Archive through December 14, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: Cats (ARCHIVE): Archive through December 14, 2002

Sia

Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 09:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
cats Urgrace, I'm glad to hear that your kitty is better now! I'm hoping to get a kitten for Christmas myself, but I doubt if my hubby will okay it! My 17 1/2-year-old cat wouldn't be happy, either, if we had a new furbaby in the family.

Karuuna

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Calling the TVCH Cat Experts! I just took my 2-year-old male kitty to the vet because he had blood in his urine, was going constantly, and not always trying to make it to the litter box.

After a check at the vet's, apparently he has crystals, which I have never heard of. The only thing the vet could do was prescribe a diet change (I already feed very high quality food), and give him an antibiotic in case he also has a secondary infection. Has anyone had experience with this? Stryder seems quite miserable, and I hate having to keep him confined, but I have to watch him every minute so he doesn't pee on the bed or the furniture. He's also got a weight problem, so he's been on low cal food, and even tho he only gets 3/4 of a cup of the low cal food a day, he already weighs 13 pounds, 10 ounces! Help!

Here's a photo of Stryder and Max the Beagle.
MaxStryder

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Stryder is VERY handsome :)

My kitty Sabastian has had this since he was 8mos old... he has been on CD (perscription diet dry and wet) sinceetter in a day. No other food except the CD though. The sooner you catch it the more likely this wil do the trick.

PS Max is a cutie too.

I have some websites... hold on

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
http://www.hdw-inc.com/healthfus.htm

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/cystitis.html

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
BTW Sabastian is 14 and half so it is controllable :)

Webkitty

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Kar, Stryder looks almost like my "P"!!

I've had experience with this before. Male cats are prone to urinary infections. The ash content in cat food can sometimes bring this on. Especially if they only eat the dried stuff.
Look for a food that is advertised as low in ash. Hills Science Diet makes one called Urinary PH (or something like that)
Make sure he takes all of the antibiotics, if he is bleeding that is not good. {{Stryder}}

I don't want to scare you, but I had a cat one time that had to have his entire penis area removed because he was prone to this. Each time he had it, it scarred the inside a little more. He finally had a bad attack, and the vet said the only way to save his life was to have the operation. He never had an attack after that.

Also, he needs to drink LOTS of water right now. Monitor it, if he's not drinking, he may need to go back to the vet on Monday for fluids to help flush him out. I'm surprized your vet didn't take this more seriously.
I would pester the vet too if he doesn't seem better by Monday after being on the antibiotics.
Keep him inside and warm, is he an indoor kitty?

I wouldn't worry to much about his weight right now, he needs to eat. If he likes canned cat food, the liquid in it is better for him right now than the dried kibbles.

I just read Moon's post. I'm sorry if I seem like I'm over reacting on this, but my experience with this was not good.

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
One more thing... I have a water fountain for my kitties because FRESH water is the key to UTI and crystal prevention especially in male kitties.

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 01:51 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Mine wasn't good either... Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound so lite... there are things you can do though so I try to stay on the positive side. Sabastian went through quite a lot but things have been good the last few years.

Webkitty

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Right Moon, (about the fresh water) P will drink from a bowl, and I give him bottled water in it, fresh twice a day.

The other one, (difficult little China) will only drink from running water at the bathroom faucet.

I know you try to keep on the positive side

My parents had a cat that died right in front of them from this. He was an indoor/outdoor cat and they didn't know he had it until it was too late.
So, actually two bad experiences.

I felt I just had to post the possiblities if not properly treated in a timely manner at the risk of sounding like an alarmist. Got to keep all our tvch kittys healthy!

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This is the fountain I have

Drinkwell

Karuuna

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks so much for coming to my rescue, I'm just beside myself with worry! The vet wasn't even going to see him today, until I absolutely insisted. :( Stryder is a very affectionate, mellow cat, and my son just adores him. They like to cuddle and watch tv together, and when my son found out Stryder was sick, he just started sobbing hysterically.

Ok, here are my questions...

The vet gave us dry food that is specifically for this problem. Should I wet it? Should I let him eat as much as he wants right now until he is better, and then go back to restricted food intake?


Stryder doesn't drink much water. Are there other ways I can convince him to drink more? What if I used an eye dropper to make him drink more, at least for a couple of days?

The urine ranges from pink to pretty dark red at times. The vet said she'd never seen a cat with "so many crystals" in the test she did. She also gave me an antiinflammatory to help ease the bleeding, but he's not supposed to start that till bedtime because it will make him drowsy. Should I go ahead and give him one now?

Last, Moon I know you have many kitties. How do you keep one with a restricted diet away from everyone else's food? I have one cat with a thyroid tumor that I struggle to keep his weight up, so I like to leave food for him all the time for whenever he's hungry. But then I have to remember to separate them when I'm not home, or be watchful that Stryder (who LOVES to eat) doesn't get into Manfred's food.

It's hard being a kitty mommy!!!

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I have seperate bowls/plates for each of my kitties and they pretty much stick to their own. I am lucky Sabastian doesn't like anything but his CD and the others don't seem to be crazy about his CD... maybe because he has eaten all his life he is just not going to change. I wish I could be more help.

Ice cubes in the water helps... makes them at least want to play with it. He should have a wet special food. I would go back to the vet and ask for CD wet... very important since he doesn't like his water. The fountain I have for my kids has helped them all want to drink more. I guess it is more fun.

I would also give him his antiinflammatory NOW... he needs to rest anyway. And I would even give him one later tonight JMO Also I always double the first dose of antibiotics when I start. Gets into their system better. The antibiotics and the CD wet makes a big difference.

Ketchuplover

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
((((ALL CAT & CAT OWNERS)))) :)

Weinermr

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Kar,

I'm surprised the vet hasn't suggested IV fluids for Stryder. They are easy to administer and will boost the hydration level for your kitty. You may want to ask about that next time you talk to the vet. It may just help getting him stabilized that much sooner.

Good luck and hugs to Stryder and Kar.

Webkitty

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
What Moon said, give him the meds now, he's in pain. I would also get him a couple of cans of fancy feast or something tasty and yummy for right now, he needs to get water in him. A dropper might be a good idea.

And Kar, call the vet on Monday if he's not better, please, for me, thanks. Good luck.

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:51 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
MsKitty... you have mail!

We love you too Ketchup!

Karuuna

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 02:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank you all! I'm going to go to the local pet store and see if they have a drinking fountain, that's a great idea! I'll also look to see if they have some of the special food in a can. And I'll go ahead and give him his anti-inflammatory now. I just gave him one dose of antibiotics and I'll give him another at bedtime. He just seems so miserable, and so of course, I am too.

If he isn't better by Monday, I will make the vet try the IV fluids, thanks for that idea too!

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 03:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Make sure it is CD... the special food... pet srtores usually do not carry this... the other food is why he is crystalizing.

{{{Kar}}}

Karuuna

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 03:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Unfortunately, it is Saturday, and in my little town, no vets are open at this point... including my own, so I can't get it from a vet until Monday. :(

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 03:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
No vets anywhere? Not even an emergancy vet (they will not charge you extra for food)

This is not good...

I guess you could try to wet the dry stuff they gave you. I am just surprised they gave you dry to begin with.

Ok go to the store and get friskies special diet(it's in a can)... my neighbors cat would not eat anything else when he had UTI-crystals. Better than giving him regular food, that is what got him where he is in the first place.

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 03:35 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
1

Karuuna

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 04:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Okay, I went to the local store, but like Moon predicted, they had nothing for urinary tract infections except Iams dry food, and no water fountains. Moon, I saw the Special Diet at Walmart, but didn't know if that would work so I didn't get any. If I can't come up with something better by tomorrow, I'll try that.


So I got a baby medicine syringe at Walmart that holds one teaspoon of water, and when I came home I gave Stryder teaspoons of water from the syringe. While he is eating really well, he's not drinking hardly at all on his own. He seems to think the whole process of me slowly squeezing the syringe of fresh water in the side of his mouth is pretty cool. I was able to give him almost ten teaspoons till he started fussing with me, and then I quit.

So, any idea how much/how often I should give him water? Since he likes the process, it should help flush him out, but I don't want to overdo it.

Moondance

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 05:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
He sounds like a fun kitty... liking the the syringe LOL

Keep doing it until he doesn't want to do it then try later... get that urinary special diet (friskies) and also let him eat the special dry stuff but NOTHING else because that is why he crystalizing.

Order that fountain from the website Kar... it is cheaper than what is in the stores and they will not charge tax... you get it this week if you order it soon. Meanwhile try the ice cube thing too.

Karuuna

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 05:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
He truly is the sweetest kitty I've ever known. I still laugh when I think about taking him to the vet the first time, and he just purred and purred the whole time, even when the vet was giving him his shots. The vet just shook his head, and said he'd never seen a cat do that before! :) Quite unlike my other cat, who won't let me do anything with him. For his thyroid, I have to use the ear gel tapozol, because pilling him was a three person job; and often the cat still won!

I'll check the big PetsMart store in the neighboring city tomorrow for the Friskies Special Diet and the fountain, just so I can get the fountain quicker. If they don't have any, I'll go ahead and place a mail order tomorrow.

I am concerned because over the course of the day his urine has been getting more bloody, darker and thicker. I think it's partly because he's just not drinking. But if it's still like this I may have to get the vet to see him tomorrow again, even if it's just to calm MY nerves!

Thanks so very much, Moon, for all your help and patience! I swear I'd be a total basket case if you weren't around helping me.

Hippyt

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - 05:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
awwwww{{{Karuuna}}}}} {{{{Stryder}}}}}} Hope Stryder gets to feeling better real soon!