Worried about DCat with cystitis/new pup

[Inastatus]

My 15 year old Bengal boy has just got out of the vets after needing to have a catheter to drain his blocked bladder. The vet said it was due to cystitis. I am feeling so guilty because I think it’s due to the stress of us introducing him to a new puppy 3 weeks ago. I’ve been awake half the night worrying about him. I haven’t seen him yet this morning - I think he’s in my daughter’s room and I don’t want to wake her too early but I will shortly as I’m worried that he hasn’t used the litter tray since he’s been home and might need to go back to vet.

The only other time he had cystitis was 10 years ago when we got our other cat but he was fine after some anti inflammatory meds and him and our other cat went on to become best mates. He has also had two dogs in his life - an older rescue who is no longer with us and our current dog and he was fine with both. This puppy is a bit more bouncy and full on but even though he's got his own space away from him, he seemed to want to get to know him and hang out in the same room so I thought he was fine.

Has anyone had this situation and if so, how did you resolve it?

Dogue de Bordeaux

Oh 😦

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• Dogue de Bordeaux are known for their strong hunting instincts, which can make them prone to chasing and potentially harming smaller animals like cats. **

they were wise to re home their cat

Our dog is from a line of livestock guardians with low prey drive. He was raised running among chickens and rabbits. He doesn't even notice cats.

We have a cat in the house sometimes when I catsit for my sister. She also has a dog but the dog can travel with her. Our dog doesn't snuggle with cats and things like that, but he doesn't chase them at all. It's like they're not there.

So did they re home as soon as they heard the breed ie before the dog arrived

or after the dog had arrived?

He doesn't even notice cats.

and yet your neighbours took the drastic action to re home their cat because of the dog

After the dog arrived and started playing in our garden. Their cat used to sit on our garden table, or the wall, and then when the puppy came, she didn't feel safe to do that and then within a week or so, she developed stress cystitis. Meds helped but it kept coming back. They checked her bladder for other issues but there weren't any and they concluded she just didn't like the impact the puppy had on her life. So she went to live with her "grandma".

Yes because it developed stress cystitis within weeks of the puppy arriving

The neighbour told you all this?

Thanks, he has a water fountain and he is on the skinny side. He does like cat soup sometimes so I’ll get some of that in again.

Cats (and I say this as a cat person) can be seriously impacted by the most minor changes in their lives.

I’m not sure why you keep trying to make PP feel
guilty - she’s allowed to buy and own a puppy. If the neighbours have a sensitive cat then that’s on them to manage (says she with a very sensitive cat).

They didn’t have to re-home - they could have tried cat-proofing.

Yes they're my neighbours! We are friends! Oh and the cat had bloodstained urine at one time and it was visible on the fence.

@MyOliveHelper you don't need to justify yourself - you did absolutely nothing wrong.

Of course @MyOliveHelper didn’t do anything wrong!!!

I am just wondering how positive a neighbour would view another neighbour if they had to rehome a beloved family cat that had been in their lives many years for example… because of next door’s puppy!

I know i didn't. I just want the other user to understand that their reaction would be totally inappropriate. To start being cold to the neighbours because they bought a dog and your cat didn't like it.

But i am within my rights to buy a puppy. If they wanted a cat haven, they should save up for some kind of isolated mansion. Why didn't they socialise their cat with dogs much earlier in case they end up next to one?

Why is the dog owner in the wrong?

They didn’t have to re-home their cat. There are plenty of ways to keep your cat on your property if that’s what’s needed to keep them safe.

I can’t imagine blaming my neighbours for the way my cat reacted to their pet we have three cats, next door have five dogs (we also have a dog) - if my cat got stressed about their dogs then that’s not their fault in the slightest.

Where did I say that?!!!

literally all I said was that a neighbour may not view another neighbour with the warmest of feelings if their puppy meant them having to lose a much loved cat that had been with the family for years!

Of course you are!

but multiples and that is totally your right and prerogative

Your obsession with this is really quite bizarre.

It’s not @MyOliveHelper‘s fault that the cat got stressed and needed a new home.

Heavens! Obsession now 😆

Our senior cat (who's now passed away from an unrelated condition) had a history of idiopathic, but likely stress-related, cystitis bouts and a sensitive stomach. We got him safely through the puppy stage when our first cocker spaniel arrived. He had his own space (including the whole of upstairs), a safe route to the garden without running the puppy gauntlet, food and water well away from puppy, and lots of calm time on his own with one of us. We used blanket draped baby gates to create visual and physical barriers, and a house line to manage puppy whenever moggie entered his space, and ensure there was NEVER a chase - moggie also did his bit, bless him, by not running so he didn't become exciting.
If you continue to support the medical condition with appropriate diet and any meds, and patiently manage the space and interactions, your cat might adjust and be OK - if a positive story of one who did is helpful.

@Cockerdileteef - thank you so much for that positive story 💐

Hi OP,
I found Zylkene helped my cat calm down a lot for vet visits etc so worth trying for while. Vet could be asked about putting cat on anti anxiety meds for a while - I think it's prozac!

I agee with @Cockerdileteef to manage all their interactions carefully. Does he have lots of spaces to get away from the puppy? Things like tall cat trees with comfy beds, shelves up high he can reach safely and positioned so can move about the room without touching the floor. Take a look at Jackson Galaxy on you tube for 'catification' tips.

Also private quiet spaces for litter trays (I'd have more than one if he's having trouble peeing) and stairs or rooms blocked off by baby gates he can get through or over but puppy can't. If he's less mobile due to his age then adapting these for him might be necessary.

If he's anxious about the puppy he won't be sleeping as deeply, causing stress, so a little dark enclosed cat bed or teepee somewhere totally off limits from the puppy will help him relax. Mine likes one of those play tunnels and often sleeps inside it.

If puppy is roaming in the house leave him on a short lead so you can get your foot on it fast if he starts to chase the cat and of course remove him if he's barking. He needs to learn than chasing or barking gets him put somewhere boring (not telling him off as that's still attention)..

My sister (or rather my BiL) got a puppy when they had an adult cat and although cat was initially most unimpressed she got used to him and totally bossed him around for years.

@TemporaryCatSlave - thank you for your advice. I’ll certainly look into these options. The puppy isn’t allowed upstairs so he has the whole area up there to go to. I will put the litter tray and food/water up there too.