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n with granules in her urine. X-rays & ultrasound showed no bladder mass or kidney stones. Thank goodness!</p><p id="7dcc">Marmalade receives treatment for dehydration with IV fluids at the clinic. An antibiotic & pain med is prescribed, and the vet recommends a urinary canned food diet, fresh water and clean litter daily.</p><h2 id="fdc4">Returning home:</h2><p id="fa2e">Later that evening, I bring Marmalade home and watch her on & off. The litterbox issue persists; she dribbles urine on & off. She refuses to eat and barely drinks water.</p><p id="c386">A syringe works to squirt water down her throat to maintain hydration. She didn’t like it, but I had to ensure she got enough water. I give her antibiotics the same way.</p><h2 id="695a">Behavior:</h2><p id="2cd0">After squirting water down her throat, Marmalade would stretch out on the floor, seemingly alleviating her discomfort. She would then jump back into the litterbox and sit there for a while.</p><figure id="0cbc"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*HDvGAh0iSRR-i59hM0C6GA.jpeg"><figcaption>Marmalade stretching out on the floor- tail curl down- author’s photo 9/2023</figcaption></figure><h2 id="c6ce">Five days later — no improvement:</h2><p id="c795">After five days of antibiotic use, there was no improvement in my cat’s condition. She is picky about her food, but she swallows when I use the syringe to squirt water & medicine in the mouth. I seek advice from other cat owners and revisit the vet opting for a second IV hydration treatment. However, the cat continued with her excessive grooming & litterbox drama.</p><h2 id="0fee">Then I had an idea!</h2><p id="5601">I pondered over what could acidify my cat’s bladder & urine,

Options

and it hit me! Since I drink apple cider vinegar daily for my health, I decided to try it with Marmalade.</p><p id="5a95">Research & the vet confirmed that organic, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is not harmful but beneficial to pets.</p><p id="b53c">So, I diluted five drops of apple cider vinegar in one-ounce water and gave it to my cat twice daily with a syringe.</p><h2 id="43c8">Below is the type of Apple Cider Vinegar that I take daily.</h2><figure id="ef99"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*20OSs3Oc2XICQ6LLNWYBcg.jpeg"><figcaption>I use this kind of Apple Cider Vinegar for health.</figcaption></figure><h2 id="f63b">Relief!</h2><p id="e06c">Finally, after two days, my cat stopped her annoying litterbox habit. She started eating & licking the water on & off and within a week she behaved like the typical cat, I was used to. What a relief!</p><p id="334a">For the past five days, my cat has been happy. Despite her dislike for the ACV, I continue to give her dilute apple cider vinegar every other day.</p><figure id="74b0"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*AIMUTu-roAVROxE3yZddrA.jpeg"><figcaption>Marmalade 10/10/23-she seems to feel better. Author’s photo.</figcaption></figure><h2 id="8a5d">Marmalade holds a special place in my heart. I am happy to report that she is doing great. Thank you, readers, for your support in reading my cat story.</h2><p id="8e75"><i>Remember for only $5 per month, you can join Medium and gain access to thousands of stories and poems, including those written by Freda Savahl. Membership also provides a great platform to publish your own pieces, poetry, photos, and reports and earn money from them on Medium.</i></p></article></body>

How I solved my cat’s litterbox, grooming, and pain issues:

A Personal Account.

Marmalade at the litter box — Author’s photo 9/2023

Taking Care of My Pets:

It is mid-September 2023, on a Sunday, and I am in my sunroom on my back porch, feeding & spending time with my kitties. I brush their fur and talk to them after they eat. However, to this day, something seems wrong. My youngest calico, Marmalade, is not eating. Instead, she gets in and out of the litter box constantly. She sits like she has to pee, then scratches around the litter as if she lost something, followed by jumping out of the litterbox to groom herself incessantly.

Marmalade grooming constantly 9/2023 — author’s photo.

This behavior continues all day! I provide fresh water & new litter in a clean litterbox. She nibbles on moist canned food, but she will not drink water.

Marmalade tucks legs & tail under her body to rest. 9/2023-author’s photo.

Vet visit:

On Monday morning I take Marmalade to the vet, I suspect a urinary tract infection, but I heard it is rare in spayed female cats. I pray it is not a cancerous mass.

The test results,

reveal a urinary tract infection with granules in her urine. X-rays & ultrasound showed no bladder mass or kidney stones. Thank goodness!

Marmalade receives treatment for dehydration with IV fluids at the clinic. An antibiotic & pain med is prescribed, and the vet recommends a urinary canned food diet, fresh water and clean litter daily.

Returning home:

Later that evening, I bring Marmalade home and watch her on & off. The litterbox issue persists; she dribbles urine on & off. She refuses to eat and barely drinks water.

A syringe works to squirt water down her throat to maintain hydration. She didn’t like it, but I had to ensure she got enough water. I give her antibiotics the same way.

Behavior:

After squirting water down her throat, Marmalade would stretch out on the floor, seemingly alleviating her discomfort. She would then jump back into the litterbox and sit there for a while.

Marmalade stretching out on the floor- tail curl down- author’s photo 9/2023

Five days later — no improvement:

After five days of antibiotic use, there was no improvement in my cat’s condition. She is picky about her food, but she swallows when I use the syringe to squirt water & medicine in the mouth. I seek advice from other cat owners and revisit the vet opting for a second IV hydration treatment. However, the cat continued with her excessive grooming & litterbox drama.

Then I had an idea!

I pondered over what could acidify my cat’s bladder & urine, and it hit me! Since I drink apple cider vinegar daily for my health, I decided to try it with Marmalade.

Research & the vet confirmed that organic, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is not harmful but beneficial to pets.

So, I diluted five drops of apple cider vinegar in one-ounce water and gave it to my cat twice daily with a syringe.

Below is the type of Apple Cider Vinegar that I take daily.

I use this kind of Apple Cider Vinegar for health.

Relief!

Finally, after two days, my cat stopped her annoying litterbox habit. She started eating & licking the water on & off and within a week she behaved like the typical cat, I was used to. What a relief!

For the past five days, my cat has been happy. Despite her dislike for the ACV, I continue to give her dilute apple cider vinegar every other day.

Marmalade 10/10/23-she seems to feel better. Author’s photo.

Marmalade holds a special place in my heart. I am happy to report that she is doing great. Thank you, readers, for your support in reading my cat story.

Remember for only $5 per month, you can join Medium and gain access to thousands of stories and poems, including those written by Freda Savahl. Membership also provides a great platform to publish your own pieces, poetry, photos, and reports and earn money from them on Medium.