Cat and cystitis?

[PfftTheMagicDraco]

Hoping for some advice before I can call the vet in the morning.
Took Cat 1 to the vets this evening as she had signs of poss UTI - small amount of blood in urine, using tray a lot.
Vet assessed, said sounded like poss infection but likely cystitis. Gave antibiotics and anti inflammatory, said to see if it goes away. No previous history.
Just gone up to bed and there are 7 patches of blood on the bed. Cat 1 has always used the tray, never our bed. Whilst I was standing there, she jumped up and went again, twice in 3 mins and has gone twice more as I write this post. Very small patches, but seems to be very bloody - quite bright, no clots or anything though. She seems uncomfortable, unsurprisingly.
Is this likely to just be cystitis? Or have I got something else on my hands? I've never seen this before

It does sound like cystitis, yes. Poor cat. It's good that you're on the case.

Poor Cat 1 :(

One of ours is prone to cystitis - she's on a special diet for it now and it seems to have done the trick (paws crossed!) but when it flared up she tended to sit in the litter tray for ages looking miserable and straining, only for a tiny drop to come out.
Yours will be on the bed trying to find some comfort as it smells of you and she feels safe there.

Hopefully the meds will kick in soon!

Ours also had a supplement to take - think it was called Cystease or similar.

Thanks - can't believe I posted this twice!

Decided not to call the vet in a panic and just to let the medication work, she's very quiet today and I've decided just to let her have the duvet to use as it makes her more comfortable.

I think if the symptoms haven't eased by now then you should call the vet. The antibiotics and anti-inflammatories should be showing an effect by now. A phone call wouldn't hurt.

What food does she eat, Pfft?

TCN - How quickly should the medication start to work? I should really have asked the vet, I know. She had her first dose of the anti-bs last night, ans has had another this morning. She's had the anti-inflamms once so far. The vet gave me a weeks course.

She still has some blood this morning, but her urine patches are larger, which I take as a good sign, she's also going less.

She eats dry food exclusively - I have given her some wet since last night to try and get more fluids into her to help, and to put the anti-inflamms in as well. I did wonder if the food has aggravated her somehow, but she's been on it for over a year and no other signs before this.

She's back using the litter tray now!

Well that sounds positive. The anti-inflams generally start to make them more comfortable within a few hours. And the anti-bs should start to kick in within 24 hours in my experience.

Definitely don't give her any dried food at all until the end of this course of meds, and try to introduce much more wet in her diet generally. Dried food isn't a good thing for cats prone to urinary problems.

Which dried food is it out of interest?

That's good - presumably not so painful or with such a pressing need as before. (Is the duvet for the bin?)

I think I'd keep her on the wet food for at least the time being to keep her fluid levels right - if she'll eat it. Does she normally have a constant water source to go with her dry?

Here's some general background for you to read in case she turns out to be a cat that's prone to FLUTD.

(I've always found that ABs take just a little time to really show their effects so the timing sounds about right to me.)

It's just a supermarket own brand, TCN - we use Tesco one as it has more fibre in it than the other branded dry foods. Is it an idea to try something more expensive and gentle on her tummy? I'll also remove the dry food now and put some more wet down for her.

Cozie - yes the duvet is for the bin! It was pretty much ruined anyway yesterday so thought she could use it if she needed today, just want her to be comfy.

Thank you both so much.

My boy gets this. Once she's better take a fresh urine (less than 30 mins old) to the vet to test for crystals. In the meantime take her off dry completely, add water to wet food and place water bowls and a fountain in various locations to up her fluid.

Thanks code. Dry has been removed, and she's been on wet since yesterday. She's still grumpy, though seems a little smug about getting wet when the others dont. (grumpy but smug is standard cat I think)

....grumpy but smug is standard cat I think........

I'm only amazed the others aren't nicking her food. Is she a boss cat?

Oh - and is she still using her tray now?

Cozie, I've made her a bed and food area in the dining room, away from Cat2 and Cat3. I work from home in here, so she has company for most of the day. Have been letting her out to have a wander occasionally, but I am worried about her going to the toilet on the sofa (though tbf, she's been on the duvet once only today).

I'm definitely giving the vets a call and taking her back in if she's still the same tomorrow - whilst I think she has improved (using litter more), she does still seem like she's uncomfortable and I'd imagine that 3 days of anti-bs should have made things better for her.

In charge? Yes she is! Cat3 keeps trying to get in to steal her food but when I open the door she swipes at him to warn him off. Wet food is cat mana in this house!

Is there any reason you feed them all dried food? Dried food is the cause of a lot of problems in cats including cystitis, and cheap dried food is directly linked to urinary crystals, which cause bladder blockage in male cats.

If you are determined to feed dry then make sure it's a good one - such as Arden Grange or Applaws. But really you'd be much better to cut out the dried food altogether and feed tinned instead. Butchers Classic is a cheap yet healthy one.

I'm thinking of the last time Seniorboy had ABs (with his regular nose infection underway) and it took maybe as much as 4 days to get it under proper control. Not saying you shouldn't contact the vet - they may want a urine test to find out how she's doing - but just to say that it could be that she's better by tomorrow/Monday. (It's difficult as well to work out what goes on in their minds at times - who knows but that she still associates her tray with pain a bit.)

Do cats need fibre though? It's something they'd get from a normal cat diet in the wild is it?.

TCN - I'll admit that it's probably outdated or just plain wrong logic that makes me feed them dry. They all had wet when they were smaller kittens, and I moved them over to dry in the belief that it would make their poo more solid. TBH, I'd assumed it was better for them than wet - I'm am very happy to be told I am wrong though, so thanks for that advice. I didn't know about the link between dry and bladder issues. I don't want to be causing any of them problems - I think I'll move them back to wet food. Thank you!

She's weeing a lot less now, which I see as good - She's pretty quiet still and sleeping a fair whack, but she hasn't gone to the toilet anywhere else other than the duvet which I am taking as a good sign. Cozie - I think I was just panicking, I am a worrier, and I'll see how she is over the rest of the weekend. I'm overprotective of her as she was our first cat.

Wet food does have fibre in it though, Fluffy.

Does it? I did not know that.

But do they need it? Fibres just something we can't absorb, some animals can digest fibre.

Fluffy: according to Googlevet cats don't need fibre as such, but it's usually added to pet food as it has been shown to improve colon health and to protect against some diseases.