Help please, i think i will have to rehome my cat :(

[Marne]

Following on from this

Just got back from the vets with Iggy, they seem to think that he has a condition that will need controling with steroids, it may be caused by an allergy or it maybe genetic. They gave him a 3 day steroid and antibiotic, i could not afford to get a swab done (plus the vet said it might not show anything), vet said he may have to have continues steriods but its not good for him to have them all the time.

I can't afford to pay for long term steroids, the poor cat keeps getting attacked by the Tom next door (i'm taking him to the vets a every month with abcesses and wounds), i cant keep him in as i have a dd2 with ASDa who would have her hands in the dirt box and theres no way we could keep all doors and windows shut.

The futures not looking great for Iggy .

What do i do? would the cats protection re-home him and pay for the steroid treatment? (no one is going to want him if they have to spend out a fortune on medication) or do we have him put to sleep?

He's only 2 years old but the vet seems to think his condition/allergy may never clear up.

I dont know what to do, i cried all the way back from the vets .

[LouP19]

Hello, just come across this, so sorry. But please don't think about having him put to sleep.

Is he insured? If so that may help, especially with an animal with a potential long term health solution. There have to be other options. Did your vet discuss any of these with you?

Please don't give up on him, take some time to think about how this could be solved. I'm sure he's a much loved family pet and you want to do the best for him. If he ended up at the Cat's Protection his future wouldn't be very bright as people are reluctant to rehome cats with health problems.

[Marne]

I have 3 days to decide as thats when he needs to go back to the vets (and i cant afford much more), he's not insured, he has cost me over £1000 sinse we got him just over a year ago.

He's loved by me and the dog, sadly dd1 hates him (even though he's the best cat in the world), i think the problem is genetic, he has been ill on and off sinse we got him and other cats keep attacking him (like they know something is wrong with him), he has never played or had much energy (has always been a lap cat), i can't see that keeping him is going to be an option as i cant keep him inside and i can afford long term treatment (i need to put feeding my family first), i love him to bits and i don't want him sat in a rehoming centre waiting for a home (could take ages if he finds a home at all).

[LouP19]

I understand that you're very distressed Marne. It sounds like you're panicking and perhaps running away with lots of 'what ifs' about litter trays, keeping windows shut, affording his treatment etc etc. Take some time over these 3 days to think of some other options. I would seriously post or do some research on the CatChat website, they are FABULOUS on there, and there may be someone local or in your region who can either advise where you can go for help or to possibly rehome him. They never give up on a cat. Keep positive. He sounds like a lovely cat.

[Marne]

And the por thing hates going to the vets, he shakes and wets himself with fear, i dont want to put him through lots of vets visits .

[LouP19]

Look at this webpage www.catchat.org/forum.html and post on there asap. Someone will advise you, I promise. I've used this site on a few occasions and these people are knowledgeable and care.

[Marne]

Thanks Lou, i really dont want to have to put him to sleep, he's only a baby, i'm hoping we can work out whats causing it. I love him to bits .

[issey6cats]

what food does he have as a lot of cat foods especially wet ones are full of cereal as in wheat and some cats cant tolerate it, have you tried looking at high meat no cereal foods i know they are dearer to buy but save you vets fees in the end james wellbeloved is a very good one pets at home do it might be worth looking in pets at home or online at the royal canin range as they do lots of different ones and high quality again it might be worth trying it for a week or two and then re evaluate

[Marne]

We have tried a few different foods including james well beloved, he cant eat dry food at all (although he was ok on whiskers for a while) as his bottom lip swells. The vet said i could try him on something more expensive but if he's going out her maybe eating elsewhere (our neighbour feeds her cat on her front door step so my cat could be eating there too) so the vet said its a waste of time trying unless i shut him in (which ireally cant do) .

[tabulahrasa]

Did the vet give you a cost for the steroids? My cat's on longterm steroids (for something entirely different) and they cost about £2 a month.

[Cailleach]

Marne, my cats have food intolerances and my vet recommended feeling them on the cheapest, nastiest offal-based value cat food I could find.

So now they live quite happily on Tescos Value stuff, and look fabulous on it. They suffered from vomiting and Runny Bums before - now, they are never ill.

The vet explained it this way - cats evolved to eat mice, rats and the odd bunny. Modern cat foods are full of crap - colourings, cereals etc which some cats just can't cope with, as their bodies aren't set up to process these things. The cheapest cat food is just pure offal - pure protein, with nothing else in it. The worst culprits for causing food intolerance issues, according to the vet, are the expensive brands like Iams and James Welbelove.

Oddly enough my sisters cat has similar problems - she got exactly the same advice from her vet up in Scotland, changed the cats diet, hey presto, no more issues.

At first I felt dreadful giving mine this cheapo stuff, but when I saw the results I saw the wisdom in it. If your cat has allergies, it's worth a try.

Also, steroid treatment need not cost a huge amount - my last cat had chronic asthma, and it only cost me about £20 a year for the steroids.

[Marne]

Thank you, his mouth is so much better today and he's eating like a horse , i think i will wait and see what the vet says next week, hopfully he will only need a low dose of steroids (as he has reacted so well to yesterdays injection), i will give cheap food a try, we have tried several dry foods but the iritate his mouth or give him a runny bum, will try Tesco's own next time i go shoping.

[QuietTiger]

Marne - a GOOD cheap food, is Classic Cat (you can get it in AZDA & Tesco). It's made by Butchers and is colouring, flavouring and additive free and also gluten free.

We've had a LOT of success feeding it to dietary intolerant cats. I think it's something like £4.50 for 6x400g cans. Smells like shit, but it is good food.

[giraffe17]

my cat had long term oral steroid, they were very inexpensive