squiffs Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I've had a stressy evening - my cat was widdling himself when I got home, crouching to the floor, visibly straining to let a a small amount come out - took him to the emergency vet - £170 thanks very much - MIGHT be a urinary infection, MIGHT be diabetes. Fortunately he peed as soon as she felt his bladder so she quickly had a look at the sample and said it all had the make up of an infection, but also had a high glucose content -They've given me metacam and nisamox for now to see how he gets on, and if he isn't perkier in the morning I have to take him back (another £90!!) I actually think my chickens might be partially to blame if it is an infection as this is a new and stressful event to him and may have put him off venturing into the garden as frequently to go to the loo I bought him some feliway and plugged it in today - the coincidence was that much that at first I thought I was overreacting and he just didn't like the feliway, glad I went with my gut though. Although my wallet isn't Has anyone else had a similar diagnosis for their kitty? And which did it turn out to be? The poor little mite is crouched under my bed, and has been what he vet called 'extremely lethargic' since about 7pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I have a cat that had a blocked bladder. Male cats especially, can get crystals which block the bladder so that the urine cannot come out. This condition is fatal if not treated with surgery very quickly. Trying to wee and only getting a little bit out is a classic symptom but I guess your cat does not have this if he weed at the vets. Keep a close eye on him. My cat is now on a special urinary diet. I think urinary problems are common in cats. There are some products on the market available. Have a look at the Medivet website. Hope he is better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Also, I would use a litter tray until he gets used to the chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 I have a cat that had a blocked bladder. Male cats especially, can get crystals which block the bladder so that the urine cannot come out. This condition is fatal if not treated with surgery very quickly. Trying to wee and only getting a little bit out is a classic symptom but I guess your cat does not have this if he weed at the vets. Keep a close eye on him. My cat is now on a special urinary diet. I think urinary problems are common in cats. There are some products on the market available. Have a look at the Medivet website. Hope he is better soon! Yes the vet ruled out a blockage because it was a steady (if a little slow) flow, and no blood either, but still very sensitive to the touch. I will see about getting a litter tray (he's not had to use one since he was a kitten so I'm wondering if it'll be like potty training all over again - something which I've forgotten how to do since he'll be 12 on Sunday!) I hope he'll turn out okay, because I can't afford a diabetic cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 My other cat had a test for diabetes but it turned out she had poorly functioning kidneys. Cats can turn out to be very expensive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 My other cat had a test for diabetes but it turned out she had poorly functioning kidneys. Cats can turn out to be very expensive! Yep! For a kitten that cost a tenner in 1999, you expect low maintenance, right!? He's much perkier this morning, purring and waking me to feed him, but still not 100%, so I think the vet definitely has hit the nail on the head - didn't like her suggestion for how to collect another urine sample for the diabetes test though! She said to buy a litter tray, put it in his cat carrier and lock him in their overnight so he'll produce the goods! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Eek - sounds a bit mean but I suppose it is in his own interest. I got my elderly kidney problem cat from a feral colony on a farm when she was a tiny kitten. She is absolutely wonderful and full of character. The blocked bladder cat who also has a weight problem is her son. He is very docile but rather dim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 My cat is a bit of a jekyll and hyde psychopath, but I love him anyway - his meanness makes it even more pleasing and appreciated when he is affectionate and clingy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I just got back from our vet with Angus who has cystitis ~ similar symptoms, blood inurine, frequent passing but small amounts and yowling while he peed so it must've hurt . Our vet also ruled out a blockage. We have ten days of four tablets a day plus Metacam. Goodness knows how I'm going to get them into him! The jabs the vet gave have perked him up already- luckily cystitis responds quickly to treatment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I give my cat her tablets crushed in some potted fish spread. Works a treat! I don't think the Fortekor tablets themselves taste all that bad though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 I just got back from our vet with Angus who has cystitis ~ similar symptoms, blood inurine, frequent passing but small amounts and yowling while he peed so it must've hurt . Our vet also ruled out a blockage. We have ten days of four tablets a day plus Metacam. Goodness knows how I'm going to get them into him! The jabs the vet gave have perked him up already- luckily cystitis responds quickly to treatment! Jelly didn't have any blood, fortunately. I put his tablets (he has 2 a day) in tuna crushed up, and then squirt the metacam on top, and he seems to scoff it! But yeah, he did perk him up within about 12 hours of having them (he went and hid as soon as we got back from the vet, under any desk/bed he could find). He was burning up, and the vet put a thermometer in his bum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 My friend's cat had recurring cystitis. She had antibiotics, painkillers, feliway plugin and is now on Royal Canin Urinary SO dry food. It's prescribed by the vet I think, but since being on the special diet the cat hasn't had any more problems. Hope you find a solution soon. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 My friend's cat had recurring cystitis. She had antibiotics, painkillers, feliway plugin and is now on Royal Canin Urinary SO dry food. It's prescribed by the vet I think, but since being on the special diet the cat hasn't had any more problems. Hope you find a solution soon. x I'm praying he won't need a special diet, because my insurance doesn't cover food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Yeah he said the food isn't cheap unfortunately. If the diet fixes it though, wouldn't the extra cost in food be less than the insurance excess for a vet trip each time there's a flare-up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 Yeah he said the food isn't cheap unfortunately.If the diet fixes it though, wouldn't the extra cost in food be less than the insurance excess for a vet trip each time there's a flare-up? If the diet fixes it he'll have to be rehomed. I can't afford either. it's not a case of one or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 Yeah, my insurance excess is £65 and I earn 10k a year, so if it turns out he needs stupidly expensive food for the rest of his life to be well then it's kinder to rehome him, unless I win the lottery or the nepotism at my work suddenly stops. which I doubt. I saw a large bottle of Jimmy Choo perfume being given to a 'favourite' the other day for no reason, and in secret (although very rubbish secrecy, I saw it), and they wonder why half the new girls have low morale and no motivation to work hard. It makes me furious. That bottle of perfume would probably cover several months of medicated food for my cat. /rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 The special diet might be cheaper if you buy it online than at the vet but I still pay £24.68 for 3.5kg of Urinary SO. It is pricey compared to Go Cat or Whiskers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 A Feliway plug in is really good for cats predisposed to cytitis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 A Feliway plug in is really good for cats predisposed to cytitis it is!? I'm on the right track then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 The special diet might be cheaper if you buy it online than at the vet but I still pay £24.68 for 3.5kg of Urinary SO. It is pricey compared to Go Cat or Whiskers. Yeah I don't even buy go-cat or whiskas because they're too pricy, he has asda's own 'tiger' pouches and biscuit. it costs me about £15 to feed him for 3 months, and he has 1 pouch and a handful of biscuit each day with the occasional treat (teeth cleaning ones from tesco, 79p) and half a scoop of plaque-off on his pouch of meat (my insurance doesn't cover dental, either!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 A Feliway plug in is really good for cats predisposed to cytitis it is!? I'm on the right track then! Yep, they are more prone to attacks if stressed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I've found that cat insurance is a rip off. My cats are 13 and 14 and each year the premium goes up and the excess gets larger. I'm now paying about £50 a month for the 2 of them. I keep thinking about stopping it. In fact, I think I will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Before you stop it, get them both checked over by a vet. I had a friend that was going to stop her dog's insurance who did this and found her dog had a condition that costs (her insurance) a fortune to treat on a monthly basis. She really dodged a bullet there. It is worth making sure that your older cats don't have anything that could be costly to treat before you stop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I stopped my 3 cats insurance when it was costing more than our house insurance! I think our last quote was £550 and they're not that elderly! My Kirby cat had a bladder blockage when he was 12 months old, emergency vet trip and op (he was insured then!) and afterwards I was buying special food for about six months, but as we had other cats as well he was eating their food with no side effects so I stopped buying it. He always has access to dry food and water (no wet food at all) and he's now 9 years old with no further problems. Oh and I only buy Aldi's dry cat food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
