Cat showing early signs of cystitis - home treatments?

[whiskyowl]

I'm currently having major building work done on my house. We are living out of 2 rooms upstairs in the house. The work is unavoidable - I was trying to put it off but our ancient kitchen literally fell apart. It is tough on my poor old moggie, who is 18 years old and doesn't adjust well to change. I've got Feliway, I've put all his favourite things in a special corner, which is well away from all the work (no builders come into this room), and I'm spending literally all day every day with him (I'm on study leave), sitting in the same room and keeping a beady eye out.

He's coped really well so far, but he's showing some signs of stress, understandably. I think he might have the very early signs of cystitis. He's using the litter tray fairly frequently, and he's taking a while to wee, but there IS wee coming out. I probably wouldn't even have noticed an issue if I wasn't literally with him 24/7 as he's eating normally, drinking normally, sleeping normally and purring normally!

Please be assured I'm keeping a very close eye on this, and will take him to the vet if I need to. Money is not an issue. However, he HATES going in the box, HATES going in the car, and HATES the vet. So I don't want to add to the stress he's already under with a trip there if I can avoid it. I'm wondering if there are any dietary foods/home remedies I can use to help him?

[Fluffycloudland77]

If it's got bad enough he's struggling to wee it's vets time.

[QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares]

Ask your vet for cystifan. It is a supplement that will help. Last time I asked for some, vet didn't ask to see cat

[thecatneuterer]

I wouldn't mess about with home remedies at this stage. It might be cystitis. It might be urinary crystals. Either way he needs to see a vet. Cystifan is the only thing that might help without seeing the vet if it really is cystitis, but I think he should see a vet sooner rather than later.

[Want2beme]

If he has cystitis, he'll be in pain and won't get better without medication. All of my cats have had this problem throughout their lives and medication and other treatments from vet have solved the problem.

[LEMtheoriginal]

Please don't leave this. He will be in so much pain and uti's are especially dangerous in male cats. Ok so there IS wee which is good but a blocked urethra can be life threatening very quickly.

He will need antibiotics at the very least. It doesn't matter what has caused this . He will be so painful. Poor kitty

[9GreenBottles]

Can you ask your vet about a prescription diet food to try as well? One of my older cats had a blood test as part of her annual checkup as she was drinking more water. She has crystal formation in her urine (but wasn't showing any sign of straining to pee). She is now on Hill's Prescription Diet Feline - c/d Urinary Stress Salmon wet cat food.

[whiskyowl]

Just an update: cat has been fine all weekend. Weeing as usual (copiously!!). I think it is just stress when the builders are here.

He's definitely not in pain. I know my cat - I know about crystals too - so I am keeping a very careful eye on him, but he is honestly fine.

[QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares]

thats great to hear !