Medications in food

This morning I received a very sad email from a cat whose carer is adding chicken flavoured medicine to his food:

Dear Dr Kate,

I'm writing to report  on the appalling conditions the slaves are forcing me to live in. For the past two and a half  weeks my life has gone from good to bad. I was running the place, had that rotten new dog playing right into my paws. 

Then the slave took me to see you. As the problems started shortly after my visit I thought it was best to make my complaints directly to you (my constant complaining to the slave has not resulted in any improvement in my conditions...) 

Initially I was forced to take some revolting medicine - it made me gag and froth and retch - but I do feel better now. My cough has completely gone.

Now they think they can hide "chicken" flavoured poison in my food. I’m not stupid enough to fall for their tricks! 

I went on a hunger strike and refused to eat, hoping my protest would guilt them into feeding me something normal - it didn't work. I have cried and whinged every minute of the day. 

Yesterday I gave in and ate the food with the poison in it - just to lubricate my throat, you understand. I just couldn’t go on with my tummy rumbling so much. 

Today I managed to climb up on the fridge where they keep the dog treats (why didn’t I figure this out years ago??). I've threatened to stay here on the fridge and/or throw myself off if conditions don’t improve ie if THEY DON’T FEED ME DECENT UNADULTERATED REAL FOOD!

They are ignoring me. Dr Kate, please help me! Talk to them for me. Please....

Regards Gus

Gus enclosed this photo of his poor suffering self:

Poor Gus! He will feel so much better if he relents and eats his 'adulterated' food. Already the antibiotics for his chest infection have reinvigorated him! The asthma medicine that his carer is putting in his food will make him feel better every day.

Fat Cats

Obesity in cats is no joke.  Every day I see cats with arthritis, diabetes, bladder problems and liver disease as a result of overeating and lack of exercise.  (Where have we heard that before??!) 

Just a 20% increase in weight – a 1kg increase in a 5 kg cat – makes a cat obese.  Cats hide their fat under their bellies and along their ribs so their owners often miss the early signs of expansion. 

Neutered cats, particularly neutered males, and cats that live indoors are more likely to be overweight. When kittens are neutered their energy needs decrease dramatically.  We need to reduce their daily intake by 25% and make sure we keep them playing and active.  

If your cat is already overweight consult your veterinarian before starting the diet.  Too rapid weight loss may result in a fatty liver, which is often fatal.  Aim to lose about 1-2% of the current weight per week.  For a 5 kg cat that is about 50-100 grams per week. 

A 33% to 50% reduction in current food intake combined with exercise should be effective. If possible, cut back the dry food to less than 50% of the daily intake and offer more meat and canned food.  A good chew on raw stewing steak, chicken wings, a rabbit leg, osso bucco or lamb cutlets makes puss feel full and cleans her teeth as well.

Ensure that she does not have access to alternative food sources such as the meals of other pets in the household or friendly neighbours!

Increase the opportunities for exercise.  A cat tower and a variety of toys that you can rotate out of the cupboard are a good start. Tunnels and hideouts made from cardboard boxes are cheap and fun to play in.  You can join in the fun by tugging a simple length of ribbon or a feather along the corridor. This will trim your cats’ waist lines, increase their muscle mass and make them – and you - feel good.

  Jacques and Sally escape from humdrum indoor life into their outdoor cat run.