Decided to go back to our current vet just for an urinalysis and culture to rule out bladder infection. There was actually a new vet at the clinic and she was the first to say this: Strawberry has Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. Out of all the other vets we've seen, none had mentioned this disorder and always kept prescribing antibiotics. I told her about Strawberry's history and by observing Strawberry in the office room, the vet told me she does have some sort of anxiety problems and asked me to look into a behavior specialist, which is what I was told last time I was on the phone with our vet. I told her we didn't have the money for it and told her I have been giving her Valerian. She then brought up... amitriptyline. 
I was so relived to hear that, but why didn't the other vet at the clinic tell me that they don't prescribe it?! Argh!
So Strawberry has 10mg amitriptyline and 0.3ml of Buprenex for pain. She's only had the pain meds once today at 3 and is still kind of "zoned out" at 11. I'm supposed to give it to her 2x daily, but it looks like 1 is enough. I'm about to giver her her first dose of the antidepressant. I have a month supply and I was told that her behavior change might take 3-4 weeks.
I will keep Strawberry confined probably for the whole time. During her recovery I'll be going around in the house at night with a black light searching for any pee spots and wash the sofa cover really good. After 3 weeks or so I want to introduce Strawberry to the whole house again and maybe keep Einstein (her brother) confined during that time. Like switching them. I have a huge hunch that Einstein is stressing her out by dominating her.
The new vet at the clinic gave me a bunch of printed material to read about this disorder and problems arising from multiple cats. I just don't understand why Einstein would be doing this now. They were kittens when we got them. I have seen lately and it's becoming a big problem now that I think about it, but Einstein does seem to boss Strawberry around. He will chase her and she won't have any of it and will hiss at him and run. I've gotten on to him for it so many times and even disciplined him by holding the back of his neck and saying no while pointing my finger (all while he's laying, not grabbing him in the air). Even that is supposed to work, like how a mother cat would do, but it doesn't on him. I may have to invest in a small water gun
Anyways, she's a lot better now, very relaxed and not meowing so much (in pain) and not visiting the litterbox so much
Will keep you posted on how she's doing in a week. Thank you so much for your responses!
I was so relived to hear that, but why didn't the other vet at the clinic tell me that they don't prescribe it?! Argh!So Strawberry has 10mg amitriptyline and 0.3ml of Buprenex for pain. She's only had the pain meds once today at 3 and is still kind of "zoned out" at 11. I'm supposed to give it to her 2x daily, but it looks like 1 is enough. I'm about to giver her her first dose of the antidepressant. I have a month supply and I was told that her behavior change might take 3-4 weeks.
I will keep Strawberry confined probably for the whole time. During her recovery I'll be going around in the house at night with a black light searching for any pee spots and wash the sofa cover really good. After 3 weeks or so I want to introduce Strawberry to the whole house again and maybe keep Einstein (her brother) confined during that time. Like switching them. I have a huge hunch that Einstein is stressing her out by dominating her.
The new vet at the clinic gave me a bunch of printed material to read about this disorder and problems arising from multiple cats. I just don't understand why Einstein would be doing this now. They were kittens when we got them. I have seen lately and it's becoming a big problem now that I think about it, but Einstein does seem to boss Strawberry around. He will chase her and she won't have any of it and will hiss at him and run. I've gotten on to him for it so many times and even disciplined him by holding the back of his neck and saying no while pointing my finger (all while he's laying, not grabbing him in the air). Even that is supposed to work, like how a mother cat would do, but it doesn't on him. I may have to invest in a small water gun
Anyways, she's a lot better now, very relaxed and not meowing so much (in pain) and not visiting the litterbox so much
Will keep you posted on how she's doing in a week. Thank you so much for your responses!
Strawberry is a great name for a cat. Good for you for taking the advice and going back to the clinic and speaking with a new vet. That sounds like it will all help Strawberry, good game plan so far. Let us know when the culture comes back. So glad Strawberry is getting the help she needs, that must feel great 
