect, but I won’t be using it again.
Click to expand...
I'll check over on the FIC group and ask about preliminary treatments in anticipation of a flare. The GOOD--really GREAT--news is that you know what causes the flare. I have no idea with Jude, and most cat owners don't know what causes their cat's flare. Knowing the cause is half the battle because you can try to prevent it! I'll let you know what I learn.
 
Mary & Jude said:
I'll check over on the FIC group and ask about preliminary treatments in anticipation of a flare. The GOOD--really GREAT--news is that you know what causes the flare. I have no idea with Jude, and most cat owners don't know what causes their cat's flare. Knowing the cause is half the battle because you can try to prevent it! I'll let you know what I learn.
Click to expand...
Thank you! 🙏
Yes! I hope it’s enough I can head the next one off. He really was uncomfortable for days last time. At first I thought it was a blockage, so thank goodness at least it wasn’t that. But it’d be nice to see if something homeopathic helps before I go for the medication. I would prefer he not be on medication forever but we’ll just have to trial and error some things. I got the chews Lauren recommended from chewy so I am going to start there.
 
Mady, I posted a question in the FIC group that asked what people gave their cats in anticipation of a situation, such as going away for a few days, that might cause an FIC flare; a few responded, and here are their comments (which I have simply copy and pasted):

1, My guy is on amitriptyline, cystease and tinkle tonic [this has ingredients similar to Urinary Gold] full time and I will give him gabapentin when we both leave for a few days.



2. Cystease 2 capsules a day for a week before, all during, and a week after

They should asking have sitter that stays with cat to be able to watch cat closely fur signs of flare up

Have all meds on hand - oral buprenorphine for pain, prazosin for urinary tract spasms, gabapentin for anxiety

And sitter shod know all signs of a flare up and be able to administer meds



3. We only leave our 7 year old boy cat for 1 or 2 nights, with my mum coming to feed him once a day and clean the little boxes. I give him cystophan [this is another version of Cystease] and zyklene daily at least a week before and continue a few days once back. Unfortunately our boy doesnt like really anyone else in our house mum is the only one he doesn't go full anxiety on. So auto feeder in morning mum in the afternoon and he wlll hide untill she is gone and the eat his food. I dont think we will ever go on a longer vacation as I cant risk him getting a flare up. I am worried everytime we leave but otherwise we cant go anywhere.
 
Mary & Jude said:
Mady, I posted a question in the FIC group that asked what people gave their cats in anticipation of a situation, such as going away for a few days, that might cause an FIC flare; a few responded, and here are their comments (which I have simply copy and pasted):

1, My guy is on amitriptyline, cystease and tinkle tonic [this has ingredients similar to Urinary Gold] full time and I will give him gabapentin when we both leave for a few days.



2. Cystease 2 capsules a day for a week before, all during, and a week after

They should asking have sitter that stays with cat to be able to watch cat closely fur signs of flare up

Have all meds on hand - oral buprenorphine for pain, prazosin for urinary tract spasms, gabapentin for anxiety

And sitter shod know all signs of a flare up and be able to administer meds



3. We only leave our 7 year old boy cat for 1 or 2 nights, with my mum coming to feed him once a day and clean the little boxes. I give him cystophan [this is another version of Cystease] and zyklene daily at least a week before and continue a few days once back. Unfortunately our boy doesnt like really anyone else in our house mum is the only one he doesn't go full anxiety on. So auto feeder in morning mum in the afternoon and he wlll hide untill she is gone and the eat his food. I dont think we will ever go on a longer vacation as I cant risk him getting a flare up. I am worried everytime we leave but otherwise we cant go anywhere.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much Mary! This is helpful!! I will get some cystease and the urinary gold. We’ll see if that, along with the calming chews, can help us next time. Fingers and paws crossed!!! Between the diabetic and now the FIC it’s getting harder and harder to want to leave ever…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top