A Cat Question - Cystitis, Worried About Billy

tonitot

tonitot

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Billy was taken to the vets last Monday and was found to have cystitis. This was because he refused to go out in the snow and held a wee in for too long and then couldn't go when my mum put a litter tray out for him (he did pee on in my brothers room when he got very desperate) He has had it a few years ago and had some medication and was fine a while later, but this time it's come back. Over the weekend it was like he was young again, he was playing with our younger cat (Billy is about 11/12, Bunyip is about 4/5) and all his toys and was generally acting like a young cat. Then on Monday he was straining again and we put him in his litter tray and all was okay for a while. A few times through the week he'd strain but would eventually go and be okay so we thought he'd be okay and was just taking a while getting over it again. About 20 mins ago he came and sat on the sofa next to me and suddenly started straining, I took him straight to his litter tray but he jumped out and tried to wee under the table. So I put some more litter in thinking maybe there wasn't enough and put him back in. He's stayed there until about 2 mins ago and I've just checked in his tray and he's strained so hard he's pooed as well as a tiny bit of wee which is what he was doing last week and he's not himself at all. I've booked him in for an appointment at the vets tomorrow evening as we aren't able to take him today otherwise I'd have gotten one today. So I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to make him a bit more comfortable until the vet sees to him tomorrow, or would it be best to ring the vets for advice? I'm really worried about him :( Thanks for reading.
 
I would also make sure the vet checks his urine for crystals, neutered males especially are prone to them which causes similar symptoms to cystitis, one of mine suffers from them, so to prevent it he has special food to alter the ph of his urine and prevent the formation of them. when he first got diagnosed he had a total blockage and needs catherising at the vets in order to pee. Good luck with him.
 
Agreed, call the vet straight away. It can be very serious. Our cat gets it all the time, and is now on special food for it (worth asking your vet about prescription diets if it looks like it's a recurring problem).
 
Okay, he seems okay now, still not too happy but he's sitting on his windowsill watching the world outside. I will ring the vets anyway as his opointment isn't until 6:40 tomorrow evening so he could get bad again between now and then and hate to see him looking so unhappy.
 
Please take him to the vets immediately. This can be very dangerous for male cats. Mine had it a couple of years ago and was nearly admitted. He had to have painkillers as well as muscle relaxents so that he could actually pee. As I remember he had to have Metacam for dogs as there wasn't one for cats then. I had to take him to the emergency vet twice as my vet said not to hang about. Watch out for blood in the urine too and, if you can, take a urine sample to the vet when you go.
 
Cavalier said:
Please take him to the vets immediately. This can be very dangerous for male cats. Mine had it a couple of years ago and was nearly admitted. He had to have painkillers as well as muscle relaxents so that he could actually pee. As I remember he had to have Metacam for dogs as there wasn't one for cats then. I had to take him to the emergency vet twice as my vet said not to hang about. Watch out for blood in the urine too and, if you can, take a urine sample to the vet when you go.
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I would but there's no way I can get him to a vets right now, my car isn't sorted yet, mum's out and wont be back till late and my brother doesn't drive, there's no-one around to take him :( He's back in his tray again now, so ringing the vets right now.
 
Rang the vets, only advice she could give me was to take him down there this evening so going to call my mum and see if there's anything we can do, hopefully we can get him there.
 
Our little female rescue cat has a tendency to cystitis when she is stressed. The cats' home gave us a product called Cystaid, to give her for the first 2 weeks we had her and if she ever showed symptoms. If it is linked to the weather it may be worth asking the vet for a supply to keep him ticking over once they have sorted the acute symptoms out. Works for Myrtle at least and it is apparently based on seaweed so don't think it is something to be too concerned about keeping them on for some time.

As I wasn't aware cystitis in male cats was such an issue, I certainly wouldn't take my advice as being a cure, still take him to the vets for proper checkover.
 
hi - definately get him to the vets tonight - male cats with cystitis for whatever reason can get a blocked urethra (either from crystals/stones/sand or just inflammation/spasm) when this happens the urine builds up in the bladder becoming incredibly painful and can cause kidney failure and serious illness - even if this is just a possibility, male cats with signs of cystitis should always be checked by a vet asap
 
One of our cats had it last year. The vet treated it very seriously and he stayed in for a day on a drip. They checked for crystals and infection and all sorts. He was on cystaid, but to be honest I had a tough time getting him to eat it as apparently it tastes pretty horrible. I would usually only give my cats the complete dry food (Hills), but now they get a pouch each of wet on top. For a while I added extra water to the food bowls as well. Touch wood he seems ok now. There is a special food they can have, but my cat was still quite young and the vet spent quite a while discussing it with the food companies and they decided that he was better off staying on the young cat food and making sure he got plenty of liquids. Can you get a neighbour/friend to run you to the vets. Hope he's ok.
 
Agreed if they cannot wee and it builds up complications can occur, my cat had bladder crystals, he was rolling on his side and couldnt pee, a week later and £1000 of bills he had to have his 'ding a ling' removed and a hole made to pee from and wear a catheter tube to make sure the hole didnt close up for 4 weeks, that was 7 years ago and hes still going strong now. hope your kitty is ok.
 
Thanks guys, my mum is trying to sort something out so he can go tonight but as she's not here it's hard. I hate waiting for her to ring back. Poor Billy seems very unhappy and unsettled, he's in and out of his litter tray, in and out of the front room, on and off the window sill .. just can't settle and I feel useless not being able to do anything :(
 
fatpony said:
hi - definately get him to the vets tonight - male cats with cystitis for whatever reason can get a blocked urethra (either from crystals/stones/sand or just inflammation/spasm) when this happens the urine builds up in the bladder becoming incredibly painful and can cause kidney failure and serious illness - even if this is just a possibility, male cats with signs of cystitis should always be checked by a vet asap
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agree with this, see a lot of it at the vets. Different if had been female, would have suggested probiotic yoghourt, cranberry type things along with medication. As mentioned, male cats very prone to these crystals, and cat's kidneys are their weak spots anyway so need to keep fluids going through them easily. Hope all goes well-good thing that you are so observant with your animals.
 
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