***URGENT**** Cat peeing problem

My 16 1/2 year old male cat (Tigger) has been peeing every where for a while now. Yes I have taken him to the vet and he does have an urinary problem. The vet has found blood in his urine and he has been on and off medication for a year now.

I have a 3 year daughter and 16 month old twins (boy and girl) and the cat has peed on their toys. He keeps finding new places to pee even right next to the litter box.

I'm afraid that because of his age and the fact that he now only weighs 7lbs (used to average 10-12) that his time is up. I have an appoinment to have him put to sleep . This fact is making me extremely sad and I hope I'm doing the right thing. I'm not sure if he is in any pain or not.

Thanks
Marc

Marc...have you consulted your vet to see what your vet recommends???

Katie

I have been working with the vet for a while now. I have known the vet for a long time and trust their judgement. No one seems to want to say it but I can tell that they are concerned that his time has come. This could be due to the fact that the urinary issue won't heal and that he has lost so much weight. The only thing that is making really really hard is that for the most part he still acts like a kitten. He still runs around, plays with his toys and sleeps with me and my wofe everynight. He still "kneads" and licks my arm every night until I turn over.

I still think he is very sick and this is the right thing to do.

I'm not sure what you are asking? How is his kidney function? The weight loss can go along with reduced kidney function, and cats with crf (chronic renal failure) also are prone to urinary tract infections. If your vet did not test kidney function, and your decision is not yet made to pts, that would be the next step I'd suggest you take - have urine specific gravity checked, and a blood panel to check for BUN, Creatinine, potassium and phosphorous levels, calcium levels and a hgb and hct as cats with crf may develop anemia.

Whatever you decide, we all know how hard it is to think of losing a cat we've had and loved for a long time, and we all know that sometimes the last, most loving thing we can do, is to release them if we can not help them continue to have quality of life.

If you are not familiar with CRF, go to this site for complete and accurate information.

The Vet did do a complete urinalysis and I will ask about the things you mentioned in your reply. I will also ask about the Kidneys. I have a 9:00 appointment tomorrow morning and was going to pts Tigger. Maybe I will wait until I get these answers.

A little more history since you mentioned renal. He has had a history of anal gland abcesses and has gotten them drained a couple of time in the past. He has not had this problem for a couple of years.

Thanks for your help.

Marc

Hi Marc,

I can't recommend the site I mentioned enough, it would give you all the answers to questions you may be wanting to ask, help you know what to ask your vet about, help you assess your cat. I don't want to make your decision more difficult, we aren't there...you know your cat best, but I have two cats with crf, so this just set off some bells that made me wonder if that is what you might be dealing with (or come to think of it, since I know with my guys more than one thing changes at a time!, the weight loss could also be from hyperthroidism.)

Just know that tcs members will be here to support you in any way we can.

Thanks!! I am looking at that site now and will know what to ask the vet in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes.

FYI... Since it is almost 1:00 a.m. here in NY I am in bed and Tigger is laying next to me purring away laying in his mormal spot between me and my wife at the head of the bed between our pillows. He always seems so happy.

Thanks again
Marc

You might also want to ask your vet about diabetes ... the symptoms you mentioned; frequently urinating and the weight loss could also indicate diabetes.

Best of luck to you and yours, I will be thinking of you and looking for an update no matter what you decide tomorrow.

~gf~

Ideally, your vet will run a senior panel--a blood test that will show Tigger's kidney function, his blood sugar, and his thyroid levels. CRF, diabetes and hyperthyroidism are all relatively common conditions in senior cats. They can be treatable, depending on your cat's levels and quality of life. Since I have a cat with hyperthyroidism, I often jump to that conclusion, but your cat does have some of the signs (increased activity, weight loss). The thyroid hormones do interact with the kidneys, so it is possible for more than one problem to occur at the same time. My vet charges about $80 for the senior panel, and the results usually come back the following day. Good luck to you and Tigger.

Update.....

We decided to hold off on the pts for now. We are going to bring Tigger to a cat specialist for some testing that's more detailed then our Vet can do. We have an appointment for today. Lets see what happens. Thanks to everyone for their help and support.

Thank you for the update, I was wondering. Keep us posted...my for a bit of good news for your kitty after the tests.

Thats brilliant news, hopefully whatever is causing it will be something that can be either cured or controlled and you have some more time with her.

Good luck. I'm praying for the best. (=

I have had two cats who went through this-they both were making a sandlike substance in their bladders and it blocked them from urinating. The more they strained, the more drops of blood came out. One cat was on daily meds for over 7 years before he passed at 18 years old. The other had to be periodically cathetered and lived to be 22. That visit to the vet should have answered your questions-try another vet! You shouldn't have to put him down!

Originally Posted by CCsMom

That visit to the vet should have answered your questions-try another vet! You shouldn't have to put him down!

Click to expand...

If he's still playing and if he's still kneading and purring, he is showing signs of enjoying life.

Update.....

We went to a really amazing Veterinary clinic called The Center for Specialized Verterinary Care. Thay have around 25+ Dr.'s that are specialits in each field. We met with the Directory of Internal Medicine. After discussing Tigger's history and doing a quick checkup she brought Tigger into the back to run some tests. Most of the test results are pending however she noticed that his BP was 195 (elevated), HB was 240 and he was panting. I say most of this was stress since he never travels and hates the Vet. The Vet mentioned that the BP would not be that high and that it was an issue. The Ultrasound of his bladder was "relatively unremarkable".

She prescribed 3 meds untill all the results come in.
Atenolol - treat hyperthyroid associated with hypertension
Methimazole - also for hyperthyroidism
Baytril - general antibiotic pending urine results

I will ahve the additional results soon.

Once again thanks to EVERYONE for your support!!

Sounds like a wonderful clinic! I actually just had to start my second oldest kitty (almost 16 now) Tyler on Norvasec for high bp (he's also early crf, and was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism...poor guy was diagnosed last summer with calcium oxalate bladder stones..he's had a bad year! But..he's responded well to his meds and tx's, and each new thing that comes up, we just tackle it...he continues to be my sweet baboo, full of purrs, head bonks and cheek moofs).

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend now!

Thanks for your advice and support. I hope everything works out for your cat also.

Have a great holiday and I will let everyone know when I get Tigger's results.

Sounds like Tigger has had a good, long, happy life. Let's hope the test results can get him on medication that will extend that life even more
Have a good holiday, and give us an update when you can. We're all here for you & Tigger too

Thinking of you and Tigger.