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1149072 tn?1269769247

Rikki 's odd behavior

Hi, I'm a new member. I'm very worried about Rikki my 11-year old boy. His appetite went down and he was generally sad and 'not himself', refusing to go outdoors etc.  Visited the Vet who gave 2 injections of anti-biotics & tablets for him to take. He picked up temporarily, but after that started vomiting. I also discovered him eating cat-litter, which has alarmed me greatly! Have been back to the Vet twice (at tremendous cost) but Rikki is no better now than a week ago. Told the Vet of the cat-litter eating and asked whether he thought that Rikki was trying to help shift some obstruction in his windpipe perhaps, but he just shrugged that idea off and said it would be because he was hungry, but I explained that he is never ever without food or water. Rikki has also taken to making giant gulps now and again even when he's not eating and he makes the most horrendous griding noise with his head tilted on one side. The Vet its not a dental problem, and cannot see any obstruction in his throat.  I feel he needs more exploratory treatment because he seems to be slipping downhill rapidly. I've had to stop the tablets as they make him vomit terribly.  Can anyone tell me why he might eat cat litter ?  Thankyou to anyone viewing this.
Regards,  DiamondFox
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874521 tn?1424116797
thats not good news at all........I sure hope the tests aren't as bad as you are thinking.
I sent you a long note abt my dear Opus who also had a heart murmur and its quite treatable...so don't worry just yet OK...
please let us know when you hear
Helpful - 0
1149072 tn?1269769247
The Rikki update is not as happy a one as I'd hoped I'm afraid.  The new Vet was much more thorough and seemed to play down the symptoms we originally took him in with (the gulping and the grinding sound coming from his jaws and lack of appetite) as they seem to be fading rapidly. She thinks his unusual activity of eating cat litter is an indication that he knows theres something wrong and he's stressed out about it and he's developed this habit by way of relieving his stress. The grinding she thinks may have been him regurgitating the cat litter to crunch on in a time of stress. I suppose that makes sense.  What she is very concerned about is a heart-murmur which she says is very bad. I've no idea what a heart murmur actually is or its consequences. Today she took blood and will ring me tomorrow with the results. His thyroid is also going to be checked but results from that won't come until after the New Year unfortunately.  What we do know is that he is definitely not diabetic. She said she felt his kidneys were enlarged - one more so than the other. She says she needs the blood results to find out whats happening with the kidneys and Liver in order to work out which way to go with his treatment - heart, kidneys or what ?  Another concern is his fur - it seems to be going patchier with each passing day. So I'm in a bit of a state really - very worried, very upset and dreading what the future holds for my dear little Rikki. Thanks everyone for all your concern and care.  I'll keep you informed about results of tests etc.  Kind regards,  DiamondFox
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1149072 tn?1269769247
Hi Linda thanks for your posting.  So sorry to hear that Masena also grinds her jaws like Rikki does, and the loss of her whiskers seems a strange one!!  Rikki's are ok, I checked them as soon as I read your post.  I will keep an eye on them though.  I'll see what the Vet says about the grinding tomorrow and let you know if she comes up with anything - might save you worrying about Masena, and a little bit of cash too because Vets are so so expensive - but of course we, none of us, would deny our furry loved ones any treatment no matter what it costs would we ?  Anyway, thanks for the contact and I'll let you know what she says.......
Best wishes,  DiamondFox
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1149072 tn?1269769247
Hello again, just a brief one this time to thank you once again for keeping contact with me.  Its good to know that there is 'someone out there' who actually CARES!!  So many people don't.  So many think (and say) 'oh its JUST a cat'...... this annoys me enormously, none of mine (nor any cat lovers cat) is JUST a cat - they are all my babes and I love them to bits.  Rikki hasn't done any grinding or head-tilting for about 4 days now, and as for the litter-munching, the little monster learned that if he scratched about and moved the litter he could find some clean bits to eat!!  This is why it ALL had to go. Since I changed it all I've not caught him crunching, which perhaps is a good sign maybe ?  And like you say its probably the litter in his tummy thats making him feel ill in the first place.  He seems settled today and is eating normally.  His drinking doesn't seem to be too out of the ordinary either.  Will see what the lovely lady Vet says tomorrow.  I WILL upload photos of Maxx (handsome devil that he is !!!) with those cute little ears of his, when I figure out how to do it.  Rikki too, because he has such a gorgeous cuddly dark grey face.  Thanks also for the freindship offer, I've clicked on 'accept'.  Chat to you again very soon.  DiamondFox in the UK.
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996946 tn?1503249112
Hi, and I'd like to add my welcome also.  I have a 12 yr old tabby named Masena and she also makes that grinding sound with her head turned to the right, but I didn't think it was anything to worry about because she doesn't do it all the time.  But I have noticed that her whiskers above her right eye are no longer growing there, only on the left side. Peculiar, huh?
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874521 tn?1424116797
hi me again!!!!....got part of that right, her name is Jade59............you can click on her name on some post she made further down on forum and that will take you to her profile page and you'll see some photos of her kitty Jade....
I hope you will post pictures of Maxx and Rikki too, we all love to look at those snaps.
again good luck on tuesday.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
I am so glad you and Rikki are seeing someone more compassionate towards kitties, makes a huge difference doesn't it.

You maybe onto something with that cat litter thing...you know eating whatever is IN it could also be whats causing the ill feeling in Rikki???...since you are discarding and replacing I would just watch and see if that gives some improvement..gosh knows what goes into some things we buy.
Its the head tilt and noises that concern me though..that needs looking into more.

I agree the difference between cat owners and cat 'people'..some think we are crazy but I would prefer to be crazy and have their love and affection more so than many people I've come to meet! lol

theres another lady on here too that had her cats ears amputated due to cancer....the cats name is Jade (if memory is correct)...and I believe her name is Jade2..you could look at some of his after pictures...and he is still a handsome devil!.
I will check out the names for sure and let you know....
(sorry Jade if I got you mixed up here...)

good luck and let me know what this good Vet thinks ok
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1149072 tn?1269769247
Hello. Thanks for making me feel welcome. A Rikki update;  we return to the Vet (a lady vet this time - I know she loves cats because she had to amputate my beloved Maxx's ears three months ago - he's white, somehow they'd become cancer-ridden despite my putting a high factor block on them). This lady might be just the one to help with Rikki. She seems to have an affinity with cats, that the male Vet I've been visiting does not possess. I'm seeing her because HE is on holiday (hurrah!). Anyway, pleased to say that Rikki is eating much better now despite needing it to be mashed to a pulp with added water.  He is drinking a lot though, and this worries me.  The cat-litter eating continues (I'm unable to close-off the litter tray as I have three other cats who need it) but there might be a breakthrough. I discovered Maxx eating it also, this afternoon. This leads me to rule out it being something wrong with Rikki.....it MUST be something wrong with the cat-litter!!  Obviously its make-up must have something very very appealing to Cats in it.  Maybe an organic scent or something involving plants (I know that some Cats like to chew or eat Plant leaves sometimes). Tonight I've discarded ALL the cat-litter from every box around the house (three in all) and replaced it with Litter from another Store in the hopes that it won't contain whatever it is thats attracting Rikki and Maxx.  Will keep you updates with Rikki's progress and with what the Vet said - I see her on Tuesday afternoon. I'm on UK time so am probably ahead of you in time I guess.  That problem with your boy with the heart problems, and the fur stuck in the throat was a REAL unusual one. I too would have panicked and immediately thought of the heart problem so you're not alone!!  You're so right though - we will do anything to help our feline family, but I suppose thats what sets true cat-lovers apart from those who just 'own a cat'.  Rikki will get the best treatment from a more interested and competant Vet this Tuesday and we'll go with whatever she advises.  Thankyou for your contact.  It means such a lot to me (and Rikki !!).
Regards,  DiamondFox
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874521 tn?1424116797
welcome to our forum DiamondFox...nice to see new members.
I sure can't say why Rikki is doing what he is doing....that is very strange.
I'm also very surprised that your Vet isn't suggesting more tests be done on poor baby, there is obviously something not right with the gulping for air and shifting of his head like that.........
You know I would be awfully afraid of something neurological going on there....he definitely needs to be at least xrayed....possibly by a new Vet? this one doesn't seem overly concerned or suggestive does he/she?
At 11 years of age and such a sudden change in behavior something is going on for sure....as you know too when our pets stop eating they are trying to tell us they are in pain or just plainly not feeling well...
please let us know how he is now and did you see a Vet again?
I know how hard this is to do especially during holidays and believe me I know how expensive too.....a few years ago my older boy with heart disease started pawing at his jaw and coughing...it was boxing day in fact. I phoned and they were very concerned as I was that it was his heart!!!....I cried all the way there, but how foolish did I feel when upon an oral check it turned out to be a wad of cat hair clogging the back of his throat, it was hooked on his back tooth and couldn't go up or down!....if only I had at least checked his mouth I would have seen this, but I just panic'd with his history of heart problems I jumped to conclusions.....that jump on a boxing day holiday and on call Vet cost me over $100!
but our kids are worth it aren't they and we do everything within our means.
good luck Rikki and please post and let us know how he is..
Opus
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