Vet has left message saying urine sample is very dilute for such a young cat

[Purpleknickers]

I took my British shorthaired boy to vet because he just drinks and drinks and produces huge volumes of urine in his litter tray. He had a steroid injection in March due to an allergy to flea saliva and the vet said at the time this may make him drink more so I did not worry too much but all this time later he is still always thirsty.

He is fed mostly dry food and a couple of pouches of wet food a day, the pouches he very rarely finishes. The vet checked his blood sugar levels to rule out diabetes and asked for a urine sample. I took that in yesterday and he has left a message today that he has very dilute urine for such a young cat and as the vets was now closing he will call me on Monday. When the vet saw him on Thursday he said he seemed to be a very healthy cat.

A quick google search has scared me I think he could have something wrong with his kidney function has anyone got any experience of this? He is just about 2 and a half and of course extremely precious to me. His brother got run over in May and it would totally break my heart to lose this one too.

If it is kidney problems, does anyone know if this can be treated? Going forward if he has kidney problems can this be controlled with medication? Or will he be in pain all the time. Sorry for all the questions but can anyone help me.

[JemimaPuddle]

I have no experience of kidney problems but when my cat had similar symptoms it was a nasty bladder infection.
I had to change him to pouches from dry food and he had antibiotics. This was a couple of years ago, he's 13 now.

[Purpleknickers]

Jemima thank you that makes me feel bit better, the last google thing I found totally freaked me out. Fingers crossed its an infection and not renal failure damn it being Saturday and the vets being closed. There is an emergency number but the vet said Monday so I guess he is not overly anxious.

[JemimaPuddle]

If the vet was worried he wouldn't wait until Monday. I'm sure he'll be fine but do update when you've spoken to the vet won't you?

[Purpleknickers]

Yes of course I will, I keep looking at him and he just seems normal but I've temporarily stopped the dry food too just in case it's that making him so thirsty

[cozietoesie]

I think that's probably a good idea although dry food (and the necessary drinking) shouldn't really be making him pee so much, I think. The vet will doubtless fill you in tomorrow.

[Purpleknickers]

I have just spoken to the vet, I have got to starve him tonight and take him to the vets in the morning. They are going to keep him in and withold water to see if they can get a more concentrated urine sample to test.

Thankfully the lovely vet that I would trust with my own life is on duty tomorrow so fingers crossed. I will update again tomorrow once I know more.

[cozietoesie]

Best of luck, Purple.

[Purpleknickers]

Thanks Cozie

[JustFabulous]

Any news?

I took my cat to the vet as she was drinking more than usual. That was 20 months ago and she is 18 now. She has kidney disease but has been managing quite well for all this time. She had special food at first but won't eat the wet stuff now so has dry biscuits once a day as supper. She is also on a tablet once a day. She is now weeing where she shouldn't but take heart that she is a lot older and iller than your cat but still has quality of life. (She has cancer, arthritis and hyperestesia too.)

[JemimaPuddle]

Haven't had a chance to post today. I'm glad it's the vet you really like tomorrow, it makes such a difference when you have to leave them for a bit.
I hope they manage to get the sample they need.

[Purpleknickers]

He is currently outraged with me for having to starve him tonight but seems pretty chipper. I'm dropping him at vets for 8.30am for them to do tests etc so I will,update tomorrow.
fabulous I have lurked on fabcats thread I get afraid to open the updates because of the title but I'm pleased your cat is still doing well. Thanks for your support if it is kidney problems with mine it's good to know they can still have a quality of life

[JustFabulous]

Good luck PurpleknickersCat.

I have spent £238 on FABCat in the last week. It hurt today when I had a bill for nearly a hundred when I was expecting less than half that.

[cozietoesie]

I recall going to my new vet (since moving house) and being asked by the receptionist, in a rote sort of way, whether I would like insurance. I said nothing and the receptionist looked up, saw my raised eyebrow, looked again at cozieseniorboy's initial notes and blushed. ' Oh, I guess not' she said. 'You guess right' I replied. 'Not a chance they'd take him on.'

Luckily, he's not costing me too much and I reckon I'm still ahead. (Insurance-wise.)

Carrot stew for you this week, Just.

[Purpleknickers]

Update the vet thinks he has diabetes insipidus but he wants me to take him back for the day in Friday to do some more testing. A quick google has reassured me a bit as it can be treated and the cats live a normal lifespan some people leave it untreated but have to be careful to ensure the cat gets enough water and be prepared for random weeing in places where they shouldn't because they just can't hold it. I know which option I will go for. Anyway he's home he's eating now and he's already downed about half a pint of water bless him.

Thank you for holding my hand everyone

[cozietoesie]

Glad you got a diagnosis anyway, Purple. Hope the vet stabilizes him.

[JustFabulous]

I hope he is okay.

[Purpleknickers]

Thank you I really appreciate your kindness

[JemimaPuddle]

Hope he's ok.

[Purpleknickers]

I have to take him back tomorrow, apparently they can give him the missing hormone via eyedrops to tell his kidneys to function properly so they are going to try him with them tomorrow to see if it works and if it does we are sorted.

I think it's at quite a cost monthly as he will have to have them daily, thank heavens I have him insured [hsmile]

[cozietoesie]

Fingers crossed for you - and thank goodness for the insurance!

[Purpleknickers]

Update after lots of tests etc,my worst fears have become a reality he does have kidney problems He has something called Congenital tubulointerstitial nephritis which basically mean he was born with kidneys that will gradually deteriorate.
The vet said there is little or no point in continuing replacing the missing hormone via eye drops as they are doing nothing and I will have to accept that he will always drink a lot and pee a lot .. bless him . I asked the vet whether or not it will shorten his life, he said a firm yes but then said but not by a huge amount.
The vet wants to scan his kidneys every year to see if they are becoming worse and I am going to try a special renal diet but a quick google revealed that most cats don't like it and it does not make a huge deal of difference. I would rather he enjoyed his food and lived a slightly shorter life than be miserable and hungry does anybody have any experience of this please?

[cozietoesie]

Ah dear. I have no experience of that particular condition in a young cat; just kidney problems in old cats - and it's usually not the world's best prognosis. But I guess you knew that if you've been doing some research.

Has the vet given you any idea of how badly his kidneys are affected at the moment given he's so young?

I've not used a renal diet but why not try him on it and see how he gets on? (Most cats don't like it means that some cats do.)

So sorry for you both. Sad news, especially after the loss of his brother.

[Purpleknickers]

Thanks Cozie at the moment his kidneys are barely affected at all its just the thirst and excessive peeing. I will just have to make sure he has always got access to water ( i have got a water fountain) and plenty of litter trays