Cat who keeps weeing/spraying in the house - stress related cystitis?

[Flllightattendant]

Our cat seems to get this every few months - she starts trying to wee on the wall/curtains/clothes on the floor, the vet said about a year ago it was probably cystitis and could be stress related.

She prescribed Metacam which we gave and it may ave helped, or she might have got better herself - it is recurrent though.

Should I go back for more Metacam or wait it out? Should they investigate further? She is 8 and otherwise Ok.

Would it be covered by insurance if they do more tests etc or is this unnecessary? Anyone's cat got a similar problem?

Thanks

Cystitis can be stress related or can be due to other causes such as small crystals forming in the urine. Behavioural problems can also cause urine spraying in the house.

Insurance will most likely cover for the vet yes, so long as you didn't take it out after the first occurence of the problem.

Metacam is an anti-inflammatory drug that does seem to have some unexplained benefits with certain bladder conditions. It may be of help for certain conditions but I would be unhappy for that to be used too much without checking the reasons why it is happening first. If for example there are these crystals present then specific diets can improve this and control it very well longer term, and would me more appropriate and safter than long term metacam.

Feliway diffusers can also be helpful in these cases - they reduce stress in cats and can help prevent cystitis and/or some behavioural situations too.

Yep, a trip to the vet to discuss and investigate further sounds like a good idea.

Thankyou very much, Beautifulgirls - I only just saw someone had replied!

That's really useful, I have been trying to think what might be up with her all day - she was doing it this morning - and realised that I have changed her food the last couple of days. We ran out because Tesco didn't send the usual big pack last time they did our delivery, so I had to grab some different stuff, and I think she doesn't like it.
I've fed her some of her usual now and she seems happier - it doesn't take much to stress this cat does it!

I am a bit worried that our vet will not add the visits together for insurance to be effective, as we have a £50 excess. I should not be put off by that thought but they can be so unscrupulous and charged a fortune for a 5 minute consultation last time

Nevertheless I shall ring them and discuss the options. I would prefer her to have the proper treatment and investigations, naturally. I'm glad there are some alternatives to dosing her with something that masks it, iyswim.

Thanks again

The vet should add all the costs together if they believe it is an ongoing condition - that is one that is linked to previous episodes, even if the cat is well in between. The insurance should therefore all be in one claim. The only reason I could forsee you having to pay more than one excess is if the claim dates across a renewal date for the insurance at all, as most companies will charge you an excess each policy year.

Ask your vet for copies of the invoices from last time if you do not have a record. You should find on your claim form that there will be a section for you to complete, and a section for the vet to complete. Your section will usually ask you what the claim is for and when you first noticed the symptoms. You would write it down as cystitis and date it from the first signs the first time around. Your vet will also have a section to complete and will usually also be asked when the signs first occurred, if other similar signs/related conditions have occurred previously etc and will have to answer these honestly. They can not really leave off the previous episode therefore. Personally I don't see why they would anyway? Most vets ask you to pay and get the money claimed back to you from the insurance. It does not affect their income at all.

I hope that you get some answers on it all. If you are not happy with your vet (it does sound to me like you have some concerns about their priorities) then consider changing to another practice in the area perhaps - you can do this anytime you wish. Just let the new clinic have details of the old one and they can get the history sent through ok. Any insurance through the old clinic will need to be done with them first, then the new clinic can put in continuation claims for ongoing treatments as needed (no excess for continuation claims, unless go over the policy renewal date)

Thankyou so much for your wonderful advice. I will copy this down and follow it

(she seems better today - perhaps it was a protest at the horrid food?!!)

BGs advice is very good (as was her advice on the tortie thread)

My can gets idiopathic cystitis. She gets crystals in her urine caused by the Ph of her food, the crystals in the urine scratch the bladder walls causing infection/blood in her urine.

This was only cured by a long course of antibiotic injections (she is impossible to pill 3 times a day without loosing a finger) which luckily I can do myself and a strict change to a Ph balanced food.

The only time we have had problems since was when the food ran out and she had ordinary stuff for a week or so.

Ah I see what you mean. Can I ask you about the PH balanced food please? I don't think my cat can eat crunchy food, it seems to provoke an attack in itself - or would this be due to the crystal thing as well?

So if I gave her Ph balanced dry food, she would be Ok?

Yes, ask you Vet about it. It is quite pricey, but cheaper than the other option of ruined stuff/wee in the house and regular vets bills!

I think Royal Canin also do a urinary health dried food, but I would start her off on the proper vets on and get it under control. Then you scould do 50/50 with the less expensive food to make it easier on the pocket - although I don't think that much in the price from memory.

Thanks NNC
I'll try and take her this week. Can get Royal Canin near us so that would be good if the vet rules out anything serious.