Preventing infection in a cat in diapers

[pdxtracy]

Hi; I am new to this forum and very grateful to have found it! I have a 16-year-old cat who has developed fecal and urinary incontinence as a result of an old back injury. I've been expressing her urine for the last few months, and I just started diapering her. I've been trying to dexpress feces; sometimes it works but not always. She has pooped in the diaper a few times. Yesterday she started showing signs of a urinary tract infection (we have a vet appointment later today). I'm wondering what to do to prevent this in the future. I've read suggestions to bathe her hind end daily, use wipes, etc. What type of wipes do people use? I've started using damp paper towels, but find it really hard to clean her fur very well without a bath. I would appreciate any suggestions or tips--I'm feeling very overwhelmed by all of this!

[Bendy Kitty]

I have found a shampoo made by Tropiclean called Oxymed that works wonderfully for cleaning feces and urine out of fur. another goo thing is if you can use a shower attachment. trimming her fur will reduce the amount of material that is held close to the skin. I gave up on wipes. I bathe butterbean twice a day and an currently using A&D ointment to protect his skin. hope this helps!

bendy

[Simka]

I'm very new to caring for a diaper cat also but everything seems okay so far. When I have Zazesh diapered round the clock, which about 5 days a week, I hold him tummy side up in my arms and put his hind end under slow moving warmish water from the bathroom sink tap every time I change his diaper. I move my hand over the area to make sure it's all well rinsed, then blot him dry and apply Aquapure to the front diaper area before I put on a new diaper. I change him every time he poops when I'm at home and make sure he's changed every 6-8 hours whether he poops or not. When he's not in his own room during the day while I'm at work, he does wear a diaper for 12 hours. I don't like this but he hates to be isolated - so, quality of life issue, and his won't be a long one.

I have found that he often poops right after the warm water rinse, and I know from reading either the reference material here or on another site that that is a method used to cause evacuation.

I don't have to express him so I don't have to worry about infection quite as much as someone caring for a cat that does need to be expressed.

When Zazesh is in his room all day, he does fall into his urine and feces and is a real stinky mess. I immerse him up to his shoulders in a bucket of just warm water to get off the worst of it, then a bucket bubble bath of Earthbath Mango Tango, then rinse under the warm bath tap. He's a nightmare to dry because his skin is very thin and super sensitive due to extreme neglect, so I blot and then put him in front of the heat vent.

[pdxtracy]

Thanks for the input--it is really helpful! Annie was started on antibiotics later in the day after my post. Her fecal incontinence started about 15 months ago, and the urinary incontinence started about 6 months ago. Prior to that, for at least a year, she was peeing over the edge of the litterbox or out the front, and her urine had an incredibly strong smell (but not fishy like a UTI). She had a couple of urinalyses with no signs of infection, although we did start her on clavimox the first time just in case. This cleared up the smell and she began urinating in the box, although both returned over time. The vet feels the smell is from her inability to completely empty her bladder (but I think I do a pretty good job when I express her, with no change in smell). Now, after this round of antibiotics, we have similar results--no dribbling in the diaper, and a significant reduction in the odor of her urine. Does this mean that her urinary incontinence is exacerbated by an infection that isn't showing up an a UA? (I did leave the diaper off one afternoon, and she peed on the floor right before a bowel movement, so the urinary incontinence is not totally gone.) Also, her bladder feels very different to me now--more toned. What should I do next--culture her urine if the smell returns? It's a very foul smell, almost soapy or oily but bad--I often have to cover the urine after she pees because the smell is so strong. If anyone has any ideas about what might be going on please let me know!!

[Jean]

Hi,
I'm a mom to 2 paralyzed kitties, 2 paralyzed dogs and 3 cats with urinary incontinence who have Manx syndrome. My oldest paralyzed cat Jaime I have been expressing for the last 13 years since I pulled her off the highway after she had been HBC at 6 weeks of age.

I am going to write to Annie's mom first and then Zazesh's mom last.


My suggestions for Annie's mom.
Since Annie is a female she is more likely to get infections. I would express Annie and then 10-15 minutes later pick her up and express her again. The bladder needs time to reform to adequately assess whether or not you have emptied it totally. I always empty mine twice. It is amazing how much urine is retained. You should be expressing her every 6-8 hours which is 3-4 times a day. More expressing will help to eliminate the need to wear diapers. With a female you don't want the diaper holding excretion against her female areas. Could you crate her with lots of thick towels if she is going to need to go longer without being expressed ?
You mentioned that the bladder's tone has changed. She may have changed neurologically. Your vet may need to prescribe meds which will make it easier to express Annie. (EG: Phenoxybenzamine. Prazosin, Bethanechol or Robaxin)
I would culture her 3 days after she comes off the antibiotic whether she is showing signs of infection or not. Then, when she shows signs of infection I would culture her before putting her on an antibiotic. Even if the antibiotic is the wrong one it will usually show signs of improvement but she needs to be on the right antibiotic to protect her kidneys.
My cat Caramel Apple seldom has a positive UA but if she is leaking urine we culture.
You want to culture to protect the kidneys. The kidneys are the weak area in a cat with paralysis or bladder issues.
I always bath mine 1x a day or more if needed. Clip the hair short around her private parts.
Learn to express Annie's colon. Carol can give you the link for "poop on demand". It will make your life easier and extend Annie's life.
I also give subQ fluids to my cats that lean towards bladder infections. It is easily learned and your vet can teach you.
I also use Lactulose and canned pumpkin and a diet high in fiber to make the stool more manageable.


My suggestions for Zazesh's mom
Zazesh is less likely to get a bladder infection due to him being a male. But, the messy clean up is still a concern. I have started expressing my cat Benny who has hydrocephalus for this very reason. Cats hate to be messy. At first Benny fought me since he could feel the pressure as I expressed him. But, now he relaxes. I would suggest you learn to express Zazesh your life will be easier.
I would also suggest you watch the video "poop on demand". I seldom have a stool mess with any of my "kids". When I feel stool in the colon I ease it out. This will also make your and your kitty's life easier.

[CarolC]

https://www.handicappedpets.com/mediawiki/?title=Bowel_management_in_incontinent_pets

Here is some information on bowel care, with videos at the end.

[wondergeorge]

My little Manx kitty, Darwin, has this issue a lot. He had a horrible Staph infection last time we went to the vet and she gave me some great advice.

First, bathing after removing the diaper is a must if they are messy. If they aren't, baby wipes are safe and effective to use to clean them up. Also, I found that keeping the fur around his rear end trimmed is helpful in keeping him clean. It also allows me to see the area and know if there is an infection or irritation starting. I also use a little bit of all natural diaper cream on Darwin before putting the diapers on him. This can help prevent the moisture that can cause infection.

One of the most important things my vet told me was to make sure that Darwin gets some time every day outside of the diaper. This allows him to "air out" and clean himself. I usually keep him in the bathroom with a cat bed and some toys for a little bit if he is having a messy day.

I know there was some great advice ahead of me and I hope all this helps! Good luck and good for you for taking the time to care for your kitty!

[Jean]

It sounds like you have a great vet. Finding a vet who is interested in helping you with your special needs kitty can mean the difference between life and death.

Do you express Darwin's bladder and bowel ? I know some of my Manx kitties never leak urine unless they have an infection but others do. But, keeping their bowels and bladders expressed frequently should help to cut down on the amount of time they need to wear a diaper.

[wondergeorge]

I don't express Darwin. There is no need really. He sometimes just dribbles when he's playing or cleaning himself but is mostly fecal incontinent.

My vet is amazing. I really got lucky with her. The vet that saw Darwin before was pushing to have him put down saying he could never have a good quality of life. I kind of want to be bratty and send him pictures of Darwin now...healthy and happy.

[CarolC]

You might save someone else's pet if you do.

Or even many, in the course of the rest of his career.

[Bendy Kitty]

I am all for being bratty!!!
it can be a good form of education

Butterbean is getting some contorl over his urination. Now as soon as he sees the sink he begins to pee....so, some kind of control there.

[wondergeorge]

I've decided to be bratty. I am taking the cutest pictures I can of Darwin this week (not hard to do! They all seem to be cute!) and will be sending a small package to the old vet. I am going to include, with the pictures, a copy of the treatment plan and supplements Dr. M has him on and a letter on his progress with them. It might not do anything, but it might open his eyes to the possibility that some issues he sees as "hopeless" aren't that at all.

Thanks for supporting the idea. I wasn't sure if it was a good one, but you are right; I could help save a life or two perhaps. This vet is supposed to be a specialist in hard cases after all, so I'm sure Darwin's situation wasn't unique and has been repeated since (and prior to).

[critters]

I've decided to be bratty. I am taking the cutest pictures I can of Darwin this week (not hard to do! They all seem to be cute!) and will be sending a small package to the old vet. .

LOVE it!!

[Bendy Kitty]

I love to take a handicat with me whenever i can for people to meet.
butterbean is almost over his UTI so he will be ok for travelling again he loves people, its easy. TwoBit my twolegger amazed many many people. She was a great spokes cat for handipets. I really think education is the key, once people get over teh shock of seeing Butterbean's funky legs and see what a happy little guy he is, they are won over. With TwoBit they'd see her zooming around fearless and be instantly won over.
I always tell people, yes Butterbean is extra care (TwoBit wasn't she had no hind legs but was fully continent and mobile) but I don't mind caring for him and he is HAPPY. So, what is the problem?

I picked up a plant coaster for him to make into a 'wheel chair' whn I have some time....