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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.

Original poster

Just had to leave my cat at the vets

182 replies

NewYearCalavicci · 31/12/2021 15:35

My poor cat has been a bit off colour for a few days , last night seemed to be having problems peeing so I made a appointment and took him to the vets.
The poor mite has a very full bladder the vet tried to massage his bladder and relive it but it didn't work so he has to be anesthetized and a catheter fitted .

They also need to run some blood test take sure his liver and kidneys are ok .

worried

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Thread gallery
8
Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 01/01/2022 12:44

Stressed cat ? Confused

Just had to leave my cat at the vets
OP posts:
SwtPeasOnEarth · 01/01/2022 17:45

@NewYearCalavicci

Oh, Hun...I can see how you'd miss the signs of kitty being stressed..let me, the expert on all things, especially sidewalk chalk, point out the trouble areas...see how he has his little feet positioned?..front legs stretched out but not quite crossed? That may just be the sign you are looking for to tell that he's stressed.
Also, have you tried painting a silhouette of him walking up your flight of stairs? I've heard the presence of this visual aid is very comforting.
One more solution, of course, it's simple really....you are just going to have to sleep in your boots forever and a day. I will DM you my bank details so you can pay my modest fees. I'll even give you "mate's rates"!

Seriously AL..I'm glad kitty is home and it was something pretty simple to sort out...and thanks for the photo of the wee little fellow. He's a cutey!Xmas Smile

ZZGirl · 01/01/2022 17:53

You should consider feliway for potential stress and anxiety

Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 02/01/2022 14:19

@ZZGirl for me or my Scat? Grin

Seriously, I may get some if things don't improve soon.

I had to take him back to the vets again today as he had not peed for almost 24 hrs
They managed to empty his bladder this time so I need to keep a very close eye on him.
He needs to pee before 8pm or he will have to go back again Sad

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Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 02/01/2022 14:21

Dcat !

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Clarich007 · 02/01/2022 15:49

Oh Newyear, sorry your lovely cat is going through this.
No advice, but would like to say he's gorgeous. Aww that little shaved leg bless him. Hope he's ok soon.

Neilsfavouritechilli · 02/01/2022 16:14

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully the antibiotics and painkillers kick in soon for him and he can wee comfortably.

Neilsfavouritechilli · 02/01/2022 16:15

@sunshinesupermum sorry just seen your last message. The vet recommended it as a long term course of action. I think the amazon tablets are a lower dose than the ones they would prescribe as its a maintenance measure.

sunshinesupermum · 02/01/2022 16:48

Thanks Neilsfavouritechilli will check with vet as DCat is still anxious 🙁

Sweetpea1532 · 03/01/2022 06:16

@NewYearCalavicci
Poor little thing! I hope he is feeling better soon Flowers

MyAnacondaMight · 03/01/2022 09:56

Hope he’s doing better today.

Cats are much more sensitive than we tend to notice. Most cats find changes in their environment stressful. My cat once got upset when we got a new TV! If you don’t know your cat’s stressors then I would just try to keep a very calm, static environment. Basically try to avoid anything bigger than the cat coming in or out, or being moved around. So no visitors, no DIY, minimise parcels coming in and out, take the rubbish out when he’s not in the room, maybe disconnect the doorbell if he’s sensitive to that.

I imagine the biggest change you could make to help him is to swap to a 100% wet food diet asap. Cats’ urinary tracts operate on a knife’s edge - they have no real thirst drive and are designed to get all water from their food. So dry food makes them dehydrated, and they’re not reliable drinkers to offset that - hence an abundance of urinary tract issues, kidney infections etc.

Some cats seem to exist OK in a permanent state of dehydration, but any sign of bladder problems is a big red flag that your cat can’t cope with dry food.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/01/2022 13:16

How is he doing now OP?

My current get gets severe cystitis (thankfully no blockages yet) but my old male got very badly blocked (it nearly killed him) and he needed surgery to remove all the crystals and mess from his bladder.

I suspect your boy will need a change in diet to a urinary food - ideally wet but they do dry urinary foods too. I would also recommend looking at both Cystease and a supplement called D-Mannose for long-term bladder health. Both are available on Amazon for around £5 for a months' worth. You can get them as tablets or powder to mix in with food.

sunshinesupermum · 03/01/2022 15:55

Is he doing better OP? My DCat was much better (just before Xmas) when he had the same issues but the meds sorted her out pretty quickly. She is till anxious at times though and pees on the bathroom floor right next to her (clean) litter box.

Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 03/01/2022 17:51

Thank you all for the advice any enquires to Dcat health .
Unfortunately although he did a small pee this morning he has done nothing since so I am trying to get hold of the vets ( I hate bank holidays ! ) to get him back there again this evening .
I think they will end up keeping him in overnight again .

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fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/01/2022 17:59

Oh no, I'm sorry it's not better news :(

It may be that he needs surgery if he won't unblock naturally - have they done a urine sample to test for crystals or infection? I would be requesting they do one if possible as it will give you more information about what you're dealing with.

They always pick bank holidays to get sick - my boy has cystitis and of course he picked bank holiday to get a flare up and to go in and out of the litter tray every five seconds Hmm Grin

Dodgyveneers · 03/01/2022 18:01

It’s so stressful, thinking of you, you must want him home so badly.

Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 03/01/2022 18:10

@fairylightsandwaxmelts ,
They said there was nothing obvious blocking his tract when I took him in on both occasions , on sunday they said he may just be a bit sore so reluctant to pee so they increased his pain killers and put him on antibiotics too ( which I guess nay not of kicked in yet )

@Dodgyveneers he is at home with me atm , but I need to get him back to the vets as soon as they answerer the sodding phone .

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fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/01/2022 18:22

They can't know if he has crystals or not unless they do a urine sample and get it tested. I suspect they've felt the bladder and can't feel anything large, but that doesn't mean crystals aren't present.

My own cat gets crystals - he's never been blocked but checking his bladder by hand didn't tell them anything except that it wasn't full - he needed a urine test that they got tested in-house (though some vets will need to send it off).

Please ask for a urine sample to be taken and checked - crystals require a dietary change to urinary food (for life) and they can require surgery if the cat keeps getting blocked or if the food doesn't work to break the crystals down.

The fact that he's been catheterised and still won't pee makes me think that this is crystals and not just irritation or an infection, bless him. Paws crossed for you both!

Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 03/01/2022 18:29

Ah ok , thank you @fairylightsandwaxmelts I will ask them if they have / can test for crystals.
ATM he is on both wet and dry food and drinks more water than any other cat I have had , but he is a house cat and my others were not so they had the luxury of puddle water too so my idea of a lot may be off

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fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/01/2022 18:37

Good luck with him! It's so worrying when they won't pee.

Mine is now on urinary dry food, extra wet food each day and two supplements a day as well, he costs more per month than the other two put together Grin

Original poster
NewYearCalavicci · 04/01/2022 18:18

Well poor Dcat has had to go back to the vets again .
He hasn't peed since very late last night and that was only a small amount .
They are going to fit a catheter again and keep him in for 2 nights Sad
I asked if his urine was checked for crystals and although the bet said this is something that they would do as routine there is nothing on his notes so they will check again , thank you for the heads up @fairylightsandwaxmelts .

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SunshineCake1 · 04/01/2022 18:24

I'm so sorry to read this and hoped by the end he'd be better and home with you.

One of my cats is poorly too and she sends her best wishes to your little man 🐈‍⬛ 🐾

crumblebug · 04/01/2022 18:28

Yes to Cystease or Cystassist capsules !

Our boy had no problems at all since he's been having 1 a day

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 04/01/2022 18:33

@NewYearCalavicci I'm so sorry to hear he's back in the vets.

Hopefully they do a urine test for crystals and you get an answer - they're pretty common in neutered male cats - unfortunately due to their narrow urethra, they build up and cause blockages quite easily. It doesn't sound right to me that he's been catheterised so often but there isn't a blockage or partial blockage.

Urinary foods really help so I would also ask about them, then look online to find out where you can get it cheaply - VioVet is a good option and so is ZooPlus. Long-term, please look at Cystease and D-Mannose -both are availably cheaply online and they really work.

Tillsforthrills · 04/01/2022 18:35

Just try to think how your cat is in the right place and will be better soon Flowers