Bladder infection & crystals

Hey everyone!  My poor Bitty-cat had to be rushed to the vet late Saturday night due to a bladder blockage.  This is the third time in his almost 9 years.  The first two times were definitely due to crystals.  This last time was due to a blockage caused by a mucous plug and a bladder infection.  The poor baby did not deal well with being locked in a small cage for 2 days.  He doesn't like the sounds of other critters at all!!

Anyway, we picked him up today and he is doing much better.  The vet had to put in a catheter to make sure his bladder emptied and did a flush.  He's been using the litter box today and everything seems to be working ok. 

The vet suggested putting him on some wet food to go along with the kibble he currently eats.  He's on prescription diet to help with the crystals and he really likes it.  I know there are some canned foods that are better than others but I'm not sure what to look for.  Any suggestions?  Swat, Bitty's brother, has never had any issues so we also need to work out feeding times and locations so we don't put weight on Swat as he is the perfect weight and Bitty needs to loose about 4 pounds.

We want to do what's best for our boys as they are our babies.  They mean the world to us and I want them to be with us for as long as we can keep them alive and healthy.  Forever would not be too long, would it??

Thanks for you input.  

I can only share what's worked for me - my boy enjoys, and has thrived on, Hills CD wet and dry (he loves his kibble and always has - I got him as an adult).  Now, his struvite crystals were never quite as severe as what you've gone through.  My heartfelt advice - work with your vet on this - show him any foods you're interested in, or any diets that may be suggested on the internet - and keep the vet in the loop, and have frequent  urine tests done while testing any diet.  Honestly, myself - since the CD is working, we're staying on it.

My guy actually lost a little weight on the CD - it's a very calorie dense food, and my vet's office was great on working out portion size.  My girl also eats it - these two are very aware of what the other is eating, and so far, all is working for us (my girl also gets twice yearly senior panels).

Oh, also, if you can budget it, perhaps consider getting a pet fountain....I have the Drinkwell 360 and have noticed both my cats drink more from it than when I had regular bowls, no matter how often I changed the water (twice daily at the very least with the bowls).  And if your guy likes wet food, go for it!  My guy does not really consider wet food to be food - and at this point, the vet and I don't want to stress him since we're getting good results on the wet & dry regime.

Good luck to you - it's the scariest feeling in the world to realize there may be a blockage and just hoping we're in time to get it resolved.

Thanks for your response, Darlili.  We have been feeding the boys both the CD & TD for about 6 years now and they have been doing quite good on it.  I don't want to mess with their diet too much as they are both prone to stress.  The vet also suggested investing in a feliway difuser for the house to help with the stress.

We have tried a fountain with the kitties and they drank from it for about 1 week and that was it.  Their preferred container for water is actually small, plastic, children's drinking cups.  We keep one in each of the bathrooms and replace them with fresh water as often as we are in the bathrooms, usually 2 or 3 times a day.  Bitty also likes to drink right from the tap, but the stream has to be fairly strong and very, very cold.  He's kind of weird that way.  Swat prefers room temperature right from the cups.

We have to take Bitty back for a urine test in about 2 weeks time to make sure the infections is completely cleared up.  I know that won't be a fun trip as he hates the car and now also knows the smell of the vet clinic.  They do use a feliway diffuser in the cat exam room and that seems to help.

Thanks again.

A friend has a cat who repeatedly blocked.  The ultimate solution was a PUS operation.  Male cats are narrowest at the tip of their penis, they don't have that after a PUS and they don't block.  The cat has been fantastic since.  It is, however, expensive, major surgery and an absolute last resort.

I have a Feliway diffuser as well - and it sounds to me that your cats couldn't have more attentive parents.

Good luck on the next vet visit - I know it's never a fun day around my house either.