In the year or more prior to his return to us, he began to have repeat urinary tract and bladder infections with resulting ongoing litter box issues. He developed ear infections that eventually became a chronic issue. His behavior changed and he was grouchy, growly and unpleasant - and who could blame him. The icing on the cake for the owner was development of Diabetes requiring intensive treatment.
We took him 'home' and the subsequent changes to his care netted awesome results! By switching him from kibble to high quality canned food at regular, frequent daily intervals, his diabetes resolved completely. We were able to stop testing and treating with insulin after only a month. The veterinarian believes his diabetes was in response to prednisone given for the ear infections.
We started a more gentle and natural approach to what was discovered to be yeast overgrowth in his ears. That, along with the canned diet containing no grains or carbs (sugars feed yeast), and the ear infections also resolved. He still has thick ears and scarring in the canals, but no more head shaking, painful yeast infections.
He still had periodic litterbox issues that, at this point, had become a behavioral response to stress and pain as well as a result from chronic UTI and bladder infections. Once the medical issues were dealt with, the behavioral aspect took a little longer to resolve, but we did it over time and with specific positive reinforcement and a plan. One of the biggest differences was made when we gave this very big boy of 20 pounds and appropriately sized litter box made from a storage tub and easy access by sturdy pet stairs. We also arranged his living space to avoid rugs and mats, which were his fall back for peeing when stressed.
He was given a quiet space of his own during this time to keep his stress down and better manage his needs. His behavior changed for the better and Grouchy Cat only revealed itself on the one subsequent occasion early on that he developed another UTI.
From the beginning we noticed that his eyes were 'uniquely speckled'. Upon further research and review of his complete medical records, it was discovered that this speckling was actually a condition called Iris Melanosis. This eye condition is a precursor to Iris Melanoma, a cancer that invades the iris and can lead to cancer of the major organs and result in death. We immediately had a veterinarian assess his condition and 'map' his eyes. At that time, there were no markers indicating that cancer had developed and our plan was to reevaluate every 3 months, which we did. And it's a darn good thing we were on top of it.
Our mobile vet, who had seen Ichabod now 4 times, came for a re-check of his eyes and discovered that there were, indeed, changes present. We took him in for a chest xray, which also included his other organs, and ruled out any current spread of cancer. The eye changes were confirmed by this vet as well.
Next was the eye specialist. Her diagnosis? Iris Melanoma in both eyes - yes, in just 3 short months cancer had developed in both eyes. The only solution was immediate removal of the eye with the million tiny pigment speckles - all cancer filled and showing changes. The other eye had one large speckle and she was confident she could laser the heck out of that eye to mitigate the cancer areas, which were along the 'edge' of the speckle.
Ichabod, one of the most awesome cats I've ever had the pleasure to know - who had been through years of painful UTI's, chronic and uncomfortable yeasty ears, diabetes and all that entails, and, finally, the loss of the only home he had known since he was a kitten - was going to now have one eye removed and one eye lasered in the hopes of saving his life.
So, surgery over. Ichabod is now recovered. He has tolerating it all like the sweet boy he is - in stride. This should tell you everything you need to know about how amazing this boy is....