Trying to help a friend--needs a foster for her cat

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Mindy & Max

Mindy & Max

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So...a friend is going to be selling her house here in Michigan, packing up the family, and moving to Chicago. They plan to put the house on the market next month. If it sells quickly, they will probably move in with family for a few months until they can buy something in the Chicago area (I don't know which area of Chicago they're heading to). Anyway...she has a cat that is a frequent puker. So frequent that they don't allow him free reign of the house when they are not home, and they don't believe they can have him in the house when it is being shown for fear that he will puke right after they leave (which we all know won't make the best impression on a prospective buyer). If they end up moving in with family, the cat cannot come with due to the frequent puking. He is an indoor-only cat. He also does not travel well, and doesn't handle stress well (like changing homes multiple times in a few month span).

They've been working with their vet on trying to solve the puking issue, but have not had success. They have tried wet-only diets (I don't know what he is currently on), steroids, and they've discussed reflux, but I don't know if they've tried medication for it. But the bottom line appears to be that this is a puzzle they cannot solve...and they think their best option for now is to find him a foster home until they have a place in Chicago and have actually moved in. This could take anywhere from 6-12 months, so of course just boarding him isn't going to work. They are willing to pay for all of his monetary costs (food, litter, vetting), but he needs a temporary home. She tried calling a local rescue/shelter for help, and pretty much got chewed out--the woman was downright abusive to her on the phone.

I'm trying to get more specific details on him, but it's taking some time to get her to focus. The phone call with the rescue lady this morning pretty much wigged her out. She also found out a week or so ago that she's pregnant, so her emotions are running pretty ragged at the moment. I don't believe they have any other pets, but I don't know if they've had any in the past. They do have a 2 yr old son, and the cat does well with him.

Does anyone have any ideas of where I can point her for help? My own cats are still having issues with our new dog (well, we've had her for 4 months now), otherwise I'd take her cat in myself. I don't think my home would offer a low-stress environment either. The 2 cats, the dog, and the 2 kids have us pretty much topped up on crazy. They would be willing to give him up to a forever home if one becomes available--they want to do what is best for the cat and know that bouncing him around may not be a good idea.

TIA! :-D
 
Have they considered a large size dog crate? Traci and Boomer's Trinket has been confined to a crate because of broken leg, but it might work for this cat. They could then keep her in the house even though it's being shown - any mess will be in the crate. If they have to move into the family house, they could keep the cat in the crate when they aren't there, maybe in their room. Being with his people, even in a crate in a strange environment, might be less stressful than being fostered. Here is a post with a picture of Trinket's crate:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=56546&p=612907&hilit=trinket#p612907
 
I was thinking about the large dog crate as well, which at a minimum would keep him with them while the house is on the market.


MORE INFO: So, he's a 6.5yo medium-hair tuxedo, and he's about 15lbs. His name is Winston. :-) She said he's on the food her old vet in Chicago (they've only been up here for a year or two) prescribed, but she didn't give me details. My guess is that it is dry food, and something made by Hill's. :? Anyway, he throws up when he eats, and throws up bile later. She said he throws up less if she sits with him and feeds him small amounts. She said they did use steroids for a bit because he seems to have an asthma-like cough at times, but the 'roids didn't help. He did have a urinary tract thing when he was 2.5yo, but they managed to treat that...I'm guessing he was on dry food then as well.

I have asked if they've used a timed pet feeder to decrease his portions, and if they've tried pepcid. Is it possible he has a motility issue with his digestive tract? Or too small of a stomach (is that possible?!?)? Is there a medication they could try to help this, in addition to going back to wet food and a pet feeder? I know she'd rather keep him if they can figure out how to reduce the vomit frequency--I think at this point it's been going on so long she doesn't have hope it'll go away, but if he pukes less they can work something out for keeping him with them.
 
There is a med for slow motility. It's Reglan (metoclopramide). It can have significant side effects, but if they have tried everything, it might be worth pursuing.
 
Don't have any fostering help, but have they checked the kitty for Hyperthyroid?

My Hyperthyroid cat pukes almost every day -- usually bile, sometimes food. His thyroid levels are pretty well controlled on Tapazole, but it doesn't help the upset stomach.

The large dog kennel is a good idea as well as the timed feeder for small meals.
 
Sadly, my colleagues are utterly brainwashed by the companies who make Rx diets - none of which would ever be fed to any cat in my care. I wish that I had a dime for every cat that I have encountered whose symptoms improved once the cat was taken off an Rx diet and put on a decent canned or homemade diet and NO dry food.
 
Thank you all for your help! :-D

I've talked to my friend, and discovered they didn't journey far enough down the diet change path when they tried to fix this before. The wet food they tried for 6 months was Hill's w/d (and he's currently on an OTC Hill's dry formula). So...my recommendations for her at the moment were to get a timed feeder and try some low-carb canned food for a few weeks and see what happens. I've also mentioned trying hairball gel in case that is the problem. If the diet change fails, then I suggested talking to the vet for hyperT testing, pepcid dosing, and possibly reglan if all else (including a raw diet) fails. And I did suggest the dog crate for use during house showings. If nothing else, that will buy her some more time to figure out the issue and a proper treatment.

Because he's 15lbs, my guess is that it isn't any type of organ failure, but I did recommend having a full workup if the diet change doesn't reduce or eliminate the vomiting. I'm sure we'll find an answer for her, and a way for Winston to stay with her! :mrgreen:
 
Please impress upon your friend that Hill's makes very unhealthy diets - both their canned and dry but especially their dry.
 
I did tell her how bad Hill's is, and that NONE of my pets (feline or K9) will ever eat their food again. She is an online friend, though we have met in person, and she does have my phone number. I sent her a very long and detailed email with the list of things to do/try, and included links to your cat nutrition site and Janet & Binky's charts, but did say that at a minimum some Friskie's pate would be a massive improvement over what he's getting now.
 
Until your friend can address the root cause of the puking problem, crating the cat is probably the best solution. I also recommend trying raw food.

Try a large dog crate, a big one that comes with a divider. That way you can place the divider horizontally such that there is a full lower level, and a 3/4 upper level. Get a piece of thick lineoleum (cheap at home depot) to place on the divider to make a solid floor. This gives the cat much more room. You can put bedding on the second level, the litter box on the bottom level in the back and still have plenty of floor space for feeding, and toys like a small trackball. You can hang elastic toys from the If the cat is not real mobile (or for kittens), you can take a cardboard scratcher and make a ramp -- just bungee it to the side of the crate. Placing the crate on a table with a window view is the way to go. Put a towel over the top to give the cat that safe feeling. For even more space, instead of putting bedding on the second level, leave that open (perhaps as a feeding area) and instead put in a hammock attached to the crate ceiling. The ferret fuzz-e-floor is plenty big enough for an adult cat. They hold up great on frequent washing.

For even more room with a lot less floor space and no need for a table, for pretty much the same total cost, you can buy a 3-tier 6' cat tower crate. These are really super great, especially when used with a hammock. A tall sturdy scratching post, especially one with a perch, is very helpful for the cat to get from the bottom level to the middle level. There is plenty of room on the bottom level for a large litterbox and a good sized scratcher post. The doors (on each level) are large and fully removable. and can be clipped open. When the tower's not in use, I clip a door open and cats often choose to go up in and sleep in there. They can even jump in with the bottom door closed and the middle door open. So your friend's cat might well choose to escape the kids up into the tower. The cat could be fed in the tower too... great way to keep the toddlers out of the cat food and cat litter.

good luck to your friend.
laur
 

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Thank you Laur! I will share your post with her. She does have a large dog crate they no longer use for their dog, so the modification ideas will be helpful, I'm sure!

She is going out this afternoon to get a timed feeder and some canned Friskies. I did suggest she keep him sequestered for a bit to see if his stomach settles since we all know canned food vomit stains carpet faster than dry food ever could. She, of course, was shocked about how bad Hill's food is. I don't know that raw food is in her budget, or that she could handle making it (she's vegetarian), but we'll at least get him off the dry stuff if nothing else.

She's also switching her dog food because she was on Science Diet as well. :-)

THANK YOU EVERYONE! :-D
 
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