Couple of cat questions

[Sarajmt]

Hi!  I've run into a couple of issues,nothing serious, but things I've never had a problem with before.  I hope someone can offer some insight.

!).  Every time I eat anything, Pretty Mama always begs for it.  I've never had a cat beg for everything I eat.  Shrimp or fish, yes.  One cat loved cheese and ham.  But this cat does it for everything I eat irregardless of what it is.

2).  When I was younger and lived alone, my cats stayed in.  They used a litter box.  I fed them Science Diet dry food and their box never got stinky nor did they go all the time.  I do always try to scoop at least once a day.  Later my cats were indoor/outdoor and used the outdoors for their needs.  These kitties both Mama and Smuttly must go 4 or 5 times a day each.  And it is very stinky.  I find myself scooping all the time just to keep the smell down.  I use Arm and Hammer clumping litter.  And this is the first time I've used wet food.  Is that it?  Or is it normal to go this much?  They seem healthy.  Mama is still too thin but she's doing much better.

Any insight into these things would be appreciated.

Sara

[Tammy2009]

Certain foods will do it to .... when my younger cat eats turkey he clears the entire floor for a day or two.

Try switching the protein and carbo source in their food as well (as well as the search for the other parasites as well).

[AnnieBrooke]

If all you used is Revolution, I would suspect tapeworms as well.  Kitties who have eaten a lot of mice often get tapes.

[Sarajmt]

Thanks.  I'll have the vet test her when I take her in to be spayed next week.  Thank you for the advice.  I've never had a skinny Cat!!  My former Orientals were not fat by any means but they were a good weight.  The largest only weighed 12 pounds  but was a big healthy boy  Lived to be 17.

[nancyjac]

Coccidia is found by examining a stool sample under a microscope.  It is a single cell organism that can't be seen by the naked eye.  Tapeworms on the other hand are pretty easy to spot in a stool sample.  Revolution does not treat either of them though.  Coccidia is typically treated with ponazuril that has been reformulated based on kitten size.  Tapeworms are treated with prazaquantil.  

[Sarajmt]

Thank you both.  I did put Revolution on her before we even left the shelter. I took a stool sample with me to the doctor when she got shots and it didn't show anything.  But how would they test for coccsida?   She doesn't have any diarrhea.  Just smelly poops and wants everything   I know they did blood work.  I was told it was fine as well.  Vet said all she needs is fattening up.

I think you're onto something with her history.  She may be scared there will be none tomorrow.

I'll be sure to bring this up when I take her in for her spay next week.

Thank you both for your insight.
Sara

[nancyjac]

It may be a combination of things.  They could have coccsida which tends to result in rather smelly poop.  It is a parasite but not a worm so OTC deworming products have no effect on them.  Kittens also eat more because they are still growing but for the same reason have smaller bowels and therefore less storage for waste so they need to poop more often.The begging is probably also a combination of being hungry and seeking attention.

[AnnieBrooke]

You are absolutely certain Mama has been wormed for both tapeworms and roundworms?  My beggingest cat did it because she had a dietary imbalance.  Once we straightened out her food (and gave her a vitamin for a short time), she stopped begging.  But with Pretty Mama's history, maybe it's more of a learned thing?  Kitties who have had a tough time of it really never believe food is going to be available tomorrow.

My guess is that the stinky catboxes are indeed related to the canned food.  It's pretty rich.