Elderly cat and milk

[Deleted User]

Silvertabby said:

Deleted_User said:

He has now started to smell rank - it is not his "rear end" that is clean - it seems to permeate his whole body

Could it be his anal gland is blocked? 

Could be - has he been 'scooting'? (rubbing his bum on the carpet)

No he hasn't - I have had cats that did that in the past
Not this one! 

[Deleted User]

yksi said:

When you say rank, is it like urine smell all in his skin? Because that's kidney failure. It's incredibly common in cats of advanced age, I'm afraid.

No it's more like poo smell - only not quite as strong
I wondered whether he had been rolling in fox poo but don't think that he has 

Savvy_Sue

Deleted_User said:

What can we do to stop him from drinking milk ?

We have tried speaking to neighbours but they all deny that he is visiting them - he could be going several hundred yards - so we cannot track him

We tried the "Paper collar" trick but that was ripped off by him as soon as he left the house

He doesn't wear a normal collar - never has done

Any chance that you could follow him one day? 

It could also be worth putting something on NextDoor, local FB groups and the like. 

[Deleted User]

Savvy_Sue said:

Deleted_User said:

What can we do to stop him from drinking milk ?

We have tried speaking to neighbours but they all deny that he is visiting them - he could be going several hundred yards - so we cannot track him

We tried the "Paper collar" trick but that was ripped off by him as soon as he left the house

He doesn't wear a normal collar - never has done

Any chance that you could follow him one day? 

It could also be worth putting something on NextDoor, local FB groups and the like. 

No, we've tried in the past - he runs quite fast for an old man and disappears quickly 

TBagpuss

Talk to your vet.
They may be able to advise about the smell, and whether it is a symptom or something needing more investigation.

It may be that he has some digestive issues and is less able to clean himself as well as he used to, so even if his bum looks clean he may not be washing as much or as effectively as he used to. If he's stiff of achy then the vet may be able to offer suggestions to make him more comfortable, which might help if that's the problem.

I's also agree with the suggestions to try him on lactose free milk at home to see if that reduces the  amount he looks for it elsewhere, and consider posters / positing on local groups to identify whoever is giving it to him (ideally they probably shouldn't be giving it to their own cat, either, of course! )

[Deleted User]

OK The vet reckons that it may be colitis and has given us a "syringe" of a probiotic to give him orally every day..

We tried last night and he spat most out straight away

Doesn't look very good - he is getting very thin around his rear haunches

Fiona236

My cat is on glandex. Its for anal glands but its a pro and prebiotic. Done my old cat wonders. 

coffeehound

Deleted_User said:

OK The vet reckons that it may be colitis and has given us a "syringe" of a probiotic to give him orally every day..

We tried last night and he spat most out straight away

maybe try a drop every few minutes, he should get used to it 

[Deleted User]

The vet didn't think that it was caused by his anal glands - and didn't empty them

He has a cyst behind his left ear as well - which the vet wouldn't touch !
We gave up on the medicine - he was getting extremely stressed

sheramber

Deleted_User said:

The vet didn't think that it was caused by his anal glands - and didn't empty them

He has a cyst behind his left ear as well - which the vet wouldn't touch !
We gave up on the medicine - he was getting extremely stressed

Can you not mix it with  some tuna or some wet food?