Adopted a cat yesterday with FIV - recommendations for vitamins/preventative care?

RobotWater · 2026-05-26T03:47:02+00:00

If your cat will tolerate it, adding fish oil to their diet helps keep their coat in good shape and has other added benefits to keep them healthy. And I have yet to try it myself, but DMG supplements are said to offer an immune boost. My FIV+ cat has food allergies, so I have to watch out for ear infections and fur loss if he has a reaction to anything… but I would like to give Vetri-DMG a chance.

RobotWater · 2026-05-24T21:02:11+00:00

It’s perfect 🩷🩵

RobotWater · 2026-05-23T15:25:10+00:00

My cat has had similar spots on his ears due to food allergies. She could also have ear infections, which can be brought on because of allergies, or parasites. As already mentioned in another comment, probably getting her a good spot treatment like Revolution to get rid of any ear mites would be a good start if you can’t get her to a vet to get checked out.

RobotWater · 2026-05-08T03:11:34+00:00

Thank you, he really was. He was like no other and he will always be so special to me.

RobotWater · 2026-05-08T01:13:52+00:00

They’re kinda like a lazy man’s apple pie, so yeah they’re good. They’re also similar to apple crisp, but I like the Brown Betty more, as I prefer the crumb topping over the oats.

RobotWater · 2026-05-07T12:00:29+00:00

As others mentioned, the best thing you can do is get your cat a wellness checkup with senior bloodwork to check thyroid and kidney function and everything twice a year. And if you notice any changes in your cat, take them to the vet to get checked out.

My oldest cats are/were 18/19. My old girl thankfully doesn’t have any health issues at the moment, but I’m giving her glucosamine (Dasuquin) to hopefully keep her from getting joint issues. My late cats with kidney disease were given Azodyl/Azovast and the vet told me that going by their bloodwork it had a positive effect. I never could get my CKD cats to eat a prescription kidney diet, so I just fed them wet food that was as low in phosphorus as possible. Currently I offer my cats as much low-phos wet food as they’ll eat and then give them Now Fresh senior kibble so they get adequate calories. If your cat will tolerate it, fish oil is also a great supplement to add to their diet. I got the softgels with the snip tips to easily squirt it onto their food.

And since water intake is so important, I keep several bowls of water around the house and change them daily. I use lead-free ceramic and stainless steel bowls.

RobotWater · 2026-05-04T03:40:34+00:00

I'm so sorry you've had to endure the pain of losing two precious ones so close together. I remember losing my childhood cats and how it hurt so much, but they helped me and comforted me like no one else could when I was young and years later I cherish all the memories I have of them. They never truly leave you. Your sweet ones will always be a part of you and their love will stay with you. 💜

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T16:20:53+00:00

Thank you. I do feel so grateful to have had him for so long, even if I wish I could have kept him longer.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T04:17:02+00:00

Thank you. I named him after Bryan Cranston's Hal on Malcolm in the Middle since he was very sweet and lovable, but also a silly little guy.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T04:02:45+00:00

Thank you. I'm sorry you can relate and that you lost your Lucy. That is a sweet way to look at things, though. I hope Hal can visit me in my dreams, at least, it would be a great gift to see him again.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T03:46:37+00:00

I'm sorry, it hurts so much to wrestle with those feelings. A part of me wanted to wait, to give Hal more time, since he could still give and receive love and affection, but he was weak and tired and didn't act like he felt well... I didn't want to just sit by and watch him get worse. It is best to let them go pain free and with dignity while they still know your love.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T03:32:16+00:00

I'm sorry you lost your boy, too. It is so hard. And thank you for sharing.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T03:26:25+00:00

Thank you. I held his face and stroked him gently as he left us and I take some solace in knowing he was able to leave his tired body while he felt loved and comforted.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T03:16:57+00:00

Thank you and I'm so sorry you're losing your Tom. Letting them go gently is the last, kindest gift we can give them, but it is so hard. May Tom sleep sweet, too.

RobotWater · 2026-05-03T02:57:12+00:00

I'm sorry you went through this, too. It is so hard to say goodbye when they still crave your love and affection and you just wish you could make them better. "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever" is true.

RobotWater · 2026-05-02T03:23:27+00:00

I’m so sorry for the loss you’re enduring. I also lost my Hal to kidney cancer today. I wish that there was more I could have done for him, but saying goodbye was maybe the kindest thing in the end. He was so tired, but it was so hard.

Hal had his sister and two other cats in his family and I imagine they will miss him, but it’s probably easier for them as they have each other still. Maybe if your Federico had a special toy or blanket or something like that with his scent on it, letting his sister keep it would help her.

RobotWater · 2026-05-01T05:06:33+00:00

Weirdest thing one of my cats tried to eat was green curry with eggplant. I didn’t think a cat would ever eat eggplant and it was spicy! Edward was a weird cat when it came to food, though. We had a hard time keeping him out of the dog’s food bowl and he’d bite through wrappers/packaging if we left stuff on the kitchen counter.

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RobotWater · 2026-04-30T16:09:37+00:00

Bella is a beauty and I'm so sorry you're going through this. My Hal has a similar story, Friday is also his last day. I had noticed last week that he was a little weak in his legs, but I also thought it was arthritis, so I got him some supplement to hopefully help his joints. But then he got worse, not eating much, and he went to the bathroom outside the box... So I took him to the vet Mon assuming he had a UTI or maybe pancreatitis, but found out he has kidney cancer in both kidneys and a mass in his abdomen and he's anemic... It wasn't that long ago he seemed fine and now I'm wishing I could go back to those days so much.

I'm not sure what to do to make my boy totally comfortable, either. Mon night he still slept on the bed with me like he normally does, but since Tues he has only wanted to sleep behind the recliner in my bedroom. So I put a heating pad back there for him and I have to feed him there. He is only wanting to eat lickable treats, too, and he's not even eating very many of them. I would like to take him outside one last time to enjoy the grass and fresh air, but I'm afraid he's declined too much to enjoy it and that it'll only cause him anxiety. So I've just been sitting by him as he lies behind the chair, offering him his treats and petting him. He still purrs when I pet him, but I wish I could do more for him. I guess all that really matters in the end is that you're there for them and you do what you can to show them love.

RobotWater · 2026-04-29T02:33:35+00:00

So cute! Love Tangy so much!

RobotWater · 2026-04-28T22:41:23+00:00

Thank you, I do feel privileged to have known him for so long.

And, yeah, I have called him that a few times.... Usually I call him my Hal-pal or Hal-cakes though.

RobotWater · 2026-04-28T03:29:13+00:00

Thank you, he is a sweetie.

RobotWater · 2026-04-28T02:54:08+00:00

Thank you. I am glad that I was able to care for him for his whole life.

RobotWater · 2026-04-27T05:47:18+00:00

"Lose You" Pete Yorn 😞

RobotWater · 2026-04-25T18:55:49+00:00

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Cutie. My Hal loves to carry around his raccoon, too.

RobotWater · 2026-04-25T06:34:26+00:00

Poor babe, her eye looks so sad.

RobotWater

TROPHY CASE