At lot has happened in the last few months and I kept thinking I should post on here for some advice, but was either busy or just too stressed to type it out. This post will probably be pretty long, sorry.
So . . . A few months ago Salem, my 2 year old, peed in her play cubes. It was the first time she had ever gone outside the box before. She just wasn't acting right even before that, but I really couldn't pin down anything specific. You know what I mean? I know my little one and something was up. So, when she peed in her cubes, I called the vet the next day and made an appointment. But, due to the virus, we had to wait almost two weeks. During that time, she did not pee outside the box again, but started to lick her bottom excessively. I wiped her and she just screamed.
The wipe was covered in black . . . something. I don't know if it was blood or feces or what. It was hard for me to get a good look at her genitals as Salem was so upset and she is very hairy. What I did finally see was a very red, crusty and inflamed vulva. (TMI Sorry) I immediately gave her a butt bath. I just filled the tub with an inch of water and sat her in it. I did not use any soap for fear of making things worse. I then went online and ordered a Chlorhexidine spray. I sprayed her bottom twice a day for about a week (Up until the vet appointment) and it helped a lot. I also ordered Homeopet Feline UTI drops and started her on those. When we finally got to the vet, they confirmed a UTI based off of Salem's symptoms. Salem would not give the vet a urine sample to confirm. The vet also diagnosed a tapeworm infestation which surprised me as Salem went though all the necessary deworming as a kitten and I saw no signs of it. The vet gave Salem an antibiotic injection and the first dose of dewormer. She also sent Salem home with another dose of dewormer to be given in ten days and a two week supply of Baytril (Antibiotic) to be given twice a day. The vet also said to continue the Homeopet UTI drops. Salem was fairly easy to pill in the beginning. But by the 12th day, I could not get the Baytril into her. I called the vet and they said it was fine that she skips the last 4 doses as long as she was acting ok which she was. A few days later, Salem peed on my bed. I called the vet again and the vet said to just keep up with the Homeopet UTI supplement and to wait and see how she does for a few days. Everything seemed to get better for a few days. Then, Salem went from being a little anxious to having what could be best described as full blow panic attacks. Salem has always had a problem with anxiety and I think the UTI, the vet visit and the regular forced medicating just pushed it to a crisis level. So, I started her on Homeopet Feline Anxiety Relief drops and later hemp oil with the vet's approval. I have never been one to put too much stock in homeopathic remedies, but I have to say, these supplements have made a big difference. I overslept and missed a dose a few weeks ago and Salem had a screaming, pacing, panting meltdown. So, at the moment Salem gets 5 drops of the Homeopet UTI and 5 drops of the Homeopet Anxiety Relief mixed with a few drops of water once a day and she gets 0.3 ml of hemp oil every other day. I use an oral syringe to give them to her as Salem won't eat wet food. Has anyone here had any experience with chronic anxiety and the behavioral problems that comes with it?
Now to today and the main reason why I am posting today. Salem peed on my bed again.
I don't know why and did not expect it. She had been doing so much better. It has probably been a month and a half since she peed on the bed the first time. She has been using the litterbox like clockwork and her anxiety was not an issue today either. She was acting normal and then just decided to let loose on my bed. Since the first incident, I have been putting an upside down carpet runner on my bed when I am not using it to keep Salem off of it. I feel horrible about the idea of her jumping up onto the spikes
, but to my knowledge she has not done it yet. I think the fact that it is different and strange has been enough to keep her off. I also leave enough of the runner hanging off the edge so Salem can clearly see it when she looks up. I did test the runner by slamming my hand on it as hard as I could and it did not break the skin, but still. Do you think using a carpet runner as a deterrent is cruel? I don't know what else to do. I am planning on getting a plastic shower curtain to throw over the bed too, but I am worried that Salem would actually be attracted to it as she has a fascination with crinkly plastic. She might even chew on the edges. Any advice on how to stop Salem from peeing on my bed? I am still trying to figure out what was the cause of today's (and last time's) bed episode. Could this be a behavioral issue triggered by the UTI? If so, what can I do that I am not already doing? I don't think she was marking as she peed a full bladder's worth the first time and probably would have today too if I had not interrupted her. I am also wondering if maybe she still has some physical reason for peeing on the bed. The vet did not seem too concerned when I called about the first time. I can't take her back to the vet at the moment anyways though and I don't know if it would even make a difference. The vet already did what she could without Salem giving a fresh urine sample. At this point, I have exhausted myself trying to deal with Salem and I am at a loss as to what to do now.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
So . . . A few months ago Salem, my 2 year old, peed in her play cubes. It was the first time she had ever gone outside the box before. She just wasn't acting right even before that, but I really couldn't pin down anything specific. You know what I mean? I know my little one and something was up. So, when she peed in her cubes, I called the vet the next day and made an appointment. But, due to the virus, we had to wait almost two weeks. During that time, she did not pee outside the box again, but started to lick her bottom excessively. I wiped her and she just screamed.
The wipe was covered in black . . . something. I don't know if it was blood or feces or what. It was hard for me to get a good look at her genitals as Salem was so upset and she is very hairy. What I did finally see was a very red, crusty and inflamed vulva. (TMI Sorry) I immediately gave her a butt bath. I just filled the tub with an inch of water and sat her in it. I did not use any soap for fear of making things worse. I then went online and ordered a Chlorhexidine spray. I sprayed her bottom twice a day for about a week (Up until the vet appointment) and it helped a lot. I also ordered Homeopet Feline UTI drops and started her on those. When we finally got to the vet, they confirmed a UTI based off of Salem's symptoms. Salem would not give the vet a urine sample to confirm. The vet also diagnosed a tapeworm infestation which surprised me as Salem went though all the necessary deworming as a kitten and I saw no signs of it. The vet gave Salem an antibiotic injection and the first dose of dewormer. She also sent Salem home with another dose of dewormer to be given in ten days and a two week supply of Baytril (Antibiotic) to be given twice a day. The vet also said to continue the Homeopet UTI drops. Salem was fairly easy to pill in the beginning. But by the 12th day, I could not get the Baytril into her. I called the vet and they said it was fine that she skips the last 4 doses as long as she was acting ok which she was. A few days later, Salem peed on my bed. I called the vet again and the vet said to just keep up with the Homeopet UTI supplement and to wait and see how she does for a few days. Everything seemed to get better for a few days. Then, Salem went from being a little anxious to having what could be best described as full blow panic attacks. Salem has always had a problem with anxiety and I think the UTI, the vet visit and the regular forced medicating just pushed it to a crisis level. So, I started her on Homeopet Feline Anxiety Relief drops and later hemp oil with the vet's approval. I have never been one to put too much stock in homeopathic remedies, but I have to say, these supplements have made a big difference. I overslept and missed a dose a few weeks ago and Salem had a screaming, pacing, panting meltdown. So, at the moment Salem gets 5 drops of the Homeopet UTI and 5 drops of the Homeopet Anxiety Relief mixed with a few drops of water once a day and she gets 0.3 ml of hemp oil every other day. I use an oral syringe to give them to her as Salem won't eat wet food. Has anyone here had any experience with chronic anxiety and the behavioral problems that comes with it?Now to today and the main reason why I am posting today. Salem peed on my bed again.
I don't know why and did not expect it. She had been doing so much better. It has probably been a month and a half since she peed on the bed the first time. She has been using the litterbox like clockwork and her anxiety was not an issue today either. She was acting normal and then just decided to let loose on my bed. Since the first incident, I have been putting an upside down carpet runner on my bed when I am not using it to keep Salem off of it. I feel horrible about the idea of her jumping up onto the spikes, but to my knowledge she has not done it yet. I think the fact that it is different and strange has been enough to keep her off. I also leave enough of the runner hanging off the edge so Salem can clearly see it when she looks up. I did test the runner by slamming my hand on it as hard as I could and it did not break the skin, but still. Do you think using a carpet runner as a deterrent is cruel? I don't know what else to do. I am planning on getting a plastic shower curtain to throw over the bed too, but I am worried that Salem would actually be attracted to it as she has a fascination with crinkly plastic. She might even chew on the edges. Any advice on how to stop Salem from peeing on my bed? I am still trying to figure out what was the cause of today's (and last time's) bed episode. Could this be a behavioral issue triggered by the UTI? If so, what can I do that I am not already doing? I don't think she was marking as she peed a full bladder's worth the first time and probably would have today too if I had not interrupted her. I am also wondering if maybe she still has some physical reason for peeing on the bed. The vet did not seem too concerned when I called about the first time. I can't take her back to the vet at the moment anyways though and I don't know if it would even make a difference. The vet already did what she could without Salem giving a fresh urine sample. At this point, I have exhausted myself trying to deal with Salem and I am at a loss as to what to do now. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
(I'm a little partial to black cats, and Salem looks almost identical to my problem child, Tinky)
