Urinary / bladder issue...

[Lorie D.]

I was thinking that your cat could possibly be developing crystals or might have an infection when I read your post. Of course, only a vet that exams your cat can tell you for sure.

Sweetie had some problems with crystals before I adopted him. One of the things the vet did when he was having problems was to radiograph his bladder. Maybe this is something you can ask your vet about.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the problem isn't too serious. Please update us.

[darlili]

My boy recently had some bladder issues and was diagnosed with struvite crystals during his follow up visit (during the Evet visit, he had an empty bladder so couldn't get a sample). I don't get the deal about herbal drops rather than initiating treatment with an antibiotic, though. Even if your vet is very holistic, presumably they also practice conventional methods when called for. If your vet for some reason simply won't go with meds, without some damn good reasons, I'd honestly get myself to the nearest vet for a second opinion asap.

My boy got a pain killer, a course of Baytril, and, on my follow up visit with my regular vet post-Baytril, we're using prescription foods for at least a while. So far, pretty darn good as far as peeing, - his poo has been soft, probably due to diet change.

Good luck

[Roxie225]

Hey all! Thanks for all the posts and great insight!

I called the vet this am as SOON as they opened and he said that her urine results had come back clear, no cystals or any infection forming. He is sure she has acute cystitis (which when you research online is inflammation of the bladder with an unknown cause, most likely stress or diet).

He didn't even see her, he wanted me to go and pickup the antibiotics and start them asap. I have to say, I'm not 100% certain but I gave her one dose so far (along with the homeopathic drops b/c the vet said to keep them going they help with pain as well) and she seems MUCH happier!!

For now, I have her isolated in our spare room with food, water and 2 litterboxes. This way the other cats don't stress her any more than I'm sure she already is. But the good news is, she hasn't been running to the litterbox as frequently and has been holding her tail up high -- I think she is starting to feel better already.

On a side note, our vet really is a great vet -- He is not holistic, he gave us the drops b/c cystitis really doesn't have a cure, it was supposed to ease her pain. He felt really badly this morning and said if she doesn't seem better within a day or so, that we will have to come in for more tests.

I'm crossing my fingers that the antibiotic is the kicker and we won't have to be worried about something more serious.

Thanks again for everything, it was a real comfort to be able to come on here and have everyones help and support

[saraanis]

my cat, momo had the same problem i woke up one day and i freaked when i saw drops of blood in the litter box .. rushed to the vet got the tests done and it was all clear.
then i remembered someone telling me that sometimes giving your cat too much dry food can cause this .. it had happened to thier cat as well . so i immediately took momo off the dry food started giving her fresh boiled chicken with a little bit of boiled rice and she got fine no blood in the urine any more i learnt my lesson well i just keep the dry food as a teat once in a while.
i hope your cat gets better soon.

[otto]

Originally Posted by saraanis

my cat, momo had the same problem i woke up one day and i freaked when i saw drops of blood in the litter box .. rushed to the vet got the tests done and it was all clear.
then i remembered someone telling me that sometimes giving your cat too much dry food can cause this .. it had happened to thier cat as well . so i immediately took momo off the dry food started giving her fresh boiled chicken with a little bit of boiled rice and she got fine no blood in the urine any more i learnt my lesson well i just keep the dry food as a teat once in a while.
i hope your cat gets better soon.

That is good advice about the dry food. But I wasn't clear on something, you aren't just feeding your kitty chicken and rice every day, right? You've switched to a canned food? Because plain chicken and rice does not give her all the nutrients she needs to be healthy. It's okay for a day or two, but not as a regular diet.

[saraanis]

yes i give canned food as well but i give mostly fresh food chicken fish occasional vegetables as well
but dry food is just as a treat especially after what happened im extra careful about it no matter what top brand they might be i just dont want to risk my cats health at any cost

[Auntie Crazy]

Saraanis, I can understand if you've decided to feed your cat home-prepared foods rather than commercial, however, the menu you've outlined is very, very incomplete. Cats need organs and bone in addition to meat, and feeding only one meat can (and likely will), lead to an imbalance in nutrients. Taurine, for instance, is present in very low quantities in breast meat, while Niacin is pretty high. In addition, cats have no biological need for grains, veggies or fruit (nor can they properly digest them), and fish is better as a once a week treat than as a main staple of the diet.

Finally, cooking removes/destroys many nutrients (this is why the pet food companies must add so many synthetic vitamins and minerals). Are you giving her any supplements?

It's admirable that you're taking control of your cat's diet, Saraanis! Can you pop over to the Raw fed forum so we can talk about specifics, or create your own thread in the Nutrition forum?

[otto]

Originally Posted by saraanis

yes i give canned food as well but i give mostly fresh food chicken fish occasional vegetables as well
but dry food is just as a treat especially after what happened im extra careful about it no matter what top brand they might be i just dont want to risk my cats health at any cost

This is not a healthy diet for your cat. Cats have need of certain things such as taurine, which is very important to their eye health. Lack of taurine causes lesions on the eye, and ultimately blindness (and possibly removal of the eye) Cats do not manufacture their own taurine and must get enough, somehow, daily, in their diet. Commercially prepared foods add it, homemade diets must add supplements, or a certain amount of organ meats, daily.

Fish should not ever be given to a cat prone to crystal formation.

(sorry to go off topic)

[Auntie Crazy]

Originally Posted by otto

...Cats do not manufacture their own taurine and must get enough, somehow, daily, in their diet. Commercially prepared foods add it, homemade diets must add supplements, or a certain amount of organ meats, daily.(sorry to go off topic)

Just a tiny little clarification: Taurine isn't present in organs, only in muscle meats.

[otto]

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Just a tiny little clarification: Taurine isn't present in organs, only in muscle meats.

Organ and muscle. Hearts, especially contain a good amount of taurine! We're on the same track, anyway. I notice we posted basically the same info at the same time. GMTA.

[sharky]

Slight thread hijack

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Just a tiny little clarification: Taurine isn't present in organs, only in muscle meats.

Please ACTUALLY make sure you are posting ACCURATE info ...... The ave person knows taurine is found in both organs and muscle meat s as it is taught in most elementary classes..

To saraanis
Please if you have not done so Discuss your diet with a VET or other animal nutrition PROFESSIONAL ( ie not just info online but someone with some real credentials that you can see a paper or other legit schooling item ) ..... Your diet looks to have some basic issues.. I say ask a legit professional for advise for a non commercial diet as you can cause MAJOR health issues that may show up yrs later and could cause premature death of your lovely kitty ... technically Most dry and canned diets meet a Basic criteria for nutrients and thus are labeled complete and balanced ... IMHO that statements = the US RDA , ie will sustain life some will thrive, others need extra .... Cats just like humans are individual

as NO ONE on here can give you any real answers , just experiences and semi educated ideas ( some more than others)

1. No online advice can replace direct veterinary intervention. If you suspect that your cat may be ill, please contact your vet immediately. You are welcome to look for advice in the health forum while waiting for that appointment, but never delay proper veterinary care waiting for Internet advice. Remember that cats, and especially kittens, are very adept in keeping pain to themselves and delaying treatment may cause irreversible damage.

[carolinalima]

Originally Posted by sharky

Slight thread hijack
Please ACTUALLY make sure you are posting ACCURATE info ...... The ave person knows taurine is found in both organs and muscle meat s as it is taught in most elementary classes..

To saraanis
Please if you have not done so Discuss your diet with a VET or other animal nutrition PROFESSIONAL ( ie not just info online but someone with some real credentials that you can see a paper or other legit schooling item ) ..... Your diet looks to have some basic issues..

as NO ONE on here can give you any real answers , just experiences and semi educated ideas ( some more than others)

Saraanis: I commend you for taking the matters on your own hands and taking care of your kitty's diet... Probably the reason why she hasn't had UTIs to date is the added water intake she is getting, by eating home made food instead of dry...
Please note though, that commercial foods (that meet the AAFCO standards) are complete and balanced with the all nutrients a cat need for optimum health. It is perfectly ok to go on your own, but it is important to do it under vet's guidance, to ensure that your cat is getting all it needs.
You added more moisture to his diet, but the diet you are giving your cat is depleted of essential nutrients that can be harming his health in different and serious ways.
The AAFCO has a LONG list of nutrients that must be present in the food for your cats' health - a vet will be the most qualified person to help you in achieving that in a homemade diet...
Here is the standard:
http://www.peteducation.com/article....3+2244&aid=657