My cat won't pee after treatment for urinary blockage

Hi, my cat Wafer just came home from the vet today after getting treated for a urinary blockage. He had crystals that blocked him up, so they flushed him out and he was on an iv and had a catheter in for about 3 days. I picked him up around 10:45 am today, the vet showed me he had peed a lot, and he even made a bowel movement. I bought prescription Hill's C/D wet food for him, and they gave me some samples of the dry food, because he hates wet food. He hasn't eaten much today, only a little of the dry food, and he has drank, but not a ton. He used the litter box twice today, and had a fair amount of urine come out (he's a big cat so he usually has A LOT come out), and then after that only droplets came out. Now he has been sitting in the litter box and taking frequent trips, and hasn't peed since. It is 6 pm, and I'm getting worried that he is blocked again. My husband checked his ''man area", and he had white stuff on it, which my husband got off. He was afraid it was crystals since he hasn't peed, so I don't know if he's blocked up or if this is normal...he just got the catheter taken out around 9 this morning, so is it because of the catheter that he isn't urinating, is he healing up from it? My husband has used his whole paycheck to pay for his vet care, and we have no more money, so I'm really worried! Thank you to everyone who replies!

How is your cat now? I hope you have called the vet and told him what is going on. It sounds like the cat still has a problem and should not have been sent home. Please give us an update.

It's not uncommon for a cat to only produce dribs and drabs of urine after being blocked,but if Wafer isn't producing any at all, he needs to go back.  This can quickly become an emergency situation. You mentioned that finances were a problem (I can certainly relate to that!) -  you might get some ideas from reading this article:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/no-money-for-vet-care-how-to-find-help-and-save-your-cats-life

Please let us know how Wafer is doing.

Wafer peed twice last night, not his normal huge size clumps, but they were still a good size. I woke up to take my husband to work and just cleaned his cat pan at 4:10, and there were only 4 small clumps. He's gotten into the litter box twice since we've gotten up (it's only been 12 minutes), and he hasn't produced urine. But he isn't bloated and his bladder doesn't feel big like it did before. Maybe I'm just being paranoid?

Also, he is on antibiotics and some kind of compound the vet had to go to the pharmacy to get. He said it is supposed to widen his urethra so he can pee. I think my dog might be stressing him out, because when he peed the good amounts the last two times, we were outside walking the dog, and the other time we were in a different room. Would it be a good idea not to follow him and not monitor him for a bit? I always clean the litter box after he gets out to see if he did anything, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't follow him to the litter box. Thank you!

Whew!  Good news that Wafer has peed!  (The things that get us excited!)  I think you might be right about Wafer being a little stressed by your following him when he goes to his box and then watching him.  You can always check after he's done.

One of the reasons Wafer might go to the box and not produce any urine is that his urethra has been irritated by the catheter.  That irritation may be what's making him feel like he has to pee, even when his bladder is empty.  It's quite common for that to happen.  As long as he's producing even small amounts of urine, he's not blocked.  Of course you want to keep a sharp eye out on his output but it sounds to me that he's doing okay right now.  If you're worried though, definitely call the vet.  You have every right to call with follow-up questions.

Hope to hear Wafer is back to normal soon. 

Tara, it is so obvious that you and your husband love your kitty and are doing right by him. He is lucky to have you both! It is so difficult, though, when the bills get so high. One way you can save a ton of money is by going to www.Chewy.com

You can order everything for a cat (like a Petco but online store) even prescription food! Call their 800 number and they will call your vet for a prescription and mail you your food for MUCH less than at the vet's office. Cheaper rices plus n tax and free shipping on  orders over $49. Also, if you put stuff in your Autoship you can save an extra 5%. You can easily change products and postpone dates to ship anytime.

Will you please update us when you can? My 2 yr old male tabby had a blockage April 17th and had to have a cystotomy to have stones removed from his bladder. Awful!! Now, it has been 9 weeks and he still has not peed a normal amount...just small pees regularly. Three vets said he needed a PU (perineal urethrostomy where they make his urethra shorter and wider...VERY intense!). Well, I just went to a board certified surgeon who doesn't seem to think he needs it. She wants to be conservative first so she put him on Prazosin (a urethral relaxer...anti-spasmotic). She also changed his food from Royal Canin S/O to Hill's C/D Multicare Stress (for stress)! He is a little bit of a stressed boy when he hears loud noises in the hall like vacuuming.

I also purchased Feliway plug-in diffusers after his surgery . Google that if you're unfamiliar. I think he seems a little bit more relaxed. Cheapest place to buy it is on www.Amazon.com

Best of luck to you and your baby!! Make sure he gets lots of water. Wet food is preferable, too. They like water fountains.

Wafer has been peeing every day, not as much as he used to, but he is not getting bloated and doesn't show any sins of discomfort! While I was at the vet, I bought him prescription wet food and they gave me some samples of the dry food. He refuses to eat ANY wet food. So we tried the prescription dry food, and he wouldn't even eat that. He still isn't eating normally, but he's finally given in to eating a little dry food at a time. I hope he warms up to it! That's the only thing he can eat is the prescription food, so he doesn't really have a choice!

Hi Tara,

So glad Wafer doesn't seem to be in any pain and is peeing some. I hear about some cats don't like wet food, but I'd say keep trying with him. They really do need moisture more than anything.

Maybe just a tiny bit on top of his dry food? Or initially maybe a little diluted chicken broth to entice him. Tuna juice is the obvious choice cuz they love it, BUT with this condition cats should avoid fish due to their high content of, I believe it is, phosphorus. Someone else mentioned sardine juice (less phosphorus?...I don't know. Need to look into that cuz Piglet is not overly crazed about his food either. He does eat it, tho, with some occasion coaxing).

Will he tolerate you adding a little bit of water to his dry food? Milk is also supposed to not be a good idea.

Best to you, try a water fountain and get your food cheaper at chewy dot com    I am a HUGE fan of theirs! Great, newer, very customer-friendly company.