Cat with urinary / bladder problems

[lewey1]

Hi
Apologies if this is the wrong thread to use, but there's not one for cats, and as most people read this one.... (also my usual name is apes_mum but i've a problem with my account so am using another one)
I have a 9mth old cat who has serious problems with his bladder. I first noticed he seemed to be 'straining' and unable to urinate, so took him to my vets who diagnosed that he was 'blocked'. They tried - unsuccessfully to put a catheter in, so we ended up rushing him to Langford vet hospital as his condition was becoming life threatening, and he was there for 9 days.
We brought him home yesterday, and I am desperate to prevent this happening to him again.
Langford said he had some crystals in his urine, he had cystitis, which was causing his bladder to contract, and he also was discovered to have mis-shapen 'bits' - but the vet didn't think that in it's self would syop him being able to urinate.
He's home now and still quite poorly, on medication 3 times a day to help relax his bladder muscles, pain killers, and anti inflam.
I've changed him onto wet cat food (he's no longer to have any dry cat food) and have put him on a perscription diet for bladder health (Royal Canin)
The vet isn't sure what caused such a young cat to become blocked, but he may now be prone to it, and apparentely it's relatively common in male cats.
This is my first cat, and I love him dearly and want to do everything I can to help prevent it happening again.
Does anyone have any experience of this, and do you have anything you can reccomend thats worked for you.
The vet also mentioned using a feliway plug in and cystaid tablets (when he finishes his medication)
Any advice would be very gratefully received.
Thank you
Helen

 

[*WoodysMum*]

Hi. Sorry to hear your boy was so poorly. One of my lads has had cystitis a couple of times. Cystaid worked really well for him and I would say to definately get a feliway plug in. If his problems are stress related than that should help. I also used zylkene tablets which are brilliant! They're a natural stress reliever. You just break one over his food once a day, if you mix it in it shouldn't notice it! You can get them fairly cheaply online.
Hope he feels better soon

 

[LadyRascasse]

I don't understand the no dry food thing as a lot of the food for bladder problems with cat is dry and obviously they wouldn't make it if it was going to make the problem worse.

avoid fish flavored foods as they are more likely to cause crystals, and possible but s/he on something like trovet or science plan

i have found this which might be useful

http://www.hillspet.co.uk/Adult/Cat/Adult/Health-and-Wellbeing/Urinary-tract-infections.aspx

 

[Notamule]

Ask your vet for Cystaid capsules, they line the interior of the bladder with a protective barrier to relieve cystitis symptoms and worked successfully for my cat, who was a real martyr to it for a while. Specialist foods can also help to reduce crystal formation in the bladder - you can buy them cheaper on websites like nutrecare and medicanimal.

Cats so seem quite prone to stress -Feliway plug ins are good, but you might want to have a think about what could be causing him stress. Things like having the builders in, the presence of a more aggressive cat close by etc up set mine.
Good luck!

 

[Andalusianlover]

Hi there. Sorry to hear about your cat, hope he gets better. My old cat had the same thing. The vet out in Spain said it was because my mother gave her human food ie titbits etc etc. I'm not saying this is the case with your cat at all but just in case it its, I thought I'd pass on my experiences. My cat was put on a special diet which I believe was a specific dry food (only)and banned for life from eating anything meant for humans and she was ok and lived till the ripe old age of 18.

 

[peanut]

My cat had bladder problems at a similar age. He was unable to pass urine and clearly in pain when he did. The vet diagnosed crystals in his urine and he was put on Hill's Science Diet Feline C/D and he has stayed on it ever since - he's going to be 16 next month!

If you are in any doubt about your vet's advice, get a second opinion - no good vet will ever mind you doing so.

I hope you get it sorted out

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Sorry to hear about the problems your cat's having

I used to work with prescription diets in my old job and many, many people used Royal Canin Urinary S/O (which you're already using) or Hills C/D and said that after switching their cats onto the diet wet foods, they've had very little problems since - some started on other medication but slowly came off and were just feeding the prescription diets and it was (fingers crossed) stopping any problems. I hope it helps!

Feliway is like a calmer - its the feline equivalent of DAP for dogs its a pheromone which can be plugged in, or used on a collar and is meant to diffuse into their environment and hence keep them calmer - not sure why the vet has suggested this??? (But it does tend to work more for cats than dogs - it didnt touch my GSD!)

 

[JenHunt]

My cat had this earlier in the year. she was actually crying when she went for a pee cos it hurt! We feed her the Hills C/d diet (dry). She is fine now, and we've had no more problems since the diagnosis. Ellie is 11 this year, and is still fit as anything and to prove it left a dead stoat on the doorstep last week!

the reason they say not to feed dry food is that it makes the urine more alkaline which makes the crystals form quicker. the prescription dry foods are fine tho as this has been adjusted.

 

[anadain]

There are two types of crystals which cause cats to be blocked - the vet should be able to send a urine sample off and then test as to which crystals they are - you then use the appropriate cat food (prescription only) that should stop the cat having anymore problems. You must ensure he doesn't eat anything other than the prescription diet to prevent them forming again. We have a cat with crystals - it appears to be becoming more common - don't know why!

 

[lewey1]

Thank you for the replies, much appreciated.
I asked my vet when my cat came home which diet to put him on, and they reccommended the Royal canin for general urinary health, as he had minimal crystals, but cyctitis too and they said this food was more 'broad spectrum'
I will definately try the cystaid tablets when he finishes his medication.
The vets think it was caused by stress, but I can't think of anything that may have stressed him. His routine hasn't changed at all.
They said definately no dried cat food was the biggest thing I could do to help him. As he needs as much fluid into his system as possible.
I have an appointment to speak to Langfords cat psyche, incase they can think of anything that could be causing him stress.
It was just so awful and painful for him, not helped by my vet not being able to catheter him because of his funny shaped bits, so just getting the catheter in was a big trauma
Bless him.
Once again, thanks for the replies x

 

[Whoopit]

ALOE VERA JUICE!!! It's amazing for urinary tract and stomach ulcers and the like.

I can pass on details of a distributor whose horse has tummy issues and is tonnes better after being on the stuff but she is based in West Yorkshire so not sure what postage would be like or can ask if there's a distributor in your area?

If you do give aloe vera a go, make sure it's got a little aloe vera plant symbol on it - International Aloe Science Council -(signifies its something like 97% of the plant concentrate in it as opposed to barely a trace like most companies).

 

[Achinghips]

YOu'll find the AB's will clear up the problem quickly, just finish the course as these things have a massive chance of reoccuring quickly, most AB courses last 5 days, my vet (for urinary infections in cats) gives me 7 days of AB's as a result.
You can get dried cat food with cranberry, which'd be best its called APPLAWS, but it's very expensive.