You have got to be kidding me??!!

rafm

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Last night DH and I were watching TV and noticed our 4 year old peeing in the litterbox several times. The number of times she went was highly unusual so we watched her closely. So far this morning she's been in and out of the box constantly. 

She is an overweight kitty but she is also formerly feral that is just to the point we can classify her as 'former' feral. All it would take is one wrong move and bam, she'd regress. In four years she has only laid eyes on DH and myself. She is terrified of other humans. 

Taking her to the vet will not be easy.....if she has to take medication I don't know how we'll do it, we can't just put our hands on her, she will still run if approached. Her trust in us so so extremely fragile, and this will break it. 

Im worried she has diabetes.  At the least it's a UTI.  Thyroid is also a possibility, she's overweight but eats very little. Her coat is in amazing condition, eyes clear no other signs of problems, just the urination. 

I need to call the vet. Ugh, this won't be fun. 
 

pushylady

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I know that's a difficult decision, but even a UTI can quickly develop into a very serious condition.
Has she been drinking more too and are the urine clumps very large and sticky? Both are indications of diabetes.
I knew of a vet who did house calls - shame that's so uncommon because that would be so useful for a cat like yours.
 
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rafm

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She hides out in a back bedroom most of her day and only comes out at night when we sit down in the living room. Monitoring her water intake is very difficult. However, I have blocked her access to that room today so we can monitor her more closely. She is NOT happy with me right now. 

Called the vet and they are booked solid today so she goes on Monday. I'll get a urine sample from her before we go to eliminate them having to force one. 

As for the urine clumps, I can't tell. We have an old cat that spends a lot of his time in the back with her and he has large urine clumps himself, that's why another reason I'm blocking her access to that room. 

Im watching her closely. Every time she gets in the litterbox it makes me sad. Poor girl. She will just now sit in my lap, that will be over come Monday. 
 

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Sweetie, don't be so sure!!!! At least TRY to think positively! Our experience with some kitties like this is that the "helping them feel better" process can actually bond you closer. :nod: Now - if it's just an issue of antibiotics, there's HOPE that you can give her a pill covered in something she'll eat, especially if you have something she likes even BETTER waiting to follow that. This is the trick we use with Chumley. He practically swallows the "pill treat" whole as he sees us holding the dried beef liver he LOVES and knows is coming if he eats the first thing. :nod:

Also, if she does have to spend the night for any reason, this is almost better. I KNOW she'd be completely terrified, but when you come to RESCUE her, and bring her home, they're usually just SO darn happy to be out of the vet.....

Let's just hope it's a UTI and not diabetes. :nod:

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :hugs: :rub:
 

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Keep a positive attitude.  Our kitties are complicated creatures and what we think is serious turns out to be a simple fix sometimes. Focus on the positive.  Keep us posted after the vet visit if you have time.  I'd like to see how she is doing.
 
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rafm

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Thanks everyone!  I've picked her up a couple of times today just to get my hands on her so she won't be as freaked out tomorrow.  She's such a special little kitty girl, I just don't want her to panic too bad. I'm very nervous about tomorrow. 
 

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AWW hun - it will be alright :alright: She WILL forgive you. I totally agree with what Laurie says and I second it :D. Even if you take her home the same day OR they keep her overnight - she will be more bonded to you for rescuing her from that place and taking her back home. The overnight stay would even enforce that more. You will be her Knight in Shining Armor :lol3: either way. She definitely needs a vet though and I wish you all the best tomorrow. Please let us know how it goes. Thinking of you :hugs::hugs: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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rafm

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We are back. I'm exhausted. 

I got a urine sample before we left so we could eliminate that stressor. Once in the carrier she hissed, growled and cried. Broke my heart. 

At the vet she just curled into a ball and hissed and growled. There was blood visible in her urine when I got the sample. The vet was wonderful with her. She took it all very slow and when they took her out of the room to draw blood, give fluids and her antibiotic and pain control shots. They were even able to clip her back nails. 

Shes in the back room now with her best kitty bud Fred. She didn't immediately dash under the bead so that was good. I have to start oral antibiotics tomorrow. I hope I can get more than just one day in her. 

Thanks for the vibes everyone. We made it!
 

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What form are the oral antibiotics in?  (pill, liquid, etc.)  The reason I ask is that, thanks to many people here at TCS, I am finally able to give my Sven his two doses of Pepcid AC almost all the time, and he doesn't even know it.  What antibiotic did they give you?  If it's clavamox, you may have a problem with her appetite, though, which makes it difficult to sneak pills into their food
.  I know a lot of cats get nauseated from clavamox (my Sven included).

Check out this thread for ideas!  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/237863/ideas-for-hiding-pills

So glad she's home now and not completely freaked out and hiding under the bed
 
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rafm

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I spoke too soon, she is under the bed now. That's OK though, it's always been her safe place. 

We are doing liquid antibiotics, Orbax. We have yet to find a treat she will eat so pilling would be traumatic for her. I think the liquid will be easier. She had an injection of Butorphanol for pain and Baytril antibiotic. 

She loves catnip so I'll give her catnip after each treatment. Maybe that will help. 

Still waiting for the results of the bloodwork, just as a precautionary measure and to get some baselines. 
 

ldg

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Aw sweetie.... :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: I hope it won't be too traumatic for either of you. :heart3:

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: it's "just" a UTI, and the antibiotics will be all that's needed - and that you can get them in her without too much stress. :rub:
 
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rafm

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Thanks Laurie!  

She came out of the back room with DH earlier. She freezes when she hears my voice but she is out and moving about some so that is good.  I hope the antibiotics and pain medication are helping. Still haven't heard back from the vet on her labs, they usually call around 7 though so I'm not worried. Well, I'm worried but not that they'll call me. 
 

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AWWW SO glad she is back home safe and sound. I hope she takes her medication easily for you :cross: Please do keep us informed - we care :hugs::hugs::hugs: Did they vet say there were crystal's in the urine? Or are they sending it out for culture? Hope it is all good news and you will have an answer :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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rafm

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She won't take all her medicine but something is better than nothing. She has recovered quite well though and has forgiven me completely. This is her a couple of minutes ago



So amazing.
 
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rafm

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So sorry for the delayed response. For some reason couldn't get my posts to go through in this and a couple of other threads.

Anyway, Claire is feeling much better. She even let's me syringe the medicine in every morning. I simply put a bowl of wet food in front of her and wiggle the syringe into the side of her mouth and voila! Then she goes right after the wet food. I am so proud of her.

Regarding her labs, bloodwork was fine. Glucose was slightly elevated but they attribute it to the stress she was experiencing. It wasn't high enough to be that concerned with.

On the urine sample. What I brought in was not enough to test and since it was her first UTI and first trip to the vet, we decided not to extract a sample. She was already so stressed I couldn't put her through that. If she has another though, we will have to do that.

Thanks for following along.....I seriously underestimated her fortitude.
 
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