Recurring urinary tract infections

Has anyone had success with using Royal Canin Calm with kitties having recurring UTIs? I have battled this for 4 years and trying one more shot before finding a new home for my babies. I have tried every kind of diet, feliway, accupuncture, behaviorists, multiple vets and time after time my two older kitties continue to have UTIs. I have 4 cats. No health problem seems to be causing it (based on a million tests done by several vets) so the only thing anyone can say now is that it is "stress". My cats have every creature comfort and as far as I can tell are extremely happy. My oldest cat is fat and doesn't clean as well as she should so I attribute her issue to that (but I could be wrong) but the other is 8 and she is a very skittish girl. I am at the end with this and can't spend any more money on new carpet and new furniture. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on trying to solve this so if anyone has any advice or knows whether the Royal Canin Calm might work, please let me know.

Has the vet cultured the urine to see what kind of infection it is?  Do you run a Feliway diffuser in your home to help destress?  Lots of times, UTI are stress induced, especially if there are no stones or crystals.  Also, have you tried any prescription food from the vet?  What are you currently feeding?  Have you checked with the Yahoo group for FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease)?  They are very helpful.  http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FLUTD/conversations/messages

Thanks for your reply. The infection various from time to time. Sometimes it is bacteria in the urine, sometimes blood in the urine, sometimes nothing and and my kitty just strains to go pee and not much comes out. Not obstructed and no other reason. I have Feliway all over the house. For food, they all eat Royal Canin S/O dry and I try to get them to eat either Purina U/R or Science Diet S/D to get some wet food and moisture. I have researched every site known to man and the only thing anyone can say is that as you mention, it is stress causing chronic cystitis but nothing I do seems to relieve the stress and I don't know what the stresser is so I have no idea how to fix it. I am thinking if I remove one kitty from the household maybe that will help but I have no idea. I'm out of options and no vet can give me any help at this point.

I went through a few bouts with Angel last year. The first time was in Aug. 2012. He got a UTI & it was from bacteria, no crystals that time. After that is when I made him indoor only. (figured the bacteria had to be from outside).  The transition was actually easy because the Vet also (besides antibiotics)  put him on amitriptyline to help the bladder relax, so he could go. (but is also a anti-anxiety, so that's what helped him not cry & cry to go out). 

He was on good food, (by nature & Before The Grain) so at the time that was okay.

The second time was a couple of months later in Oct. That's when the cystitis started. This time the only reason I can think of is that it was stress related.

1- In Sept. the neighbor kitty (his little friend, used to follow us around outside on walks in the yard, & hang out on our porch) had to be put down, so I'm sure he felt the sadness from me, & knew what happened, not seeing her anymore etc..

2- That month (Oct.) I had family in town, (not staying w/ me), so after being at work all day on Fri. I was only home about an hr. to feed him before I left again  to go meet them for dinner & visit, coming home around 10:00pm

   Then, the same the next day, Sat. but was home a few hrs. B4 leaving again for the same.

   SO, I think that time it was stressed induced, because he is so used to me coming home, & staying home for the night, then that happens 2 nights in a row. (plus the other kitty not being around for about a month at that time).

The third time was on Christmas day, YUP, Christmas day!  We spent the afternoon waiting in the animal hospital.

I'm not sure about that time. I wasn't gone away from home any more that normal. (work is about it).

The only extra thing I did wasn't much out of the norm. I went over to my mom's Christmas Eve day to help w/ some baking etc..

As I said he was on good food (wet). I was also adding water to his food. I tried almost everything (W/ all the great help from every one here!)

BUT Rx food. I was trying to avoid it because the ingredients are not great!   BUT, that's what he ended up having to go on, & is still on today!

I went w/ the Purina UR. My vet looked at it & said out of the others, it had the least amount of "crappy" ingredients.

After being on it for 3 wks. she did another urinalysis, & ultrasound, & all the crystals were gone!!! I was so happy I cried! It had been a long & expensive few months!  I was also mad at myself for not putting him on it sooner, & he would have been better sooner!

I had to give him IV fluids at home every other day both times, to help flush out the bladder. (2 bags worth, about an inch & a 1/2 of the bag ea. time) & that was no fun!!

One of the most important things I will tell you is I noticed you are still feeding some dry. Even though it's the Rx, I would highly recommend NO MORE dry.

Even my Vet said no to that. I would stick to the wet Rx only, & add some water to it. Make sure it's filtered water as well. I just mix to a cream of wheat, or runny oatmeal consistency.

Keeping a Feliway plugged in is also important.

If your kitty is still straining, you need to let the vet know ASAP. He/she could be in pain & need meds. Also you may want to ask the vet about the amitriptyline.

It will help the bladder to relax & help stop the straining. It might also be good on the anti-anxiety end. angel was on it for a few months. I eventually weaned him off by cutting the dose in half, then half every other day.  

I know what it's like to go through this, so I'm sending good vibes  & prayer your way!

I will be glad to help w/ any support & advise  I can, but we do have some great experts on this site that helped me a lot!

Keep us posted!