Topic: Urinary tract problems in male cats - Arty is ill, again :( (Read 15869 times)

Starpixie · « **Reply #47 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:55:36 AM »

He still seems fine in himself but the urine sample I just got from him doesn't look good. It's very dark and a bit reddish

clarenmax · « **Reply #46 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:51:34 AM »

Glad he's feeling much better

Leanne · « **Reply #45 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:50:34 AM »

Quote from: Desley (booktigger) on October 16, 2009, 08:10:08 AM

Glad he is seeming a lot better, my vet didn't use prescription diets, just no dry food at all, more water, and less stress.

This is a fantastic combination

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #44 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:10:08 AM »

Glad he is seeming a lot better, my vet didn't use prescription diets, just no dry food at all, more water, and less stress.

bunglycat · « **Reply #43 on:** October 15, 2009, 21:48:19 PM »

ahh, glad he is a lot better

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #42 on:** October 15, 2009, 19:30:19 PM »

So pleased and long may that continue

Starpixie · « **Reply #41 on:** October 15, 2009, 19:02:18 PM »

He's doing well today, eating, drinking and peeing fine.

He's laid across my lap upside down, kneading the air with his paws

Millys Mum · « **Reply #40 on:** October 15, 2009, 17:21:25 PM »

Gillian to the rescue

Starpixie · « **Reply #39 on:** October 14, 2009, 23:00:49 PM »

Ooh thanks for that link, I'd not seen that site before.
That's going to make my life so much easier!! It's a nightmare getting stuff here.

I've just put in an order. Should fill my freezer up and keep the kitties going for a while :D

Thank you!!

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #38 on:** October 14, 2009, 22:43:58 PM »

Have you tried these meats? http://www.food4-cats.co.uk/ the minced varieties include muscle meat, bone and organs, and they do bone-in chunks too, such as wild rabbit. Whole is ideal I guess - not all mine can eat whole bones though due to lack of teeth! The catinfo site is good for raw feeding info and recipe for homemade http://catinfo.org/

Starpixie · « **Reply #37 on:** October 14, 2009, 22:06:08 PM »

Maybe it was the handful of biscuits they were getting, even though they were rediculously expensive ones with minimal non-meat ingredients :/

They were getting bone in their fish but not the chicken and rabbit. Should I look for stuff with bone in? It's so difficult finding raw stuff round here. I get ground chicken and rabbit and then add liver/other organs and stuff that I get from the butchers (Free :D) I suppose I could cut up a whole chicken.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #36 on:** October 14, 2009, 21:53:17 PM »

Quote from: Millys Mum on October 14, 2009, 20:17:30 PM

Do they get bone in with it? I dont think iv ever read of a raw fed cat with crystals!

No, nor me! in fact its usually a cure.

Quote from: Starpixie on October 14, 2009, 20:30:14 PM

Their diet is why I'm wondering if there are other causes because I go to so much effort to make sure they get the best and most natural that I can give them.

I think you are right to cut out the fish for now though, just in case it was that. Do they get any other bone, apart from what they catch and eat?

Starpixie · « **Reply #35 on:** October 14, 2009, 20:30:14 PM »

They get some bone, mostly because they like catching birds and mice quite often and they like to munch them whole (ew!). They get organs and stuff too. Arty is currently chewing on a whole chicken liver

Their diet is why I'm wondering if there are other causes because I go to so much effort to make sure they get the best and most natural that I can give them.

Millys Mum · « **Reply #34 on:** October 14, 2009, 20:17:30 PM »

Do they get bone in with it? I dont think iv ever read of a raw fed cat with crystals!

Starpixie · « **Reply #33 on:** October 14, 2009, 20:13:27 PM »

Thanks everyone. Him and Pixie have been in kitten mode this evening which is great to see

Quote from: Millys Mum on October 14, 2009, 19:59:44 PM

Have they told you what type of crystals he has?

Not to do with his bladder but do you cook their rabbit and chicken?

Struvite crystals(? I think!)

They both have a lot of raw but also some cooked stuff as I like to give them treats such as little bits of chicken and it's easier to keep that for a day or so in the fridge if it's cooked.
They both had problems with tinned food. Pixie gets really bloated if she eats it and Arty was a stinky little farter! Before Arty got ill the first time I was feeding them a high meat content (80%) dry food that was wheat and dairy free in the mornings but I've stopped that so they get just wet.

He did a wee earlier and it was a little bit bloody but much much better than last night.
I really hope he is on the mend. My poor kitties have been through enough!

Millys Mum · « **Reply #32 on:** October 14, 2009, 19:59:44 PM »

Have they told you what type of crystals he has?

Not to do with his bladder but do you cook their rabbit and chicken?

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #31 on:** October 14, 2009, 19:21:06 PM »

Great picture but dont forget to watch his tray usage

clarenmax · « **Reply #30 on:** October 14, 2009, 19:15:23 PM »

Good news he's feeling much better, and lovely photo

Janeyk · « **Reply #29 on:** October 14, 2009, 19:14:10 PM »

That's good, lovely pic too

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #28 on:** October 14, 2009, 19:02:38 PM »

Aw, bless him, great picture

glad he's feeling better.

To be honest if you feed a balanced high meat/no carb/high moisture diet it will keep the urine pH at the correct level (slightly acidic) which prevents struvite crystals forming, so there should be no need for prescription diets.

Starpixie · « **Reply #27 on:** October 14, 2009, 18:31:50 PM »

I think it's safe to say he's feeling a bit better

Starpixie · « **Reply #26 on:** October 14, 2009, 17:40:19 PM »

When I got home from uni he ran to the door to see me and seemed really cheery. The injection this morning must have really helped!
We just had a great time playing with the da bird, he's been jumping all over the place. Now he's dragging it around in the hope that I'll play more!
:D

Starpixie · « **Reply #25 on:** October 14, 2009, 15:01:41 PM »

Thanks everyone

I will try reducing his fish intake to once a week and just feed him chicken and rabbit etc.
He's back at the vets on Friday for a check up.
My cats come first so if he has to be on an expensive diet then so be it. I want the best for him. I hate seeing him suffer.

I'm still at university, hopefully he has been ok and having a nice comfortable sleep with the help of the medication. Can't wait to get home and check on him!

andybain · « **Reply #24 on:** October 14, 2009, 14:03:52 PM »

My male cat got this problem a while ago and was put on prescription diet. The vet seemed to indicate that he should stay on this for life though to be on the safe side. He eats both a wet and dry food urinary diet and although it costs a lot it's worth it rather than risking him getting problems again. He still gets some normal food treats every now and again though.

Den · « **Reply #23 on:** October 14, 2009, 10:14:59 AM »

I agree with limiting fish. For two weeks before my boy got ill he was eating a lot of fishy foods, including fish JWB dry. Normally he would have had a good mixture. Now I really limit his fish intake to maybe once a week, if that.

Edit: Sorry, was just thinking then re-read the thread. I see he's been given things to reduce pain, inflammation etc but not anything to dissolve the crystals. That is what Hills s/d food does. It also does amaze me the differences between vets in the way they treat cats with crystals/blocked bladders etc. For instance my boy was in the vets for 3 days and didn't come home with any medication. Whereas yours stayed in the vets (not sure how long for) but did come home with medication.

Bazsmum · « **Reply #22 on:** October 14, 2009, 10:04:40 AM »

Fingers crossed he gets some relief while the other meds are doing there stuff!

Starpixie · « **Reply #21 on:** October 14, 2009, 10:02:47 AM »

Thank you every one

Updating from my lecture!

I took him in this morning. The vet gave him some very strong painkillers (so strong that she had to warn me to keep them away from children and drug addicts!)
Hopefully that should make him feel better whilst the other drugs sort him out.

Poor boy is so fed up!

Janeyk · « **Reply #20 on:** October 14, 2009, 10:00:46 AM »

Nor I but sending my best wishes x

clarenmax · « **Reply #19 on:** October 14, 2009, 09:29:25 AM »

I don't have any advice to offer as no experience I'm afraid, just wanted to say good luck with his treatments

Leanne · « **Reply #18 on:** October 14, 2009, 08:51:37 AM »

We've been there too with my lil man Jess, he did block twice last year (in the space of a week)

The good thing is though is if your boy is passing blood and urine then his not blocking.

Jess was on a urinary wet food diet for 8 months before going back onto Felix - which we add water too. Jess isn't a drinker and never has been. He has urinary biscuits still though.

Jess is on 2 cysteases a day - cheaper version of cystaid but with the same amount of glucosamine in, which is what helps them pass the urine. And a Zylkene for stress.

Jess never had any crystals it was all down to stress, we've changed the litter we use and initally gave him different trays to try and we saw a behavourist.

Its only been recently that I've relaxed about checking the trays. I know now Jess well enough to read his signs when his not happy about going to tray (i've been known to go with him and dig about for him)

Its a stressful time all round

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #17 on:** October 14, 2009, 00:15:50 AM »

Definately vet call and do hope they can help him soon

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #16 on:** October 14, 2009, 00:12:25 AM »

It could be the amount of fish in his diet - it has an alkalising effect on the urine which in turn allows crystal formation. Quite often though, diet isnt the sole cause, but its a combination of things, with stress being high on the list.

I didnt go the prescription diet route, for a start Ben wouldnt eat it, and after much research decided to start him on a raw diet and he's had no further problems.

Yes, it does sound like he needs to be seen sooner, let us know how he gets on.

bunglycat · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2009, 23:54:16 PM »

I would definately ring the vet first thing tomorrow and see what he suggests .
Hope he gets better soon, poor boy.

Starpixie · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2009, 23:20:25 PM »

Thanks for all your replies.
Looks like a prescription diet could be what he needs

He just did a wee and it was very bloody

I think maybe he needs to go back to the vets tomorrow rather than Thursday. I might give them a call in the morning and see what they think.

I'm so worried about him

ChrisB · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2009, 22:11:11 PM »

Hi, do hope that things improve for you soon - I know that this problem is worse for males. Arty is gorgeous and certainly doesn't look stressed but I guess we don't always know what is upsetting their little worlds. One of my girls, Bubbles, has problems with struvite crystals. She was on a prescription diet (Royal Canin) for around nine months in total and was clear of crystals after about three. This week, about four months after coming off the diet, the problem seems to have returned (awaiting test results to definitely confirm). She is fine in herself - previous experience means we have picked up on the signs very early on this time and it does seem to be something to watch out for once is has been diagnosed once.

Den · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2009, 21:40:46 PM »

My boy was blocked last year with crystals. He stayed in the vets for 3 days with a catheter in, they flushed out his bladder. He came home and was put on s/d food for a little over a month. During that time he was struggling so went back to the vets to have a jab of long acting antibiotics. About a month later he went back to have his urine tested for crystals. Then he went on c/d dry and wet food for a good few months, I slowly started reintroducing his Felix wet food. It will be a year next month and so far *touch wood* he has been 100% healthy. He now eats a mix of normal food and prescription food. Have to say I've never used cystaid.

Really hope your little one is ok.

I never did figure out what caused it with mine. He is so laid back he's horizontal and very not stressed.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2009, 21:31:34 PM »

I love the picture of him in the box

Sorry must have misread about the crystals

Some cats are very sensitive and I have two.......sigh both boys and think they get affected so much more than my girl.

So it is most likely the litter I suspect but also you being out more wont help..........my Franta hates me going out at all!

bunglycat · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2009, 21:00:03 PM »

My Smartie got it a couple of times and he was put on Hills s/d i think it was for a good few years - i have got him into eating more wet food now and he isn''t on the Hills now -so touch wood he stays okay - but its a lot worse for the boys .

Mark · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2009, 20:53:50 PM »

Love them

Author Topic: Urinary tract problems in male cats - Arty is ill, again :( (Read 15869 times)