Urinary Tract Infection?

Our 4 year old has UTI for the second time. We already tried changing his diet, but once we changed back to what we were feeding him before, it came back again. We don't know if there are crystals or not, but he sounds like his in pain. He's taken refuge under my parent's bed. We don't have the money to take him to a vet or buy him special medicine, as my brother is in the hospital. We don't even have they money to buy him a more expensive brand of cat food. I'm not sure where we should go from here. The first time, he was peeing blood, and we switched him to wet food. It stopped a little while after that. I don't know if he is peeing blood this time, however. Any suggestions? 

A UTI is a VERY serious illness and requires antibiotics ASAP.

It can be deadly for male cats, and happens very fast.

He is hiding because he is in distress and suffering.

Get him to any vet, the cheapest visit cost available, so he can at least get some antibiotics.

I would never feed him dry food again, period.

Some males have a tendency to get UTI's and feeding canned pate food only, even friskies is so much better for him then any dry no matter how high quality it is.

As much as I'd love to take him to a vet, that just isn't an option. We hardly have money to feed ourselves. I could discuss it with my parents, but I don't know if there's anything we can do. We don't even know how we're going to pay for my brother's hospital bills. 

At the very least, try to get some extra fluid into him. Chicken broth or whatever you have that he likes. If you could feed him plain chicken as a treat too, that would be an improvement over dry food alone. 

Some people also add water to dry food, that may be a good idea in his case. If you do this, be sure to throw away any that doesn't get eaten within an hour or so, because it will spoil.

I am not suggesting any of this instead of going to the vet, but in hopes of making him more comfortable until you can get him treated.

I'll see what I can find, but we're running on fumes financially. 

Call the closest vet, explain your situation, and ask what can be done to help him.   They will be able to help you much more than people on the internet.  They may be able to treat him at a cut rate or free if you tell them what is going on.  You don't want him to suffer, and the vet doesn't either.  He is suffering now.  Please look up the vet, call them, and talk to them.  It costs nothing to call.

I suppose we could try that. But, I'd have to convince my Dad, first. Because, in the end, he's the one who'll have to make the decision while my Mom is with my brother. 

You obviously love the cat, or you wouldn't have come here.

YOU do the work, call every vet around until you find one that is compassionate to your situation.

Call humane societies, spca's, rescues, somebody out there will help.

Ask a relative, nothing hurts but watching your cat suffer is unfair to him.

Most of us here know good and well about being strapped for money.

It doesn't hurt to ask. All they can say is no.

But first do your own work, it will help if/when you do have to turn to your parents or family/friends, they will see how hard you have tried.

There is no other way to get rid of a uti. If he is not blocked you can help a little by feeding canned only, but it's not going to fix him, and untreated he will suffer from kidney damage, then you will be dealing with that.