Andy posted a while ago about Nikki's obsession with licking a patch of concrete. he painted that over and it seemed to work at first, but lately he's caught her going for the litter instead (the bits kicked out of the tray, not in it...)

Anyway, she hasn't seemed herself lately at all - Andy's on his was to the vets with her now, and apparently she didn't even struggle going into the carrier..... :bawling:

Please keep your fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious! :crossed:

Just to update - the vets are keeping Nikki in with possible amaemia :(

OMG litter eating & anemia are symptoms of kidney disease. I hope Nikki will be ok. :hug: :comfort:

I was just going to say that, Allie. :(

I hope all goes well, keep us updated.

The vet has said that Nikki has a good chance as she's a young indoor cat. She's on fluids at the moment, Andy is waiting by the phone for updates.

Thinking good thoughts. :hug:

Unfortunately I have been looking out for those symptoms here with Milo so all of them are fresh in my mind.

Update - it's definitely anaemia - Nikki's red blood cell count was only 8% when it should be more like 30%.....

She's perked up with the fluids and has been eating - and wowled at the vet last night! :giggle:

She's having steroids too - and will hopefully be well enough to go home tomorrow! :)

No news on the cause yet, but the treatment is definitely working!

:thumbsup: :jump: :hug:

Aw, glad she seems to be doing a little better! I hope the vet can find the cause.

:jump:

Thanks for the nice words on this thread! I've been too worried to post until now to say thanks really so I'm delighted to post three photos of Nikki back home eating food which is what really needs to keep happening. Blood cells count has to be self -regenerated so she needs TLC for a few weeks to get her back up to full strength.







My jaw literally dropped at work when they told me her blood cell count was 9% and should be 30% - so no wonder she had no strength and was so lethargic - she hasn't the oxygen supply to do it.

She's on steroids to stop it going down. Good food and rest will get it back up, so as far as I'm concerned she can eat posh wet stuff for as long as it takes to get those nutrients into her. The's already had the essentials put back by IV

This link is how it worked out - so if anyone is interested in the kitty drugs she's on clicking this shows the decision made. Huge list, cost nearly £600 English pounds, thank God for insurance!
click to see Bill

What's still in the dark is how it got to this - she's an indoor cat who is FIV negative. I understand all this concrete nonsense is more of an EFFECT than a cause which has me racking my brains - how did she get so run down in the first place?

In the absence of vet conclusion (should get on Monday when I take her back in for a check up) I think I will blame rubbish supermarket dried food. I'm saying this as owner of the bonciest black cat ever (the other one!) but maybe for some reason her system wasn't so strong

Glad to have her back - we thank you for the concern!
Andy

one thing to add

any of you have ANY tips on making a kitten eat a tablet let me know, I just did her first round of meds and it wasn't the easiest thing in the world!!!!

With Milo I crush up his meds put enough water in a syringe to get it down. Then take the bottom jaw grab it gently to pry open his mouth and squirt it down his throat.
I hope she has nothing too seriously wrong with her. Especially chronic renal failure...it's not fun. :comfort: :hug:
Anemia in Cats
My Webpage
My Webpage
Here's some info on anemia.

love your idea with the syringe, if only I had one!

Did Nikki by the good old fashioned head tilt vet method earlier- you know the one I mean - the one that vets make look EFFORTLESS but when you try it the first time (mine was tonight) it's anything but effortless. I wasn't going to NOT have that good stuff in her body though so by power of will I got both pills down her.

She had her major organs given the all clear today though, so no renal failure thank god, we think it's some blood disorder which the steroids are flattening out and not allowing to get worse - and so the theory is if she eats (1.5 pouches today and counting and nothing but rest) she'll regenerate.

She's up with me tonight unfortunately my other cat gets shut out cause he's a little terror in such fantastic health - he just has no concept of how to be gentle with her... and she'll be there with all she needs a litter tray tons of food tons of water and of course love. So we'll see how she goes.

A

Good glad her organs are healthy. :thumbsup:
I can't get Milo to take meds any other way. You can get syringes pretty cheap at drug stores.

Try getting a pill popper - this video is a good demonstration of how to use it.

I crush the pills and mix them with tuna flavored wet food, it works every time for all of my 4 girls ;) :thumbsup:

Nikki's been for her check up at the vet - her red blood cell count has doubled! :jump:

The test results aren't back yet so no news on the cause yet.

Andy decided to let the vet give her the pills tonight - and the vet emerged after the deed was done looking quite shaken, with a hissing and spitting Nikki completely mummified in a towel! :rotfl:

He now has a pill popper from the vet! :giggle:

I've asked if I can have a go on Thursday night, as I got it down to a fine art with Motley - if I never post again after then it's because I have no arms!