Hey, so my cat is 4 years old and has a rare bacteria and parasite causing her to have very runny poop that even leaks out of her. It’s really bad for us. There’s poop everywhere and the worst part is she doesn’t even know it’s happening, it’s like she can’t control it.
I adopted her after she was found on the street. I think she had a rough life before that because she’s super anxious and skittish. It’s taken a while for her to warm up to me and my mom, but once she trusts you, she’s the sweetest little thing.
The problem is she has to take her medicine twice a day, 12 hours apart, and that’s really hard for us. We have to find her and get my mom to pet her until she can pick her up so we can give her the meds. But that’s not working too well. One, we can’t always find her because she hides a lot. And two, she only lets my mom get close enough to pick her up. No one else can help.
My cat is so smart from all the trauma that she doesn’t even trust my mom anymore because she knows she’s going to get picked up and given medicine. We found a way to make the medicine more palatable for her by mixing it with a liquid treat, but now we can’t even get close enough to give it to her. I’m really stuck and feel like I’m letting her down because it’s for her own good but she’s being so difficult. It’s frustrating.
We’ve also tried putting the meds in wet food, but she knows something’s off and won’t eat it. I really don’t know what to do anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions?
@Landyn
The kibble is actually helping firm up her poop a little, but the real problem is getting close enough to her to give her the medicine. Trying to put a diaper on her would be just as hard. It’s a good idea though, I wish it were easier to do.
You can try pet diapers. They’re actually used for dogs in heat, but they come in small sizes that work for cats.
Your cat might need gabapentin, which is a calming medication. It’s really safe and doesn’t taste strong, so it can be mixed with wet food or treats.
Also, check what kind of food your cat is eating. Maybe it’s making her stomach problems worse. My cat can’t handle dry food, but my friend’s cat can’t eat wet food. Every cat is different.
Adding feliway pheromones could also help calm her down. And always reward her with a treat before you pick her up, even before the medicine. It’ll help her associate you with something good.
But first, talk to your vet about getting gabapentin. I’ve had a cat with severe PTSD and he’s been on it for two years with no issues.
That’s a tough situation. I’d suggest calling the vet and asking if the medicine comes in pill form. I’ve found that liquid meds are much harder to give than pills. You can use something like a pill pocket (available at pet stores or the vet) or even wrap the pill in cheese or a piece of hot dog. Cats can be tricked into eating pills, but liquid meds are tricky. Every time I’ve had to give liquid medicine, my cat scratches me and I feel like I traumatized him. I hope you can find a pill option for your cat.
@Keaton
I’ll try asking the vet. She’s only supposed to be on the medicine for two weeks and I don’t want to spend another $80 for pills. But if the liquid isn’t working, maybe I’ll have to consider it.
@Arielle
I understand, that’s expensive. You’re doing a great job taking care of her. Your cat is lucky to have such a loving family. I hope things get easier soon.
I had the same problem with my cat, Batty. I mixed her liquid meds in a tube of Churu treats. The trick is to let her eat some of the Churu first, then add the meds into the rest. It works for me!
I’m also giving liquid meds to my skittish cat. I started giving him CBD oil in his food to help calm him down, and I think that’s working. I wrap him in a blanket, give him a squeeze treat, then give him the meds and another treat. It’s going well, and he’s actually getting better at it.