The LATEST cat drama-- Otis won't eat

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

That's not entirely true. He does eat but it's a bite or two and then he walks away. THEN he's surprised when his food is gone when Alice and Lloyd (aka "The Turkey Vultures") steal his food. Then he bugs me for more food. I give it to him, he eats a little and walks away. I've tried locking him in the bathroom with the food but he still only takes a few bites. Then he destroys the bathroom in the meantime because he doesn't like to be locked up. THEN the cycle starts all over again.

I'm worried because he's gotten SO skinny. He's an old man (13) and can't afford to lose any more weight. He's become so finicky. He actually lets Alice and Lloyd take his food. All they have to do is nudge him and he steps aside.

He's always been passive and, well, sweet but VERY dumb. Last night I set aside the garbage for my husband to take out. Otis broke the bag to find food. I can't do what my dad did for our chihuahua; he hand fed her broiled chicken breast.

"Dad, you're spoiling her!"

"But she won't eat if I don't do this!"

"Yes, she will, dad. Don't hand feed her and she'll eventually eat the dog food we give her."

Even when I DO give him salmon or whatnot he still lets Lloyd take it!

:wallbash:

fuckin' cats!!

[Melk]

What kind of dish or bowl are you using?

Some pets respond poorly to mirrored or glass dishes.

[OGC]

I'll tell you the same thing I tell my wife when my kids won't eat....

if they get hungry enough, they'll eat.

[StanUpshaw]

My cat's teeth went rotten and he stopped eating almost entirely.

[angrymissy]

Sardines in Aspic, no cat will resist

It smells like crap though... it's in the nasty canned fish section of the supermarket

[CountryBob]

Throw him a bowl of Ensure

[El Mudo]

Sardines in Aspic, no cat will resist

It smells like crap though... it's in the nasty canned fish section of the supermarket

Is that still economically feasible? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100414/ap_on_bi_ge/us_so_long_sardines)

[Contra]

How about picking up the bowl if he doesn't eat it?

[TooCute]

Take him to a vet. It could be any number of things. If you can't afford it, get care credit; many vets will offer it. Any change in behavior that's caused him to stop eating and lose weight is simply not normal, and trying to coax him into eating delicious food is not going to solve the underlying problem.

[TooCute]

Oh and ps in the meantime, until you can get him checked out (it's likely going to run you the cost of an exam, urinalysis, and and basic bloodwork to test organ function and his thyroid function - at my old place in Manhattan we would have charged approximately $200 for that), instead of locking him in the bathroom, lock the other cats in the bathroom. But if he's walking away from his food regardless, and he's been living with these cats all along, it's highly unlikely to be a purely behavioral problem.

[Contra]

Toocute rules the school

[RudeGrrl]

Seriously? Your 13-year-old cat is losing a lot of weight and not eating much and you haven't taken him to the vet? And you just call it "cat drama"? Um, no.

Like someone else already pointed out, most vet offices will accommodate you if you can't afford treatment. I'm a vet tech, so I know. And if you care about your cat, you'll get him checked out by a veterinarian instead of complaining about it and saying "fucking cats" here on a message board.

Unbelievable. Get a clue.

[Furtherman]

Seriously? Your 13-year-old cat is losing a lot of weight and not eating much and you haven't taken him to the vet? And you just call it "cat drama"? Um, no.

Like someone else already pointed out, most vet offices will accommodate you if you can't afford treatment. I'm a vet tech, so I know. And if you care about your cat, you'll get him checked out by a veterinarian instead of complaining about it and saying "fucking cats" here on a message board.

Unbelievable. Get a clue.

Welcome to the board RudeGrrl!!

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/11/simpsons_CrazyCatLady.gif

[CountryBob]

Seriously? Your 13-year-old cat is losing a lot of weight and not eating much and you haven't taken him to the vet? And you just call it "cat drama"? Um, no.

Like someone else already pointed out, most vet offices will accommodate you if you can't afford treatment. I'm a vet tech, so I know. And if you care about your cat, you'll get him checked out by a veterinarian instead of complaining about it and saying "fucking cats" here on a message board.

Unbelievable. Get a clue.

Girl Fight? Meeeeowwww!!!

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Unbelievable. Get a clue

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!

Are you this obnoxious to other pet owners as a vet tech? Probably not because it's the internet-- the bastion of anonymity.

He went to the vet a month ago. He is fine other than this finicky behavior.

[StanUpshaw]

Shit just got real.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

It's a message board. Nothing's real. :tongue:

[RudeGrrl]

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!

Are you this obnoxious to other pet owners as a vet tech? Probably not because it's the internet-- the bastion of anonymity.

He went to the vet a month ago. He is fine other than this finicky behavior.

As a matter of fact, I *am* known to be quite obnoxious to pet owners to their faces. Anonymity means nothing to me. I'm there to care about the animals, not their owners' feelings. And if getting in their faces gets the job done, so be it.

It's not just finicky behavior. Something is up with that cat. Some disorders are not easily diagnosed, and a lot of vets, unfortunately, will chalk it up to "He's just getting older." I hear about this experience from too many people who hear this from their vets. But it's not just the cat "getting older." Unexplained weight loss always means something is wrong.

You need to stick to your guns and insist that your vet take a good look to either diagnose your cat, or rule out everything. Or, get another vet. Not all vets are created equally--just like not all internists/specialists are created equally.

[TooCute]

Hm. Well being a vet is absolutely a customer service industry. I wouldn't tolerate techs who were rude to clients at my practice. The owners' feelings are in fact the most important factor in ensuring that animals get good care, go figure; it ain't rocket science. Irrelevant, though, because I don't have rude techs I need to tolerate. Also irrelevant to Alice and Otis.

But like I said, at the very least I'd try locking the other cats up while he's eating. If they have to be in the bathroom for an hour, so be it. Meat based baby foods (can make him constipated, beware), anything stinky he'll eat (look for Figaro, it's a super gross ghetto canned food) are good bets.

What did he have done at his last visit? Just a physical? Bloodwork? Had he lost a lot of weight, then? Or has he just lost the weight in the past month since he last visited the vet? When did the walking away from the bowl start? It could be very easy to miss serious dental disease or oral problems (cancer etc.) on the cursory physical exam you generally get at most annual checkups, unless you've specifically told the doctor that he's been having problems. Even thing, there are things that could have been missed without dental radiographs or a through exam under sedation or anesthesia. There are also other things that could have arisen very rapidly over the course of the last month.

Eating a few bites and walking away from the bowl is absolutely classic for dental disease so that is definitely where I'd start.

Have YOU looked in his mouth? How does his breath smell? If you pull his lips back to get a good look at his cheek teeth, how do they look? How do his gums look, particularly right along the base of his teeth? Does he seem painful if you press gently along the bone above his teeth (when his moth is closed and his lips down) - like under his eyes? These are things you can at least try at home; there may be something super obvious that was missed at his exam a month ago.

[TooCute]

Oh and obviously, don't poke and prod his mouth if he seems ouchy or like he's going to bit you!!

trust me, cat bites are no fun!!

[keithy_19]

As a matter of fact, I *am* known to be quite obnoxious to pet owners to their faces. Anonymity means nothing to me. I'm there to care about the animals, not their owners' feelings. And if getting in their faces gets the job done, so be it.

It's not just finicky behavior. Something is up with that cat. Some disorders are not easily diagnosed, and a lot of vets, unfortunately, will chalk it up to "He's just getting older." I hear about this experience from too many people who hear this from their vets. But it's not just the cat "getting older." Unexplained weight loss always means something is wrong.

You need to stick to your guns and insist that your vet take a good look to either diagnose your cat, or rule out everything. Or, get another vet. Not all vets are created equally--just like not all internists/specialists are created equally.

One time, my cat started pooping on the bed. I stopped feeding her. PROBLEM SOLVED!

She was overweight anyway.

[torker]

I hope your cat's breath smells like cat food soon.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Po2L6M_34bM/SLM8IpGvBiI/AAAAAAAAAfg/vEG3NxWOaAA/s400/cat+fud.jpg

[RudeGrrl]

Hm. Well being a vet is absolutely a customer service industry. I wouldn't tolerate techs who were rude to clients at my practice. The owners' feelings are in fact the most important factor in ensuring that animals get good care, go figure; it ain't rocket science. Irrelevant, though, because I don't have rude techs I need to tolerate. Also irrelevant to Alice and Otis.


Whatever. We've found that a lot of owners need to be chastened in order to understand the importance of pet care. It works. People become more vigilant. And they come back. And we have the busiest practice in our area. YMMV.

And actually it does seem relevant here, as it resulted in more attention and information on this thread, and hopefully, will lead to better health for Otis, as well as knowledge for other pet owners reading these posts. Whatever works.

[Jujubees2]

Oh and obviously, don't poke and prod his mouth if he seems ouchy or like he's going to bit you!!

trust me, cat bites are no fun!!

Should have told her that...

Queens woman Karen Costa sues Petco after cat with lion-sized temper takes bite of her finger (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/05/11/2010-05-11_thats_no_kitten_its_furry_fangs_sues_petco_afte r_feline_attacks.html#ixzz0ndHPndm7)

[TooCute]

Dispensing good information and encouraging owner compliance and being an unnecessarily rude cunt are entirely different. What you're saying is that the doctors in your practice tell their clients to their faces that they're "unbelievable" and need to "get a clue" and actually still have clients returning to them; you're either exaggerating to make your point or you are a liar.

Alice clearly loves her cats; regardless of the reason she posted here (after all, Otis just went to the vet a month ago and got a clean bill of health, and she's understandably frustrated), making her feel like an idiot does not and has not accomplished anything.

To be fair, though, Alice is smart enough to not let the inflammatory words of some anonymous internet douchebag make her feel like she's a bad kitty mom.

P - if you want to email me with any questions, by all means, please do. Or keep us updated here.

[angrymissy]

Whatever. We've found that a lot of owners need to be chastened in order to understand the importance of pet care. It works. People become more vigilant. And they come back. And we have the busiest practice in our area. YMMV.

And actually it does seem relevant here, as it resulted in more attention and information on this thread, and hopefully, will lead to better health for Otis, as well as knowledge for other pet owners reading these posts. Whatever works.

If a vet tech talked to me in the manner you spoke to her, I would not use that vet any longer if they continued to employ said tech.

You don't have to chastise or talk down to people to get them to understand your point. You were just being a cunt.

Ms. Fuzzybutt has been a member of this message board for a very long time, and we all know she treats her animals well, so cut the judgmental bullshit.

[Zipgun]

If a vet tech talked to me in the manner you spoke to her, I would not use that vet any longer if they continued to employ said tech.

You don't have to chastise or talk down to people to get them to understand your point. You were just being a cunt.

Ms. Fuzzybutt has been a member of this message board for a very long time, and we all know she treats her animals well, so cut the judgmental bullshit.

And to add to that, I personally know that Otis could not be more loved and pampered. Alice is a fantasic mother to her cats and will spare nothing to give them the best care. I've been to that particular vet and seen first hand that they are very caring and thorough. It's very difficult to find the problem with a patient that cannot speak.

If I were treated that way by a vet tech there would be holy fucking hell to pay right then and there on the spot.

P - I'm so sorry to hear Otis is having this trouble. I hope all the best for the boy.

[red_red_red]

that vet cunt is the reason why i don't have pets

well done vet cunt...well done
:blink:

[StanUpshaw]

I had a grease monkey cop an attitude about my auto care negligence and it nearly came to blows.

If some bitch got in my face about my scrawny fleabag cat...:furious::furious::furious:

[keithy_19]

My goodness! This whole thread is just full of pussy and cunts!

[TooCute]

The cunt is a vet tech. Not vet. Well, not that I'm not a cunt, also, but at least not in this thread, I didn't think...

[keithy_19]

The cunt is a vet tech. Not vet. Well, not that I'm not a cunt, also, but at least not in this thread, I didn't think...

I was just speaking of the phrase cunt...It was used a lot in here. So...I just thought...

I failed at my funny...:flush:

[Barnaby Jones]

I was just speaking of the phrase cunt...It was used a lot in here. So...I just thought...

I failed at my funny...:flush:

You fail at everything! Youth has been wasted on you!

[TooCute]

Aww keithy I wans't replying to you, but to red, sorry.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

THANK YOU AYA!!!! Your advice helped a lot!

It's not so easy to feed Otis before I go to work. I give him a small can of food. And he eats what he can then Alice and Lloyd swoop in.

BUT, I took your advice about locking up Alice and Lloyd. I do this when I home from work. I have time and I make lunches/dinners for the next day. This is when I feed Otis because he likes to "hang out" with "mommy."

I give him a spoonful at a time and he feels NO PRESSURE b/c Lloyd and Alice are in the bathroom. PLUS, he gets "mommy" time.

He's eating so I am happy! Thanks Aya!

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Let's not vilify RudeGrrl. Her heart is in the right place. It's not always easy to discern a certain situation when when your heart is in it.

Anyone who loves pets is a friend of mine!

I wanted to become a vet tech; I couldn't handle the science courses!

It's all GOOD! :clap:

BTW-- I think the word CUNT was WAY WAY outta line. I'll apologize to her for it. I SO APPRECIATE that my friends have MY BACK. She's a new member. Give her some slack!Q

[RudeGrrl]

My, my, you folks are easy offended. If people don't like what I have to say, or how I say it, fine. But to retaliate by calling me a cunt seems a wee bit inappropriate and immature, don't you think? Resorting to name calling is so boring.

You don't know me, you don't know my work, you don't know my vets, you don't know our patients or their owners. If it pleases you to think of me as a liar, an exaggerator, or a cunt, fine, I really don't care.

But I find it interesting how people accuse *me* of hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet, and then when one person suddenly throws out the word "cunt," everyone pops out of the woodwork and follows suit like lemmings, here in the safety of the message boards.

Have a nice day, y'all.

[red_red_red]

good to hear the cat is ok..my cats are happy for your cats


and i was just being cheeky with the rude chick..so now that the fun has been sucked out of this thread i shall leave it alone.
:bye:

[TooCute]

I didn't "resort" to name calling - I actually feel it was completely warranted given that someone (alice) who is clearly worried about their cat was told that they were unbelievable and to get a clue.

No, rudegrrrl, I don't know you or the people you work for, nor your clients; I can only base my opinions on what you have written here. I think you acted like a cunt in this thread, and that's how I called it. I honestly think you're either exaggerating or a liar; chances are that you're a fine and competent tech in real life and I'm sure we could trade plenty of stories of the unbelievable things, ignorant, cruel or otherwise, we've seen owners say and do.

What can I say, I take the veterinary profession very seriously and I am beyond disappointed (to the point of using colorful language!) to hear that there are doctors who are so outright rude to the clients who clearly care enough to have brought their pets to them for help. One rude doctor ruins the image of the entire profession for everyone else who has worked so hard on their client communication skills. Go ahead and make fun of the idiocy of your clients behind their backs, I mean, let's be honest, I do it all the time, but please please please stop belittling them to their faces. It's simply unprofessional. If you can't get your point across to people in a constructive way, you're in the wrong profession. End of story.

Alice - I'm so glad Otis is eating more!! Please do keep an eye on his weight; weigh him every week and see how he's doing. Easiest is to do yourself on a bathroom scale (you can subtract your weight from your weight when you're holding him) although a scale at the vet would be more accurate - even half a pound or a pound is a HUGE difference in a cat and a people scale would have a hard time picking that up.

If he's not gaining weight or he continues to lose, a trip back to the doc is in order. You might also want to call your vet (since they've seen him and know him) and ask them over the phone if they have any ideas for you.

[keithy_19]

You fail at everything! Youth has been wasted on you!

I don't know if I hate you or love you.

:unsure:

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I think this thread is done. Rudegrrl and I have come to an understanding. I'd like to think we're buds; I think we are. Her heart is in the right place.

I appreciate everyone's support but it's all cool. Otis is happy and Alice is as fat and SASSY as ever! Lloyd is... Lloyd.

:clap:

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

double post

[PapaBear]

double post
Cunt!:bye:

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Thank you! I need to be reminded of that daily. :tongue:

In Spanish it's "puta"

[PapaBear]

Thank you! I need to be reminded of that daily. :tongue:

In Spanish it's "puta"
Husbands aren't allowed to remind you. Don't worry, though. You'll always have plenty of friends to do it.:drunk: