MY IBD CAT

So with the summer at hand, we figured that things would get easier. We were too optimistic, I'm afraid. The frustrating part is that I have no clue what's going on.

Basti lost about 200 grams  (7 oz) over the last few months. Nothing major but when things go down, you never know if the descent continues. We had noticed she was eating less but she was outside more. And it almost looks like she simply 'forgets' to eat. Is that even possible? A cat that forgets to eat?

Naturally, there was another trip to the vet. I had found balls of pee from her in the litter box that I thought were too small so I figured she might have a bladder infection. Vet runs her hands over Basti's spine and that goes well for a second and then she almost bit the vet! And Basti does not bite!

I don't know when but at an earlier visit to the vet, she had noticed the same thing; somewhere in the middle of Basti's spine, there is a spot that hurts. And this time it seemed to hurt more that the first time. So Basti was ordered 'bed rest'..no going out, and painkillers. For a cat that loves to go out, I was surprised how easily she gave in, the first few days. On the 5th day of the pain meds, things seemed to have improved enough that she was pretty vocal about wanting out. On day 6th she was allowed out for a few hours. Because she can only go out for a few hours, I now have to be careful because at this point she tends to disappear all together.

To provide some entertainment for a cat who's inside and bored to death, I pick fresh catnip (Nepeta cataria) from my yard and put it out for her. Then I saw the below thing happen last night...and maybe it's not so strange that she hurt her spine...

When she feels bad, she 'hangs her head'..

I was reading the entry from last October and realized that the cycle had repeated itself: she looked constipated again (it was gone over the winter). She was throwing up her food in her food bowl after eating way too fast and also throwing up 'foam' with blades of grass the length of my hand...crazy! I decided to take a trip to the vet who concluded that her bowels were indeed a little clogged up. She suggested Isogel, a stuff in powdered form that is tasteless and can be mixed in with moist food. The later is always a problem because wet food causes diarrhea for her and I don't want her to be uncomfortable.

However, a shot of Cerenia from the vet and the Isogel mixed with mashed Whiskas from a pouch seemed to work wonders. The worse the contents of the wet food, the better she is able to handle it. Trying to feed her Whiskas with Isogel a second time failed miserably of course but that seemed to be okay. Of course, I don't know if it was the Cerenia that worked for her of the Isogel but I do know that during the 'shedding months' (spring and autumn), I need to use the Furminator to thin out her undercoat. I still don't believe it myself but for a shorthaired cat, she sheds like crazy! But combing, Cerenia or Isogel, (or a combination of all three) it looks like the constipation problems have been solved for the time being.