Hard to Find Adopters for Cat with Disability and FIV

Buddy is an orange American short-haired cat that looks like a normal adult male cat. You would never know that he had a disability without watching him closely. Buddy is deaf and has vision loss due to a head injury and adopters like him until they find out what needs to be done to take care of him.

We rescued Buddy in April after his people had moved away and left him behind. We suspect that this unaltered cat had gotten into numerous fights and that is when the head injury occurred. When we rescued him we did not need a trap, this cat came to us with deep puncture bite wounds and deep scratches on his face. I remember telling my husband that I never saw a cat with red eyes, that is because the red that we saw was blood. 

We immediately took him to the animal hospital where we learned that His vision is distorted, as he has no depth perception, he does not hear and he is infected with FIV. (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). We also learned that his cocked head and shaking of his head may be permanent due to head trauma. 

When we first brought him home we put Buddy in the cat-safe room. In this room, there was a futon bed, carpet and tile on the floor, a cat tree, a window seat, cat toys, a litter box, and food and water bowls. A nice cat room with everything a feline would need. However, the entire room changed in a matter of minutes because Buddy had difficulty walking and could not keep his balance. Everything high off the floor was moved, the futon mattress came down to the floor, and the bed frame was removed.

Buddy has to live in a room where everything is on the floor because the head injury and inner ear have made him clumsy. He could not get to his litter box or to his food bowls so we picked him up and put him in front of everything, we are thankful that there is nothing wrong with his sense of smell.

Buddy underwent three months of veterinarian care, including surgery on his ear, and in the end, I suspect he hears a little because he plays with the toys that are in front of him but if they go too far he will sit and stare. I do not think he can see them or hear the bell in his ball.

We hoped that we would be able to find an adopter who had no other pets, that had time to take care of Buddy so that he could not try to jump on something because he would fall. But the truth is that there are no adapters for Buddy that are willing to remove furniture from a room in order to keep Buddy safe. When they realize that they have to pick him up and put in on the sofa, then watch so he does not fall when he gets down. 

The adopters turn away from this cat with disabilities and FIV because he is too much work. That is why I say it is hard to find adopters for cats with disabilities and FIV.

Entertain Indoor Cats with Window Bird Feeder

My FIV cats Sam and Lucy do miss being able to go outdoors. I know this because they both go to the side door and meow daily. We have an enclosed sun porch with many windows and both cats enjoy this room they love to lie in the sun, play with their toys, and also watch the birds in the yard. However, they get bored easily and go to the side door to meow and beg me to let them go outdoors.

Sam likes to play with his toys

My husband suggested that we buy the cats a window bird feeder. He thought that the FIV cats would find this entertaining and that it would be fun for humans too.

We found a window bird feeder with a mirror that was flush with the window. This mirror would allow the cats to watch the birds without frightening them. The birds could eat the seed peacefully, they would have no idea that a cat was behind the mirror watching their every move.

Both my husband and I liked the Coveside Panoramic In-house Window Bird Feeder with Mirrored Panel because the fit would be snug against my window. This feeder then could be viewed from our living room and we could watch the birds through the one-way see-through mirror panel.

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Before buying the feeder we did check to verify customer reviews. There were many positive comments. We learned that the feeder was quality made from wood and came already been assembled. Installation is as easy as it can be. One commenter said “ I opened the window, slid the bird feeder in place, and shut the window. That's it! It looks like a custom installation. It fits perfectly in the window and is a very attractive addition to the room”

Today we ordered the window bird feeder because we feel it will be wonderful entertainment for our FIV cats that can no longer go outdoors.

Cat Diabetes Symptoms / Prevention

Diabetes is a common cat disease and is due to the cat’s inability to produce enough insulin to balance blood sugar or glucose. Many times the cat's symptoms go unnoticed by the pet owners because cats tend to hide their sickness from their owners. If the diabetes condition goes untreated by a veterinarian this cat disease can lead to weight loss, vomiting dehydration, behavior concerns, the cat's inability to do everyday activities, coma, and even death.

My rescued cat Nikki was healthy even though she ate like she had a hollow paw. (In my experience rescue cats do eat more and I think this is because they were on the streets and did not know where to go for their next meal) So this cat always had a problem with her weight but was healthy otherwise. However, that changed when she was she grew older and at age 14 she showed outward symptoms that were an indication that something was wrong.

Nikki developed an enormous appetite, she would eat all of her food and then try to eat the dog's food. She was constantly meowing at the food container or trying to catch a fish at our aquarium.

Along with extreme hunger, she urinated more plus constantly drank from the water bowl. These were all symptoms that something was wrong, So I made an appointment with a veterinarian checkup, and my cat Nikki was diagnosed with Diabetes.

I was told that Insulin is a hormone that stems from the pancreas. Insulin regulates the cat’s flow of glucose from the bloodstream to the body cells. When there is not enough insulin the cat’s body will start to break down the fat and the cat will lose weight. If the cat develops high levels of sugar in the bloodstream the cat will show signs of increased thirst and the cat’s urine flow will increase.

Cat Diabetes is a common health condition; age, stress, poor diet, and being overweight will put your cat at high risk. Also, an FIV cat can get diabetes because the virus is slow in developing but when it does take hold of the cat then it will weaken the cat's immune system which makes the cat susceptible to other health concerns, including diabetes.

Recommendations:

Watch your cat for diabetes symptoms; increased appetite, frequent urination, excessive intake of water, weight loss, or increased weight. If your cat has any of these symptoms then contact your veterinarian. The veterinarian will check for sugar levels in the bloodstream and urine.

Feed the cat canned food that has limited ingredients, one protein, no corn, soy wheat, rice, or other grain fillers. A high-protein food like Natural Balance's limited ingredients duck would be a good choice. Feed your cat the allowed amount and no more, no treats, to keep them at a healthy weight.

(Duck is a good protein for cats because it is less likely to cause them to be allergic to their food) Learn more about foods that cats are allergic to here

Tips

Cat diabetes can affect any cat breed as well as any age. Studies show that diabetes is more common in mature overweight to obese cats with little or no exercise.

Prevent cat diabetes by keeping your cat at a healthy weight. If your cat is obese then their risk of developing diabetes is greater.

Warnings:

If your cat has diabetes and is left untreated the disease will progress and shorten the cat’s lifespan.

Prescription Diet Multi-care Urinary Cat Food Review

When my FIV cat named Sam had some health concerns the veterinarian recommended that I feed him Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care Urinary Care food. I could feed him both variety’s; canned or the kibble and I was told that Sam would need to eat this food for the rest of his life. 

I was warned to not give Sam treats, or any other food that he could only eat prescription food, that other food would make him sick.

I loved my cat and wanted his health to improve so I bought the Hills prescription C/D food with the written prescription from my veterinarian at Pet Smart and from my veterinarian. I figured the cat food was a prescription and that there must be medicine in it to heal my cat of his urinary/cystic condition.

Normally all of my cats eat out of the same bowl, but with this prescription food, I had to feed Sam in another room. Know that it was difficult to separate my cats and one day my other cat who did not have the same urinary condition as Sam ate the prescription food. I was so upset that my cat ate this veterinarian prescription food and called my veterinarian office immediately.

My veterinarian told me that the cat would be fine that I could feed all my cats the C/D cat food and it would be preventative so the other cats would not have the urinary condition.   So from that day forward, I was buying a case of 48 cans(2 cases) and a 15 lb of kibble twice a month.  I did this because I wanted my cats to live a long healthy life without developing the condition that caused them to have blood in their urine, and cysts. The Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care Urinary Care Food would prevent all of my cats from getting the urinary disease.

"I did have concerns about the medication in the food, but my veterinarian assured me that the food would not harm my cats, that it was good for them"

After two weeks of feeding Sam the prescription food, I did not see significant improvement in Sam's health.  He was still nervous, straining to pee and there was cloudy pink tint in his urine. When I called the veterinarian I was told that I needed to continue feeding Sam the cat food and in about a month I would see improvement.

Two months came and went and Sam's urinary condition showed some improvement but his litterbox usage was hit or miss, and he would still strain occasionally to pee and there was slight pink cast to his urine.

I was doing everything my veterinarian recommended and thought the medicated food was not doing what it was intended to do, cure my cat.

Along with the canned and kibble prescription food my veterinarian suggested buying more litter boxes, keeping them very clean, and adding the Feliway diffusers to keep Sam calm.  I was told that stress was bringing on my cat's condition.

My cat was not stressed before he got sick, he was the sweetest Siamese cat, that loved to go to the office with me and play with his toys or sit in the window to watch the birds.  But when Sam got sick with the urinary condition he was nervous, pacing in the house, and no longer wanted to lie on my lap or play with his toys.

So at that point, I was curious as to what medicine was added to the ingredients to warrant a prescription and I wanted to know why I needed a prescription to buy this cat food.

I researched the product and there is no medicine in Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care Urinary Care cat food.  In comparison to other urinary cat food that you buy off the shelf at your local pet store, the ingredients in the prescription food are of poor quality because it has grains and corn. GMO foods that I never feed my cats.

Here are the ingredients in Hills Perscription Diet C/D Multicare Urinary Cat Food

Pork By-Products, Water, Pork Liver, Chicken, Rice, Corn Starch, Oat Fiber, Chicken Fat, Fish Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Calcium Sulfate, Guar Gum, Fish Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dextrose, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Cysteine, Dried Egg Yolk, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate), Glycine, Iodized Salt, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Beta-Carotene.

Know that this prescription cat food is expensive, $56.00 for 5.5-ounce cans/case of 24.  Since there is no medicine in this prescription cat food I decided to see if there were comparable foods available to the consumer that was formulated to promote a desirable urine PH and did not require a prescription from a veterinarian to buy cat food.  I found a food that was the same but did not have the filler foods, corn, and grains. I found that Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Turkey and Giblets Entree Canned Cat Food has better ingredients, no prescription is needed and it costs less.

Ingredients

1. Meat By-Products, Water Sufficient for Processing, Turkey, Poultry By-Products, Poultry Giblets, Rice, Salt, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide.
   

Description
Purina Pro Plan Focus targets kitty-specific health issues with Adult Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Turkey & Giblets Entree Canned Cat Food. Made with real turkey, this specialized formula helps maintain your cat’s urinary tract health by reducing urinary pH and providing low dietary magnesium. Feeding Purina’s Urinary Tract Health Formula canned food will also help increase water intake, a crucial step when it comes to keeping her urinary system healthy.
Key Benefits

• Specialized formula made with real turkey and giblets provides exceptional taste and balanced nutrition for your cat
  
• Extra-care nutrition to help maintain urinary tract health by reducing urinary pH while providing low dietary magnesium
  
• High-quality protein helps promote ideal body composition optimized for lean muscle, strength, and the energy needed for your adult cat to thrive
  
• Omega-6 fatty acids are included for healthy skin and a beautiful shiny coat
  
• Manufactured in Purina-owned U.S.A facilities and does not contain any added artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
  

So there you have it my product review of Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care cat food. I am not a fan of this overpriced food with the GMO foods of corn, and grain ingredients and I feel that the written veterinarian prescription food is misrepresented as I was told this medicated cat food would improve my cat's urinary condition as long as I fed him the prescription food, nothing else for the rest of his life.

The prescription is misleading because cat food has no medicine, no healing herbs nothing to warrant a prescription from your veterinarian. 

 Prescription pet food is a consumer rip-off, pet owners have been scammed by veterinarians and pet food companies and I am not happy about this because of my cat's pain and suffering.

Read another article about Prescription Cat food here 
Article relating to Sam's Kidney Failure and Prescription K/D Food 
Article about Sam, he will not eat the Prescription food
...
About Sam when we rescued him, his first urinary / bladder infection 

Ways to Keep Cat Calm in a Car

Unlike dogs who enjoy going for a ride in the car, a cat does not feel the same way. Granted there are a few cats that enjoy riding in a car but most felines find it stressful.

Today I had to take my cat Sam to the veterinarian for his annual checkup and one of the things we must do is keep Sam from stressful situations. Sam has FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and his condition now is healthy but stress is a factor that can bring on illness. Sam gets stressed out riding in the car so I will do the following things to keep him calm.

If your cat gets stressed out when riding in the car then you may want to try the following helpful tips.

1. If you find that you must take your cat for a ride in the car then make sure you have a pet carrier that is large enough for a cat to be comfortable. They need room to lie down without a tight feeling.
2. Make the carrier more comfortable with a small crate mat. Spray this mat with the Feliway mood and behavior modifier before adding the mat to the carrier. The Feliway spray mimics the cat's pheromones and this aids in keeping the cat calm. Shop and save at Walmart.com for Feliway spray
3. Buy Kong treat dispensing toy to distract your cat while riding in the car. Fill the toy with temptation cat treats and put it in the cat carrier. The toy will divert your cat's attention and they will feel less stressed. (food is a friend to a cat)
4. Set the cat carrier on the car seat and wrap the seat belt around it. Secure the cat in the carrier so that it stays put and does not move around when the car turns or stops. Any sudden movement while the cat is in the car is very stressful and the cat will suffer.
5. Cover the cat carrier with a towel or small blanket. Blocking out the view of cars passing while the cat is riding in the car will help to keep the feline calm.
6. Refrain from turning the radio on loudly. It is best to have soft background music and that you talk to your cat while riding in the car. A familiar voice that is calm and projects positive energy will keep your cat calm while in the car.

L-Lysine for FIV Cats

My FIV cat got an upper respiratory infection last month and the treatment was antibiotics plus the supplement L-Lysine oral gel by Viralys. This gel supports the cat's immune system and is very good in the treatment of feline herpes virus (FHV) because it lessens the signs of the infection, eye infection, sinus nose issues; drainage or congestion. 

My FIV cat was rescued in 2008 and when we brought him in he had eye drainage and was diagnosed with feline herpes an upper respiratory infection. 

Know that Sam is doing much better since I started supplementing his diet with Lysine. There is no cure for feline herpes but you can reduce the flair-ups with the amino acid L-Lysine.

Normally when you give your cat medicine it can be difficult. But my cat likes this gel. What I do is squeeze ¼ teaspoon amount onto my finger then I put the gel on my cat's paw. Sam licks his paw. I give him 2 doses like this daily and will continue this supplement for the rest of my cat's life.

I bought the tube of oral L-Lysine from my veterinarian and it was expensive. When I need a refill I will buy from amazon.com or Walmart.com because these stores offer the same product for less.Walmart.com

What to Do When FIV Cat is Sick

 I noticed that my FIV cat named Sam had fluid buildup in his left eye and this was a sign of sickness, cat cold, or upper respiratory. My cat has a weakened immune system and this cold or whatever it is could progress quickly into a major illness so I immediately called the veterinarian and scheduled an appointment.

Last Monday I took Sam to the veterinarians and they ran tests on him, and his blood, and checked his urine. They told me he had an upper respiratory infection and gave him an antibiotic shot and a prescription for Viralys L-Lysine supplement.

I was told to clean the entire house with bleach and to keep Sam away from other cats.  It was also recommended that after I handle other cats or come in contact with feral or stray cats I remove those clothes and shoes, shower  or spray myself with Lysol disinfectant before I come in contact with Sam.

Know that Sam has lost weight due to this infection,  He cannot smell his food so he is not eating. Normally Sam eats C/D prescription diet food but he has stopped eating.  So I mixed his wet food with water and put it in a syringe, this is how I am feeding him and keeping him hydrated.

Even though I responded immediately when I noticed my cat was sick, his infection has progressed quickly from playing with his toys one day to signs of a cold and now he is not eating.  An FIV cat has a hard time getting over a simple cold, It is best to call the veterinarian as soon as your cat show signs of sickness.

Treatment for Cat Urinary Infection

My rescued FIV cat came to us in 2009 as an adult unaltered tomcat.  When we rescued Sam he was suffering from urinary and bladder infections. After several trips to the veterinarians, my cat, Sam was diagnosed with a urinary condition that required him to eat a special prescription diet.

We were told that it was common for unaltered tomcats to suffer stress when they are rescued and from this stress develops urinary/bladder infections.

The veterinarian prescribed Hills CD for urinary care and we were told that we could not feed our cat any other food for the rest of his life.

The veterinarian said "Hills CD for urinary care is formulated with the right balance of nutrients which enables your cat's bladder to be healthy. " We were told that Sam would be feeling better and back to using his litter box within a month's time. 

Our veterinarian assured us that feeding our cat this special diet would remove harmful minerals and this meant that the formation of urinary crystals and bladder inflammation would cease.

 So when Sam was feeling better we did neuter him.  Know that it was a long road to recovery.  I needed to watch Sam's bathroom habits to make sure he was urinating, as we were told if he strains to pee and cannot pee that he may have a blockage and that was a serious condition. 

We feared that we would have to put him down if he could not urinate due to a blockage. 

It is important that your cat is hydrated and this was a problem because Sam is not a fan of water we tried everything to keep him hydrated, and even got him a waterfall.He was not impressed with the waterfall for drinking, for playing with the water with his paws, yes...the waterfall was entertainment. 

We mixed his prescription canned food with water and this was the best way to keep him hydrated. 

Sam has been eating this special diet for three weeks now and he is back to his happy self, his energy has improved, and he is using his litter box, (sometimes) and playing with his toys.  Even though we had him neutered he is occasionally marking the sofa and noticed his pee is a little cloudy. Okay, Sam is not 100% his old self, but he is now playing with his toys and he wasn't before. The veterinarian said to keep feeding him the prescription food and in a month it will be in his system and we will see an improvement.

I feed Sam a half can of Hills CD in the morning mixed with the dry kibble and the same portion at night. I also give him purified bottled water. A fresh bowl of water twice a day.

Know that this special urinary prescription diet will prevent the reoccurrence of urinary crystals and stones and as long as we keep feeding our cat the diet food as it is the only food that will manage our cat's conditions so that he will not suffer and there will be no need for urinary / bladder surgery.

Other information about Hills Prescription cat food

Note I kept our other cats away from Sam due to this special prescription food.  I thought the medication in the food would not be good for my other cats.  

My one cat Lucy got into the room and was eating the prescription food with Sam.  I went into a panic I thought his food would harm her.

We have two other FIV cats and now they are all eating the Hills CD urinary diet food. My veterinarian said to not worry about my other cats eating the prescription food because it would prevent the cats from getting a urinary / bladder infection.

The veterinarian said the Hills prescription C/D food is good preventative food for multiple cat homes, it is not recommended for kittens.

** UPDATE Sam refused to eat the prescription food. We tried everything even other brands for prescription food but Sam would rather lose weight than eat it.   Due to his refusal to eat the food I was told to feed him whatever he likes and that the weight loss was a problem for an FIV cat.

About False Positive FIV Kitten

Many times when a kitten is tested for feline immunodeficiency virus the test results will show a false positive. This is why it is important that pet owners wait 60 days before getting their kitten retested. 

All cats that test positive should be retested because of the false positive.


Know that a year ago I took in an FIV feline immunodeficiency virus kitten because the woman who owned it did not want the cat, she did not want to learn more about the feline disease she told me to take the kitten or she would take it to the humane society. I knew that our area shelter would euthanize the kitten so I said I would take it and find it a forever home.


Finding homes for FIV kittens is difficult because, like the cat owner, people think FIV is a death sentence or an indication that the cat is sickly. Not one person wanted to learn more they just said no to me and would not adopt the kitten.


I ended up socializing the kitten with my adult FIV cat named Sam. This was not hard at all, Sam was one happy cat and the two became best of friends.


Know that the kitten had been to the veterinarian a few times, had gotten her spay and her rabies shot and all was well. But the following year when I was told that she need her annual shots I asked if it was necessary since she was FIV positive.  My veterinarian had no record of her being tested, so I told them of her history. I did not have the paperwork but the former owner was adamant about the cat's disease. I agreed to have her tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. 

Both tests came back negative.


The kitten when she was tested showed a positive but it was false. I have no reason not to believe the former owner, as she was upset about the diagnosis of the cat and called me immediately when she had gotten the test results. Learn more about kittens with FIV and false positives here.

About False Positive FIV Tests

Quote: “Because few, if any, cats ever eliminate infection, the presence of antibody indicates that a cat is infected with FIV. This test can be performed by most veterinary diagnostic laboratories and also is available in kit form for use in veterinary clinics. Since false-positive results may occur, veterinarians recommend that positive results be confirmed using a test with a different format.  

Infected mother cats transfer FIV antibodies to nursing kittens, so kittens born to infected mothers may receive positive test results for several months after birth. However, few of these kittens actually are or will become infected. To clarify their infection status, kittens younger than six months of age receiving positive results should be retested at 60-day intervals until they are at least six months old.” End Quote Veterinarian Medicine Cornell education, health information on FIV   

Why is my Cat Vomiting - When to call Veterinarian?

It is common for cats to vomit, however not all vomiting is normal. Know that if your cat vomits when they are eating or right after they eat that this is a sign of illness and should not be overlooked. When a cat vomits when the eat it could be a stomach ailment, feline idiopathic cystitis or it could be due the muscle in the cats esophagus.

No harm is done to call your veterinarian and communicate your cat health concern. 

 I had a cat that did vomit when they were eating. I did not call my veterinarian immediately, instead I watched my FIV cat and found that when he ate he would vomit and knew that this was a red flag.  The veterinarian wanted to exam my cat and do blood-work. The diagnosis was a abscessed tooth.

One of my other cats would vomit at his food bowl, however this was due to anxiety. I was told that it might be a nervous condition, due to other cat pushing his way to eat at the bowl and not waiting his turn. It was suggested that I feed the cat in another room, that sharing the same food bowl may be causing the cat to feel anxiety and vomit. The feeding in another room was all that was needed. The vomiting stopped.