Help with Diabetic cat with Arthritis and allergic to shell fish

[Quins-mum]

My 15yr old cat, Lexie is Diabetic (thats not the problem, we have that under control, and hopefully going into remission! Yahoo).(any advise on this would be great tho).

My issue is that she also has Arthritis, and is allergic to all remedies containing shell fish.
She is currently on Metacam (which here in NZ isn't registered for Cats). I am very concerned about Metacam, as I have read that it can cause damage to the Kidneys and liver. (and at her age, I dont think she will need anything that might incourage those health problems).

Does anyone know of any other remedies (fishless) that could help my baby?
I have tried "Bio-oil" which didnt seem to improve things, and some other "trinket" from the health shop, which was alcohol based, and smelled worse than a bottle of Meths! - so that went in the rubbish bin!

Also any ideas on how to stop her urinating over the sides of ther litter tray. I have got a tray with 300mm high sides and 10mm high at the front, but she still lifts her bum over the front an "goes" on the floor!!! - lovely to wake upto in the morn!
Thanks for reading and please feel free to answer

[Winston]

Have you seen the littler box with a dome type lid on it? I have those because my male cat was accidently peeing outside the litter box he would lift up to high ...I dont know much aboout meticam other than it requires regular blood work..

Good Luck

Cindy

[Quins-mum]

Yes, I did get her one of those, it has a flap door on it, and detatchable dome. She wouldnt go thru the door, so I took it off, and she started to put her bum out the door!
The litter is not smelly, as it is fresh every day. Thanks for your reply, keep in touch.

[Winston]

I forgot to mention that I also find a large enough cardboard box from the grocery store and place the whole litter box in it...I cut out one end where the entrance to the littler box is and having the sides up high keeps anything from spraying all over..I then can change the box if needed..

Cindy

[Quins-mum]

Thats a good idea, but with her arthritis she cant jump very high without pain, unless i get one big enough and put the entrance of the large box at a high side of the litter tray and she can walk between the cardboard box and litter tray to the trays low side... kinda like a maze.
Excellent suggestion, and one that I will be trying! cheers

[Quins-mum]

Cindy, Is Winston a Chocolate lab? Hes gorgeous!
Thanks for your help
Pam

[Winston]

Yes he is...they say he is crossed with shepherd but you would never know it! He is my baby! Along with my 2 cats...who I adore! Tabitha & Bomber...brother and sister! I adopted them after they were rescued from someone feeding them to a boa constrictor..apparently the only 2 left in the litter! I could not seperate them as they had always been together! Good choice I made getting 2!! Tabitha rules the roost at 6lbs & Bomber listens or else! at 8lbs...and my big goofball Winston is 110lbs! They all mean so much to me!

Cindy

[Sweetgrass]

Hello...I have a diabetic cat also...she is currently diet controlled....Some of the issues you are bringing up are discussed at length on the Feline Diabetes Board........all kinds of health issues are raised.....

http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/list.php?8

Has your cat ever been diagnosed with neuropathy due to the diabetes...?There is a methyl B12 that can really help and has turned many a cat from walking on their hocks and not being able to use thier litter box to cleaning themselves again and getting up on furniture.....

Please do check out the site and ask any question on the health board and if I can help at all I am happy to.

Some members use puppy pee pads in front of the litter box to help with over spray.....

As for the diabetes...the thing that got us into a diet controlled situation was a low carb, all canned, ( and then raw) diet and hometesting. We tested the blood ourselves before every shot so if the blood sugar was lower than usual, we adjust the dose down, and eventually to none at all....
All this is available to research at the FDMB...
We use an ascencia cotour monitor and I have my beautiful Abby back again!

Kimmee

[Quins-mum]

Thanks Kimmee
I have never heard of puppy pads before, but I will have a look here in our shops in NZ.
I will be visiting the site you sent, Thanks for that!
My cat doesnt walk on her hocks, but I will be asking my vet to test her for Neurapathy, something I have never heard off.
Thank you for your help.
Pam