My cat can't produce solid stool

by John

I need some feedback to help my 15 year old Coon, Tupper. He is an otherwise healthy animal, but has for a long time not been able to produce solid stool.

I have been to the vet many times and they say from looking at a sample that he has bad gut bugs. Then they try injectable antibiotics and/or metronidizol but the results are that he may improve slightly but otherwise it is pretty much the same.

I am contemplating putting him in a kennel and depriving him of food for a day or two to clear him out and then taking some further actions like a hypo-allergenic food or whatever I can come up with. Has anyone heard whether a fecal transplant is ever done on a cat?

He is slightly overweight, enough that he can't properly clean himself and this is a problem too, under the circumstances. I have trimmed him down before by going to wet food only twice a day but that is a nightmare with his present constitution.

The other problem I have is he is vindictive. Yesterday after a bit of a rough cleaning of his hiney (matted stragglers are no fun to have removed) he let me know he was pissed by dropping a loose one on my bed. I am also pretty sure if I deprive him of food he will spray so I have my hands full. This is why he must be confined if I take away food for a short time.

He has a little brother who is solid as a rock and clean as a whistle. So I have a source for healthy fecal matter if that is advised.

This cat is my MOST prized possession and I think he is good for five more years so I really need a solution. Thanks for listening.

Editor's note: My understanding is that fecal transplants, also called micro-biome restorative therapy (MBRT), are being done on pets, but I believe it's rather cutting edge.

My feeling is that if your current vet isn't coming up with a solution, though, then I would find a new vet that can offer alternatives.

Specifically, I would seek out a specialist. I know that some vets are internal medicine specialists as I've used one myself. There may be another veterinary specialty that's a better fit here, but I don't know for sure. It's certainly something worth looking into.

I'm not sure how extensive the testing has been on Tupper, but perhaps more needs to be done in that area. You might also seek out an integrative or holistic vet that is willing to try alternative methods. Of course, finding a vet that is doing MBRT would be ideal if it's determined that this would help him.



My gut feeling, pardon the pun, is that antibiotics, without a probiotic supplementation of some kind to replace the good bacteria, will put him right back where he was before the antibiotics were administered. From your description, this seems to be happening.

Your cat is probably way beyond this, but I've heard some vets prescribe yogurt, and I know that many cats love it as a treat. The amount of yogurt that would have to be consumed to make a difference, however, might make it more treat than treatment. Your vet will have to weigh in on that one.

Other than MBRT, if your vet agrees, I would look into a combination approach of probiotic supplementation, a change in diet, and perhaps something like yogurt since it can't hurt.

In the meantime, I'd look into shaving his rear end area with some electric clippers with a guard comb, and see if you can up his activity level and slowly change his diet with the idea of getting his weight down.

I hope that helps and I hope you find a solution for Tupper soon,

Kurt

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