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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Blood in urine

15 replies

mummymccar · 11/03/2013 10:56

Just found a pool of bloody urine on the floor, made an emergency appointment to see the vet ASAP but very upset. Please reassure me that it isn't anything too serious. I know that it is bad, just please tell me that we're not going to lose her.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 11/03/2013 11:04

Well it's not great but you did the right thing to get a quick appointment. You really need to have her examined and any necessary tests done and results received before anyone can comment, mummy. But you know that.

When is she due to go to the vet?

Original poster

mummymccar · 11/03/2013 11:07

Earliest appointment I could get was this afternoon. So upset, I just hope she is going to be ok. I hope she isn't in any pain.
Is there anything I can do for her?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 11/03/2013 11:14

I don't know of anything but some of the vets who post may advise. Why not give your vet a quick phone and ask if there is anything you should do for her in the meantime?

cozietoesie · 11/03/2013 19:20

How did she get on?

Original poster

mummymccar · 11/03/2013 21:21

Thanks for asking; it turns out it isn't a UTI, it is caused by extreme stress. We had a baby last year and moved house and it seems to have taken its toll on her health. The vet is recommending a couple of things like feliway but she said we may have to think about rehoming her. I really, really don't even want to contemplate this, she is family.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 11/03/2013 21:37

Well I don't want to second guess your vet but (and you knew there would be a but) what examination and tests did your vet carry out and get the results from today before they could rule out all the many significant conditions that could cause blood in the urine - and which rank way above 'stress' in the order of likelihood?

I'm thinking you need a second opinion from a feline specialist.

ILoveBagels · 12/03/2013 00:00

I had this with my cat last year. there was no sign of an infection so they said it must be stress. they didn't mention rehoming though. I was a bit surprised as nothing particular had changed in his environment (no babies!).

tbh he seemed fine again after, so I just carried on as normal. I started giving him half a sachet of wet food just incase he wasn't getting enough fluids and let him sit on my lap for strokes a good bit more. it's never happened since.

Original poster

mummymccar · 12/03/2013 15:58

Cozie - DP said that a urine test wasn't done, just a physical exam. I was a bit about that. She was given some antibiotics and has stopped peeing blood now, thank goodness.
Bagels - thanks for the suggestion, it's quite reassuring to know that your cat recovered from it quite quickly and that it hasn't reoccurred. She definitely seems a lot more relaxed today and we've put a ban on the Hoover and hair dryer for the time being as they both scare her. Myself and the baby are going to stay with family for a few days too from tomorrow so that she gets some rest and quiet time. Hopefully that'll help her considerably.
Also got three bowls of water around the house and putting out an extra kitty litter to see if that helps.
Hopefully we can sort this because thinking about rehoming makes me feel physically sick.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 12/03/2013 17:04

I've also come across a few vets (particularly Australian ones - I don't know if it's relevant) who seem to like to diagnose stress as the main cause of UTIs/UTI symptoms and to resist giving antibiotics as a consequence. And generally the cats haven't got better until the vets were overruled by the clinic boss and given antibiotics.

I'd be very sceptical that a) a UTI can be ruled out without a urine test and that b) stress is the likely cause.

I see that she's been given antibiotics anyway, which is good and if it happens again I'd be tempted to see a different vet for a second opinion.

Original poster

mummymccar · 12/03/2013 21:25

That's very interesting catneuterer. I did wonder how it could be disproved just by feeling her stomach, I think we'll get a second opinion then.
Thanks so much for everybody's help!

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 12/03/2013 22:48

If she's OK now and has antibiotics then I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens again, in which case maybe see a different vet to see what they say.

thecatneuterer · 12/03/2013 23:36

And thinking about it some more: the vet has given you antibiotics, so he/she must think there is an infection. So if he/she doesn't think it's a UTI, which bit does he/she think is infected?

cozietoesie · 12/03/2013 23:38

It could be a 'throw some broad spectrum antibiotics at it just in case'. There's too much of that if so.

ILoveBagels · 13/03/2013 11:52

I asked my vet about this. the reason they just conduct a physical is because they can tell how full the bladder is which, if its very full, would indicate a blockage (very dangerous for the cat as this can poison them from the inside). if the bladder is not full then I don't think this us seen to be an emergency. I was told to keep an eye on the peeing and as long as they are going regularly, show no signs of discomfort and manage to empty their bladder it should be okay. perhaps consider feeding some wet food too as apparently cats don't have the ability to tell when they really need water, so can become dehydrated on dry only diet. you can google this!

thecatneuterer · 13/03/2013 12:09

IloveBagels: that rules out a blocked bladder, but it doesn't rule out a UTI (generally cysititis) which is what the OP's vet said they had ruled out with just a physical exam, but then they gave antibiotics anyway which rather contradicts that. It does sound as though the OP's cat probably did have cystitis which has now been treated with antibiotics. Whether or not the UTI was caused by stress or not cannot really be proved.

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