Conference misery::feline_v1

    I would not switch your cat to a vegetarian diet.  Cats are carnivores,
    and couldn't get the right amount of proteins and the accompanying
    amino acids from a vegetarian diet.  I don't think it a good idea
    to switch your cats diet without the supervision of your vet,
    especially considering your cats medical problems and advanced age.
    
    Another problem with making your own food is getting the nutrients
    in the right balances.  You could do more damage than good.
    
    Jo

    Remarkably bad.  Cats on vegetarian diets first go blind and then die.
    I would consult your vet about the stubborness of the problem, and
    possibly consider a second opinion.  I don't know how good Motherr
    Hubbard is;  has your vet considered canned CD or canned
    SD (the latter is short term only, due to lack of sufficient
    nutrients) instead?  Another alternative
    to discuss with your vet is giving your cat an acidifier pill, 
    although I believe that shouldn't be done while he's eating foods
    that are intended to already acidify the urine (except maybe for
    a short time?)  Anyway, I'd talk to your vet about all this.
    
    How long has your cat had this problem?  Please keep us informed as to
    how he's doing.
    

    Fuzzy has had the infection for about two months.  We would dose him at
    it would seem to go away, then return.  We are now trying our third
    variety of antibiotic and intend to keep dosing for a much longer time.
    
    I've heard about the risk of blindness; I believe it's related to the
    lack of taurine, an amino acid found only in meat so far as I know.  I
    certainly would not try this diet on Fuzzy without finding out where
    the taurine is supposed to come from and checking the whole thing with
    the vet.
    
    Thank you for your interest.
    
    Earl Wajenberg

    I do recollect that the antibiotic treatment should continue for some
    time after the cat appears well.  I hope this solves your problem.
    

    I also have heard that you can not supply all the required nutrients
    etc for a cat if you feed a vegetarian diet.  I advise against it too.
    I agree with the suggestion to try Hills C/D because it has an
    acidifier in it.  Some folks in this file have used it on cats with
    stubborn urinary track infections with success.  Consult your vet.
      Nancy DC

    Our vet agreed to try the Mother Hubbard brand, since it too has an
    acidifier and comes in several flavors.  (I think c/d only comes in
    one, doesn't it?)  It seems to be reducing the magnesium crystals in
    his urine.
    
    Earl Wajenberg

    I've read that "variety" of flavors is not for the cat's benefit.
    According to the article, cat's don't need the variety but marketing
    studies have shown that brands with multiple varieties sell better
    than those with only one or two.  So the variety is for us
    humans.  :-)

    Re .7
    
    An interesting theory, and it seems to work for dogs, but not for cats,
    at least not in my experience.
    
    Earl Wajenberg

    How is your puss doing?
    

    
    maybe they don't *need* variety, but i would think they would *want*
    it...?
    
    
    diane, stella & stanley (who turn up their noses at "the good stuf")
    

    .9
    
    Very well, I think.  He's energetic and has a good appetite.  He is
    decidedly my wife's cat and suffers her to squirt medicine down his
    throat (*I* get shredded if I try it), but gets over his sulks in time
    to encumber her side of the bed at night.
    
    This was the pattern with the other series of medication.  But a week
    or so after we'd stop, he would get listless, walk stiffly, object to
    being lifted, and start spraying.  A trip to the vet would confirm that
    the infection was back.  This time, we are going to keep dosing for at
    least twice as long.
    
    Earl Wajenberg

      Please don't consider a veggie diet as a possible alternative.
    I'm sure your vet would advise it any way. There is no way that a 
    cat can get the required nutrition from greens.  In one of my cat
    magazines this month they had an article about that and all the
    dangers.  I can send you a  photocopy of it if you like, but the
    article basically reflects the views already said here.  
      Seems that with all the concern for cholesterol and fat for humans
    some people mistakenly think that cats should stay away from it too,
    but they just aren't designed that way.  There are foods, already
    mentioned, to help with the problem you're having.  Hopefully, kitty
    will clear up soon!
    
                                        Denise 

    Earl,
    
    Don't know if anyone suggested this or not, but feeding
    tomato juice daily helps.  Cats seem to like it!
    
    E.T.