My Kitty Is Sick with Recurring UTI's...Need Advice!?

Question

I have a ridiculously lovable & friendly cat named Tiger. He's 1.5 years old now and has had Recurring UTI's (Bladder Infections) for about the last 8 months.

I hear these UTI's can clear up at 4 yrs of age, but that's 2.5 years from now & he's in pain & destroying my house daily (won't use his box b/c he equates it w/ pain). I've tried 2 rounds of Vet Prescribed Anti-biotic "Batryil" and also 2 Herbal Treatments - neither have worked! Now my Vet is wanting to do Xray's for about $250 & potentially a $1000 surgery if he finds Kidney Stones in the little guy! I am sad, but I don't think I can afford these treatments...

As I see it, I'm left w/ the following choices:

(A) Try to find someone willing to adopt my kitty & treat him (if so how do I do this?).

(B) Borrow the money for the Xray's and perhaps get good news...

(C) Have him humanely put down :(

I'm open to suggestions if you have had a similar experience...What do you think? Thanks!

Thanks for all the fast replies!

Yes, I do have him and his brother Thud on a prescription food called: "Urinary SO" it costs like $40/mo. I have to keep both of them on the same food b/c both of them will eat just about anything and Thud's like a garbage disposal but Tiger is smaller and can't handle anything but the special food...but he still has this almost constant UTI...

Both of my cats were fixed before they were 6 months old (I wish they had told me this could cause problems!)...

Given this info, any other ideas/suggestions?

Oh and the Vet wants to do the Xray's first for some reason, then the Urinalisys...should I be looking for another Vet?

Veneta T, you make some valid points but it seems like you are placing as much value on caring for a pet as you would for caring for a human.

Perhaps I got in over my head but I saved up my money and spent around $1000 to buy my kitties, have them nudered and declawed. I made suer they were on the best pain killers b/c I know they have feelings. In fact I dropped another $70 on monday for a 7 day supply for pain killers for Tiger while I figure out what to do.

I have spent around $300-400 so far on these UTI's + the add'l $40/mo for special food.

I see no real end in sight, with $250 for Xrays, $150 for Urinalysis & potentially $1000 for surgury I am seeking advice b/c I don't know what to do as I do not have unlimited resources and I have to keep my priorities in line with that.

It would be nice if you could email me or post something of value for my situation such as any Animal Rescue programs you know of because that would be more valuable than a lecture at this point..

Thanks!

Answer 1

Do you have him on prescription food for UTI's. Also was he neutered before 6 months old (if neutered). If he was then it is probably because his urethra didnt grow to the full potential is is causing him to be blocked or have the UTI. Did the Baytril help at all? I would recommend ask your vet about Science diet s/d or c/d to help with your cats UTI. The s/d would get any crystals (but not necessarily stones) to break down and the c/d would be a maintenance diet to prevent future problems. Has the doctor run a urinalysis? If not I would have them do that 1st, and yes they might have to use a catheter to get the urine but I would definitely do that before the xrays. If they already did that or cant find anything in the urinalysis then I would do the xrays. If you have any more questions you can email me. Good luck.

Answer 2

Changing his food is a great idea.

I used Hill's Science Diet CD for my cat who would constantly get blocked from crystals and who had a couple of bouts of UTI's.It can only be purchased from your vet as it's prescription food, and it's a bit expensive, but if it helps your Tiger....it would be well worth the cost.

Maybe try that for a while and see if that doesn't clear up the problem?

I wouldn't consider having him put down for this, I'd try the food, then the next two on your list first.

A urinalysis will tell if there are crystals in the urine that could be causing the UTI. But if he's been having UTI's the vet should be doing urinalysis on a regular basis, has he been?

There's also other antibiotics such as orbifloxacin (Orbax) and the newest, marbofloxacin (Zeniquin). Maybe his UTI is resistant to Baytril but these might work. You could also ask the vet about
Cosequin being added to the diet, it is said to improve the lining of the bladder.

Answer 3

I wish you would join the Yahoo group Holisticat and explore the possibilty of a raw meat diet for both your cats. There are receipes in the archives for those diets. You have put much time, effort and $$ into your cats. It does not take that much more effort to do a really wholesome diet for your cats and it will definitely pay off in much less veterinary expense.

One of my cats had several episodes with urinary problems. At that time I was changing my cats to a raw diet. He never had any further problems when the diet was switched.

You can also go to www.catinfo.org for a veterinarian's approach to cat diet. At www. littlebigcat.com Dr. Jean Hovfe has an article titled "Easy Homemade Diets for Cats and Dogs".

And you can really get a lot of support and information from the people on the Holisticat group.

Answer 4

Here's a few more: drink lots of water during the day; limit coffee or caffeine drinks; make sure you completely empty your bladder when urinating; wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom. I know this sounds basic but a common cause of UTI's is not wiping properly. Hope this helps......UTI's suck!

Answer 5

Please do not think I am picking on you, because I am not. I just see a common parallel that people for ages have hinted at and really never actually say and so I am utilizing your predicament to say what needs to be said.

You and many others are in the same boat together. It is quite costly to own animals. When people say an animal is a lot of responsiblility, they mean just that. People see these cute adorable baby animals and they want them. But they don't look beyond the right here and now. People take these adorable babies home without thinking about the costs involved. Animals have needs. Because they are alive, they get sick, hurt, and have babies like any other living thing on this earth. And oftentimes, it seems to be forgotten that they have feelings. I have seen way too many abandoned animals abandoned just because the animal starts to cost money, they are tossed away like a sack of rubbish. So now these poor critters are out to fend for themselves, hoping they can find a home that will take care of them before they die of a slow agonizing hungry death. This is not the slightest bit fair to the animal.

I would suggest try and find a rescue agency to care for him/her. The rescue agency is in the position to screen people to determine whether or not they truly could care for the cat.

Answer 6

Have you tried changing his food. I read that some cat foods can cause urinary problems especially in male cats. It's worth a shot to try changing his food. It may cost a little more, but well worth it.

Answer 7

kill it i hate cats