Our cat is a 6 yr old Maine coon cat mix. Large boned and weighs about 14 pounds. Is not overweight in fact it is hard to put any extra on him because he has a high metabolism.
He has been on a raw/canned food diet for a year now with no kibble. He loves his raw pork but will not touch any other kind of raw meats.
He has long hair and a definite undercoat of fuzzy type hair that ends up in his tummy all the time. Then he gets a hairball which makes him cough and hack till he vomits it up.
His coat is not the best right now as he has taken to the loft of our little cabin back in Oct and will not come back down. We are thinking he is afraid of something as he was never prone to being up there all the time, only an occasional nap during the day.
He is/has been very vocal with a lot of whining and wanting us to go up there to pet him and keep him company which is hard to do with a normal life and our dog being disabled at present time which takes a great deal of my time.
He has always been sort of aloof with us, never has been a lap cat. Affectionate at night in my bed and wanted to be petted for awhile then he would go to "his spot" on the bed and go to sleep.
He has always been a fraidy cat type. Any loud noise will send him into hiding. Hates the vacumn cleaner or similar things but storms don't seem to bother him overly.
He was vaxed as a 5 month old kitten and then had rabies vax 3 yrs ago. Nothing since then as I do not vax my animals due to my belief that vaccines impare the immune system instead of improving it.
He is hungry about 14 hours out of a 24 hour day. Wants to be fed in the middle of the night if he wakes up. I have never had a cat who ate so much but never got fat. He is neutered so he should have gained weight as they usually do but not him.
I am very concerned about his health and attitude now. The hiding in the loft all day and night is concerning me and his hairball issues also. He has always had matting issues with his coat altho I do try to keep him combed out. He had fleas last fall but those are gone after treating the loft with diatomaceous earth.
His teeth are white, no bad breath, no visible eye problems altho he used to have discharges and crusty stuff. That has not been a problem for a couple months now. I believe it stopped when he stopped going outside back in Oct.
His stools are normal as is his urine output. He is however thirsty a lot and will play in his water dish, sometimes getting the whole area soaking wet. He used to dump the water dish until I got one big enough and heavy enough that he couldn't do that anymore.

I think what I am looking for is his constitutional remedy. He doesn't have any major issues health wise other than the hairballs and that awful wheezing/finally vomiting thing till he gets them up. I don't want to use a hairball remedy or any oils other than the salmon oil cap I give him daily.
I am concerned about this hiding in the loft thing. This is not a good thing for him to be up there all the time, it just makes him more scared to face whatever it is that sent him up there to begin with.
It is not the dog as they got along fine other than her not wanting him near her food dish. They even shared the water dish till he went up top.

Wim, if you have any ideas about how to proceed with my scaredy cat please post. I have tried Ars 30C for him with some ok results as far and the vomiting issue but it didn't help with the fear thing.

Thanks,

Julie

Hi Julie,

Yesterday I intended to post a new topic called : Hairballs (cats) ! But I got visitors.....so I`ll do it today, if possible, and will also have a good look at your cat`s problem to see if a homeopathic (constitutional) prescription could be tried. I`ll be asking you some questions for that soon !

Wim

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Hi Julie...here we go....I already saw some remedy indications in your post, but also please answer the following questions. Short answers are OK !

-- I think your cat isn`t a particularly cheerful/merry animal, but rather a (somewhat) shy/timid and usually close-mouthed/reticent type of cat and not very social either, and doesn`t like strangers ? True or partly true ?

-- Does he like petting (stroking) more than once or twice ? Does he get angry/nasty if you or anyone else continues to stroke him ?

-- Is he sometimes aggressive which could be interpreted as cautious or cowardice (i.e. showing the white feather) ?

-- Is his coat dull or shaggy etc., even after regular brushing his coat ?

-- Does he lose much hair all the time ?

-- Does he suffer from itching occasionally, esp. in armpits and/or joint cavities ?

to be continued

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Continuation constitutional questions :

-- Did he ever suffer from eczema or other skin problems, possibly accompanied by itching ?

-- Does he like it when you massage his back firmly, i.e.with some (firm) pressure ?

-- Does he have cold ears and legs, while the rest of his body isn`t particularly warm either ?

-- You already mentioned the thirst....but does he sometimes suffer from a (high) fever ?

-- Does he like tasty/salty tidbits/food, etc. ?

--Does he like to lick off people`s perspiration from hands and feet etc. ?

-- Easily/quickly tired, possibly with a faster/pounding heartbeat after some exertion ? ...And will he go to sleep as soon as he gets the chance/opportunity to do so ?

-- Does he prefer the warmth ?

-- Does he like going outside in the rain or the cold ?

-- Does he like lying/sitting in full sunshine ? Or does he really hate it ?

-- Does he sometimes show (slight) lachrimation (watering eyes) ?

Wim

--

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Hi Julie...here we go....I already saw some remedy indications in your post, but also please answer the following questions. Short answers are OK !

-- I think your cat isn`t a particularly cheerful/merry animal, but rather a (somewhat) shy/timid and usually close-mouthed/reticent type of cat and not very social either, and doesn`t like strangers ? True or partly true ?
True

-- Does he like petting (stroking) more than once or twice ? Does he get angry/nasty if you or anyone else continues to stroke him ?
Yes he likes to be stroked at least for a few mins then if you stop before he is ready he sometimes gets mad and will swat at you.

-- Is he sometimes aggressive which could be interpreted as cautious or cowardice (i.e. showing the white feather) ?
Yes, then he will run and hide.

-- Is his coat dull or shaggy etc., even after regular brushing his coat ?
Yes, even after a good brushing it looks awful. When the mats are bad he pulls out large patches of hair leaving bare skin patches.

-- Does he lose much hair all the time ?
Constantly, it is all over the loft.

-- Does he suffer from itching occasionally, esp. in armpits and/or joint cavities ?
He is always itchy, always has been since we got him as a kitten.


-- Did he ever suffer from eczema or other skin problems, possibly accompanied by itching ?
No, not that I remember.

-- Does he like it when you massage his back firmly, i.e.with some (firm) pressure ?
Yes, especially if you itch at the same time.

-- Does he have cold ears and legs, while the rest of his body isn`t particularly warm either ?
No, I think his ears are warm as are his legs.

-- You already mentioned the thirst....but does he sometimes suffer from a (high) fever ?
No, I don't remember him having any fevers except once when he had an abcess from a feral cat bite that was terrorizing the neighborhood. That was a mean female who used to chase him all the time. He even would jump up on our roof to get away from her. She was really nasty. She tried to come right in the house after him and scratched me in the process when I blocked her coming in. She has since been dealt with.

-- Does he like tasty/salty tidbits/food, etc. ?
He loves meat pieces and donuts and muffins. He used to steal them off the counter top. If you even rattle celophane he meows loudly for a taste of whatever was in the wrapper. He is a donut addict.

--Does he like to lick off people`s perspiration from hands and feet etc. ?
No.

-- Easily/quickly tired, possibly with a faster/pounding heartbeat after some exertion ? ...And will he go to sleep as soon as he gets the chance/opportunity to do so ?
He does get a pounding heart if he is scared of something or percieves something he thinks is scary.

-- Does he prefer the warmth ?
Yes, that is why he likes the loft, because it is usually very warm up there.

-- Does he like going outside in the rain or the cold ?
No, when winter comes on he stays housebound with only short trips out to the deck. But, he hasn't even come downstairs since Oct now. He went into hiding and refuses to come down.

-- Does he like lying/sitting in full sunshine ? Or does he really hate it ?
I don't remember him ever "sunning" himself. Now that I think of it that is pretty strange. Most cats love to lay in the sunshine.

-- Does he sometimes show (slight) lachrimation (watering eyes) ?
Yes, and with crusty, white discharge with it. In the summer he always has either one eye or both with icky stuff in them.

Wim

Hi Julie,

It`s quick service for cats today !

I already thought earlier your cat was a constitutional Natrum muriaticum, but now I know for certain ! Many indications point very clearly to this remedy !

So constitutional treatment is certainly worth trying, although it`s not always fully successful. It`s usually much easier for dogs, generally speaking.

Give your cat one daily dose of Natrium muriaticum 30c for some time and don`t stop giving the remedy without conferring with me first, because a relapse in behaviour may follow. So please keep me posted regularly about any changes in his behaviour.

I`ve obtained the best results by prescribing a dry remedy (one dose is 1 tablet or a few pellets for a cat), which may be incorporated, if necessary, in a little minced meat or cream cheese, or in a little milk on a saucer, but not in a full meal !

Good luck with the treatment !

Wim

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Natrium muriaticum huh? I don't have that on hand. It would have to be ordered. I don't believe our little store down country would have it either as they have a very limited amount of homeopathics.

It will have to wait then till we have the funds available. I have the Emergency Kit from NHS in 30C.
ACONITUM NAP
AGARICUS MUS
ALLIUM CEPA
ANTIMONIUM TART
APIS MELLIFICA
ARGENTUM NITRICUM
ARNICA
ARSENICUM ALB
AURUM MET
BAPTISIA
BELLADONNA
BELLIS PERENNIS

BRYONIA ALBA
CALENDULA OFF
CANTHARIS
CARBO VEGETABILIS
CHAMOMILLA
CINCHONA OFF (CHINA)
COCCULUS IND
COLOCYNTHIS
CUPRUM MET
DROSERA
EUPHRASIA OFF
FERRUM PHOS
GELSEMIUM SEMP

HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREUM
HYPERICUM PERF
IGNATIA AMARA
IPECACUANHA
KALI BIC
LACHESIS MUTUS
LEDUM PALUSTRE
LYCOPODIUM
MAGNESIA PHOS
MERCURIUS VIVUS
NATRUM SULPH
NUX VOMICA
PHOSPHORIC ACID

PHOSPHORUS
PULSATILLA
RHUS TOX
RUTA GRAV
SILICEA
SPONGIA TOSTA
STAPHYSAGRIA
SULPHUR
SYMPHYTUM OFF
TABACUM
URTICA URENS
VERATRUM ALB


I was really hoping we had a remedy in this kit that would correspond to him. Bummer.
Ok, I will see what can be done. I can still grow the wheatgrass for him to help with his hairball issues.
I will let you know when I get the Natrium Mur.

You could try the shop first because it`s a well known polychrest (polycrest) and they may stock it.

Wim

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Wim, even if they did have it they would only have it in a 30X. They do not carry anything higher in potency.

How about try Ignatia 30C first. I just looked in my Materia Medica and Ignatia is the acute to the Nat mur as a chronic.

Yes, I know.....I already saw the Ignatia in your list, but is not quite suitable/interchangeable, esp. not for behavioural problems. Ignatia type animals often show moodswings, cramps and are often male animals with a female appearance etc.

It`s often possible though to use the Natrum mur. 30x for behavioural problems in cats, also for dogs. So if you can get the 30x, it`s OK to start with. You may need the 30c and the 200c later though.

Wim

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)