Mystery Illness + UTI

Hi there, a couple of weeks ago I posted about my 2 year old baby possibly having IBD.  I was never really comfortable with that diagnosis, and I didn't want to do a biopsy, so I took her to a specialist.  Low and behold, the specialist isn't really thinking IBD either.

I personally have always wondered if she's having problems with her esophagus, because lack of appetite is overwhelmingly her most prominent symptom, along with lethargy.

Though the specialist doesn't really suspect an esophageal/oral problem either, he does recommend that we do an endoscopy to view the areas of concern and take biopsy samples via endoscopy to rule out/confirm IBD, etc.

While that's all fine (expensive, but reasonable) about a month ago I first noticed a creamy yellow discharge from her vagina/urethra after peeing.  Sometimes she will continue to leak just little after peeing and leaving the box.  The vets didn't seem concerned.  They wanted a picture or a sample and I couldn't really provide either as the picture was hard to obtain, especially with the clarity required to see anything, and the amount of discharge was so miniscule to begin with.  They said unless there are more serious signs, I shouldn't worry for now as they didn't want to have to sedate her for urinalysis.  (She is a very anxious cat.)  About a week ago she peed and I discovered a thick yellow paste like substance smeared on her fur. This was a little more concerning.  I showed the vet the picture and she said it could be anal gland secretions, but she hadn't pooped and it did not smell.  Still, urinalysis was deemed unnecessary as she wasn't swollen or red in her vagina, and there is no blood/straining when peeing.  She does lick her vagina more frequently than necessary however, I would think.

I can't help but be really concerned.  I assume she will have a urinalysis done when she has her endoscopy a couple weeks from now, but by then she will have had this discharge for almost 2 months, maybe more if I just had never noticed it earlier.

My cat is definitely very high-strung, and I sympathize with the decision not to put her under more stress than we need to, but I'm just wondering if this is something that needs to be done as soon as possible.

I'm also wondering, if my cat has a bladder infection/inflammation, would prednisolone be masking or reducing the severity of it, as prednisolone is an anti-inflammatory?  She is on prednisolone for her possible IBD.  If so, perhaps all of her discomfort that warranted the vet's diagnosis of IBD, was actually urinary discomfort?  I would come home and find her very upset after work all the time, so I would have never known if what made her upset was discomfort while peeing, especially since there was no blood present!!

I've never had a cat with a urinary tract infection (knock wood), so am not familiar with ALL the symptoms, but I did find this old thread, and this cat also had discharge that sounds similar to what you are describing:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/85055/urine-crystals-what-does-it-loook-like

As to the fact that she is high strung, maybe you can get something from your Vet to give her before her visit?  Sometimes even just giving something as benign as Pet Rescue Remedy can help (which doesn't require a prescription). 

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
I've never had a cat with a urinary tract infection (knock wood), so am not familiar with ALL the symptoms, but I did find this old thread, and this cat also had discharge that sounds similar to what you are describing:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/85055/urine-crystals-what-does-it-loook-like

As to the fact that she is high strung, maybe you can get something from your Vet to give her before her visit?  Sometimes even just giving something as benign as Pet Rescue Remedy can help (which doesn't require a prescription). 

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Thank you so much for responding!

Unfortunately, I finally relented and had the urinalysis done this afternoon.  I say "unfortunately" because her kidney function is fine, there are no crystals, and no immediate signs of infection.  And I deem this unfortunate because my cat has been ill for 3 months, and once again she has a very obvious sign of something being wrong, but completely normal tests just to throw a wrench in things further.

I just want a diagnosis for her so bad.  I am SO relieved that her kidneys are fine, but I was honestly sort of hoping for a UTI.  Because then after all this searching we would finally have something tangible to treat rather than just throwing drugs at her in an attempt to curb her lack of appetite and energy...

I'm still waiting for the bacterial cultures to be done to see if she has a bacterial infection, but at this point the vet said it seems unlikely that she would have one.

So yet another mysterious symptom to add to her mysterious illness.

I feel like she should be government funded.  There is something up with this cat and science needs to know more about it!!  Mostly just for her sake, but in case other kitties get sick too!!  

I still haven't given up on considering stress.  But today my vet told me that my cat leads a very routine and otherwise stress-free life, and not much testing has been done on the effects of drugs for anxious cats as has been for dogs.  She said its unlikely stress would be her problem, and even if it were, it would be hard to find something that might work for her.