My cat is traumatized and I don't know what to do

[Chocofan1]

My 12 year old cat is hiding out in her litter box. She has been off and on liquid medicine for a UTI. (She had drug resistant e.coli) It is a nasty tasting liquid that causes her to drool even before I give her the medicine! She was on it for 15 out of 30 recommended days before it was clear she would not ingest it.

She has been spending all her time in the litter box the last several days. My husband has to take her out so that she will eat and drink. We have never seen this behavior before.

The veterinarian will see her tomorrow and conduct a urine test to see if she still has the UTI.

In the meantime I am bathing her daily because she is sleeping where she uses the bathroom.

Any advice for my situation? Also note that my cat has renal disease and cannot receive her antibiotics with injection.

Oh dear poor cat, drooling can be a sign of worsening renal disease and if she is hiding that can be their way of protecting themselves when they are unwell. I'd be asking for blood tests and a mouth check, I hope she feels better soon. Does she know when to use her tray or has she lost control.

The hiding in the litter tray can be a sign of worsening illness. That's what my lovely girl did when she was seriously ill. As pp said, she needs to go back to vet for tests. I hope she is feeling better soon x

What a shame poor girl I had a cat who kept getting these.
Forced medicine and trips to the vets meant it just went on and on.
I told the vets at the finish I need to stop bringing her just so they could look at her when she was better because the stress triggered it every single time and I’d have to take her back yet again to be treated. It was a never ending loop and it’s horrible seeing them so distressed.
There’s something you can buy to put in her food I’ll see if I can find the name of it but the vets often advise it you could ask your vet about it. It’s tasteless and goes in food or water it’s really good stuff.
I would honestly just leave her where she is, in her litter tray if it’s what she wants and just put food and water in somehow for her. You’ll know with renal issues it’s important she drinks especially with a uti and keeping stress down is so important.
Good luck.

Op it’s called Feliway Cystease. It’s brilliant stuff they sell it on Amazon and you get a calming wipe too which isn’t stressful like bathing.
Ask your vet first but my cat had renal problems and the vet said it was safe, sometimes the vets sell it but at a higher price.
My cat suffered horribly and this stuff was better than antibiotics, and a maintenance dose kept the uti at bay.
I hope your little cat gets some relief soon it’s horrible seeing them suffer with this.

Sitting in the litter tray is what mine have done when really unhappy. I think I’d get her to the vet today instead of waiting.

Poor girl. I would get her to the vet today.

Honestly, this was the exact same scenario I had with my girl - it was her end stage kidney disease that meant the UTI was intractable.

Her quality of life was awful. My quality of life was awful. It was time to put her to sleep.

It may not be the same for you but our vet encouraged this conversation a week or so into the UTI, gave her 48hrs of steroids to give her a pick up for a few days then we made the decision. I've never regretted it for her.

This advice was helpful. I stopped with the daily bathing and instead scoop her litter box more frequently.

My cat was at the vet 2 days ago and the initial test showed she still has a UTI. The sample was sent out to another lab to identify the type of bacteria.

The vet recommended CranMate which is a cranberry tablet. She takes this tablet 2x a day. It seems to be our only hope right now.

I will definitely keep this product in mind. Can you explain the calming wipe's purpose? I have never wiped my cat in her ..um..lower regions.

She has bladder and bowel control thankfully.

I have a cat with a history of stress related UTI. We use Cystease crystals on his food at any hint of discomfort and it usually solves the issue before it develops.

If it goes beyond that it’s an emergency vet trip and ours tends to dish out a big dose of gabapentin via injection with tablets of a lower dose to continue for the next week. It totally chills him out, makes him pretty spacey actually and is also a painkiller so it breaks the cycle. We can then medicate the much more chilled out cat much more easily for a few days (think we’ve been given Loxicam) ourselves and that usually solves the issue.

Agree with PP that a cat sat in a litter box is incredibly unhappy and in pain and should be treated as emergency, particularly for urine related issues. Cats hate showing pain and are incredibly clean usually.

All the best to your girl!

I think the wipe is just to give her a general wipe over unless it is meant for her private area but it’s feliway and great stuff have you tried it? That’s another miracle worker!
My cat was absolutely frantic with her uti it was awful and every time she got stressed or agitated it was back.

Feliway and cystease they’re well worth a try.
Please let us know how you get on I hope she’s better soon poor soul.

Today my cat left her litter box on her own a few times to get food and water. It is the 3rd day of her cranberry tablets. I am hoping they have helped her situation and will continue to do so. I am waiting to hear back from the vet as to what bacteria is involved with the UTI.

I will keep the Cystease product in mind. Right now my cat is taking CranMate which is cranberry tablets. The vet sells them at their office.

That's interesting about the Gabapentin. Our vet has not suggested this one yet.

Good news! The veterinarian a called and the labs she sent away at the appointment we had came back
The type of e coli bacteria my cat has is sensitive to ordinary antibiotics!!!!!

@Chocofan1 that’s great news and it sounds like she’s turning a corner. I hope she’s feeling a lot better bless her.