Topic: Cystitis - prescribed diet for rest of his life?? (Read 11895 times)

MrsR · « **Reply #47 on:** June 22, 2009, 00:14:58 AM »

Quote from: Millys Mum on June 19, 2009, 10:56:15 AM

Its not an old cat disease tho, seemingly healthy young males

Yep my Vesti was a healthy young male

Millys Mum · « **Reply #46 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:56:15 AM »

Its not an old cat disease tho, seemingly healthy young males

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #45 on:** June 19, 2009, 08:02:39 AM »

Cats also didn't live as long either though MM.

Millys Mum · « **Reply #44 on:** June 18, 2009, 19:24:52 PM »

I read several big papers on flutd and the main theme that run through them was to keep the crystals away with good urine output, how you achieve that is where they differed.
Cats never suffered such problems before commercial pet foods arrived on the scene

Dawn F · « **Reply #43 on:** June 18, 2009, 16:48:54 PM »

my bluto was on the prescription diet for about 6 years before rejecting it and going on to senior felix, the struvite stones never came back though

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #42 on:** June 18, 2009, 16:39:46 PM »

Syd had a couple of bouts before his serious one when he had to have an emergency op. He was then put on the diet, hated every second of it, was more depressed than I could believe, going from a loving, purring, healthy looking cat to a dishevelled, timid, skinny thing who I didnt recognise. We took the decision a few week's ago, having spoken to another vet, to move him onto a 'regular' food - we landed at Highlife due to its 60% meat content. he now has the shiniest coat, purrs more than ever, has so much energy and is back to our Syd. We put loads of water onto the food, heat it slightly so he drinks it all while he eats, so I am hoping this will prevent any other attacks

Now to get his sister to eat - she hates 'cat food', would only eat white fish, which is no good due to lack of nutrients, so is now on hunger strike! grr

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #41 on:** June 16, 2009, 23:33:46 PM »

She was on JWB dry, Arden Grange Dry and a range of wet. She loves salmon, unfortunately that was cut immediately due to its high magnesium content. Refuses raw....loves chicken and tuna though the latter too is a rare treat as are prawns.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #40 on:** June 16, 2009, 23:22:33 PM »

I'm interested to know, what food did she have before Ruth?

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #39 on:** June 16, 2009, 23:15:37 PM »

Because it prevents build up of crystals especially for cats who are prone to cystitis. Lexy had 2 bouts and stones so her diet is long term.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #38 on:** June 16, 2009, 23:02:10 PM »

Quote from: Kittybabe (Ruth) on June 16, 2009, 17:48:24 PM

Lexy's been on S/O for nearly 2 years, my sister's cat (male) for 3 years. Vets appear happy with this.

Thats a long time!

On the one hand it says about urinary s/o - '4-12 weeks of dietary support are rquired to dissolve struvite or eliminate urinary tract infections' and then says - 'the diet is intended for long term use' ! So once struvite is dissolved and any infection resolved why would there be a need for long term use?

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #37 on:** June 16, 2009, 17:48:24 PM »

Quote from: Gillian (Ambercat) on May 26, 2009, 17:32:15 PM

The urinary diets all tend to be higher in sodium - to encourage the cat to drink more and therefore get more moisture in its diet, but that can be achieved by feeding an appropriate cat diet anyway i.e. wet/high meat content. As far as I'm aware S/O should only be fed for a maxium of 6 months. It sounds like you are doing all you can to sort out any weight and stress issues.

Lexy's been on S/O for nearly 2 years, my sister's cat (male) for 3 years. Vets appear happy with this.

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #36 on:** June 16, 2009, 15:57:09 PM »

i know

good job both her and her brother are so cute and cheeky - we are definitely their slaves!

Millys Mum · « **Reply #35 on:** June 16, 2009, 15:53:17 PM »

Shes training you well lol

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 16, 2009, 15:52:32 PM »

no, she just stuck her nose up at it, each time we tried. I tried Simply Fish today, thinking she might like that, but no - she wanted Nature's menu. she wouldn't touch Nature's Harvest either...

Millys Mum · « **Reply #33 on:** June 16, 2009, 15:51:03 PM »

Would Cass eat hi life? Natures menu do keep messing with recipies some of which my lot dont like so she may not be awkward!

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 16, 2009, 15:48:46 PM »

thanks everyone. will definitely keep an eye on Syd's urine to be sure - it is meat High Life, not the fish variety

as for Cass, sometimes she eats, others she doesn't. I put water in with both their foods and they both drink that up - she seems to like runny food so laps the liquid up but doesn't much like it when it comes to just the meat.

I think the heat is affecting her - she tends to eat more in the evenings. she seems to be extremely happy, especially as i am at home a lot more now due to the job market...! as she hasn't had coley for some time, I would be reticent to put her back on that. i am giving her some biscuits every now and then, but as Syd can't have them, i would rather not upset him

we are keeping an eye on both their weights to make sure they are not losing weight (not going to happen in Syd's case - he loves food) and to make sure Syd stays at a good weight

as they are indoor cats, i am not too worried as they dont expend as much energy as they would outside, but will definitely be monitoring it.

the Your Cat book arrived at the weekend so I will be reading that, along with the Cat Whisperer, to really understand what they both want

Millys Mum · « **Reply #31 on:** June 16, 2009, 15:08:23 PM »

Is it meat hilife?
Well done on finding a better vet, i would reccomend getting his urine checked regularly until you know he is stable

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #30 on:** June 16, 2009, 11:09:13 AM »

Quote from: Lindsk72 on June 15, 2009, 23:20:08 PM

the problem is his sister,. she used to live on coley but that is not a whole food. she has always been so fussy!! so we thought we had found ideal food - Natures Menu - sometimes she laps it all up (with help of parmesan cheese), others she ignores it.

Linds, I'd try mixing the natures menu or whatever other food you try, in with her coley - just a tiny bit to begin with, then slowly increase the amount of NM whilst decreasing the amount of coley - do this over a period of days to a week (or even more if necessary) so she can slowly be weaned off coley.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #29 on:** June 16, 2009, 07:51:45 AM »

Linds - cats do need to eat, or they can get very ill, tough love doesn't work when it comes to food. Have you tried various biscuits, as that would help make the coley complete for her?

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 15, 2009, 23:20:08 PM »

Quote from: MrsR on June 15, 2009, 21:10:59 PM

How are things?

we found that one of our vets in the practice did not agree with Syd not being happy so told us to experiment. we are now on High Life and he loves it so much!! He is a different cat ! his fur is gorgeous, he is so happy. I put lots of water with each helping so fingers crossed he will continue healthy

the problem is his sister,. she used to live on coley but that is not a whole food. she has always been so fussy!! so we thought we had found ideal food - Natures Menu - sometimes she laps it all up (with help of parmesan cheese), others she ignores it. we have decided tough love is the only way forwards, she will be giiven it, and if she doesnt eat it, tough,. She will have to wait until evening and then hopefully eat it all as this is the most heart wrenching, tough thing we have done but she just wont eat. ordered the Your Cat book so hopefully that will help

honestly cats are hard work

MrsR · « **Reply #27 on:** June 15, 2009, 21:10:59 PM »

How are things?

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 28, 2009, 10:34:09 AM »

Quote from: Millys Mum on May 27, 2009, 18:38:15 PM

Hes dropped alot of weight so he really cant like it i would opt for a better wet diet with an acidifying supplement.
If you can up his water intake with a water fountain its good and also try supplements like cystaid and zylkene.

Does he still have a tray in the house? Little things can affect some cats more than you think!

i think we may have turned a corner (touch wood) - Syd seems to be chowing the S/O food down much better and actually licking his bowl clean (although he firstly sniffs it and walks away until we move it and sit between him and Cass while they eat - he is playing us!). We are booked in with the vets for boosters on the 6th June so will check his weight and make sure he is ok - and definitely discuss his diet. although if he is actually eating it and not leaving any now, maybe we can stick with it

meant to say that they have 2 trays in the hutch we built which leads from the house into their run - they have had them there for about 3 months

Millys Mum · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2009, 18:38:15 PM »

Hes dropped alot of weight so he really cant like it

i would opt for a better wet diet with an acidifying supplement.
If you can up his water intake with a water fountain its good and also try supplements like cystaid and zylkene.

Does he still have a tray in the house? Little things can affect some cats more than you think!

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 27, 2009, 13:14:32 PM »

Quote from: Gillian (Ambercat) on May 27, 2009, 13:11:23 PM

Yes you can get urinary acidifiers which can be put in his normal food, such as uroeze, and Methigel is another one. You need to do it under veterinary supervision though, and you'd need to keep any eye on his urine pH - you don't want to end up over acidifying the urine and causing the opposite problem of oxalate stones. Again, an appropriate cat diet would do the job better than any acidifier or urinary prescription diet.

My Ben is like Syd - appears very confident and outgoing, he never appeared stressed at the time it happened with him, but looking back the house move must have affected him more than I'd realised.

yes good point. we will definitely be very very careful with anything we give him, poor mite. typical bloke, trying to show bravado on the outside...

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #23 on:** May 27, 2009, 13:11:23 PM »

Yes you can get urinary acidifiers which can be put in his normal food, such as uroeze, and Methigel is another one. You need to do it under veterinary supervision though, and you'd need to keep any eye on his urine pH - you don't want to end up over acidifying the urine and causing the opposite problem of oxalate stones. Again, an appropriate cat diet would do the job better than any acidifier or urinary prescription diet.

My Ben is like Syd - appears very confident and outgoing, he never appeared stressed at the time it happened with him, but looking back the house move must have affected him more than I'd realised.

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 27, 2009, 12:09:51 PM »

thanks for the idea about zylkene. someone else also mentioned uroeze to add to his food. it's strange, when we first got Syd, he was the most confident, and actually seems the most confident - Cass is the one who runs away from people and hides all over the house yet most things point to Syd being stressed when it comes to his condition - i know stress is different to our stress but i wish i could help him.

Leanne · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2009, 11:44:49 AM »

Quote from: Lindsk72 on May 27, 2009, 10:12:05 AM

Quote from: Leanne on May 27, 2009, 09:34:59 AM
I should add Jess is still on cystease and zylkene though and we also saw a behaviourist who was brilliant.

I have read about behaviourists - that might be a good idea - he is a strange one -full of love, chases his sister, but also a real scaredy cat and sometimes very nervous. I will look into that

Cass lives on coley - hopefully she is fine - i will get her checked out for minerals etc.

we add water to everything now - Syd doesn't tend to drink much but hopefully is getting enough from his food. they both certainly use their litter trays well i have put bowls in their cat run outside to catch the rain as well.

he seems to be fine at the moment - no more episodes (touch wood) although he is just finishing his metacam. We are hoping the felliway will kick in soon and calm them

He sounds a lot like Jess then his just like that but is really nervy at times.

In the 2 and a half years since we've had Jess I can honestly say that I've never seen him drink more than twice, thats half his problem coupled with holding his wees till he absolutely has to go.

Zylkene has worked wonders for us, but there have been people here who have used it and not had such good results but if Syd is stressed it might be worth talking to your vet about.

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2009, 10:12:05 AM »

Quote from: Leanne on May 27, 2009, 09:34:59 AM

I should add Jess is still on cystease and zylkene though and we also saw a behaviouist who was brilliant.

I have read about behaviourists - that might be a good idea - he is a strange one -full of love, chases his sister, but also a real scaredy cat and sometimes very nervous. I will look into that

Cass lives on coley - hopefully she is fine - i will get her checked out for minerals etc.

we add water to everything now - Syd doesn't tend to drink much but hopefully is getting enough from his food. they both certainly use their litter trays well

i have put bowls in their cat run outside to catch the rain as well.

he seems to be fine at the moment - no more episodes (touch wood) although he is just finishing his metacam. We are hoping the felliway will kick in soon and calm them

Leanne · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2009, 09:34:59 AM »

I should add Jess is still on cystease and zylkene though and we also saw a behaviouist who was brilliant.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #18 on:** May 27, 2009, 09:33:12 AM »

I was just told to avoid anything fishy which sadly includes sardines in tomato which mine both enjoy. It's the magnesium in the fish. Vet said if they must eat fish, white fish occasionally is not too bad. The pet food prescription diet industry is so enormous but if you aren't going to cook and home feed, I think their diets do help to be honest. Just there are suspiciously many of them and some are a bit OTT. I've read up a lot recently on urinary stuff and it seems the key thing with any diet is sufficient fluids.

Leanne · « **Reply #17 on:** May 27, 2009, 09:30:10 AM »

We too have had bouts of cystitis, Jess was on a Urinary food from last March till November, he never had crystals though it was all stress induced.

Jess didn't eat it either to begin with but did eventually - was real tough love on our part, last summer was awful though he wouldn't eat it at all. I tried everything changing bowls, hand feeding him, throwing it around to play with, you name it we tried it.

Jess too was a big boy was 5.5kg when he was sedated to have his bladder emptied. Last November we had urinary tests and the PH levels came back fine, so Jess is now back on Felix but with 2 tablespoons of water added per half pouch. Jess still has urinary biscuts though he adores his biscuits but only has them in small amounts (no more than 10g a day)

If you can do try to persists it is hard I totally understand that. Have a chat with you vet though about the long term and see what they suggest.

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2009, 09:29:12 AM »

it seems it is a very grey area - having read lots on it now, even vets have mixed views. I am cynical, having read that some vets are 'encouraged' to use certain brands by the food companies. Until they go for their boosters in a couple of weeks, we are going to keep him on the RC Urinary S/O and then speak to the vet very frankly. it does seem that fish will be off his menu, whatever happens (although i did read that sardines in tomato sauce are good...?!)

I found a different RC version of what he has now - it is in an alutray so i asked the vets to get some in for Syd to try. i did lapse last night as i was in alone with them and they were just so gorgeous - i remembered i had bought some stick treats which were good quality, decent protein, minimal carbs and good moisture so i gave them both some and they were SO happy. obviously it is not something i am going to do on a regular basis as treats should be just that - I am going to look into some of these natural brands - burnspets for example, and see if i can get some natural treats as well

i'll let you know how we get on - thanks for all your advice

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2009, 07:54:47 AM »

I had a foster with stress related cystitis who responded well to a mainly wet food diet (he had a small handful of biscuits just so he didn't wake me up at 3am finding his own food!!), and Cystaid, and I cut all fish out of his diet - my vet doesnt rate prescription diets for urinary issues. He didn't block though

Den · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2009, 00:14:09 AM »

Hills isn't high sodium. It's no more than 0.5 compared to Royal Canin which is 0.9. It seems the two companies are polar opposites 1 is very much high sodium whereas the other isn't. I think Hills is around the average mark ( although it's hard to find the sodium content of foods online ).

Bonkers Mad!!! · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2009, 23:25:35 PM »

Quote

The urinary diets all tend to be higher in sodium - to encourage the cat to drink more and therefore get more moisture in its diet, but that can be achieved by feeding an appropriate cat diet anyway i.e. wet/high meat content. As far as I'm aware S/O should only be fed for a maxium of 6 months.

i agree. My Lupus had the same problem and the prescription food was costing me a fortune. itook him off of it just to see how he went and that was 2 years ago. he has been absolutely fine. obviously if the problem flared up again then i'd put him back on it. call me cynical but it sounds like your vet is maybe milking it a bit

Den · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2009, 22:59:50 PM »

My boy had a blockage back in November not too long after his 1st birthday. He was put onto Hills s/d for a little under 2 months, he got quite constipated, his weight crept up (which wasn't a bad thing - he was so thin to start with and ended up coming home from the vets looking like a skeleton). I changed him over to c/d which is the maintainance diet both wet and dry as he was missing his crunchies. He's doing really well on it. What I've started doing now is adding variety. Every so often instead of the c/d wet I'll give him a pouch of his old food. He used to be a massive fish eater, but now he gets a tiny bit once in a blue moon as a treat.

I really hope you find something.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2009, 17:32:15 PM »

The urinary diets all tend to be higher in sodium - to encourage the cat to drink more and therefore get more moisture in its diet, but that can be achieved by feeding an appropriate cat diet anyway i.e. wet/high meat content. As far as I'm aware S/O should only be fed for a maxium of 6 months. It sounds like you are doing all you can to sort out any weight and stress issues.

Janeyk · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2009, 17:13:12 PM »

Quote from: Lindsk72 on May 26, 2009, 16:28:25 PM

Quote from: Janeyk on May 26, 2009, 16:21:24 PM
If my cat didn't like his prescribed food I wouldn't be happy making him have it tbh, especially not totally I would look for different makes and as others have said possible reasons as to why he gets it and other solutions if at all possible. I say this as 2 cats I had were prescribed a type of food and it was obvious they were really unhappy and I regret it now.

we are doing everything we can wrt the other areas which can trigger episodes, as mentioned below - but our vet is adamant he has to stay on it for good. I have just searched the web for other views etc and came across RC Urinary S/O in alutrays, so i might give these a go... i will try anything - Cass is happy as a pig in mud when she eats her fish, it just makes it harder for Syd (they dont like to eat apart either - we tried that)

awww

poor boy, hope the vet can suggest a more palatable brand or you have luck finding something he likes, let us know how you get on.

Lindsk72 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2009, 16:28:25 PM »

Quote from: Janeyk on May 26, 2009, 16:21:24 PM

If my cat didn't like his prescribed food I wouldn't be happy making him have it tbh, especially not totally I would look for different makes and as others have said possible reasons as to why he gets it and other solutions if at all possible. I say this as 2 cats I had were prescribed a type of food and it was obvious they were really unhappy and I regret it now.

we are doing everything we can wrt the other areas which can trigger episodes, as mentioned below - but our vet is adamant he has to stay on it for good. I have just searched the web for other views etc and came across RC Urinary S/O in alutrays, so i might give these a go... i will try anything - Cass is happy as a pig in mud when she eats her fish, it just makes it harder for Syd (they dont like to eat apart either - we tried that)

Janeyk · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2009, 16:21:24 PM »

If my cat didn't like his prescribed food I wouldn't be happy making him have it tbh, especially not totally I would look for different makes and as others have said possible reasons as to why he gets it and other solutions if at all possible. I say this as 2 cats I had were prescribed a type of food and it was obvious they were really unhappy and I regret it now.

Author Topic: Cystitis - prescribed diet for rest of his life?? (Read 11895 times)