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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

Would a cat's UTI clear up on its own?

50 replies

RainCloude · 08/12/2021 10:06

A week ago I noticed my indoor cat was grooming around his willy more than usual, and though he's castrated it was sticking out a lot. So I took him to the vet.

He didn't seem in any pain whatsoever but she kind of blindsided me into him having a strong painkilling injection which she said was an opioid and also advised opioid tablets.

She said that would all come to £220. Whilst she was giving the injection I recovered from my shock and said actually I won't need the tablets (thinking that would reduce the bill quite a bit - but it just brought it down to £191).

She gave me a pack for getting a urine sample, so they can analyse it and then treat it probably with anti biotics.

Anyway cat is completely normal again now - never was in any pain start with, but the grooming has stopped and I haven't seen his willy out at all! I feel I should still do the urine test to make sure but I feel like the vet is a bit dubious and presume they will charge me another £200 at the very least to do the urine analysis and will probably prescribe more medication even if the analysis is clear. Basically I don't trust them now.

My question is, could the cat have just shaken off whatever was troubling him? I've been adding warm water to his pouch food to make sure he's getting his fluid.

I want to do the right thing but I am hesitant to be ripped off again especially so close to Christmas. I'm not an irresponsible cat owner and will always pay for appropriate treatment, but the vet's behaviour with expensive and unnecessary opioids makes me think twice.

Sorry for long post but would appreciate any thoughts! Cat is happy as Larry by the way!

OP posts:

Lunde · 08/12/2021 15:36

Did you see an out of hours or emergency vet at a large animal hospital? In my experience this will double or triple the costs compared to a local vet.

Original poster

RainCloude · 08/12/2021 15:54

No! Not emergency vet - I've had experience of those when dog ate some chocolate over a bank holiday weekend 😭

I made a normal appointment for Friday morning.

Just to clarify - I will pay what it takes to keep him well. But that doesn't mean I'm willing to be ripped off! Will be interesting to see results of urine test. (I toyed with the idea of taking pee samples to both vets and comparing, but obviously I'm not that fixated)!!

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 08/12/2021 17:34

The licking is pain in cats.

I’ve had my cats urine tested due to spraying in the house thinking it was behavioural but he was infected and had treatment. He showed no sign of pain or infection apart from weeing all over a wall.

Original poster

RainCloude · 08/12/2021 18:39

He is no longer licking and has not done so since Friday.

OP posts:

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/12/2021 18:43

@MrTumblesEyebrows

My male castrated house cat had recurrent UTIs and ended up with blocked bladder. He was in absolute agony and we had to put him to sleep. Don't mess around with UTIs especially in male house cats as they are more at risk.

Nearly lost mine too, happened very fast, the vet bill was nearly 3k iirc. Thank God for insurance. He's on daily Cystaid now. It was caused by stress.

helpfulperson · 08/12/2021 18:52

I agree that's a lot for a single injection. It's definitely worth checking out other local vets. My cat had a steroid injection and a painkiller liquid and that cosy £60. He had an argument with a bee

Original poster

RainCloude · 08/12/2021 19:14

Thank you @helpfulperson I agree!

OP posts:

santasmuma · 08/12/2021 20:56

@helpfulperson

It wasn't just a single injection though. It was the consultation, the injection the tablets and the kit for the urine sample.

Original poster

RainCloude · 08/12/2021 23:04

I did not take the tablets!!
And how much does a plastic test tube cost ???

OP posts:

ThesecondLEM · 08/12/2021 23:12

Why did you bother going to the vet if you know better?

You do realise that urinary problems in cats, especially male cats, can be life threatening.

It's great your cat's issues appear to have resolved but please do not ignore any future issues, you risk an even bigger bill and a dead cat

trekcrockett · 08/12/2021 23:13

Sounds an expensive trip. My cat gets a urine infection every 3 to 4 months...I pay about £70 for consultation, metacam and 7 days worth of antibiotics.
I then also pay a small fortune in a special cat good to help reduce the infections...

Motnight · 08/12/2021 23:16

I don't understand why you refused to take the tablets for your cat.

ThesecondLEM · 08/12/2021 23:19

The Op decided that the cat wasn't in pain.

Anotherhill · 08/12/2021 23:20

Did it include the urine test?

hilariousnamehere · 08/12/2021 23:22

This makes me sad for your cat :( untreated UTIs can kill a male cat in less than 24 hours, and if you've ever had cystitis or other UTIs yourself, I suspect you'd have been kinder and paid for the painkiller tablets rather than risking your poor boy suffering after the injection wore off.

I'd rather a painkiller when it's not needed than letting either of my two suffer a minute more than necessary because they can't tell me if it hurts or not.

If you can't afford to keep your pets happy and healthy you shouldn't have them - I hope the second vet explains this and how cats are good at hiding pain.

Elieza · 08/12/2021 23:33

You’re doing the right thing making sure he is ok. Your appointment will be about £25 and the urine dip about £30. It’s not cheap.

I didn’t know about uti infections in cats, apparently they are really dangerous and need treated quickly.

I had a male cat with one and that’s how I found out. I thought it was like a uti that I (female) would get as a human. You wait until it’s really sore before doing something about it. But apparently it’s not like that in cats. You need to take action quickly if they keep peeing or there’s any blood or they are obviously in pain.

I wish I’d known earlier and I’d have taken him to the vet the same day he wasn’t himself not the next day.

icedcoffees · 09/12/2021 08:35

@RainCloude

I did not take the tablets!! And how much does a plastic test tube cost ???

You're not just paying for the test tube

You're paying for the cost of the urine sample being sent away and tested - it doesn't just happen for free.

My kitten had recurrent UTI's and was over grooming - he had two lots of antibiotics and metacam, and then the vet said we should send of a urine sample.

He was diagnosed with crystals so he's now on a special urinary food I got online, plus two cystease tablets per day.

I'm really glad I paid for the urine test as it showed me there was a problem and with the appropriate treatment he is now absolutely fine

GodspeedJune · 09/12/2021 08:43

I use a small family owned vet and do agree the bill is high. Do you have an itemised invoice? It may be they have already charged you for the urine analysis.

It’s still definitely worth getting the urine analysis done, as PPs have alluded to, cats hide the signs until it’s very bad.

Original poster

RainCloude · 09/12/2021 09:01

Thanks for all the replies. A lot of assumptions have been made , such as that I'm not insured and that I can't afford to have a cat. I can pay vet bills yes - but why would I pay money unnecessarily? Anyway, I guess the answer to my question is that no, UTIs in cats generally don't clear up on their own. And as I said in my OP, I'm having the urine tested.

My issue is I don't trust this vet and I'm now going on my gut instinct and swapping vet. I know that every vet is not always right about everything - even the Cats Protection lady told me that certain tests these vets advocated pre- castration were not necessary. So I didn't pay for those particular tests. I suppose lots of posters will now say cats protection are irresponsible, but I don't believe they are. I also believe no one is perfect and that includes vets.

OP posts:

ThesecondLEM · 11/12/2021 21:35

Vets are not infallible but they have to abide by the Rcvs code of conduct, including fair pricing.

However, if you don't have confidence in your current practice, then you absolutely within your rights to move and should do so. Standards do vary, like in any profession

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 11/12/2021 21:38

Bloody hell OP you need a different vet.
My Bluebell had numerous urine infections when she got old and I never had to pay that much for antibiotics, pain killers or steroids.
Ring around your local vets and find one that doesn't charge so much, there are plenty out there.
When I moved up to Somerset the local vet charged me £500 for unecessary sedation which made my cat ill. I found a new vet and the charge was £100 for a complete treatment.

Original poster

RainCloude · 14/12/2021 09:31

Update!

I managed to get the urine sample and took it to the OTHER VET - they called with the result. All clear! Charge for urine analysis - £15.

This vet was shocked at the charge of the first vet. Perhaps I should have showed her this thread with all the suggestions I'm a bad cat owner etc, because it looks like some people think it's terrible to be taken aback by overcharging and that it means you are irresponsible etc. (I don't care if I can claim back on insurance - it's still a pain in the neck filling in forms and getting the money back two months later minus excess.)

I asked her how much a urine test pack would cost as posters were saying don't forget my (huge) bill from the first vet included a urine pack!! Well she told me they charge £2.65 for them!!

She also pointed me towards a useful website called International Cat Care which I'm mentioning for anyone who doesn't know of it.

Thank you to all the sympathetic posters - there have been a few

OP posts:

Elieza · 14/12/2021 18:02

Great result that the cats ok and you’ve found a good bet that’s cheaper.

Elieza · 14/12/2021 18:02

Vet

sillysmiles · 14/12/2021 18:15

I recently had my cat in the vet - he need pain relief and antibiotics.
Vet put him on loxicam oral suspension for pain relief and said that for cats the next pain relief option is opiate based one. Vet must have believed the cat to be in significant pain to go straight to an opiate pain killer.

That said-nothing really matters if you don't trust your vet. Especially if you think they are over medicating for money.

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