Help! Cystitis issues.

Hello! Long time lurker, first time poster. If this is in the wrong spot please forgive me and direct me! & yes, I am calling my vet in the morning.

My Callie is suspected of having idiopathic cystitis. She had been suffering for months with dark, bloody urine.. the works. She's seen 2 vets, we've tried a bunch of treatments, increased water intake.. we've been doing pretty well I thought.

Her urine lately has been light yellow and she's only having a few accidents a day. Mainly using the box. However tonight at dinner she didn't come out and I knew something was wrong. I coaxed her out and took a look at her butt and she has such urine scald.. oh my lord. it's her entire back end and 2 inches of her tail..and the smell is grotesque. It's a mixture of everything.

I wipe her down once or twice a day and yes, I missed a day or two. She really could use a bath? However bath = stress = inflammation = pain. It's so raw she bit me when I put antibiotic ointment on it. (She's hefty - she can't reach her butt.) I forced a tramadol in her with both a food and water chaser. Again, pills = stress = inflammation = pain. It's like every type of treatment or help causes her pain which brings us back to square one.

Right now I have little to nothing as far as money. I've spent nearly a grand on her since this started at the end of last year. My only options at this point are the tramadol, a bath, and something to help heal her butt? Where do I even begin?!

This is me not sleeping. I'm worried.

Are you trying to get her weight down?  Over weight cats tend to have more health problems. The other bonus of getting her weight down is she will be able to clean herself correctly.

Yes! I am working on her weight and I believe she has lost half a pound or a pound. it's not near enough but we're taking baby steps! when I first looked at it I thought perhaps she did lose enough to clean it but no

Idiopathic Cystitis is probably mainly brought on by stress, but since you described her urine NOW as pale yellow, at least she's not having the typical bloody urine, so that part is good.  And she's mainly urinating in the box, so that is also good.  I wonder if the few accidents a day are because she's so big so can't waddle to the box in time?  Just how overweight IS she?

How are yo trying to get her to lose weight?  What are you feeding her....canned food, I hope, especially in light of her cystitis issue.  And are you cleaning her up with Cat Wipes?  Obviously you can't afford to miss any days doing this, and perhaps you'll need to do it more than once a day until she can do it herself.  I know it's a lot of work, but it's less work than perhaps taking her to the Vet for treatment and/or taking yourself in to the dr for a cat bite

So,what are you doing to address the stress issue in her life.  Some cats are just high strung.  Is there something going on that makes her stress out for some reason...other cats dogs, kids, construction?  Have you tried calming sprays, Rescue Remedy for pets, music therapy?  Do you have cat trees, plenty of play time, etc.  (the play time is good for weight loss too...exercise, exercise, exercise).  One of the things I do with my "tend toward pudgy" cat is toss very tiny pieces of freeze dried meat (no carbs) as far as I can down the hall for him to chase, one at a time.  He really gets a work out because he likes to jump up and tries to catch them, so I toss them up high so they go over his head, then he not only jumps up, but then has to run after them if he doesn't catch them in his paw, which he actually does on occasion .  He's my little outfielder .  Anyway, back to things like using Rescue Remedy, I find if I put the drops on (again) a couple of small pieces of freeze dried meat, I don't have to stress them out by trying to force it on their paws or inside their ears.  I only use that if something different is about to happen, like workers coming to the house or such.  But recently that exact thing happened and we had to lock up all the cats in one room for several days at a time and things remained very calm, so I believe it really works.

As to her current "wound", some of our members swear by Vetericyn Animal Wound Care, and it's a spray on!

Keep at the weight loss as it should only improve the condition.

Have you tried getting the hair in the area clipped?  It is common for owners of long haired cats to have sanity clips as it make the area easier to keep clean. Speak to your vet or groomer.

I would also look at your method of medicating or applying the ointment. Watch the video below about how to pill your cat. Look at pill packets, cheese or a pill gun. Using treats as a reward for her allowing you to clean her butt. Speak calming to her and try to make the whole process is relaxing as possible and make sure you reward her.


If you are still having, problems call your vet. Most vet techs are happy to provide advice over the phone for free. If not call a new vet.  

Have a look at calming collars or drops.                                               

As far as the stress goes, we've tried an anti depressant. we have tried feliway. opening windows has helped or so it seems. her diet consists of nature's variety instinct wet - and small amounts of dry. The vet made me bring her in and she lost almost a pound! She's 14.3. I think she should be 10-12. If she ran for treats life would be great but she moves for nothing. Never has.

I'm in the beginning stages of building a 8x6x6 cation outside for all of them. After our lovely $100 trip today she's pushing the catio back further and further into the summer. I've looked into essential oils.. not putting them on her or letting her injest them but just putting drops around my bedroom where she hangs out mostly. The last vet I took her to suggested anxitane but then never ordered it and besides, I'm so strapped right now.

I give her a lot of attention. I play and cuddle with her. i can't wait to get this catio done. I feel like I've tried everything. I requested to see another vet next time I bring her in for a shave because I've about had it with this lady. the tech at first refused to let hold her while she got shaved. she had to go get towels and tried the burrito method. Callie got out of that real quick and scratched/bit her so she was afraid to touch her. I'm like just give me my damn cat and held her for the rest of the visit. next month will be her 3rd new vet. She was given some wound powder and no pain meds. I hate these people. thank god I have tramadol left.