The cat is more active now and actually ate a big meal last night and this morning. As Anna says, I'll keep my "paws crossed" that improvement continues, thanks again Chris, good call!

Well, there's a lot to be said for hanging out with crotchity old foggies.
Where is Anna anyway??

Hi Chris,

I believe that Anna is still on her study program? I don't know for sure.

I became a little alarmed last night when the cat became really stiff and listless again. She was also quite dehydrated, so I gave her some fluids. My initial thought was that a 30ch should act longer and if it has already stopped acting it would probably be a "close but no cigar" senerio. However at 11pm she picked up again, did some stairs and wanted to go back into her kennel to drink and eat. She ate again this morning so I do think the Alumina is still acting. I was told that it is a deep and slow remedy so I expect its best to wait it out for at least a week? I am noticing that she seems to feel her pains in the early evening. I did also research a few allied remedies, notably bry and calc c. Cacl c seems to me well indicated as well (using boger and allen), but I'll just sit tight for now. Any thoughts?

Hi Krista, Well the things that I responded to in your post were the straining at stool and urination and well as the difficulty in walking - which is why I suggested Alumina to have a look at in an older cat. I don't know what symptom combination you saw but if it was like the ones I noted then if it was me I would look for improvement in those areas, urination, stool, eating, gait. If there is some improvement, then a slowing or a relapse, I would consider repeating a dose of the same remedy by placing your 30C in a 4 oz bottle (just like an LM) and administering divided doses accordingly.
However, if those symptoms have ameliorated and other characteristic symptoms in the overall case are predominant and/or life threatoning then yes, you need to look at an allied remedy based on the symptoms. What are the symptoms you are looking at that indicate the allied remedies you have mentioned?

Hi Chris,
The alumina has helped in terms of the stool (its now not as dry and hard, still balls though) and also with the stiffness. The urination and thirst is still present. Although the vets thought she was anywhere from 8 to 18 years old, my feeling is that she is closer to 8 years. I think she probably started having problems (urinating outside the box) and her owners probably got fed-up and threw her out, who knows (she had been a pet for sure, as she was declawed & probably spayed). I am highly suspicious of kidney or bladder stones which are vertually impossible to detect. Confirmation to suport my suspicians would be the dilute urine yet no sufficient renal failure detectible at this point. This keeps leading me to lyc and calc-c. Notably, calc-c according to Boger has spots over the cornea (this cat has a lot of spots in her eyes, which is why the vets feel she may be 18 years old, however her mouth and teeth signify she is much younger). She is more active these days, but still sleeps quite a bit (with not much muscle to her, I would expect the smallest exersion to be somewhat exhausting). She also still feels cold and seeks out heat whereever she can. I'm trying to give her less sub-q fluids because she does find it uncomfortable (the fluids are warmed and drip controlled, the sensation must really bother her). Anyways I'm going to watch her closely this next week and now that she has some appetite, I'll try to get her eating raw and more fats like creme etc.

The cat is eating better but is failing to put on any weight! She is also having a big problem with hydration. With the amount she is eating she should not be dehydrated! She has also started to sneeze (may have been exposed to an upper resperitory virus). She was also quite vexed last night (bit me), her attitude had been much better after alum. Her stool is still small balls but is not as dry and easier for her to release. Her water consumption is still down from the alum (although may be picking up again). I am contemplating calc c or lyc, any words of wisdom?

Is the cat eating well but emaciating?

I'm not sure if I would go that far, but her eating is 100% better than before yet she continues to emaciate and dehydrate. The amount she eats is certainly enough to sustain her. She appears more active these days. She should be regaining her energies and thereby increasing her caloric intake even more. She did have a little bit of diarrhea again last night and was more restless. She may be gearing towards another bloody urinary episode again as her urination has slowly deminished as well. If she goes into another episode where she becomes very restless, squats to pee frequently with very little result, nauseated after bowel or urination I will be even more tempted to give her lyc or calc or should I let her pass whatever she is passing on her own (assuming of course she can do it on her own again).

I'd say have a look at Bryonia as a complementary too, and see what your other vet friends think. I really wish I could see more myself, but it would be only be guessing. The dehydration does seem a major concern so I'm drawn to remedies with 'internal dryness' as well as emaciation. The level of recent(?) increased irritability and restlessness may be a couple of pointers too.
What would be the physiological reason for that level of dehydration, do you know? Would it be the intestinal bacterial overgrowth or organ pathology?

Chris thanks so much for helping out. I would say that some sort of Kidney malfunction is probably causing the dehydration. Her big concerns are the dehydration, kidney and emaciation. Unfortunately she is in an acute upper respiratory virus. She is slightly conjested, with clear nasal and ocular discharge. Her appetite has been diminishing and I'll probably have to start force feedings again. I am giving her fluids daily again. She is consuming excess amounts of water again and I'm convinced that the Alumina has now run its course. Should I attempt to treat the acute? the chronic? both? or ride it out and then go back to the chronic complaints? I'm somewhat concerned that this acute might push her over the edge, although that cat that initially brought it in seems to have very mild symptoms and is already on the mend with no interference from me.