Desperate need of help. Female cat with FLUTD.

Hi. My cat who just turned 9 months old has been diagnosed with FLUTD. She pees literally everywhere almost all the time, strains and there's blood in her urine. She'll also leave pee spots when she gets up from sitting and most every time I pick her up, she pees on me. This problem has been going on for about 6 months now. I have tried everything. Antibiotics (multiple rounds), bought a different litter box, used Cat Attract and I give her only wet food and add broth and water to that. I bought a fountain (which she doesn't even drink from), I give her a natural UTI med from the pet store, tried cranberry chews for urinary health and most recently I've been giving her water with a dropper. Don't know if this will help but I'm trying. She also gets plenty of attention and play time. She has a little cat climber, too. I've used Nature's Miracle to get rid of the smell which helps but she still pees in certain places.

I am running out of options. I have spent hundreds going to the vet all the time. Nothing works. The vet said he could give her an xray but they are almost $200 and I can't afford much as I am out of a job (desperately looking). He also said the xray might not even find anything. I feel guilty that I can't do more.

Another big problem is I live with somebody who is constantly telling me to get rid of my cat, that nothing will cure her, that he won't put up with it. He pays rent and says I don't have much say in the matter. He sometimes goes on and on about how she peed on the couch or the floor and how much it smells. It is stressing me out beyond belief. If I lived alone it'd be easier to handle because I am willing to clean up her messes until I (hopefully) find something to help her.

I love this cat and I do not want to re-home her but I fear that is what I will have to do. Somebody who has the $ and the know how on how to help her. I will not give her to a shelter as I don't want her to end up in the wrong hands or die. I have cried so much over this. Please, please any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Am so so sorry that this is going on and nothing you have tried has helped so far. Sorry too that your housemate is getting fed up.  I can kind of understand his point of view.. but would he help you out with the cost of an xray instead of moaning at you? Ask him to be part of the solution instead of making you feel awful.  Am saying that with a cheeky grin, don't want to offend you.

I think because you have done everything you can, it has to be time for an xray. I am not sure why your vet said that it may not show anything. Yeah, sure, it's a risk but as you've exhausted every other possible angle I think that there may be a high chance that your vet will find bladder stones because something has to be causing this. By a process of elimination with everything you've done I personally think stones will be the cause, tho of course I am no vet.
 

Good luck, I wish you and your kitty a speedy recovery.

Do you know if she currently has an infection?  One thing that helped my kitty who has chronic bladder issues was giving her Cosequin which is a joint supplement for cats but it helps reduce the inflammation of the bladder.  Is your cat on any pain medication?  Cystitis can be quite painful which could result in her not using the litter box, you can read more information about it here.  http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth#Cystitis

You have certainly tried everything.  I do understand your roommates frustration, as big a cat lover as I am and how much I love my two I know I would also get frustrated.  One thing you didn't mention is reducing the stress for your kitty.  Stress can make this worse and it can cause this problem in some kitties.  You could try a Feliway diffuser.  They are a little pricey and probably are cheaper from someplace like Amazon.  I don't know if you're already doing it but a couple of interactive play sessions a day with something like Da Bird.  Not only does it help in the same way as with people through exercise but it also provides an outlet for her prey drive.

What did the urinalysis show? It's a fairly inexpensive test that should tell you what the problem is. There are many causes of FLUTD, so it is critical to treat properly. If there is a bacterial infection, you may also need a culture & sensitivity to determine which antibiotic would be effective. If there are crystals/stones, there is food and/or supplements to treat. If it's cystitis (bladder inflammation of unknown origin), that is harder to treat, but there are definitely things you can do.

Have a look at what this vet has to say about urinary issues: http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth

Basically, feeding an all-wet diet and keeping the system flushed out is critical for all FLUTD kitties.

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear this, your situation does sound serious.  Just to rule out something unrelated, she does use the litter box to pee in, in addition to going around the house, correct?

Also Vball91's comments are excellent and very specific.

Fleabags Mom said:

 
Am so so sorry that this is going on and nothing you have tried has helped so far. Sorry too that your housemate is getting fed up.  I can kind of understand his point of view.. but would he help you out with the cost of an xray instead of moaning at you? Ask him to be part of the solution instead of making you feel awful.  Am saying that with a cheeky grin, don't want to offend you.

I think because you have done everything you can, it has to be time for an xray. I am not sure why your vet said that it may not show anything. Yeah, sure, it's a risk but as you've exhausted every other possible angle I think that there may be a high chance that your vet will find bladder stones because something has to be causing this. By a process of elimination with everything you've done I personally think stones will be the cause, tho of course I am no vet.
 

Good luck, I wish you and your kitty a speedy recovery.

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I can see his point, too. It's just his negativity makes it harder to deal with. He won't help, unfortunately.

I think she has stones, too. I'm trying to figure out how I can pay for it all in one payment.

Thank you xo

cprcheetah said:

 
Do you know if she currently has an infection?  One thing that helped my kitty who has chronic bladder issues was giving her Cosequin which is a joint supplement for cats but it helps reduce the inflammation of the bladder.  Is your cat on any pain medication?  Cystitis can be quite painful which could result in her not using the litter box, you can read more information about it here.  http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth#Cystitis

Click to expand...

I remember the vet saying she doesn't have an infection. I did hear about Cosequin helping. Does it take a long time?

My cat was on pain meds for a while but they didn't seem to really do much help. Thanks for the link

vball91 said:

 
What did the urinalysis show? It's a fairly inexpensive test that should tell you what the problem is. There are many causes of FLUTD, so it is critical to treat properly. If there is a bacterial infection, you may also need a culture & sensitivity to determine which antibiotic would be effective. If there are crystals/stones, there is food and/or supplements to treat. If it's cystitis (bladder inflammation of unknown origin), that is harder to treat, but there are definitely things you can do.

Have a look at what this vet has to say about urinary issues: http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth

Basically, feeding an all-wet diet and keeping the system flushed out is critical for all FLUTD kitties.

Click to expand...

The vet said she has cystitis. There was another vet there who took care of my cat when the regular vet was out & she said there was a lot of bacteria & blood in her urine. I've tried antibiotics which worked for about a week and then it came right back. They have never brought up any prescription food but I suppose it is worth an ask.

She's been on all wet for a few months now. Lately I've been giving her a little extra water from a dropper. That's the only way I've found that works to get extra water in her, besides watering down her food.

Thanks for the link

Denice said:

 
You have certainly tried everything.  I do understand your roommates frustration, as big a cat lover as I am and how much I love my two I know I would also get frustrated.  One thing you didn't mention is reducing the stress for your kitty.  Stress can make this worse and it can cause this problem in some kitties.  You could try a Feliway diffuser.  They are a little pricey and probably are cheaper from someplace like Amazon.  I don't know if you're already doing it but a couple of interactive play sessions a day with something like Da Bird.  Not only does it help in the same way as with people through exercise but it also provides an outlet for her prey drive.

Click to expand...

It is very frustrating. She's going everywhere, even on my bed. So I definitely understand it. I have yet to try Feliway. Maybe I will get some this week. Can't hurt to try it.

I play with her all the time (that is when she feels like it). She might enjoy Da Bird since it has feathers & she loves those. lol.

stephenq said:

 
Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear this, your situation does sound serious.  Just to rule out something unrelated, she does use the litter box to pee in, in addition to going around the house, correct?

Also Vball91's comments are excellent and very specific.

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She does try to go potty in the litter box still. But often times she will step out of it and finish going outside of it. And yes, she's also going all around the house - bathroom floor, kitchen table, couches, walls, my bed, even the shower if she gets in it. Very frustrating.

Thank you all so much for your replies and your help xoxo

The stress may very well be contributing to the situation.  The only suggestion I have is Feliway diffusers and joining the Yahoo FLUTD group.  http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FLUTD/info

Here is what you need to do:

Buy a microscope- you can get an okay one from ebay for about $20-35.   You will need a glass slide and cover slip. Focus on an air bubble- if the rings of the air bubble are dark clear black lines, you are properly focused. You can see what type of crystals your cat has (or does not have) in a urine sample.

A guide on crystals:

https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/clinpath/modules/UA-ROUT/CRYSTSED.HTM

Struvite crystals can also look like pencils with points on each end.  Oxalate look like squares with an X in the middle. Oxalate can also look like a spindle, oval, or dumbbell shape.

Buy ph strips (for about $10) and test the urine yourself. You want to target the urinary ph at 6.0-6.4. Too low of a ph and you get oxalate crystals (which are really bad as they do not dissolve with dietary changes). Too high of a ph and struvite crystals develop. Struvite can cause urinary blockages which can be fatal.

Look for a low magnesium diet if your cat has struvite crystals.  Canned food is lower in mg than dry food.

If your cat's urinary ph is too high or low and you have crystals, try switching cat foods. Look for a food with added methionine if ph is 6.4 and above and you have struvite crystals ( Science diet has a lot of methionine), If ph is too low (below 6.0) and you have oxalate crystals try Natures variety instinct (which has no methionine added) or there is another prescription formula of science diet or royal canin that helps.

The best bet, is to go to the vet and get a proper urinalysis- see what the ph is, see if there are crystals, and ask to look at the urine sample so you can see what the crystals look like. After that you can monitor from home with a microscope and ph strips. You also need a vet to diagnose any infection which will need antibiotics.

If there are no crystals, and no infection than you have idiopathic cystitis and it is stress related.  My guess is that your cat has crystals and or bladder stones and needs a prescription diet to help them dissolve (if it is struvite).

In the meantime, cut open some garbage bags and tape them to the wall in the bathroom and put newspaper on top. Keep kitty locked up.

Please do get this resolved, if your cat blocks he will die.

Cosequin can take some time to work, but it's something that your cat can be on for the rest of her life without any problems.