Tabbytudes - Cat Behavior Column (Part 2)
by Amy Shojai
Amy Shojai's Reply:
Hi Lis, How fortunate that you so carefully monitor your cat's health. That surely caught the anal gland problem promptly, and I'm sure will also aid in resolving the current situation. First, a couple of questions -- did the urinalysis or other tests rule out diabetes, kidney function, or hyperthyroidism? These three conditions (alone or in combination) can prompt excessive urination, and I'd want to rule them out before assuming it's a behavioral issue. These health conditions are most common in cats age 6 and above, and older cats are most frequently affected.
Second, I'm guessing the drug therapy your veterinarian prescribed was for idiopathic cystitis. This is an inflammation of the bladder with no known cause (no infection, no crystals), and the discomfort prompts frequent, usually small amounts of urine being expressed. Episodes seem to come and go, and stress often triggers an episode. It may be that your kitty has decided to "blame" the litter box for uncomfortable elimination and so she's "holding" it as long as possible-hence, the huge amounts of urine.
Drugs such as Elavil that are prescribed typically take up to three weeks to reach the proper levels in the blood to have a good effect, and act to reduce the stress that triggers the inflammation and symptoms. Elavil not only counters anxiety, it also helps soothe the bladder inflammation so sometimes there's a positive effect quite rapidly. The generic drug amitriptyline, or an antihistamine drug called hydroxizine that works very similarly, are both much less expensive than the brand-name Elavil. Your veterinarian is best suited to choose the right option for your individual situation.
It's hard to say why she pulled hair off her legs. That could be related to the stress of the vet visit and confinement in the small room. It might also be a reaction to pain or discomfort in her nether regions.
Good luck with your kitty. I hope you get her some relief soon. Many times it takes a bit of detective work to figure out exactly what's happening.
Lis Reports Success!
Hi Amy, We have solved the problem. I thought I would share the outcome with you in the event it helps someone else.
We had more tests done with no results. She was still only urinating once a day in her box and then she stopped having bowel movements. After three days we called the vet, and he did an x-ray but no problems were seen. We tried kitty malt, water on her biscuits, etc. for six days, and our next move was to have the vet give her an enema. There had been no more chewing of hair but we noticed her back end constantly twitching. We tried chiropractic and massage with no luck. After six days I was absolutely frantic and decided to let the vet keep her for a few days to see if they could sort things out. I had resigned myself to the fact that there was something terribly wrong and that we could possibly lose her.
For some reason, the day before she was to go to the vet, I decided to buy a new litter box. It was unbelievable. She went straight into the box and had a huge bowel movement.
She has returned to normal with her habits. We can't recall that anything unusual occurred with the old litter box. We are extremely relieved and happy to have our kitty back to normal. Too bad she can't tell us what happened in that box to make her hate it so much. Thank you again for your advice and support during a very stressful time. Lis
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