My cat has a urinary tract infection

I have a 10 year old female cat named Ruby. Yesterday I noticed she wouldn't urinate in her box,and kept trying to go outside of it. She peed on the floor outside the box and I noticed blood in her urine, and she looked to be in discomfort, so I took her to the vet right away. The vet said it looks like a UTI,but they needed to take urine from her. They weren't able to collect urine to analyze, but sent her home with pain medicine and told me to bring her back this morning. I brought her in around 10 am, and they still couldn't get any urine from her. So she has to stay over night. I miss her. I just want to hold and comfort her. This is the first time she's ever stayed at the vet's over night.

Oh it stinks I know just give her lots of love tomorrow when she comes back. At least this way they should know what is wrong with her after they get the urine.

I'm so sorry your kitty isn't feeling well, but it is good that your vet will be collecting urine the proper way, cystocentesis and hopefully sending the urine out to an outside lab for Culture and Sensitivity because that is the accurate way to determine if there truly is a urinary tract infection rather than an inflammed bladder(cystitis) 

If it isn't too late, maybe you can go back to the vet and leave something of yours so that your kitty can be comforted by your smell, such as an old t-shirt or blanket? Sending healing and comfort vibes for her.

She came home today around 3 pm.They still weren't able to get enough urine. They said she kept leaking urine with blood in it, but couldn't get enough to test. So they sent her home with antibiotics and pain medicine, and I have to take her back in 2 weeks. She looks to be feeling a little better, the pain meds are working and she is happier. She's not happy when I give her the medicine. They gave her liquid medicine for both the pain and antibiotics. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for giving medicine. I know how to get her mouth open, but when I squirt it in she quickly tries to close it, and she didn't get all of her dose. Is there a good way to do it, to keep her from biting down? The vet showed me a way to open the side of her mouth and squirt it in, but when I tried it it wasn't effective. Thanks for all the advice and kind words.

What pain medication are you trying to administer?  Is it Buprenorphine in a liquid form?  If so, it is best absorbed if you can squirt it into her cheek pouch not down her throat.  For me, I like to come behind kitty and use my left hand to gently hold her mouth open, and use my right hand to squirt the medication. (I am right handed)

Edited to add: when giving meds, I found it easiest to give when kitty has just woken up from a nap.

Which antibiotic did your vet send you home with?  I am not a fan of giving antibiotics without the cystocentesis(to ensure a sterile sample) and a Culture and Sensitivity to determine which antibiotic the bacteria is sensitive to. You could end up giving 10 days of antibiotic that does nothing to help her?

My cat had a urine infection. Even if they can't get enough urine to test it, it is usually an infection when you see blood in urine. My vet couldn't get a sample either, as he said my cat's bladder was empty. In a way that was good news. The vet knew there was no blockage or anything. In fact, my cat was acting normal, even urinating normally and not crying or anything. I just got worried since I seen blood in the urine. (I am a worrier). I took my cat immediately to the vet and he prescribed antibiotics for 10 days. It was a liquid. I couldn't get my cat to open his mouth either. He was strong and kept biting the dropper and hissing at me. I just put the medicine in a tiny amount of wet food and watched my cat while he ate the food. He licked entire plate so I know he got it all. Follow up was in 2 weeks and vet said he was fine. He had a very mild infection though. That is why he wasn't in no pain so he didn't need pain medication, only the antibiotic. He has been fine ever since. It was when I first adopted him. I think alot of the cats have infections and things when you first adopt them. Maybe since too many cats are all together. Hope your kitty feels better soon! Good Luck! Hope I helped a little!

Glad they finally just gave her the antibiotic. Give her lots of love !!!!!

The pain med is Buprenorphine. I tried giving it to her beside the cheek, but she kept turning her head down and away. I even held her with my left arm like you said,and almost had it but then she turned her head. I don't want to waste a dose. When I get her mouth open I find it easier to just squirt it quickly, but even then she will turn her head. I like the idea about the food.

The antibiotic is amoxicillin. The vet said she would have preferred to get a urine sample, but they tried since yesterday morning and couldn't get one. So she said to call if I don't notice an improvement in a couple days.

My Mittens was on the same antibiotics.
He seemed to improve quickly. I had only seen the blood once, but vet said it was an infection. It may have gotten worse but I didn't wait. I seen blood and panicked. The antibiotics should work and yes it was easier putting it in the food. You just give him a tiny bit of food and mix in the medicine. It has no smell to it so it should work. Just make sure he finishes the food.
Good Luck!

Hi everyone. I wanted to give an update on my cat Ruby. The antibiotics are working,and she is much better now. I haven't seen anymore blood in her urine, and she uses her box again as usual. She is still on amoxicillin, but no longer requires pain medicine. She didn't much like me mixing it in with her food, but I called the vet since she was having such a hard time taking her meds. And they recommended I mix it in a tiny bit of plain yogurt. It works, she loves yogurt and doesn't even notice the medicine, and she takes it with ease now. I still have to take her for a urinalysis in a week. But I just wanted to give an update on her health. Thank you everyone for your comments and advice. Ruby thanks you too. Here's a picture of her sleeping comfortably next to me now.

Hi Ruby's Momma.great Job!!!!!! She is a beautiful Ruby like the one I knew.Darling.Keep up the great work!!Hugs C.Yogurt is good for her too!!!!

Hi,

I have a similar issue with my cat Phoenix. I noticed on Sunday night that he was straining to pee and if he managed to - there was a little gel like blood on the top of the litter. So I took him to the vets and they said he had a lower feline urinary tract infection. They gave him some antibiotics and gave me some medicine to give him. He was fine on Monday evening and all day yesterday and even this morning around 4-5 but around this noon time I noticed he started to strain again and if he went to pee only a little bit would come out or nothing at all.
He also has a burst abbesses on his head (he always gets into fights and I do have him neutered) which I've been cleaning and monitoring. So I'm not sure if it is to do with that. But the vet said the antiboitics should help with any infection and he should recover.

But I'm really worrying that it might lead to a further blockage? I don't know what I should do, I spoke to the vet and she mentioned to keep him on the medication that she gave for a week: but if there's no progress to bring him back in.

I just feel really helpless. I'm not sure what I should do. Any suggestions and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

Ava

@Avalina  Did the vet take an x-ray to see if he had any crystals or obstructions? 

@zed Xyzed, no she didn't she said he has a UTI and that antiboitics should help.. But if he doesn't get any better to take him back