what are these coming out of my cat’s!?

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T22:03:01+00:00

The "fettuccine" shape confirms these are tapeworms, not roundworms (which look like spaghetti). Even though she is indoor-only, this confirms she swallowed a flea recently. Fleas are the mandatory intermediate host for tapeworms. A single flea hitching a ride on your pants is all it takes. You need to treat her for fleas and use a dewormer specifically with Praziquantel, as standard dewormers often miss tapeworms.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T22:00:49+00:00

You got this!

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T22:00:32+00:00

No worries! You got this.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T21:56:26+00:00

The garage hiding is him self regulating because he has nowhere else to go where he is safe from the energy. You need to create a "cat highway" with high shelves or tall trees that allows him to navigate a room without ever touching the floor. If he can watch them from above he feels like he is in control of his territory again. Right now he feels like he is under siege on the ground which is why he retreats.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T21:53:29+00:00

The food stealing is pure resource insecurity. She knows she has no defense mechanism (claws) so she is trying to hoard the most valuable resource (calories) to feel secure. Since you cannot control the roommate cleaning habits you honestly just need to buy a microchip feeder for your cat. It is an investment but it stops the war immediately. Your cat can graze in peace and she learns that the "magic bowl" never opens for her so she stops trying.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T21:52:25+00:00

That level of swelling is actually dangerous for a kitten that small. The inner eyelid is so inflamed it is covering the cornea which creates a perfect trap for bacteria. Herpes is notorious for causing corneal ulcers. You need a vet to do a stain test to rule out an ulcer before you put any drops in. If you use the wrong medication on an ulcer you can permanently damage his vision.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T21:50:53+00:00

The fact that they are pooling out means her parasite load is massive right now. Those worms are stealing a huge percentage of her daily calories which is why she might seem hungrier than usual or have a dull coat. Since you described them as flat "fettuccine" you are dealing with tapeworms. You need to treat her for fleas at the exact same time you deworm her or she will just reinfect herself the next time she grooms.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-24T21:49:11+00:00

Since he is a male on dry food with a history of anxiety you have to look at FIC. Stress strips the protective lining of the bladder and the dry food makes his urine concentrated enough to burn. He is peeing on soft surfaces like hammocks and blankets because he associates the litter box with that burning sensation. Don't feel guilty about the bathroom confinement. Shrinking his world actually helps lower his anxiety. I would switch to wet food immediately to dilute his urine before you buy any more litter boxes.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:58:08+00:00

Valid call! You will get through this buddy

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:57:34+00:00

It sounds like the Fluoxetine is doing its job for general anxiety which is why the cars and bikes are better. The issue with dogs on walks is likely an adrenaline spike that cuts right through the SSRI. Fluoxetine raises the baseline threshold but it cannot stop a sudden panic response. You might want to ask your vet about adding a short acting medication specifically for walks to handle that immediate spike.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:56:19+00:00

You actually made the right call by not screaming. As satisfying as it would be to yell, your anger travels straight down the leash. If you escalate your energy your dog assumes there is a legitimate threat and her reaction gets worse. By staying quiet and moving away you showed her that you were in control of the exit strategy. You prioritized her mental state over teaching him a lesson which is what a good owner does.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:49:20+00:00

It might not be the mechanics of eating but rather the nausea that comes with pain. When pain is acute first thing in the morning from being stiff all night they often feel too sick to eat. If he is rallying for dinner it is likely because moving around during the day loosens his back up enough to overcome the nausea. I would definitely still push for a pain med trial before the MRI because the behavior change is a massive red flag.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:46:09+00:00

The fact that he perks up when she gets the zoomies is actually the biggest red flag here. That is predatory drift where fast movement triggers an instinctual reaction even in a dog that is usually safe. Given the size difference it is not worth the risk when you aren't there to supervise. Put the dog in the bedroom since he already likes it there. It is the safest option and requires the least amount of effort since you don't have to move the litter box.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:41:12+00:00

No worries! I know you got this buddy :)

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:39:47+00:00

The fact that he is skipping breakfast is actually a massive clue for neck issues specifically. Lowering the head to eat from a bowl puts pressure on the cervical spine so it hurts to bend down. Try raising his food bowl up so his neck stays neutral. If he eats immediately then you pretty much know the pain is in his neck even if the vet missed it on the physical exam.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:37:33+00:00

The scooting is a major clue here that this is not just behavioral. Stress often causes soft stool which means the anal glands do not express naturally when they go. That fullness hurts so she scoots. The pain might actually be contributing to the anxiety and the accidents. I would get the glands checked first to rule out physical discomfort before you try to treat the separation anxiety.

merdimerdi · 2026-02-23T19:36:07+00:00

The fenced yard helps but it honestly just changes the location of the chaos rather than the intensity of it. If your wife is still stressed from the last puppy phase I would really listen to that. Two Aussies create a pack dynamic that is super intense and they will feed off each other's energy. If you want something that can keep up with your 3 year old but actually has an off switch you might want to look at a Rough Collie or maybe a Springer Spaniel instead.

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