My cat has urinary blockage/obstruction :(

I will be picking Prince up tomorrow!!!

I am sooo excited, yet nervous at the same time. I'm sure there will be many challenges and sleepless nights for us the next 2-3 weeks. I can not believe how much we spent the past 2 weeks on unblocking him (3) times AND his p/u surgery. It's enough to buy a new Honda Fit, not joking. Never in my wildest dreams that I would spend this much on my cats. After his 2nd blockage, I went straight home and bought them both insurance. I'm so blessed to have such a supportive husband emotionally and financially there for Prince, since he was my cat first. I joking told my husband that I cant wait for Prince to be ok and back to his normal self, so I can kill him.

What a ride it's been...But as long as he's fighting, i'll be fighting with him.

Thanks for the support and well wishes, everyone.

katnaps said:

 
I will be picking Prince up tomorrow!!!

I am sooo excited, yet nervous at the same time. I'm sure there will be many challenges and sleepless nights for us the next 2-3 weeks. I can not believe how much we spent the past 2 weeks on unblocking him (3) times AND his p/u surgery. It's enough to buy a new Honda Fit, not joking. Never in my wildest dreams that I would spend this much on my cats. After his 2nd blockage, I went straight home and bought them both insurance. I'm so blessed to have such a supportive husband emotionally and financially there for Prince, since he was my cat first. I joking told my husband that I cant wait for Prince to be ok and back to his normal self, so I can kill him.

What a ride it's been...But as long as he's fighting, i'll be fighting with him.

Thanks for the support and well wishes, everyone.

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You will handle this well, and I believe that Prince will too.  I'm a firm believer in cat insurance, so good move!  It's unbelievable, isn't it, how much these veterinary bills can be?  Wonderful that your husband is supportive through this.  Prince has two fine people being there for him in every way.  Hugs, sweet girl, and prayers for Prince.

MaggieMay said:

You will handle this well, and I believe that Prince will too.  I'm a firm believer in cat insurance, so good move!  It's unbelievable, isn't it, how much these veterinary bills can be?  Wonderful that your husband is supportive through this.  Prince has two fine people being there for him in every way.  Hugs, sweet girl, and prayers for Prince.

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Never occured to me to post a picture of the trouble maker... He is the left one in the baby picture and darker one in the rest.

MaggieMay - they are Maine Coons as well!

He will be fine. I have had 2 cats block and require PU surgery. The only thing to watch for in the future is that they will be more prone to urinary tract infections because it is easier for bacteria to get in this opening. One of mine had no problems ever again, the other got UTI's every couple months and required antibiotics off and on. Charlie become Charlotte and Quincy became Quinn. It's amazing, like a sex change on a kitty! Good luck, don't worry too much.

Thank you for the reassurance! IF I had to pick one, I would take an UTI over UO anyday. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent or keep it minimal UTI's for him. Perhaps I will have to start cleaning the house every couple of days.

I would keep the litter box and area around it clean. I scoop litter boxes usually 3 times a day. I figure, I don't like using a toilet if not flushed or spot a pot period, so why would they. Happy cat, Happy home! Even with scooping litter, it should be dumped and the box sterilized every couple weeks. Just watch for, kind of, the same symptoms as blockage. In and out of litter box, scratching around, urinating in places they love, like on your bed. The theory is, the litter box hurts me, so I will try going on the nice soft bed that never hurts me. They begin to associate the litter box with pain. Makes sense. They are very smart critters! If you know what to look for though, you can hopefully avoid them turning into behavioral problems. I had a hard time with Charlie and ended up closing bedroom doors, which I hated, and tossing plastic mattress covers over beds when we would get up in the morning. He still peed on the plastic, but, I saw that there was blood in the urine. Light bulb on! I finally understood. Just some tips. Good luck!

Thank you for the reassurance! IF I had to pick one, I would take an UTI over UO anyday. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent or keep it minimal UTI's for him. Perhaps I will have to start cleaning the house every couple of days.

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Since Tigger blocked and reblocked and had to be hospitalized for 5 days, we've had no more problems.  I give him Get Naked Urinary Health treats which contain cranberry.  If cats keep cranberry in their systems, they are unlikely to get a UTI.  Tigger did have a UO but he did NOT have crystals, so I can't speak to the efficacy of cranberry regarding crystal formation, but it does create a very healthy urinary tract.  I also use Tomlyn's Urinary Tract Irritation, a colorless, odorless homeopathic liquid added to their water (1/2 tsp. each day).  Many people use this if they see the amount of urine decreasing, see a cat straining, etc., but I have used it faithfully each day.  One thing I wanted to mention for post-surgery patients or any cat with health problems is VIYO Recuperation.  Here is the link so you can read about it:  http://www.medi-vet.com/VIYO-Recuperation-Cat-p/18097.htm   It was created by veterinarians for veterinarians and was recommended by our pet oncologist.  All the best to you and your gorgeous little patient.  He looks so much like one of my own babies.  Just a beautiful boy!

Hi, my baby Kami is six years old. I took him in to the vet last Saturday so a week ago because he was not acting his normal self. Being lethargic and not playing with his laser that he normally goes crazy for. They had to do an emergency surgery then and there because he had a blocked urinary tract. He was released on Monday only to have to go back Tuesday because he was not using the bathroom. I had him set up in my room so I could monitor him. He was partially blocked. He got released last night but the vet told me to be very watchful of him today because of how quickly he reblocked. He was peeing, and eating and even did number 2 but hasn't really used the bathroom since this morning. So worried about my baby. The vet closes at 2 and if I have to take him back him he will have to get the PU surgery. Thankfully my vet is allowing me to do a payment plan for his bill.

katnaps, has your vet given you Prazosin? It's a muscle relaxer of sorts that helps to relax the urethra so that it doesn't spasm. Spasms can cause him to pee just small amounts or not at all. Why he isn't peeing at all, tho, i'm not sure. Worth asking about that. My cat had a cystotomy surgery (totally blocked, too) and since then (April 17th) he has only peed small amounts of urine.

Three vets said he needed a PU so I went to a board certified surgeon in Chicago thinking he was going to have it done. I was terrified and really tortured making this decision for him. Well, was I ever shocked when the surgeon said she didn't think he needed a PU.  She put him on Prazosin and switched his Royal Canin S/O wet food to Hill's C/D Multicare Stress. I also got some Feliway after the cystotomy in hopes it might make him a little less stressed. Praying he pees normally sometime soon. If not, then Amitriptyline...sort of an anti-anxiety medicine which can help relax the bladder.

What a complicated condition. I really hope your baby gets better very soon. You both have been through so much. You are such a good pet parent to him!! Please keep us updated.

Furmom, I know it is more expensive, but before you do the PU, I'd highly advise at least having a consult with a board certified surgeon.  (My consult downtown Chicago was $85). It is way too serious a surgery  to have a regular vet do it. It must be done JUST RIGHT or if the wrong nerve or muscle is cut your cat could 'leak' and/or poop involuntarily for the rest of his life. Also, if the hole is not made big enough, he could get 'stricture' which means his surgical opening can become scarred over completely and have no hole at all to pee out of. Lots of risks potentially involved.

My surgeon advised against the PU for now thinking there may be some other avenues to try first, like Prazosin and Hill's C/D Multicare Stress. We'll see.

Best of luck to you!

katnaps, so sorry, but i also missed a bunch of posts before i wrote mine. I didn't realize you had already had the PU. Sounds like you went ot a specialists so I'm praying he will do just fine. it will be a tough road initially as with any surgery recuperation, but you have so much love and devotion to him, i'm sure his just being in your care will be healing to his little body. He'll be back to normal soon! Please let us know.

I've been with my guy for 9 weeks now without a full pee. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, but still... He can't stay this way. Praying....

I am still new to all this and don't really know how to do all this to do a new post so I am sorry. Well my baby Kami has been home since Friday after having a blocked urinary tract and then having a partially reblock and he has been doing great. Eating all his food, peeing and stuff. Today something happened that made me pause. Was wondering if it happened to one of y'all? I talked to one of the vets on the help line since it is Sunday and he said for me not to reall stress to much and to monitor. But Kami's penis started to stick out and he started to leak urine. He would still go to litter box but I would have to stick tissue under his butt. Is it because his penis is starting to become normal after having a catheter in there? Was pretty concerned when this was happening.

Furmom29 said:

I am still new to all this and don't really know how to do all this to do a new post so I am sorry. Well my baby Kami has been home since Friday after having a blocked urinary tract and then having a partially reblock and he has been doing great. Eating all his food, peeing and stuff. Today something happened that made me pause. Was wondering if it happened to one of y'all? I talked to one of the vets on the help line since it is Sunday and he said for me not to reall stress to much and to monitor. But Kami's penis started to stick out and he started to leak urine. He would still go to litter box but I would have to stick tissue under his butt. Is it because his penis is starting to become normal after having a catheter in there? Was pretty concerned when this was happening.

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Hi, and welcome!  You can start your own thread if you wish - go up to the top of this.  In bright blue it says "Post a Reply" and in grey right next to that, it says "Start a New Thread."  Click on that, type your question and your own thread will be up and running and you're far more likely to get more answers.  But in the meantime, it sounds like your boy is okay for today, but I would call your vet in the morning and discuss with him/her.  Catheterization can make some strange things happen. My boy blocked, reblocked twice, was catheterized for 5 days in the hospital, and when he came home, there was the occasional penis sighting, but no leakage.   If he starts straining while attempting to urinate, that would be worrisome.  Just watch him carefully, and make sure he gets moisture in his meals.  Hopefully he is eating wet food.  I know you're worried, sweetie, but try to stay calm because if you're tense, he will be too.  Did he block because of crystals?  

I'm not sure either, Furmom, but in general I remember that immediately after his catheter (in for 24 hrs), his area (the hole) was quite reddish-colored and swollen after being unblocked. I took a photo and sent it to the doc. She said it looked normal for what he'd been through. It did go back to normal after a week or two.

He hasn't reblocked since his surgery April 18, but he continues peeing small pees and when he jumped out of box he dribbles just a little bit afterwards. Then lick himself.

Please let us know what the doc says.

Thank you all. He's doing ok now. The doctor when I was on the phone with him said to just monitor him like I have been. No more leakage and his penis is back in and looking good. My room mate will be looking after him this evening while I am at work. Here he is right now.

Kami is gorgeous! He looks quite relaxed if you ask me. Give him smooches from me. He will be just fine!

So Kami is still doing good. This is odd though, my other fur baby Belle who came from the same litter as Kami is being so mean to Kami since he came back from the vet. Every time she sees him she just hisses at him. The very first time she hissed and slapped him in the head. I don't know what to do with her. I have to keep him in my room which she can't be too pleased because she usually sleeps with me. Is this normal behavior for another cat when the other one goes to the vet? And Katnaps, I am wishing all the best for your Prince!

Yes, unfortunately this estrangement does sometimes happen after one cat going to the vet alone.  Whether it's the hospital smell on them or not, we don't know.  If you are able to bathe the one that was in the hosppital, that usually helps.   If not, if you can put something with a strong odor on the nose of the one who is causing trouble, that blocks the strange smell.

Hi Furmom,

I wouldn't worry at all about Belle hissing or even swatting at Kami as long as it isn't vicious or dangerous with nails. This is very common as Kami smells different now (temporarily) to Belle. I'm sure in just a few days (3-4 max) Belle will be just fine. My kitty does this to my other one every time he comes back from a longer visit to the vet. You can rub a towel over Belle and then rub that towel over Kami's body and he will smell more familiar. Or rub a towel with Kami's scent and place it in a place where Belle passes to get used to it. I've seen cats hiss at the towel. Tee hee. They'll be fine in no time.

Is Kami urinating normal amounts? Does he see to be having any pain?

I wish I could figure out why my cat is just peeing small amounts regularly. They're thinking possibly urethral spasms since an ultrasound showed no inflammation or stones in his bladder so he's on Prasozin since June 23rd and his food for stress. Has anyone else ever had this happen? It's been 9 weeks and I am stumped. Waiting for urinalysis and C&S test, but even before when those things were fine, he still wasn't peeing normally? So worried. He's had a tinge of blood in his urine off an on for the past week, but isn't showing any signs of pain. The vet does know.

Hi Piglet, I will have to try the towel thing. Kami seems to get better. Hates being cooped up in my room so I can monitor his bathroom habits and keep it separate from Belle's. What has been concerning me lately is that he's not really drinking water. The tech told me the other day that it was normal up to 4 days after because of how long he had the fluids IV in him. I brought him home on Friday and have been feeding him his precription Hills c/d urinary canned food and was mixing it with water to make it soupy for him. So his pee amount was good. The tech told me today not to mix it with water and measure a cup of water and then measure that same cup in morning to see how he did. So hopefully he continues to do well. Him and Belle are my first official babies that I have taken care of my own without parents help. Got them from my childhood cat's last litter right after I got out of the Navy. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, just annoyed he doesn't have free rein of the house. Where as Belle is used to sleeping with me and now is unable to. [emoji]128532[/emoji] I hope they find out what is wrong with your sweet kitty. They had Kami on Prazosin and Onsior. He first went to the hospital on the 18th.