I'm starting this as a new thread as a suggestion after I posted it in a similar thread, for more information on my specific situation.

I've had him for exactly three weeks now, and we have not given him any medication (ABs or otherwise) other than one vaccination at 13 weeks. He is now 15 weeks and one day old. The day we brought him home, he had gas. I smelled it about 4-5 times in a few hours and it was very smelly. That evening, his poop was lighter in color and quite squishy. Since then, all of his other poops have been dark brown and VERY smelly.

He is currently eating 1/2 raw chicken and turkey meat and 1/2 blue buffalo. It seems that he drinks quite often for a bengal, and I'm hoping that he isn't getting dehydrated.

I took two fecal samples to the vet for a single fecal test, and it came back negative. We got the results this morning. Should I assume that it is TF and have testing done? He poops once each day, before we go to bed. It is dark brown, soft but not runny, and very very smelly. I usually give his butt a quick wipe right after (he tolerates it) so that he doesn't get it where he sits. His activity hasn't changed, and he seems happy and excited like normal. I did notice that his belly was quite bloated a few days ago. I fed him less the following day and it hasn't been bloated since. (gas?)

My Kali has a very stinky arse... oooh it's bad! Maybe it's normal!?

Yes. Please get a three day pooled poop sample (refrigerating between sampling) to your vet for the QPCR test. My vet said no cat litter in the sample but others on this forum say a little bit is ok. I got the sample by shoving a piece of paper under their butt and catching the poop on it then put it in a pot.

Let us know how you get on

Lisa
x

Since he is on a half raw, half high quality canned food diet - I don't expect his poo to be smelly at all. Normal cat poop looks like firm dark tootsie rolls. If it is extremely smelly or soft (or both), I'd expect parasite or something off.

I've read up about quite a few things, but I'd like to hear from some people with first-hand experience or breeders who "really know their poos" :)

Yes do take advice from Lisa, she has been there.

It's is simply not normal for any cat to 1. Have stinky gas and 2. To have anything but solid poop.

Only when all tests have ruled out a parasite or bacterial infection should you then look at the diet. Raw will mask symptoms if there is an infection, it will not cure.

I agree you get value for money when you pay for lab tested TF.
Cleo was clear for TF when she was poorly and has since stabilized and normal for 6months+
but the not knowing was upsetting and cost me sleep.
When you get a good sample as Lisa describes and pay your vet (or claim on insurance is ideal) to rule out bloody TF (you can read about this horrible bug here) you are buying peace of mind and helping your kitty get better.

Personally I would cut the Raw out (phase it out slowly if required) until you are back to a healthy tummy and maybe a probiotic too if your vet agrees.
Just to reduce the amount of bacteria in your boys gut while its so busy.


we have a spectrum of opinion and experience about raw feeding on this forum but I think most know better than to suggest either/or is ''wrong'' cause people can get upset, we all want the best for our furbabies.
Dont worry too much about complete food intake over a week to 2wks if its required to help your boy settle his tummy down and form up, work with bland and simple poached/boiled chopped meats served fresh cooked

I had to work with one protein (in my case chicken) and build up from that onto prescription food and eventually onto a high quality brand food that is complete and not an insane price.
it would have gone on forever without also having reliable testing done to rule out bugs.

Good luck and headbuts from Cleo ^.^

Wouldn't TF be more of a runnier stool than just soft?

Also, TF is extremely contagious and none of the other cats at the cattery have TF or issues with stool. Since he hasn't had any contact with any other animals other than his brief vet visits (2 so far) and he's had these symptoms since I brought him home.

I will have him tested for TF anyway.

the poop effect is always not good but its really varied from cat to cat which is problematic for detecting it and its intermittent..

can appear to go away but will come back and long term can add more conditions, being intermittent means it can really scupper an effort to establish a tummy stable forever food for your kitty. Because you never know if its it diet or illness causing diarrhoea and this can continue for months.
it looks like other things like giarida and goes unchecked for ALOT

It can be missed in kittens fed raw also because raw diet solidifies poops that would otherwise display illness by being loose , Raw diet can disguise even hide a parasite by masking the symptoms caused.

During diarrhoea all fluid intake from food or water bowl is good and lots of peeping in the tray is better than less pee that is more concentrated from dehydration and liable to hurt, which can lead to tray issues.

Its a bonus that your boy currently has a drug free system (No ABs given yet) because testing during and upto 2 wks after ABs will corrupt test results (which you still pay for).
If your vet gives you ABs for your boy (often the first step) please take advice from here to TEST FIRST* before you start a batch of ABs on him.. its the best time for you to get a reliable test done.

*edit/
Collect the very best sample collection you can for a good test - before starting any meds