Male cat leaking urine since yesterday

Update-  After two days of basically of force feeding 1 tsp of canned food every couple hours, This morning Mittens slept late, until 7:15am, He's usually starving by 6 am.   He managed to finish almost a full can of Natural Balance reduced-calorie food. His favorite flavor.  I'm leaving him only about 2 tablespoon of Purina UR, but I still rather he has his canned food.  It's the most active he's been in over a weeks. 

Thank you all, for giving such great advise and encouraging me to keep feeding him canned food.  I really will be sampling different wet foods, grain-free especially for him. 

As for the Vet, I'll be taking Mittens to a new one. 

Good to hear Mittens is improving! I can't tell by your message, has he eaten a decent amount on his own? Was that the Natural Balance can? Remember, if you're having trouble you can crush kibble over the wet food, top it with something like dried bonito (available at the pet store, Cat-Man-Doo), or offer bribe food like tuna. Some unbalanced meals are OK, and some food is better than none at all.

When I looked for a new vet there was one that I felt would be good, but he charged a high exam fee. I did finally go to him, and he diagnosed my kitty much more quickly than the previous ones. So I learned that just because a vet charges more doesn't mean he will be more expensive in the long run. The "expensive" vet didn't need to run shotgun tests, he made an educated guess and ran fewer tests for what turned out to be the right diagnosis. I'm not saying expensive vets are all better, just that their higher fees can be deceiving. Just something to think about.

yes, it was the Natural Balance can, and he did eat it on his own at 7:15 am 1/3 can.  Later, I did carry him to his food bowl and held the bowl to his face for him to eat 1/4 can again because he wouldn't touch it if the bowl was on the floor.  I did the same few hours later.  He wasn't drinking any water so I did give him 1 tsp with his antibiotic pill which he's taking twice a day.  He also did  eat a tablespoon on Purina UR which I left for him for the night.  I opened a can of Fancy Feast ocean white fish and tuna classic which he usually devours, but he just sniffed it and walked away.

This morning at 6:30, I gave him Natural Balance can Turkey and Giblets and he at about a 1/4 can.  I'm going to wake him up around 1pm to feed him some more. 

As for the vet, I think this vet was very reasonable, but did not check his heart or ears and only checked his eyes because I told him to. (Mittens was blinking his left eye little bit) He charges were

exam-$35

urinalysis-25

injection-15

amox pills 14 days 28

plus I bought prescription food for only 25 per bag.  So very reasonable rates, but  unprofessional environment. 

Dark, dirty waiting room, with pieces of animal waste all over the floor; door wide open to a parking lot right by a busy 4 lane road;  nobody in the office wanted to close the door even after they were told by us;  Vet also was babysitting his toddler, who was whining for his Mommy as his Daddy was doing the urine analysis.

I did find a new Vet and will be taking Mitten's to her for the rechecking of his urine and get some blood work done.  First I have to take Mittens for his purevax rabies at another vet who is very expensive but charges only $24 for the vaccine.  Only one who carries the non-adjuvented.  I'll get the shot after Mittens is off his antibiotics.

Those sound like reasonable prices.  It depends on the vet but a lot of vets will only check the problem you are there for, but generally listening to heart, lungs etc is standard.  Sounds like a shady vet.  Isn't it so frustrating trying to get them to eat?  DeeJay is doing good (with the appetite stimulant) but she's off of them now so now I have to see if she will eat on her own without the stimulation.  I hope your boy starts eating better soon.  I am giving DeeJay frequent small meals.  I feed her before I leave for work (she eats 1 3oz can) then I leave a can for her when I got to work, then feed her when I get home, and then she has a can overnight.  She doesn't always eat everything, but she is gaining weight so I know she's eating more than she was.

Mittens was very lethargic today and I had to force him to eat 1/4 can of Fancy Feast chicken with water.  He's not eating the Prescription Purina UR at all.  He just sat on the couch all day with his favorite tweety/sylvester blanket.  I brought his food to him.  He had very little water, just a few sips.  I tried parmasan cheese in his dry kibble and his canned and it didn't make any difference.  Did any one experience this when their kitty is on antibiotics?  I'll be taking him to a new vet in about 10 days for a recheck, but I'm really worried about my 17 pound cat,  He needs to eat a can (5.5 oz) a day.

He only urinated once today.  He usually has two.  One BM this Sat morning.  I hope there is nothing else wrong besides the UTI. 

cprcheetah, It's nice DeeJay is gaining weight.  What's her favorite Fancy Feast flavors? I'd like to try some for Mittens. He's not eating any of the seafood classic, they were always his favorite. 

Any suggestions for my finicky cat who loves pate only, would be appreciated. 

I hope tomorrow is a better day.

The appetite problems do seem a bit odd, especially for a UTI. Antibiotics usually give pretty quick relief of symptoms even though the antibiotic medication course is much longer. I wonder if the antibiotic isn't effective against whatever bacteria he has? I would at minimum call the vet (probably best to see a vet, but I don't know what to tell you since the other vets are reluctant to take Mittens without a rabies vaccine), maybe even a different one since the current one is questionable and ask if this is normal, or should you be seeing an improvement by now? Appetite problems are a very vague symptom, though, they usually need to run other tests to get to the bottom of it.

What food to try varies by cat, just like people have different tastes for food. Smelly food in general works when appetite is low. I used Friskies when my kitty was sick and she ate it when she turned down other food.

Good luck with Mittens, I'll be thinking of him!

DeeJay actually likes the kitten flavors the most (my hubby just grabbed a smorgasboard of food for her) the most but does like the Chicken & The Turkey ones.  She went back to the vet this morning as she has quit eating again so I feel your pain.  She's back on the cyproheptadine and pain medication.  Does he act nauseated at all?  Licking lips?  Maybe talk to your vet about a/d it is highly palatable and most kitties like it, however DeeJay preferred i/d over a/d at the vet.  But now she's at home she's just not wanting to eat much of anything.  Something has to be going on to make your boy not want to eat. 

Hi guys,

Saturday night, I stayed up until 5 am (sun), worried about Mittens, I was a little paranoid, thinking maybe this Vet gave him a higher dose of amoxcillin than he should have received.  For an exactly 17 Ibs. cat, he received 250mg capsule, every 12 hours.  I read online at various sites, 5-10mg should be administered per lb.  Maybe it depends on the infection.  

Anyway, I gave him some fancy feast turkey classic (1/4 can) mixed with little extra water,  at 3am.  And again at 6:30 am, He had a little Purina UR less than a 1/4 cup.  He slept most of the day in our family room.  Usually he sleeps upstairs in our bed, but it's too much effort for him to make it upstairs.  Through out the day he did ask for food, but only ate 1 tsp of pate with water.  I will be calling the new Vet, to see if this is normal behavior.

This evening Mitten did have a BM, little too soft and got stuck to his fur.  My husband had to get the oster clipper out and shave his behind.  It was very stressful, but Mittens did eat a few temptation treats, while he was getting clipped.  Washed the area, and he felt really good.

Raintyger, I'm going to call the Vet tomorrow to see if there is something else wrong.  I will be going to see her next Tuesday, Dec. 17th.  I probably will get his purevax, shot on Monday the 16th.  I don't know why he can't just get his rabies, when he's feeling better. 

We bought a pill-gun to give him his amoxcillins.  Makes it lot easier.

He did eat today, about 1/2 a can of fancy feast watered down also I gave him some 1/4 can (it's a 6oz) Natural Balance Turkey mixed with water. 

Cprcheetah, He only threw up once, 3 hours after his first antibiotic, we gave him at home on Wednesday morning.  I just hope he's not in pain.  I really want to try a homepathic remedy for uti.  I heard giving vitamin C everyday, helps.

I'm going to try the kitten flavors of fancy feast.  I also bought some friskies, salmon pate, country dinner, turkey giblets, and Whiskas pate, I'm going to try it tonight or tomorrow.  I just feel so bad giving him dry kibble, even though it's what his Vet recommended.  It's not making him drink more water, like this Vet said.  I'm going to return the second bag of Purina UR  and get my boy more canned food.   I'll pray for DeeJay, hope she's doing better.

Marshmallow2013 said:

 
Hi guys,

Saturday night, I stayed up until 5 am (sun), worried about Mittens, I was a little paranoid, thinking maybe this Vet gave him a higher dose of amoxcillin than he should have received.  For an exactly 17 Ibs. cat, he received 250mg capsule, every 12 hours.  I read online at various sites, 5-10mg should be administered per lb.  Maybe it depends on the infection.  

Anyway, I gave him some fancy feast turkey classic (1/4 can) mixed with little extra water,  at 3am.  And again at 6:30 am, He had a little Purina UR less than a 1/4 cup.  He slept most of the day in our family room.  Usually he sleeps upstairs in our bed, but it's too much effort for him to make it upstairs.  Through out the day he did ask for food, but only ate 1 tsp of pate with water.  I will be calling the new Vet, to see if this is normal behavior.

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Sleeping in unusual places because he can't move is unusual, and warrants a vet visit, especially if the other place he's sleeping in could be considered "hiding." Cats naturally mask their diseases and are very good at it. They don't want other animals to see they're weak. So when there's visible signs of illness it's time for the vet.

Maybe you can hold off on the antibiotic until you contact the vet?

Raintyger- I wish I read your message before giving Mittens another 250mg of amoxicillin this morning.  But I read it AFTER he already had his pill at 9am.  You were absolutely RIGHT about the antibiotics.   I called the Vet's office that I originally wanted to take Mittens to, (who also had neutered mittens),but refused to see Mittens because of the rabies' shot.  I spoke with the lady Vet and told her that her receptionist said the only way she would see my kitty is if he gets the shot first.  She told me,she will see a sick cat without giving a rabies so  I was misinformed by the receptionist.   She wanted to see Mittens immediately, when I told her about the antibiotic dosage given by this (I'll refer to him as 'man') Vet.

I took him in right away, (11:30am today) and she said that Mittens amoxicillin dose was prescribed way too high.  This  (Man) Vet gave him 500mg a day and should have been only 300mg a day for his weight of 16.5 lbs.  And she also commented on the huge capsules for my poor guy to swallow that he gave.  She stopped his antibiotic right away and did a CBC(Complete blood count).  Mittens had no urine in him, so she could not do the analysis. 

She was doublful about Mittens' infection and asked if we saw this man Vet do the urine analysis in front of us.  When I told her that the kitty was taken in another room, she said that procedures like a urine analysis should be done in front of the owner.  And you be tested right there, so you know it's YOUR cat's urine test.  So now, I don't know what to think.  She asked if I saw any blood in his urine and I didn't because Mittens leaked on a all white blanket and I looked in the sunlight, there was no blood.  But this man Vet said that there was blood in the urine and it was a very bad infection.  She didn't seem to believe him and will be calling his office for Mitten's test results. 

Anyway, Mittens CBC was great and she wants me to keep him on a wet diet.  A little kibble UR is ok, but she wants him to be on a canned diet mostly.  She also thinks mostly chicken and turkey but she did say that fish is also fine in cat food.  Just like what you advisors have been saying. 

She also checked his teeth and will do the cleaning, but can wait.  And for the rabies vaccine, She said that most sarcomas are from the feline leukemia shot and she does the 3 year vaccine for rabies.  He doesn't need a distemper either, if he is strictly and indoor ONLY cat with NO other pets in the house.  But no rabies shot or cleaning until all this antibiotics are out of his system and he is back to normal.  She also said to give him some plain yogurt for his loose stools from the high dose of amoxicillin.

Thank you, for your CORRECT advise, Raintyger and cprcheetah an Denise.

I have not been able to log in for a couple of days but now I am catching up, and SO glad to hear all this. It looks as if you are on the right path at last. Well done for doing all the research and good luck with the new vet. for MITTENS!!

I am so glad you were able to get him into the new vet, it sounds like she is a lot better.  sending healing vibes for your boy.

Oh, thank God you were able to get him in at a different vet!

When I got a urinalysis the vets never did it in front of me, and I've had some bad vets and some very good vets. I don't know if a vet would dishonestly switch urine samples. I think it would be just as easy if someone wanted to do this to falsify lab reports by saving a bad one and simply changing different pet/owner info.

What may matter is that when looking for infections, you must do the urine draw via "cysto," short for cystocentesis. That means they get the urine via a needle. The reason this is important for evaluation of an infection is that when the urine exits the cat there is a chance that the urine sample will be contaminated from bacteria that is on the outer skin. Therefore, you cannot say with certainty there is an infection if the urine was collected via manual expression (manipulating the cat's bladder so that they urinate) or collecting via sucking up urine in syringe/dropper from a puddle. Doing the urine draw this way right in front of the owner guarantees the genuineness of the sample. Some smaller vets won't have ultrasound equipment to help locate the bladder, so it's possible if you don't see the sample being taken they are doing manual expression. (Just guessing here, I don't know how often this happens, although I strongly suspect at least one of the vets I went to did this.)

Blood can be present in trace amounts that are too small to be visible to the naked eye. So visible blood is bad, but not seeing blood doesn't mean that there isn't any.

I don't know the exact stats on rabies vs. leukemia and sarcoma. But I'd still think that the Purevax is worth it; after all, it's only $10 or $15 more, and one vet visit if something goes wrong will completely wipe out the savings from opting for the regular rabies vaccine.

It does sound Mittens is better off, so I'd mark it as a good day. Hope you and Mittens can get some rest now.

Oh, one other thought--

Since Mittens got an OD of the antibiotics, you might want to ask the new vet if she recommends some probiotics. His gut flora is probably wiped out. He can take probiotics during the antibiotics course as long as you give the probiotics at least 2 hours after the antibiotics. If you give them at the same time or too close together, the antibiotics go in and kill the probiotics along with the bad bacteria.

Jennyranson, Denice, cprcheetah and Raintyger thank you so much for all the support you guys gave this past week. 

I did see the needle with the urine vial attached to it at the previous Vet, so I'm pretty sure Mittens' was done thru cysto, because I did asked the vet tech, when Mittens was screaming if it hurt him.  She told me it was painless.  I think there probably was blood as the Man Vet said and I do believe my kitty did have an infection or he wouldn't be leaking pee on his blankets.  I hope making the antibiotics stop after a week would be enough.  Because, I have heard the infection can come back worse sometimes if you stop too soon.   But this lady Vet thinks this is enough antibiotics he had and 200mg too much every day for the past six days plus an antibiotic shot.   I asked her about natural treatments for UTIs, like vitamin C.  She didn't recommend  vitamin C as a supplement.  Only recommendation was wet diet to prevent UTIs in the future.  I saw a youtube video by Dr Andrew Jones "Urinary Infections in Cats"  and he has some homepathic treatments I wanted to try, but don't know if I should at the moment.

Anyway, I just received a call from the new lady Vet again, and she informed me that she had Mittens' records fax to her but the previous Vet didn't make a report of his urinanalysis and she wanted me to try to get one myself,  by making him pee in a clean litter pan and bringing it in.  But it's impossible to do this with Mittens, since he so picky, he won't go in a box if there is no litter in it.  And Raintyger, I agree that the test wouldn't be so accurate either.  So I'll have her do the urine check when I take him in again for a teeth cleaning.  Isn't the CBC enough for right now? Vet said looks like no infection.  His kidneys looked good and everything was normal. 

About the purevax vaccine, she told me I can get it by another Vet, but she thinks it's better to get one 3-year vaccine rather than a purevax every year.  This is the vaccine she gives her 10 cats. She is a big cat lover but she really thinks, if it was up to her, no more shots if he's an indoor cat and the only cat.  She also mentioned that most sarcomas were with the old vaccines and she hardly ever sees a sarcoma case.  Now, I still don't know what to do?  I still have time to think about this for a couple months.  She said this 3 year is totally safe.  She doesn't think he needs a distemper, unless I bring in another cat.

Also, I tried to give Mittens plain organic yogurt and he doesn't like it.  Is there a probiotic for cats?  Any you guys can recommend?  Thanks again for everything.

My kitty DeeJay's CBC was normal (what they are looking for is the WBC White Blood Count) and she was diagnosed with a UTI with kidney involvement yesterday through a cystocentesis by my dad (retired vet).  So no an infection doesn't always show up on the CBC.  However cats can get what's called a sterile cystitis which is where they have inflammation in the bladder but no infection.  DeeJay has battled with this in the past.  As far as the sarcomas go, my dad has been a vet for 40+ years and has never seen one, so I really do not know how common they are.  The vet I work for only does the 1 year vaccination, I have always done the 3 year on my kitties and have never had a problem (knocking on wood).  You don't necessarily have to use the kitty probiotics.  I am using a human one that I got at Costco or Sam's Club called Trunature Digestive Probiotic with DeeJay.  It has 10billion active cultures.  I just open a capsule and mix it in with her food.  You do not want to give the probiotic at the same time as the antibiotic (so give the doses an hour or so apart) as then it counteracts its effects. 

cprcheetah, I just gave Mittens half a tablet of acidophoulous (spring valley brand) with his fancy feast.  He's feeling a lot better right now, with no more antibiotics.  My only worry now is, the infection coming back from stopping the amoxicillin a week before.  Do you know how long usually a kitty should be on amoxicillin for uti?  This new Vet said she could tell that Mittens' kidneys and liver look good from the CBC and Calalyst Chem 10 + lytes.  Whatever that stands for, I don't really know, but she showed me a graph and said everything is in good shape.  Just stop the amoxcillin and keep an eye on him.  Make sure he's eating and getting enough water.  I really haven't seen Mittens drink any water from eating the Purina UR dry.  I'm still watering down his canned food and that's the only water he's getting. 

I'm sorry to hear about DeeJay's diagnosis.  What treatment will she get?  Is it same for a female kitty?  Wishing you and DeeJay the best!!

We normally put a cat on antibiotics for 10 days to 2 weeks.  Right now I am treating her with Chloramphenical tablets as she has multiple infections going on (bladder, kidneys as well as pancreatitis), she is incredibly difficult to give medications too.  She is already on Cosequin that I open a capsule up and put on her food, it helps with irritation in the bladder.

I think Mittens had a UTI. Unusual urination like leaking urine usually mean something's wrong. Cats usually try to hide their waste because they don't want other predators and prey to know they live in a certain area.

I've been in the position before of a vet asking for urine via samples obtained through a dropper. I refused because the sample could get contaminated by anything in my house. What if I sneezed while collecting the sample? Plus the fact that the sample has to be kept under certain temperature conditions and it was August in Southern California. The CBC can show if the infection has spread to other organs like the kidneys or liver. However kidney damage is usually shown with a CBC and urine sample taken at the same time, so I guess a CBC alone won't tell all.

The regular rabies vaccine is very safe. But since you had concerns before I recommended the Purevax. Personally, I wouldn't ever forgive myself if I got the regular vaccine and something happened. I would constantly be telling myself I should've just spent the extra $ and made the extra effort.

There are probiotics for cats at the pet store. Other members on this forum do give a human grade one, Natural Factors double strength acidolphilus and bifidus.

Hi. I've been following this thread and just really want to extend many vibes     and lots of hugs     for you and Mittens. This sure has been a bumpy ride and I'm so glad you found a different vet.

As to peeing in an empty litter box...whenever my vet wanted me to get a urine sample at home, they would send me home with a small container of special litter (only like 1/4 cup) to put in a clean, empty litter pan. Apparently this special litter doesn't interfere with the test results they need.

You've been getting great advice, so I don't have much more to add that wouldn't be a repeat.