This is a long one, so bear with us!

Billi is an older lady with a few chronic health issues that we juggle. She a
has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which means we have to be VERY careful with what we feed her. In particular land animals (chicken, turkey, beef) seem to be the biggest culprits. She’s well controlled on her prescription diet, but finding safe things for treats/meds can be a challenge! She has polycystic kidneys which she was born with, which predisposes her to kidney disease. Two years ago she had a lifesaving surgery after getting a ureteral stone (a kidney stone that lodges in the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder), and has been doing incredibly well!

Unfortunately she’s started to have some recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI’s), which become more complicated to treat with her new “ureter” (called a SUB, or subcutaneous ureteral bypass). This is because bacteria can form a “shield” on inorganic (i.e. plastic) material that makes it harder for antibiotics to penetrate. We’ve started a new antibiotic that tastes/smells pretty horrible, and she started to refuse it. I was becoming traumatic for both of us, and I decided to change my approach.

I’m still in awe that she started taking them so readily with my “explanation”. I don’t know if that’s what changed things, but the result is desirable so I don’t really care!

As some background into Billi’s medical conditions and diet, see the below videos:

See these videos for a background on Billi’s tummy ouches:

Billi Ouch (see video description)
   • Billi Ouch (see video description)  

Billi’s Home!
   • Billi’s Home!  

Billi’s Home Again!
   • Billi’s Home Again!  

Before Ouch, Now All Done! | BilliSpeaks
   • Before Ouch, Now All Done! | BilliSpeaks  

Ouch. Mad! | BilliSpeaks
   • Ouch. Mad! | BilliSpeaks  

Bird Food Tummy Ouch, Now Water Food | BilliSpeaks
   • Bird Food Tummy Ouch, Now Water Food ...  

The Ice Treat Puddle | BilliSpeaks
   • The Ice Treat Puddle | BilliSpeaks  


Please do NOT comment that “dry food is bad for cats”, I will delete it. Nutrition is complicated, and winnowing it down to a simple bad vs good shows a superficial understanding of the subject that won’t be entertained.

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Billi is a female domestic shorthair, she's 14 years old, her favorite word is mad.

Inspiration for learning to “speak” with buttons from Hunger4Words (check her out on IG).

Affiliate link for FluentPet buttons: https://flnt.pt/billispeaks

LinkTree for:
✨merchandise
✨website with FAQs and getting started resources
✨other button options
✨food puzzles
✨Instagram
✨TikTok
https://linktr.ee/BilliSpeaks

Want to learn more about the research study Billi and many other animals are in? Check it out here:
https://www.theycantalk.org/research
https://www.billispeaks.com/research