So, now my cat has contracted an e-coli infection. How?

[joeybee12]

Did she go to Taco Bell?

Anyone ever have this happen? She has been diagnosed with CRF, so maybe her immune system is strained. I can't understand it. My other cat eats exactly the same thing and she's fine. The vet left a message and I called back, but won't hear from him until tomorrow.

:shrug:

[Sanity Claws]

1. Raw or undercooked beef?

Do you live in a rural area where she could have walked across a cow patty?
Regardless of how she got it, it sounds like you're taking good care of her. Keep us informed of her progress.

[joeybee12]

4. Thanks...she's completely indoors...

...we knew there was some sort of infection, so she's on antibiotics and is better, but getting the call and saying the infection was e-coli boggles my mind!

[TZ]

2. yep immune system is stressed. most likely

E. Coli is natural to us/cats and alot of food has SOME E.Coli in it. Same with people, thats why children have more problems with E.Coli, the immunity system isn't as good.

[joeybee12]

5. Thanks...

...that makes sense.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Could she have gotten into the trash?

I used to have a heck of a time keeping one of my cats out of there every time I cooked meat that had one of those pads under it, to soak up blood and juice.

[joeybee12]

6. She might have, although the only thing she might have gotten

was some chicken that I put into a smaller trashcan. The big one is pretty much sealed off from her.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I hope she's better soon.

:hug:

[joeybee12]

8. Thanks!

She just got her medicine and she is very mad at me! I have to give her some IV fluids daily, and she tolerates the needle, but oral meds she fights tooth and nail!!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

9. I hope she's at the vets right now.

And I hope she'll be okay. :hug:

[joeybee12]

10. Thanks...she went in Friday because I knew something was up...

...he knew it was an infection, but couldn't figure out what, so the vet had to send out the specimen for more tests...came back today. Anyway, she's on antibiotics (which I just gave her and she's hiding now!) and that helps, but apparently the antibiotics will have to continue for quite some time!! :hug:

[MrScorpio]

11. Nothing's worse than an infected pussy...

Cat

I hope that you can get her healed up

[joeybee12]

14. Hmm...now how should I respond?

:shrug:

[MrScorpio]

17. With all the snark you can muster

Anything less will be uncivilized

[joeybee12]

18. Eh, it's too late to be THAT snarky. n/t

[Critters2]

12. Probably just from the litter box.

It's in excrement, ya know, and a stressed immune system won't protect against it as a healthy one would. My doctor recently told me that most human bladder infections are e.coli. Has to do with the closeness of some orifices, but I won't go into detail.

[joeybee12]

13. Thanks...and thanks for sparing the details...

...have you heard of anyway to keep the litter box a cleaner place, other than cleaning it every day, which I do anyway. thanks.

[Critters2]

15. I've always sprayed mine with Lysol, because I'm germ-phobic.

Some cats may not like the scent, but I've never found that to be a problem.

[sleepyhead]

16. Lysol is toxic to cats.

Make sure you wipe it off before the cat comes into contact with it.

[Critters2]

19. I didn't know that!! Wow!! Thanks! nt

[sleepyhead]

20. Maybe you could use bleach instead

Dilute in warm/hot water at 1:32 (1 oz/quart) and clean box thoroughly, then rinse and dry. (If you have a spare box to use, you can then let the just-cleaned box dry in the sun, as sunshine is germicidal too). This is the best all-around germicide - and cheaper than Lysol, too!

[Critters2]

21. You can only use bleach if you're ABSOLTUELY sure there's no ammonia

built up in the box. Ammonia and bleach together can be deadly. I once washed a litterbox with bleach. Not a mistake I'll make twice.

[grasswire]

22. oh goodness....I never thought of that!

Just yesterday I used that new "anywhere" chlorox household spray. A very mild, mild solution that you don't have to rinse off surfaces. I used it in the litterbox. Won't do that again! Didn't think about ammonia.