My cat has Cystitis What can I do?

About a couple days I noticed my cat Mialo frequently peeing every 30minutes or so. I thought maybe he over drank. The next day it was even more frequent about every 5 minutes even going on the carpet and bathroom mat. Which he has NEVER done before. He also didn't walk much and excessive licking down there. I checked his symtoms and I was so scared of what I found. I thought it was urethral blockage. But turns out its Cystitis. Found out from the emergency vet. I honestly don't know what half of what this paper I was given is about. I wasn't at the vet at the time. My boyfriend took Mialo and paid for his treatment there. I'm very gratefull for that. He was given pain medication and an antibiotic, Ill be taking him to a regular vet tomorrow, but I'm not sure what else they can do for him. 

I don't know to much about Cystitis only that it can't really be cured but it can be managed with food specially made for the crystals in his urine. The vet pressed on his bladder and he let out all his urine and didn't seem bothered by it but she said it was gritty. So I'm going to switch foods. Maybe some canned food to get him more hydrated? He's on a dry food called Wellness. I also found this apple cider vinegar remedy online. It looks like it helped a lot of cat's with similar problems. Though I'm hesitant to try it. I don't want to make the situation worse. Has anybody tried using that remedy?

I'm just so worried about Mialo, I cried for hours thinking he might die and he's still at risk for urethral blockage. I don't know where to start on managing this or how long it will take to get him better. Any advice would be helpful. 

Hi, and welcome to TCS!!

So sorry your baby has been going through this. We have an article here on Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), that is simple and easy to understand. http://www.thecatsite.com/a/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease-flutd

You seem to be on the right track as far as long-term management goes.

Please switch your boy to at least some wet canned food ASAP, as this will immediately introduce more moisture into his diet and will help the issue a great deal. An option you mentioned above is special food for his urinary tract; I assume your vet suggested something like Hills C/D. http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd...eline-bladder-health-with-seafood-canned.html.

Some people do put their cats on prescription foods like this, and it helps them. Others find it makes no difference, and just introduce regular wet food into their cat's diet. Generally, wet diets are better than dry, especially for cats with FLUTD. Another option you have is raw feeding, which some people have had great success with, especially people whose cats have health problems. While the actual mechanics of raw feeding are much less daunting than it seems at first, it can be cost-prohibitive, especially if you have multiple cats. We have a whole forum on raw feeding in the Nutrition section, at Raw Feeding for Cats. If you find yourself interested in raw, PM Auntie Crazy and she'll be glad to help.

Once again, welcome, and please keep us updated on Mialo. If you want, you can wander over to the New Cats on the Block forum and introduce yourself and Mialo. We love pictures.

If you have trouble navigating the site, just PM a moderator (or me) and we'll help as soon as we can.

Cystitis can be maddening and every vet will have their own approach to treating it, particularly if it becomes chronic. I have a boy with chronic cystitis, and he's been to 5 different vets, consulted with others on the phone, and they all recommended different things. The reality is that every cat responds differently to the treatments. If your cat is not responding to the treatment prescribed by the emergency vet or your own vet, don't be afraid to challenge them and ask for other options. Remember that what they tell you is not wrong, it's just that the cause of cystitis varies and its hard to pin down. Thus the need sometimes for experimentation.

Many vets prescribe pain meds for 2 reasons - first of all they are obviously in pain and it helps relieve that pain. But cystitis can also be caused by stress, and the pain meds relax them and they forget about the stress.

If caused by an infection, antibiotics will clear up the underlying cause.

If it becomes chronic and its cause is unknown (idiopathic), then other drugs like steroids are used to decrease the inflamation.

If caused by crystals, then a change in diet to prescription foods is necessary.

In all cases, it's a good thing to increase their water intake and get them to eat more wet food. Flushing the bladder with moisture is a very good thing.

My boy has idiopathic cystitis caused by an auto-immune disease. Even though they know he has an auto-immune disease, they don't know why he has that disease. His disease can cause crystals and inflamation, therefore he is on a prescription diet, takes steroids, and if it flares up, he is put on pain meds. This is not something we discovered overnight, but by many tests and trial and error to determine what keeps him stable. (Knock on wood) He hasn't had a flare up in a couple of years.

It can be corrected and if chronic, can be managed. You just need to work very closely with your vet in the mean time.

Thanks guys, Ill read up on FLUTD and consider raw feeding. But for now Ill switch him to differernt dry food and add wet food as well.

So far, Mialo is just relaxing in the bathroom, but looks like he still has not peed. Only a little drops. his vet appointed is in the afternoon

but I'm still very worried. 

If I were you, I would really consider dropping all the dry, and immediately moving onto an all wet diet - IMHO it will be the safest route, no matter what the cause is.....
I would not give antibiotics immediately, until the results of the culture come back - DO get a culture and urinalysis - this way you will know if there is an infection, and if so, what exact bacteria you are dealing with, and the proper antibiotic to use. You will also know if your kitty has crystals, and what type - that will guide with the best diet plan.....

A lot of cystitis however, is caused by inflammation, which can be caused by stress or be immune-related, and the great majority of them, especially in young cats are not caused by infections at all....

It is VERY improtant to give the kitty pain meds - Buprenex works well.... This will help the kitty to pee, helping to flush the bladder, and also prevent stress - remember, cystitis is often caused by stress, so: pain = stress, that worsens cystitis. Pain medicine will also help to reduce the risk of litterbox avoidance..... Which often helps because of it.....

An anti-inflammatory shot can also help for the same purposes (you will still need pain medication for home use, though), but please, stay AWAY from Metacam/Meloxicam.

This is what I would do for my own cat in the case of a flare up - my cat Bugsy has the risk of cystitis caused by stress. He had it once, and the biggest mistake I have made was immediately giving him antibiotics to "prevent" an infection, when he really had an inflammation. I dealt with the consequences of it for 1yr and 2months. I prevented flares by increasing his wet food intake and minimizing stress.
Now he is on a raw diet, and I am much more comfortable that I am doing all I can to prevent recurrences, as he is having the most amount of water as possible, with his diet.... :nod:

I will start an all wet food diet as soon as he's been to the second vet, though like I said I'm not sure what else they can do but maybe give me more information.

The emergency vet did do a urinalysis. On the paper I have it says Struvite crystalluria. I don't know if thats a type of crystal or what exactly it means.

He is on Buprenorphine and Clavamox drops. He does seem to feel better not licking down there as much, and not going to the bathroom as much but still has trouble peeing.

He's not crying and theres no blood in his urine so thats a good sign. I'm just really

worried he's not peeing. Even if I get more fluid into him he might just have the same problem. The only way his urine came out was when the vet pushed on his bladder.

Theres not way I can do it, would I have to keep taking him to the vet to get it out? Or just let it be and wait for the different food to help? 

I'm really considering a raw diet for him, I just don't know where to start. I also have another cat, we keep them on the same food and If I switch Mialo's food would it be

okay to switch her onto it as well? Even if its food especialy for crystals or the raw diet?

 Thanks so much for your help guys, I really appericate it. This situation has terrified me so much and I realize just how important Mialo is to me, hes really like my baby!

Suri said:

I will start an all wet food diet as soon as he's been to the second vet, though like I said I'm not sure what else they can do but maybe give me more information.
The emergency vet did do a urinalysis. On the paper I have it says Struvite crystalluria. I don't know if thats a type of crystal or what exactly it means.
He is on Buprenorphine and Clavamox drops. He does seem to feel better not licking down there as much, and not going to the bathroom as much but still has trouble peeing.
He's not crying and theres no blood in his urine so thats a good sign. I'm just really
worried he's not peeing. Even if I get more fluid into him he might just have the same problem. The only way his urine came out was when the vet pushed on his bladder.
Theres not way I can do it, would I have to keep taking him to the vet to get it out? Or just let it be and wait for the different food to help? 

I'm really considering a raw diet for him, I just don't know where to start. I also have another cat, we keep them on the same food and If I switch Mialo's food would it be
okay to switch her onto it as well? Even if its food especialy for crystals or the raw diet?


 Thanks so much for your help guys, I really appericate it. This situation has terrified me so much and I realize just how important Mialo is to me, hes really like my baby!

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This means he has Struvite Crystals. And the fact that he is not peeing is a BIG concern. I would watch this kitty very very carefully..... Your kitty can get blocked and that can be life threatening. Blocked kitties can die in a couple of days.... If he is not peeing it is an emergency - I would go straight to his regular vet.
This is not a case for antibiotics - this is a case for a few months on prescription WET diet for the crystals, then switching him to a raw or all Canned diet. He has to get as much water in his system as he can..... and he has to pee.
If I were you, I would get this cat into a carrier and go to the vet pronto. Not peeing with Crystals is not a matter that can wait IMHO. Please do not wait for information, for an appointment, for a schedule, for nothing.... Just get your kitty into a carrier and take him to his regular vet now. I am sorry if I am scarring you.... but this is serious stuff.... Can be corrected, don't worry..... But if not treated timely, it can be very very dangerous, especially for male kitties

Hello again

Now that you mention that Mialo is on Clavamox, I think I should tell you that the "consequences" of the antibiotic Carolina spoke about in her post above were from the antibiotic Clavamox. It gave her Bugsy diarrhea, every day, for over a year. There are many other cat owners who report gastrointestinal issues after using Clavamox, so I would at least be wary of giving it to him on an extended basis.

Struvite crystals are the cause of your boy's peeing problems. They are indeed a type of bladder crystal. Here is a UK vet's newspaper column on the subject that makes it pretty simple to understand. (I would take his statement about Hills S/d being the only food for treatment of the crystals with a grain of salt; remember that vet schools' nutrition classes are often run by companies like Hills, which is why vets tend to push those products.)

So he's still not peeing at all? Or he IS peeing, but it's just difficult and only a little comes out at a time? If he's still not peeing, please tell your vet at your appointment today and they will help. I don't have any experience with this disease, but you shouldn't have to manually express his bladder forever; at some point in the near future his crystals will dissolve and he'll be able to pee normally on his own again. Your job is to prevent the crystals from reforming.

As for your other cat, I would also switch her to an all-wet or raw diet, to prevent this from happening to her too! Raw diets are good for sick or healthy cats. As for the canned food especially for crystals, I'm not sure about that one. I imagine it wouldn't hurt her to eat it, if you do go down that route. But I have no knowledge about it.

Please keep us updated, and I hope Mialo gets better soon.

Once the Clavamox is finished I wont use it anymore. He seems to be doing alright on it for now though. I have heard that about Hills food. Does anybody know a good alternative to a good wet food for Mialo's condition? After a few months of doing that and theres improvment I want to switch both cats to raw diets but I don't know where to start on that. Ive only heard about it. I want more information on switching to Raw. My boyfriend and I are very interested in this. Is there a good website or book to learn from?

speakhandsforme said:

Hello again
Now that you mention that Mialo is on Clavamox, I think I should tell you that the "consequences" of the antibiotic Carolina spoke about in her post above were from the antibiotic Clavamox. It gave her Bugsy diarrhea, every day, for over a year. There are many other cat owners who report gastrointestinal issues after using Clavamox, so I would at least be wary of giving it to him on an extended basis.
Struvite crystals are the cause of your boy's peeing problems. They are indeed a type of bladder crystal. Here is a UK vet's newspaper column on the subject that makes it pretty simple to understand. (I would take his statement about Hills S/d being the only food for treatment of the crystals with a grain of salt; remember that vet schools' nutrition classes are often run by companies like Hills, which is why vets tend to push those products.)
So he's still not peeing at all? Or he IS peeing, but it's just difficult and only a little comes out at a time? If he's still not peeing, please tell your vet at your appointment today and they will help. I don't have any experience with this disease, but you shouldn't have to manually express his bladder forever; at some point in the near future his crystals will dissolve and he'll be able to pee normally on his own again. Your job is to prevent the crystals from reforming.
As for your other cat, I would also switch her to an all-wet or raw diet, to prevent this from happening to her too! Raw diets are good for sick or healthy cats. As for the canned food especially for crystals, I'm not sure about that one. I imagine it wouldn't hurt her to eat it, if you do go down that route. But I have no knowledge about it.
Please keep us updated, and I hope Mialo gets better soon.

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I should said that about Bugsy, thank you..... It was bad.... and I would not give it again.... no way.
S/D is not good for Oxalate, but apparently is good for Struvite. Even Dr. Pierson, who is not pro-Hills at all, quite on the contrary, says this is the only instance she would prescribe a Hills diet, ever, for a few months, before going all canned or all raw (not sure if it is the ONLY diet that works though....) Then I believe C/D works as well.... But for crystals, prescription food definitely work.... I would make sure though, it is wet...... Having enough moisture to flush those crystals and prevent them to form a stone is of utmost importance.....

Here is a great website about cat nutrition in general. http://www.catinfo.org/

She has a page about urinary health, too. http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth

And here is her information about raw feeding. http://www.catinfo.org/?link=makingcatfood

Since I don't feed raw, I would recommend that you send a personal message (PM) to this user, Auntie Crazy. http://www.thecatsite.com/u/16355/auntie-crazy She is our raw feeding guru and loves to help new raw feeders get started. She'll have lots of information about what you need to do.

Suri said:

Once the Clavamox is finished I wont use it anymore. He seems to be doing alright on it for now though. I have heard that about Hills food. Does anybody know a good alternative to a good wet food for Mialo's condition? After a few months of doing that and theres improvment I want to switch both cats to raw diets but I don't know where to start on that. Ive only heard about it. I want more information on switching to Raw. My boyfriend and I are very interested in this. Is there a good website or book to learn from?

Click to expand...

You can learn right here hun. we have a sub-forum on raw feeding with lots of information about it...... I am one who is currently in the process of transitioning my three cats to raw - two are doing WONDERFUL - one is not eating yet - she just doesn't know she is a carnivore :lol3:
My thread is VERY long, but fun, and with TONS of good information for a beginner, if you want to check it out!

Here is the Raw feeding Sub-Forum: http://www.thecatsite.com/f/65/raw-feeding-for-cats
and here is my transition thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/239771/...lucky-bugsy-and-hope-to-raw-challenges-galore

Sorry Mialo isn't feeling well.

In addition to what everyone else has suggested, I would also buy Feliway (plug in dispenser) and Bach's Rescue Remedy (add a few drops to food every day).  Both reduce stress.  Both can be ordered from Amazon at considerably cheaper prices than in your large pet stores.

Ritz has stress-induced UTIs, and is prone to constipation so sometimes has blood on (not in) stool.  The Feliway and Rescue Remedy really help Ritz relax, like when I had repair men in the house for several days.  I also switched her to raw feeding around the same time I started using Feliway, although she was always on wet food (seafood-not good).  I use the RR when a stressful event will be occurring, like going to the vet or having strangers in my condo.
Let us know how Mialo is doing.

Thank you everybody for being so helpful. I hope in the next couple of days Mialo will be on the right track to feeling better.

Another thought for you on antibiotics. If your cat has an inflamed bladder (from the crystals or stress), antibiotics will temporarily reduce the inflamation and he will feel better from them. However, if the problem is caused by something other than an infection and you haven't treated the underlying cause, he will relapse in a couple of weeks. Don't get fooled into thinking the antibiotics caused a temporary cure - they may have only masked the symptoms for a while. You need to test him for a bacterial infection to determine if he really needs the antibiotics.

Update on Mialo.

I took Mialo to the vet last night and found out his condition was a lot worse than I thought. He had large stones in his bladder and his bladder was larger than it should be. He was also in a lot of pain, which I had no idea about. He hid it very well. After everything the vet told us. My boyfriend and I thought it was best to put him down. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. It was so hard telling him good bye. I miss him terribly. I cried all last night and this morning, I've finally calmed down but all I can think about is him. My other cat seems lonely. She slept in our bed all last night which hasnt done for a very long time. I hope Mialo is in a great place now and is happy.

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that sweet Mialo has gone on to the Bridge.

You did the best thing that you could for him.

If or when you feel up to it, feel free to post a tribute to him in our Crossing the Bridge forum.

Vibes that you, your boyfriend, and your other cat will heal soon.

I'm so sorry for your loss - my boy had struvite crystals and to this day I still examine his litter box with care. 

Cats often hide their illnesses so well, and crystals can be an especially treacherous problem in terms of speed of development and need for quick treatment.  You did as much as you could, I think, and you gave him release from pain.