Intersitial Cystitis

(I apologize ahead of time for the long essay post! )

My cat Rowan was diagnosed with Intersitial Cystitis (sp?) and I was looking for ideas, seeing if anyone has a cat with this and what they do to prevent  flare ups and would welcome suggestions for my own cats.

**Last two times Rowan (my tabby girl) had a flare up, she got fluids (200ml) SID for a week**

 **The first time it happened (the inappropriate peeing w/ blood in urine), she got the fluids and Dr. suggested more wet, less dry**

(Originally both cats got one 5.5oz can split between them in AM and one cup dry split between them in PM  (my boy cat is a huge wet food guy and the girl is huge a dry food far. So, after Rowan (girl) got a flare up the first time, I increased the wet to 1 1/2 cans in the AM split between both, and 1/2 a cup dry split between both in the PM.)

**The most recent flare up occurred last week. Dr. put her on Cosequin 1 SID for life, and suggested a few lifestyle changes**

The lifestyle changes that vet suggested:

-Almost fully wet

-Open top Litter pans

-fragrance-free litter

-Cosequin 1 capsule SID for life

-Add 1 more litter box to the two I already have

-possibly put on Elavil for life if the above doesn't work

So far, I have done these things:

-removed all the tops off my boxes

-I had an extra litter box in case anyways, so I added that to the original two

-Since I use Yesterday's News for my Guinea Pig's litter boxes, I put some in one, and in the other two I use the original Scoopaway

-Since she is SOO picky with wet (or maybe she is just spoiled..) I just give her 1-2 tablespoons of the dry in the PM and moisten it and mix the Cosequin in it. She scarfs that down like she is starving. (I started with a small handful, which was basically the original 1/2 cup and reduced it till I got to the 1-2 tablespoons of dry) The boy could care less about the dry really, I think.

-In the am I give wet 1- 2 cans (split between the two, if it is 3 oz can, I give 2 cans or 5.5 oz. I give 1 can)

-In the pm I do the same with wet as I do in the AM.

I have kinda been having trouble transitioning the both of them to the wet. They both really like the wet gravy/slurpy kind of canned better than loafed pate and really don't care for much, but fish flavors. Of course, my fault, because I didn't realize Soulistic was mostly fish flavors and that was what they were on, along with the dry, prior to all the changes.

Now, they get some Soulistic wet cans, and I have been adding Merricks, Spot's Stew, some of the Fancy Feast Classic cans, Innova, Weruva and whatever else that is somewhat reasonably priced and reasonably healthy. (It really annoys me that they put all these veggies, grains, additives that are not good for these guys! >:/ ) I gave up after a while trying to find the "perfect" food and just got what I could get. I have just added more flavors that are not fishy to try to get them used to non-fish stuff.

Even though they are still having some issues adjusting to the diet change (it has only been about a week), it seems like my not giving in to them and just putting the wet food in front of them is working so far.

QUESTIONS:

Do you think that 1 can of 5.5oz. wet split between them AM & PM (or two 3 oz. cans AM/PM, plus the 2 tblspns of dry w/ Cosequin for the girl in PM) is enough food for them?

Any other experiences to prevent future flare ups? What do you do for your cats?

Thanks so much!

So sorry your girl is having these issues.  But at least she is willing to eat mostly wet, and maybe you can eventually transition her completely, if you can find things she really likes.  That's what it takes...to find what they really like.  Cats are picky that way, so it's just a matter of narrowing down their likes and dislikes.  I found mine were more into the texture than flavors, as it seems yours are.  Mine also did not like pate, at least in the beginning.

As far as how much to feed them, that depends on how much they weigh, and how active they are.  In a way, you may need to be the judge of that by whether or not they lose or gain weight, still seem to be extremely hungry, etc.  And you know your cats best, too, as to whether or not they are food driven.   One of mine will eat until the food is gone, whether or not he is hungry.  I swear he would eat until he burst if I let him .  Another could care less if he eats, most of the time.  Then the third is in between .  So I weigh them at least once a month to make sure they are still on track .  But I need to add that most cans (and bags) say to feed more than is really necessary.

I think what you are doing to prevent future flare-ups is good, and you might even want to add a little water to your girls wet food to get additional fluids into her.

Thanks for the reply. I think my girl is one of those that eats little bits at a time... :/ My Boy is better about eating most of the wet and over the course of the day they will maybe finish it up.

I might try additionally adding water to their wet food and see how that works.