My cat keeps getting a blocked bladder?

Question

I got a cat from a rescue centre a year ago. He is a 2 year old male short haired. He got a blocked bladder in May this year. He had an operation and was blocked again within weeks. He then had another operation and has been fine for 7 months. I switched him from dry to wet food and got him a drinking fountain to encourage him to drink more. I came home from work today and he was blocked again. He is now at the vets. How many times can i keep doing this? it isnt fair to him. I love him but its costing me about £300 each vet visit. Does anyone have any tips to stop this happening? I really dont know what else i can do?

Answer 1

A close friend of mine has had this problem with her cat. He tends to be a bit nervous and his bladder would get blocked due to crystals of some kind that would develop? I would definitely say that the switch to wet food is a good thing. Is your cat nervous at all? My friend's vet (she's my vet too) is fantastic...she recommended the wet food and also she thought since her cat was so nervous that she should be given a Cat-size dose of Prozac? or that type of drug to calm him down...my friend thinks it might be working. Don't do that without talking first to your vet, though. Also maybe "Felaway" cat spray/plug-in is supposed to help calm cats by placing a pheremone in the air that only cats can smell. That's the only thing I know to suggest! the wet food is supposed to help, I thought. Maybe switch to a different brand..one that's more natural? I'm not sure that would make a difference, though.

This article/website may be of help: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1111&S=2&SourceID=42

Answer 2

Blocked Bladder

Answer 3

Ask your vet about a PU surgery if he is only getting blocked lower down.. That may be a much better long term solution..
The problem is, each time he gets blocked and catheterized to remove the blockage, more scar tissue develops..
Was it determined what kind of crystals are blocking him up? Are they struvite or oxalate?
If they are struvite, then you'll want to read the canned food to see what the ash and magnesium levels are.. You'll want ash levels at or below 3% and magnesium at about .09% or less..

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1372&articleid=2729

Here's a site with more on PU surgery..
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1111&S=2&SourceID=42
"THE PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY
Urinary blockage is almost exclusively a problem reserved for males. This is because the female urethra is shorter and broader, in short, far more difficult to obstruct. When urinary blockage becomes recurrent in a male cat, it becomes time to consider surgical reconstruction of the genitalia to create a more female-like opening. This surgery is called the perineal urethrostomy or “PU” for short. Basically, the penis is removed and a new urinary opening is made."

Answer 4

Once again we are off to the vet as our cat has a blocked bladder AGAIN, I believe there is now a wet food called Hills Prescription CPD with a balanced PH so hopefully we can get this cycle stopped. I must admit that he loves Dreamies and I think they are the problem ??

Answer 5

This is somewhat common for male cats. However, there are two types of crystals they can form. One is helped by a more acidic diet, but the other isn't. So it is important to have the vet find out why type of crystals are causing the blockage. Then, the proper dietary change can be started to help this problem.

Answer 6

If your cat is a male he shouldn't be on can food because it can cause urinary tract infections in male cats. A urinary infection can cause the PH in the urine to be low which will cause the build up of glass like crystals in the urine. There is a product called urinary acidifier which comes in a tube and is given to the cat two to three times a day which will correct the PH and dissolve the crystals. Ask you vet for some methagel and give it to him. You may have to place a quarter inch strip on your finger open his mouth and rub it off your finger into his mouth, or he may even lick it off a saucer some cats like it most don't. its thick as molasses and can be messy but it works if it's given as directed.Also get him back on dry food. Maybe Purina indoor formula or the formula for urinary health.

Answer 7

Talk to your vet. There are some foods that actually put things in them to help cats with this exact problem. So get suggestions from the vet.

Answer 8

it id caused when spayed or neutered in other words keep pets inside forever it has nothing whatsoever to do with food or diet does eating fish bother your urinary tract?think about it what causes renal calculii in humans? i have been through this and never again shall i feed a feral cat or even think of owning some pooranimal that is doomed to stay indoors and be spayed etc etc enough.

Answer 9

Yes, if it is available where you are buy Purina One for Urinary Tract Health it is at any pet store or walmart...it is a dry food, however, it is effective in stopping blockage in your cat and plenty of water like you already do is great....I had the same problem as you do with my male cat and (knock on wood) I dont have any more issues like this...good luck...also, do not feed any tuna or fish products (dont even feed fish flavored soft food EVER) they are high in magnesium which can cause blockage as well

Answer 10

I think you did the main thing by switching to wet food and I think you will see better results soon. In the meantime, mix in some extra water with th food