Jellybean, aka Jelly Belly, aka Jelly Belly Bean, aka The Firecracker… formally “Jellybean II” as named at the shelter. Funny (to me) as the name “Jellybean” always makes me think of a black cat (like the anise/licorice-flavored jellybeans), but my Jellybean is a tortie (tortoishell), black and red.
Jellybean was admitted to the shelter in February 1997, as a newborn kitten with her mother and littermates. She was adopted quickly after she was old enough to be weaned and spayed. She was returned years later for urinating outside the litter box. The shelter staff discovered her urine red with blood and treated her for an infection. She was adopted again. Again, returned – this time to a different shelter, one that wasn’t no-kill. That shelter scanned her microchip and returned her to the original shelter.
In the summer of 2007, shelter staff noticed increased drinking and urination, and Jellybean was diagnosed with diabetes. She was monitored for a time, and eventually placed in the new canned food-only room at the shelter, and placed on the oral medication Glipizide. Glipizide doesn’t work for the majority of cats, and it didn’t work for Jellybean. She was placed on insulin (PZI-Vet).
I adopted Jellybean in November 2006 – only a few days after she’d started insulin. I continued the low-carbohydrate wet diet (canned or raw) and tested her blood sugar levels at home. On December 30, 2006, Jellybean received her last insulin injection – she’s maintained normal blood sugar numbers on diet alone since then.
We had other issues to work out, though. When Jellybean moved in, she determined she was going to be “queen of the castle”. She picked on the other cats, even my large boy Studley. My friend Jenny laughed the first time she met her, and exclaimed “Wow, she’s a *pistol*!” (several times) I think she’s a *firecracker*.
Eventually, Jellybean made the mistake of attempting to start a spat with little old Afer. Afer may be 19 years old, and have kidney insufficiency and heart disease, but Afer does not take guff from *any* cat. Afer promptly chased Jellybean into the bathroom and stood in the doorway, forcing Jellybean to take a time out. It happened a few times after that, until Jellybean learned not to mess with the Afer E Granny! However, in the process, the other cats decided they had no reason to be intimidated by this little firecracker. If Afer could stand up to her, so could they! They did, and a few of them even started picking on Jellybean. She lost much of her confidence and spent more time sleeping in a cubby of the cat tree or in a pet tent, and became very fearful of Studley.
I tried separating her in her own room many times, either alone or with Latifah. Then, I’d attempt to re-introduce them, but it didn’t work out great. It’s been over a year now that Jellybean’s been with us, and things are better but not perfect. I’ve seen her sleeping on the bed with Kitty.com (not cuddled together but both on the same bed), and she’ll lick Ralph on the head, and hide behind him from other cats. She used to lick Louie on the head, but he has teased her several times (chasing her or swatting her pet tent) and she no longer likes him much.
Jellybean does not have perfect litterbox habits, unfortunately. She seems to think boxes, matts, rugs, and even dish towels lying on the kitchen counter are just as nice for doing her business as litter boxes. She is doing better – we’ve found she prefers the Smart Box or “pellet” litter (like pine) rather than clumping. We have a litter box with just a puppy housebreaking pad in it that she uses often. I find it’s easier to find something they’ll use and work with that than re-train them. Perhaps I’m just lazy or a bad trainer.
Jellybean is very sweet and very cute. Her fur is very soft and she has the adorable habit of rubbing against you or furniture, arching her back so high she goes up on her tippiest of tiptoes. Though she is feisty, she quickly learned to cooperate very nicely for her blood sugar testing. I’m optimistic we’ll continue to make progress toward more peace and harmony at home.
Life of the Lintee Bean 
My cat Cricket will also pee outside the litter box, but only near the litter box (her box is in the bathroom). For instance, if you leave a bathtowel on the floor she will pee on that instead of going in the box. One time I put a rug in front of the litter box (to catch litter from being tracked all over) and she peed on that too! Fortunately she hasn’t gone anywhere else in the house (knock on wood).
Pam
oh Lynette!! I love these little blurps about your kitties!!! You are truly the “cat whisperer”!!!
Lynette,
I was wondering if it is not a bad idea to have stories like this posted with the “annoying” FD behaviours so that people may google this, read up on it and diagnose sooner rather than later. I know when Alex was peeing everywhere I thought it was because she was naughty, seeking attention or missed the litter box. A year before she had done the same thing- it was because of a bladder infection, so when there was no blood in the urine I thought it was a returned habit. I wasted about 2 months because of that: I was getting lower cat boxes (at 13 she was “too old” to make it over the edge); I was moving the cat boxes; I was taking the lids off…
Your story is wonderful, makes me recall a similar history but it is also very educational
Good thought, Glenn.
Jellybean has actually been a very good girl lately. Her poor litter box habits may originally have stemmed from the infection, and exacerbated by the diabetes later… and not helped by the clashes with other cats.
Personally, I’ve found keys (after ruling out medical issues) to be having clean litter boxes, multiple litter boxes (some cats don’t like using the same box for pee and poo), having different kinds of litter (some only like clumping, some only like non-clumping, etc.) – and of course cleaning thoroughly where prior accidents have taken place.
Jellybean seems to have a “surface preference” for plastic surfaces (such as a clear wrap-covered box), so I have to keep things picked up – which isn’t a bad thing to do anyway!
Hi again, I had a bit of a time finding where the comments are (believe it or not, I am new to blogging) but I did find your reply. (I know… just click on…comments! I’ll say duhhh now & get it over with *sigh*) … anyway, a few things have happened with the “girls” (my 4 cats).
First of all, I withheld food of any type from them for 12 hours. (overnight) then around 10 am I gave them a bit of DanActive with wet canned food mixed in. (actually my Sophie decided she would eat the wet food & the DanActive, but NOT if mixed together.)
Anyway, their next tiny meal was around 6 pm – same thing. All the stool samples were normal at their next potty! I couldn’t believe it! I know they need healthy bowels to not have IBD and to process the food they eat. So after many calls, and thinking about it, I decided that the vanillia (NO fruits in it) that it might help them.
Sounds good right? Well, I then decided I wanted the animals pro-biotics rather than a possibly limited variety that was in DanActive, I I bought a jar of the powder-form called NaturVet enzymes & probiotics. I put it on their wet food last night.
This am guess what? All had loose stools & one cat had severe “D” again!
I feel so bad for them. The wet food I gave them is the same; Wellness Turkey.
Now I’m thinking that I started the entire upset all over & should have stayed with DanActive.
I am trying to understand all the info out there & have checked the links and frankly – I really feel overwhelmed.
Has anyone ever heard of the DanActive solution? I’ll keep you updated as things go on.
I did not want to take them to a vet at this point, although I did call several & talk to them. The stress that would be involved for my girls is not a trade-off for putting them on strong meds that may work, but would compromise their immune system.
Thank you for answering me before.
I hope I am posting – or commenting – in the right place.
Any input would be appreciated & successful resolutions that anyone else has had would be great to hear about.
I’ve read a lot of the comments & such hear & that has been helpful.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lynn