Big Badger House (aka Noisy Lodger) HE'S GONE!

Badger_Lady

The wee man can't manage dry food any more - his teeth have been bad for a long time, and the vet recommended leaving him on sachets of 'Felix As Good As It Looks - Senior' to avoid kidney trouble, which he always seems to be on the cusp of. I've got an automated feeder which takes ice blocks, so it's good for 5 days in winter or 2 in summer, but certainly not for a six-month journey Joanna's been trained on using it for when she's not here, and I'll offer the same to the new guys.

He did have a water fountain but it was pretty noisy in the open-plan kitchen and he didn't really seem to benefit very much from it. Like most cats he tends to find outdoor water sources (I have a few old plant pots that fill with rain water), and he's very happy drinking from a dish - when I'm here he gets through 1-2 dishes every day!

outofmoney

Yes, must admit ours tend to prefer the puddle that forms on the table outside. Even our rabbit has learnt how to get up there! Must be very tasty. Ours are also on senior food as one does have kidney problems but luckily they can still handle dry food so have that out all the time and one sachet between them a day.

Sounds like Tufters is going to be well cared for

Badger_Lady

Here he is, the lazy little git... curled up sleeping while I do all the packing!

outofmoney

Awwwww, so cute!

Badger_Lady

outofmoney wrote: »

Awwwww, so cute!

Don't encourage him! He's a smelly old thing really.

BitterAndTwisted

Badger_Lady wrote: »

His teeth have been bad for a long time, and the vet recommended leaving him on sachets of 'Felix As Good As It Looks - Senior' to avoid kidney trouble, which he always seems to be on the cusp of.


He gets through 1-2 dishes every day!

Fully paid-up member of the Tufty Club here.

Angel, when was the last time Tufters saw a vet? If his teeth are bad why does he still have them? I had a pusscat with bad teeth and they were all removed under anaesthetic. She was eating cat-biscuits 48 hours later and never looked back.

I don't want to be a Jeremiah or a Cassandra either (or whichever mythical character I should be alluding to) but a cat who drinks 1-2 dishes of water every day is highly likely to be suffering kidney-problems already. They don't normally drink that much even when they're on dry food exclusively. PLEASE take Tufty to the vet asap

Badger_Lady

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Angel, when was the last time Tufters saw a vet?

In late November. I took him in September because he was drinking a lot of water, so they did a full set of blood tests and said he was still fine but just to keep an eye on him. Then JoannaLodger took him again while I was in the US because she was worried he wasn't eating much, and they checked him over again. That was when they recommended the Senior food and he's eaten loads ever since.

He doesn't drink that much water any more unless I put a capful of milk in it - he loves the taste and I encourage him because I think it can only be good for his health.

As for the teeth, well they've been bad ever since I got him 8 years ago - the vets always comment and give him a clean but they've never suggested taking them out... I don't think it would do him any harm if they did, he's never caught wild birds or mice and I stopped feeding him raw fish a while back. He only has soft stuff now.

outofmoney

Our vets have always said how good our cats teeth are. They said it is probably due to a dry only diet (Which they had until last year). Our female now has really bad breath but she has thyroid problems plus liver so it could well be to do with that, and the fact she up chucks at least once a day. _pale_

Our cats will be 15 next week, I think about the same as Tufters? Kidney problems are very common around this age. Our cats Mum had to be pts because of hers a couple of years back. She was never on meds though as she showed no signs until the last week or so and was too late by then. If Tufters is OK in himself the vets won't suggest much more than they have already. Though they can give tablets but like you we were told to just use special food (or senior as it is similar and cheaper)

BitterAndTwisted

Badger_Lady wrote: »

He doesn't drink that much water any more unless I put a capful of milk in it - he loves the taste and I encourage him because I think it can only be good for his health.

NO! Cow's milk is not good for cats. They cannot digest it properly and it gives them the squitters. Offer him that proper cat-milk from the supermarkket if you must but please, no more cow's milk.

I'm reassured that darling Tuflybum has seen the vet and there were no worries there. Phew! I had a darling who got kidney probs and her condition changed very, very quickly. You need to discuss properly with your new lodgers exactly who is willing to accept responsibility for him. If he becomes unwell you might be in a different time-zone and not able to give your permission quickly enough.

Any news from FilthySlobLodger?

Badger_Lady

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

NO! Cow's milk is not good for cats. They cannot digest it properly and it gives them the squitters. Offer him that proper cat-milk from the supermarkket if you must but please, no more cow's milk.

I know! That's why he gets one capful in a full dish of water. That way he's not overdosing on lactose

Not a word from our friend. I reckon he's waiting to get the keys to his new place (the one that was available 'from the end of January') so he can just move straight from one to the next.