Blood in my cat's pee

pitakat

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I have a 6 year old male neutered cat named Pita, and lately there has been pee in his urine. It happened earlier this week and I thought it was a fluke thing, then it happened again last night and today. In all other respects he seems healthy, his appetite is good, he's been drinking plenty of water, he's active, he doesn't seem to be in any pain... He seems fine, except for the blood. It's only a little bit, but I'm worried. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow so I can get him in immediately. Does anyone know what's wrong?
 

strange_wings

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Probably an infection or blockage. Good luck at the vet, hopefully all he'll need is an antibiotic and maybe a diet change to help him get over and prevent this from happening again.
 

nance

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More than likely is a UTI or he has crystals in his bladder...which can be very serious if not treated...Good luck tomorrow with the vets....Keep us posted

Nancy
 

mews2much

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I would call the er.
A male can block up and die.
I lost Frisky that way.
I also have a cat with a uti right now.
How much blood is there?
Is he getting in the pan alot?
 

the_food_lady

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Originally Posted by PitaKat

I have a 6 year old male neutered cat named Pita, and lately there has been pee in his urine. It happened earlier this week and I thought it was a fluke thing, then it happened again last night and today. In all other respects he seems healthy, his appetite is good, he's been drinking plenty of water, he's active, he doesn't seem to be in any pain... He seems fine, except for the blood. It's only a little bit, but I'm worried. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow so I can get him in immediately. Does anyone know what's wrong?
It's possible he has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or, crystals in his bladder that are irritating the bladder and the blood is a result. Keep a very close eye on him until you can get him into the Vet tomorrow. If you start to notice him making frequent trips to the litterbox, "straining" to pee (sometimes they'll even sorta cry out when in the box and trying to pee), peeing small amounts, just little dribbles but repeatedly going back to the box, licking his genital area....then get him to the nearest Emerg Vet immediately....because this is a symptom that the crystals have blocked his urinary tract and he's unable to fully empty the bladder. This, unless treated promptly, can be life threatening and the urine has nowhere to go and can back up into the kidneys.

Males are more prone to something called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), and here's a good link that helps to explain it:

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/fusfaqs.html

When you take him into the Vet, ensure the vet not only collects a urine sample to run a basic urinalysis on .....but if *that* shows any kind of bacteria, that he also sends the sample off for a urine "culture"....this is the only definitive way to specifically identify what "type" of bacteria is present, so that Vet can therefore prescribe the appropriate antibiotic. Many Vets don't seem to want to do cultures, I don't know why......they prefer, in the case that a UTI is identified by a urinalysis (they can generally run these "in-house"), to just put cat on a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Not every type of antibiotic works for the many different types of bacteria that can be the culprit.

What do you feed your kitty? Strictly dry food? What kind? Canned?
 
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pitakat

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There is only a little bit of blood, he doesn't seem like it hurts him to pee, but it could be taking him longer. He doesn't seem like he's in any pain at all, he's walking around fine. I thought he was the picture of health before I saw the blood. How much does a urinalysis and urine culture cost usually? He eats dry food, he's always been on that. Would canned food be better or prevent this sort of thing?
 
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pitakat

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Ok, thank you. We'll probably get the urinalysis and see where it goes from there. I just hope the vet can figure out whats wrong with him
 

momofmany

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Originally Posted by PitaKat

There is only a little bit of blood, he doesn't seem like it hurts him to pee, but it could be taking him longer. He doesn't seem like he's in any pain at all, he's walking around fine. I thought he was the picture of health before I saw the blood. How much does a urinalysis and urine culture cost usually? He eats dry food, he's always been on that. Would canned food be better or prevent this sort of thing?
Cats are notorious for hiding their pain. Take any blood in their urine very seriously, as it tells you there is something wrong with him. The food lady summed up things pretty well. If you let it go too long, the condition can become chronic and very hard to treat. You want to catch these things as early as possible.

Yes, canned food is much better than dry.
 
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pitakat

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Originally Posted by Momofmany

Yes, canned food is much better than dry.
If I may ask, why is it better? I have been told that dry food is much better on your pet's teeth, but I don't know much about how the two differ nutritionally.
 

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Originally Posted by PitaKat

If I may ask, why is it better? I have been told that dry food is much better on your pet's teeth, but I don't know much about how the two differ nutritionally.
Cats are naturally dehydrated creatures, and not good in drinking water. In the wild the majority of the water they ingest comes from prey. Wet food has more water, facilitating them to get the amount they need daily.
 

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This article explains why canned food is better than dry: Why Cats Need Canned Food
This one deals with the myth of dry food cleaning teeth: Does Dry Food Clean the Teeth?

Your vet will test your cat for urinary crystals, and probably put him on a prescription diet designed to increase urine volume, and, if struvite crystals are found, to acidify his urine in order to dissolve them.

Our cat had a bout right before Christmas, and received subcutaneous fluids (he was also constipated), antibiotics, pain relievers, and was put on special food for two months.
 
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pitakat

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*update*
The vet was able to get him in right away, I had never taken Pita to this vet because we just moved to a new town, but I was very happy they got him in so quickly. He tested his urine and told us he had a UTI, just like a lot of you said. I asked him about the food, he said the food Pita's on is ok, that we wouldn't have to do a diet change, although I am thinking about switching him anyway... So we're giving him antibiotics twice a day, and the vet said he should be peeing regularly in 2 or 3 days. I'm so relieved!
 

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That's good news. I really would give an all wet food diet a chance, if Pita will accept it. I've only managed to get Jamie to accept half wet/half dry.
 

nance

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Wonderful news....try and encourage him to drink more as well...will help flush him out faster....or at least thats why I have been told....happy to hear thats all it was...It can be serious enough but crystals are much worse...

Nancy
 
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pitakat

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Yeah, they gave me clavamox. I'll try to get him to drink more. Thanks everyone for your support and suggestions. You've all been really helpful and informative!
 

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what should i do cat got a bit of blood in his wee but not in pain eating and drinking fine  it come and go ?
 

carolina

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what should i do cat got a bit of blood in his wee but not in pain eating and drinking fine  it come and go ?
You have to take your cat to the vet ASAP - you can't know if it is in pain as cats don't show signs of pain that you would easily recognize.
Is he peeing normally (big, nice pees?) or going in and out of the box trying to pee and not much comes out?
 
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