My cat and urinary problems?

Question

My baby boy Milo which is 3 1/2 years old had first gotten crystals when he was just 3. I got it taken care of and still was a little worried because i heard this stuff could come back. Well last month i noticed he was peeing blood on the floor so i took him in right away because i was scared he was forming crystals again. well the vet gave me meds and sent me home after the meds were gone, he was still peeing blood. So i called the vet again and they had me come in and gave me a higher dose of meds and for longer. well i have 4 days left of the meds and he just starting going on the floor again. so i have become very conserned, i don't want to keep having my cat go back in and have nothing accomplished.....and before anyone says anything i know stress can be a factor but that is not the issue here. He is my domian cat he rules the house and there are no new animals or living arangments or people. he is also on the same food. so i would like to hear from someone from the same situation

Answer 1

This is just too coincidental! I called my house call vet & her cell battery died; so while waiting, I saw your question. I've suspected YTI for about 2 weeks, because my kitty "meows" when she goes to the box, & seems to be "straining." Not nearly as serious as what you've described--yet. I had done some research, & pulled up www.maristavet.com/html/body_urinary_blockage & it was very informative. Male cats get it more often, but the initial treatment is to place a urinary catheter through the urethral opening--often painful, & sedation may be needed, but if toxins build up, it can be fatal. I truly feel I must say that your vet isn't competently handling this. I WOULD SEE ANOTHER VET. You're absolutely right--nothing is being accomplished. You're obviously well informed, as to other contributing (possible) factors that do NOT exist. The problem is YOUR VET. CatAge.com is also a good source, & there are many if you want to go back to the vet you're seeing, & be prepared to let him/her be aware that you know what you're talking about. Frankly, I'd see a different vet. Years past, I lost a dog, & a cat to a horrid vet before I found out about his reputation by writing a letter to the editor of a local paper, & calls FLOODED in. Please see another vet--& check them out first? An antibiotic may be all that my kitty needs, but when she's not "well"--I'm a disaster. I'll be thinking of Milo, & I know you'll do the right thing--in time. (Some vets & "people" doctors seem to love to just hand out pills when that is NOT the answer.) My best of luck to you both...

Answer 2

Ask your vet about a prescription food for cats and dogs called SD. It's made by hills, they same company that makes science diet food for cats and dogs. It is a food that has ingredients that prevents bacteria build up and also has stuff to help disolve crystals. It's may not completely get rid of the problem right away because it seems your cat has a pretty bad infection right now so it will need to stay on it's medicine. However once this is cleared up the food will help to prevent infections and crystal from building back up. It will also help him to get over the current infection he has. It can be fairly expensive but definatly worth it.

Answer 3

It is quite common for male cats to have urinary problems. The first suggestion is to try and change his dry food. Snuglvr is not correct in saying cats should not have a dry food only diet. A dry food only diet is fine for them as long as the food is good quality and has all the nutrients they need in it.
We hear of this problem a fair bit at the shelter, and the most common cure is a change in diet. I cant remember the exact ingredient that upsets the boys, but have a look online, or speak to a few different vets and they should be able to tell you.

Answer 4

interesting... my vet told me to make sure I feed my kitty 1-2 cans of a good brand canned food a day. Plus he gave us a tablet to dissolve in his food, a urinary acidifier or de acidifier? Anyhow, if we didnt give him the tablet daily, thats when he would get blocked up. He has not had any more urinary tract problems since. Not sure if its the canned food, the tablet? Both Im sure. The vet said the dry is okaay, but that the canned food has more moisture, he needs more water. AND I remember him too mentioning the fish flavors.. I saw someone else posted that too. Something about fishy flavors werent good for them.. I buy Fancy Feast turkey beef chicken flavors and put a tablet in bhis food daily. Excellant result. Keeping fingers crossed.

Answer 5

We have a male cat with a urinary problem history. We thought, on two long spells in the vet's hospital, that we would lose him until they, basically, gave him a sex change.

Until this operation, despite the drugs and special food, intermittently he would have severe problems going to the toilet. We agonised for him and it got to the point where it was put to us to "open his urinary tubes more" or have him put down. Obviously, we went for the op.

One changed cat! More loving again, more like the old Buster.

We joke that "Buster" is now "Barbara" but post-op he is our happy cat again.

Buster was on Hill's CD diet until recently we moved him onto Iam's Senior 11+ which was agreed with our vet.

Talk to your vet, if you can. If not, get a second opinion. We did.

Answer 6

My advice will be brief: Take your kitty to another Vet. Hopefully, someone who specializes in felines.

Answer 7

Is it dry food? Do you feed any wet? Cats can't drink enuf to keep up with what a dry food does to their body. Dry food is easy and not messy for people. Dry food only is not good for cats.

Answer 8

I'm sorry to say that my friends cat Mike had that problem. It came back again and again...Finally he passed on. So I don't know how to help you, but please do your best for him.

Answer 9

Hi there...perhaps what your cat may have is called Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) literally means an inflammation of the urinary bladder in cats of unknown origin. It is also called feline idiopathic lower urinary tract disease (FiLUTD) or feline urologic syndrome (FUS). FIC has been estimated to affect up to 1% of the cat population and recurs frequently between the ages of 1 - 7 years.

Despite many years of research, the cause of FIC remains unknown. Factors that may play a role in the development of FIC include viruses, type of diet fed (especially dry food diets with high mineral content), stress, confinement to a strictly indoor environment, and genetic factors (longhaired cats, for example, seem to be more commonly affected). Treatment often involves a change in diet from a dry food to a canned food and attempts to minimize stress in the animals environment.

It's believed that accumulated inflammatory debris and mineral crystals may form a plug that obstructs the urethra of male cats resulting in a life-threatening medical emergency. FIC affects both male and female cats, but female cats rarely develop urinary tract obstruction because their urethra is shorter and wider than the urethra of male cats.

- Blood in the urine
- Increased frequency of urinations
- Straining to urinate
- Distressed meowing while urinating
- Increased grooming of the genital region
- Urinating in inappropriate locations (often in cool smooth surfaces such as bathtubs and sinks).

These symptoms can be mistaken for constipation. Frequent unsuccessful attempts to urinate, distressed meowing while attempting to urinate, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and reluctance to move are symptoms that may signal urinary obstruction in a male cat and may constitute a medical emergency. Call your veterinarian immediately if you think your cat is showing these symptoms. Complete urinary obstruction can develop into a life-threatening emergency with 48 hours.

Diagnostic tests are needed to identify FIC and exclude other diseases. Tests may include:

(1) Complete medical history and thorough physical examination including abdominal palpation of the bladder. The medical history will include questions about previous urinary problems and type of cat food (dry versus canned) fed to your pet.

(2) Urinalysis: Additional diagnostic tests may be necessary to distinguish FIC from other diseases that cause lower urinary tract symptoms in cats such as bacterial urinary tract infection (rare in young to middle-aged cats), stones (also called calculi or uroliths), and tumors (rare in cats).

Additional tests may include

(1) Serum biochemistry tests to evaluate your cat's general health and evaluate for the metabolic effects of urinary tract obstruction.

(2) Abdominal X-rays to evaluate for dense stones (calculi) such as those made of struvite and calcium oxalate.

(3) Urine culture and sensitivity to evaluate for bacterial urinary tract infection.

(4) Special contrast X-rays to evaluate the urethra and bladder for less dense stones that cannot be seen on plain X-rays and to identify tumors or anatomical abnormalities such as an outpouching of the bladder (urachal diverticulum).

(5) Abdominal ultrasound to evaluate for tumors and less dense stones that cannot be seen on plain X-rays.

(6) Cystoscopy to evaluate the inner surface of the urethra and bladder. In this procedure a flexible or rigid scope is passed into the urethra and bladder while the animal is under anesthesia. If cystoscopy is necessary in your cat, your veterinarian likely will refer you to a veterinary specialist for this procedure.

Treatment for FIC may include one or more of the following:

(1) Unrestricted access to large amounts of fresh clean water is very important so as to increase water intake and cause the cat to produce less concentrated urine. Some companies have developed products such as the pet “waterfall” to increase the cat's interest in drinking.

(2) Change in diet from a dry food to a canned food to increase water intake and cause your pet to produce less concentrated urine. Bouillon, clam juice, juice from canned tuna, and water also can be added to dry foods to increase water intake.

(3) Attempts to reduce stress, such as providing climbing toys, scratching posts, and toys to chase are recommended by some veterinarians.

(4) Although antibiotics are frequently prescribed for cats with FIC, there is no evidence that FIC is a bacterial disease.

(5) Likewise, occasionally cortisone-like drugs are prescribed for their anti-inflammatory effects but there is no evidence that they hasten recovery.

(6) Some veterinarians prescribe analgesic (pain reducing) drugs such as butorphanol during a bout of FIC.

(7) Most cats with an acute bout of FIC will get well within in 5-7 days regardless of the treatment employed.

(8) The tricyclic antidepressant drug amitriptyline has been tried in refractory cases of FIC after owners have become frustrated with other medical approaches. This drug also has anti-inflammatory properties and encourages bladder filling. It should only be tried in refractory cases.

(9) Male cats that develop urinary obstruction should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Urinary obstruction of more than 48 hours can become life-threatening. Such cats lose their appetite, become lethargic, and make frequent distressed attempts to urinate.

At home, it is important that you allow free access to fresh clean water and provide a fresh, clean litterbox at all times. You should administer as directed any medications prescribed by your veterinarian and follow-up with your veterinarian for examinations and urinalysis.

If your pet does not respond to initial treatments, additional diagnostic evaluation and treatment is indicated.

Preventative Care: Since the exact cause of FIC is unknown, it may be difficult to prevent. However, you can do some of the following:

(1) Provide your cat with frequent opportunities to urinate (make sure to provide a clean litterbox at all times).

(2) Provide plenty of fresh clean water for your cat to drink.

(3) Help your pet maintain a healthy body weight and prevent obesity by feeding the correct amount of a healthy diet.

(4) Feed a canned food product if at all possible.

(5) Try to minimize stress for your pet by keeping the environment as stable as possible (for example, do not introduce new animals). Provide scratching posts, climbing toys, and toys to chase.

More on Feline Idiopathic Cystitis:
http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/cystitis%20syndrome.htm
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/intersit.html#Interstitial%20Cystitis%20in%20Veterinary%20Medicine
http://www.vet.uga.edu/sams/courses/urology/lectures/Lecture06_FelineIdiopathicCystitis.pdf