Cat with Urinary problems?

Question

Daughter started a thread this morning on my cat. I posted this on her question, but she said I should start my own so it will be seen. Copy/pasted:

Mom aka Cat Owner here - We used a pair of vets for the past 20yrs. But recently moved and now have new vet. All of our vets went to Vet school at Auburn University and I have confidence in them or I would take my pets somewhere else. I have seen other vets through the years I wouldn't allow to treat my pets.

She has never had crystals in her urine. Her WBC is about 500. She is not diabetic. The new vet did 2 clean urine draws, both 2 days after finishing antibiotics. I have all the print out from the vet - but they don't show test results, just test run.

Cystocentesis
Urinalysis and Sedimentation

She's been eating Hill's Feline c/d for at least 6 yrs.

First vet put her on Baytril - 2wks on/2wks off. She did this until four or five months ago when it stopped working/she started going outside the box.

We tried Primor 120 and Clindamyc

in w/o any luck.

Started her on Zeniquin 2wks on/off but are now trying it every other day - started this on Thursday.

She started taking Amitriptyline 10mg two weeks ago. Was giving it to her only once a day and it did help her attitude. She's always had a bit of an attitude. Upped it to twice a day on Thursday after talking to vet.

Our last vet did mentioned doing an ultrasound. The new vet did a few months ago, but hasn't brought up again. I will call on Monday.

Daughter was incorrect saying the cat squats but won't urinate - when she first started taking the Amitriptyline, she would dig four times before settling down to urinate. Now she goes w/o any problems. Just not always in the litter box.

Her urine does not smell.

Thank you, Linus1. My cat has never had crystals.

cpinatsi, she drinks as much water as my other three cats. I have an automatic fountain so there's plenty of water around for her during the day and night. Again, no crystals.

Meant to add: I am not looking for a prescription from someone here or anywhere else on the internet. I would only get an RX from the vet treating my pet.

Answer 1

All I can suggest is a change in diet. The rest the vets need to deal with. Please read the links to understand why I say what I do. Feeding a cat a healthy diet is of the utmost importance for the good health of every cat.
Many people feel that dry is the best way to go. Vets feel it is the way to go. Why? Vets are taught very little about nutrition and they are taught what they know by the Pet Food Companies. The companies push dry as it is the very cheapest food in the world to make as they use fillers, vegetable protein and things that cats do not eat in normal life like veggies and fruits. Of course the veggies and fruits are NOT good for human consumption and thus they get it free or for pennies so the big suppliers can get rid of it.
Dry does not keep teeth clean. A cats jaw is made to grab, tear and shred. They have no chewing action. When a cat barfs he throws up the chunks of food. Sometimes the dry shatters but that doesn't rub on the teeth either. A vet told me that she had an elderly cat around 20 who had had wet food her whole life and never had a problem with her teeth, but she had a 7 month old kitten who had to have every tooth pulled since they were so bad he was sick.
Dry food causes diabetes, UTI's, Kidney problems and the list is to long to continue.
The proper food is a diet for an obligate carnivore. Remember you have never seen a lion chasing a biscuit. Your cat needs wet food of good quality. It should be high in protein and under 10% carb. You should not feed your cat fish or seafood more than 1 or 2 meals a week if that much as they become addicted to it and it is high in phosphorous and low in nutritional value.
http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/canfo...
Here is a chart of most wet foods. The good and the bad. Look for one that is high in protein and low in carbs. Fancy feast is a good middle of the road one, and the cheaper brands but still following the rule are much better than any dry ever could be. Wellness and Merrick are on the higher end with higher cost. But you have good food.
It is cheaper to feed a cat the wet as they are filled up faster. Think if you are hungry and eat a bag of potato chips you are soon hungry but if you have a nice piece of chicken you are filled up longer. The same for a cat. I began adding small amount of water and mixing it in good for the meals and now add 1/4 cup water to 1/3 cup wet food. It is now like soup. It keeps the food from drying out and Cessan eats when she wants. She is a grazer and I let her be happy. She gained the weight she needed and then the weight gain stopped. If your cat is over weight he will lose weight on a wet diet.
Here is a link explaining very clearly cat nutrition and care. It is excellent and I think every new cat owner should have to read it first.
Good Luck

Answer 2

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 3

Give her a lot of water to drink. Give her extra water with a syringe (without teh needlle). More dilute urine means less bacteria, less crystals and less discomfort. Other than that, it looks like your vets are dealing with the situation, so it would be irresponsible of anyone to prescribe anything else through the internet.

Answer 4

Actually I have a male cat with chrystals and he has been on Hills c/d for about a year and it works wonders also he had litter box problems and they put him on amitriptoline too. It worked for three months and than we took him off and he is doing fine. Sometimes he does go out of the litterbox, on our futon and its is weird because it does not smell eitheir. I just wanted to say I know what you are going through....and good luck with everything!

Answer 5

Nobody that uses this site is smart enough to deal with your situation- even me ;)