Elle is a beautiful almost 2 year old Korat. I found her on the internet last October when she was 1 ½ years old. The breeder shipped her to me about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving 2008. At first, Elle had loose smelly stools, but I thought it was just the stress of the travel and getting used to a new home. She also had a cough and tearing eyes. I brought her to the vet to have her eyes looked at, and also mentioned that her stools were loose. I was given some ointment and Prescription Diet ID cat food was recommended to help with the loose stools. Over the next few days her eyes did not seem to be getting better and she began to have very smelly gas with fecal incontinence. I brought her back to the vet to check her eyes again and she had a gas attack while she was there. The vet told me that this was not a normal smell at all. She gave me a deworming pill and a follow up appointment was made.

Elle had blood tests, a chest x-ray, and various stool cultures were run. It turned out she tested positive for the intestinal parasite Giardia. She was treated with metronidazole. After 2 days on the metronidazole, Elle showed tremendous improvement. She started to gain weight and her stools started to firm up. However, the improvement was short lived. After being off the metronidazole about 3 days, Elle’s symptoms started to return. She started to have diarrhea again and within a week the fecal incontinence returned worse than ever. I had to use baby wipes on her four to five times a day. I had to cover my bed and furniture with blankets and sheets that I ended up washing everyday. I had her tested for Giardia again, and that came back negative. By this time I was getting very frustrated! Thank goodness my vet suggested that we test Elle for Tritrichomonas foetus. She told me that since Elle came from a cattery there was a chance she might have this. She didn’t think so, but she wanted to cover all bases. I said of course!!! Run whatever tests you need to. It was getting very difficult to live with Elle!!

I insisted we start her back on the metronidazole while we were waiting for the test results. I just needed some relief of the symptoms. Then, finally the long awaited for moment, the test for tritrichomanas foetus came back positive. Elle was switched to Ronidazole. I started her on the capsules, but after two days, I realized that I could not give her capsules for another 12 days, so Elle was switched to the liquid. This wonderful pharmacy in Michigan made the Ronidazole with turkey flavoring. Elle tolerated this very well. Within 3-4 days I started to notice a change in her stools. She completed her treatment in March 2009 with no neurological symptoms. Her stools are completely normal at this time.

I am so thankful for the TFFeline website. I contacted the site when Elle first got her diagnosis. The information on the site is so helpful. It is so nice to know that you are not alone! I am so thankful that Elle got her diagnosis so quickly. Of course it didn’t feel quick while I was going through it. But after reading the other stories, I realize that it was quick. I want to thank Leah for putting together the TFFeline website and for her support during Elle’s treatment. I contacted Elle’s breeder, who told me she found out after Elle left that some of her cats were infected. She is having them treated. Leah suggested that I tell Elle’s story, so that cat owners will know that the infection is not confined to just one breed or just one part of the country.

As you can see by the stories on the site, all different breeds are affected by this parasite. It is also important to be persistent! You know your cat. When something doesn’t seem right, keep at your vet to do more tests. Sometimes TF can be misdiagnosed as Giardia, however, a lot of cats are like Elle, they can be infected by both parasites. Elle has always been bright, alert and energetic even when she was sick. Since her treatment, she has gained weight, her eyes are bright, her coat is shinier. The cough that she had also seems to have gone away. I know the website and the stories were very helpful to me. I hope Elle’s story will help other cats and their owners.

For the latest information on diagnosis and treatment of TF please read: AN OWNER'S GUIDE TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CATS INFECTED WITH TRITRICHOMONAS FOETUS.