Sorry I haven't been around--it's been a tough week with a lot of hours driving to events, doing makeup standing on my feet for the whole day, driving back and facing home stuff, crashing to bed to get up and start over. Tomorrow is the earliest day of all I need to be up and out the door, and I'm exhausted. I headed upstairs to go to bed early to be greeted with a fresh urine stain on my comforter. The comforter is red so i can't tell if there was blood, but there was a strange whitish film on the blanket where the urine was, like very fine crystals. Luckily it did not get through to the mattress. Wolfie is purring and seems normal but is cleaning his pee-pee excessively. OF COURSE, IT IS THE WEEKEND. I have to be out the door by 7:30 am. I called the ex and asked him to bring Wolfie to the vet, and he was none too pleased. This is the second time this has occurred with Wolfie, and the last time it cost me over $200. With the recent flea problem and the screens being repaired then ripped, I am hemorrhaging money. What could be causing this? Wolfie has plenty of water available and likes the fountain and drinking from the faucet in the sink. He got out the day of the screen fiasco and escaped capture for the rest of that day, the night, and the next day (I caught him in the evening.) Could this have something to do with being outside?
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
More Urinary Issues With Wolfie
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I'm sorry you are having such a tough (and expensive) time, CW! You are due for some peace!! I don't know what to tell you about the whitish film on the urine spot. {{hugs}}
Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Thanks, KW! Searching Google is no help--either I have a very expensive chronic problem on my hands, or all cat urine has a type of crystal in it which is why it is so hard to clean. I wish I hadn't thrown the blanket into the washer immediately...the vet may have been able to get a sample of the crystals to see what they were.
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Could it be the type of food he's eating, CW? I know that some foods (ask the vet) are better for crystal problems than others. There may be some at Petsmart that are for urinary problems, too. I'm avoiding Petco. . .
Posted 3 years ago by FondaHonda #
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FondaHonda has a good point - male cats (spa'ed or not) often have urinary problems as a result of the food they eat. One of the ways I've managed to get more water into my babies is to dilute their wet food with water. I squish it all up so they have no choice but to ingest the water with the food. It seems to help.
Good vibes for Wolfie - it doesn't sound like you need another problem right now.
Posted 3 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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FH and CBM, I am researching the food link online. All of my 7 cats eat wet food in the evening and have dry food available all day long. Only Wolfie is having the problem. I'm wondering if he is just prone to these issues and having been outside for more than 24 hours meant that he did not get enough fresh water. He finally came in after 1 1/2 days because he was hungry.
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From what I understand, CW, is that some cats (esp. males) are just more prone to urinary issues than others. So even if they're eating the same food, Wolfie just might be more prone to problems than the others. I THINK that there are some over the counter brands that are supposed to be better for cats with urinary problems than others.
Posted 3 years ago by FondaHonda #
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Oh CW. I am sorry to hear about Wolfie!!! I hope he is okay. Please let us know what the vet says.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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Yes please keep us updated on Wolfie, poor baby.
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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CW, I have had several cats--Sheba included, and she's a female, Himi's are prone to it--with this problem. You need prescription food--Hill's Feline CD for maintenance. The vet will give the one with the meds in it to rid the infection first for about 2 weeks--you will need to feed him by himself for that time (I now it's a pain). The CD can be eaten by all the cats--my vet in NY fed it exclusively to all his cats, even though they didn't have the problem. I see now PetSmart has it on the shelves--I used to get it only at my vet. It is really no more expensive than IAMS, if you live in a state that doesn't charge sales tax on prescriptions (AZ does!). But he needs the med food now to clear up the infection. It is a life-long condition, but with the food it is manageable--I feed dry all day then the wet in the evening, and never have any more peeing problems. Use Cat Attract litter for awhile so he gets over his fear of the litter box-right now it hurts him to pee and he's associating pain with the box. You might need to confine him for a few days with the box until he uses it again all the time. The vet can take a pee sample in the office right away and test it, it doesn't cost much. Does your local humane society have a low-cost clinic?
Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #
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Hi Debbie--Wolfie's problem sounds like the same problem my Max had a few weeks ago. This is the first time he's had the problem, and it scared me to death. Of course, it was over the Memorial Day weekend, and I didn't take him to the vet until Tuesday. After his exam, he jumped off the table. The vet was explaining what he could do for him, when I looked down at him and he was sitting in a puddle of blood tinged urine. But the vet said that was good because the blockage was gone. The vet did x-rays and gave him antibiotics, and he recovered quickly. He had a little episode early last week and I thought it was happening again, but I made him lay on his back and I massaged his tummy and his hips, and soon he went to the litter box and peed. I have to keep a close eye on him.
I really don't know what brought this on--I've never changed their food, and they don't go outside at all. I even asked the vet if I should have them on a different food since they are getting older, but he said no, it wasn't necessary. I have my doubts about that, though. Anybody have suggestions?
They were raised from kittens on Science Diet dry cat food(now using adult formula). I read that males have this problem more than females.I wish Wolfie a speedy recovery without too much cost. (I kinda joked that I found a good use for my economic stimulus check at the vet's office. )
Posted 3 years ago by MaxandCali'sMom #
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Good advise here. My Gibbie had this problem, but that was close to 20 years ago so I'm sure things have changed. I know he was on a special diet. Also the vet stressed to make sure that he was drinking alot of water to flush things out. (This was after he nearly died, he was 100% blocked by the time I got him in) That is how my cats have ended up drinking their water out of an Aalto vase, if anyone knows what that is. It was the only thing he would drink out of. He's been gone over 6 years now, but I still use the thing! I joke that my cats have the world's most expensive water dish. Anyway, his kidneys must have stayed healthy because about 5 years after the "crystals scare" he went diabetic on me - and still lived for almost another 7 years. Here's hoping Wolfie will get healthy again soon.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm wondering if I need to take Wolfie to the emergency vet. My vet is out of town and the vet covering for him was double-booked all morning and couldn't see him (their Saturday hours are 8-12.) He seems ok, has been walking around and jumped up on my desk and curled up purring in the basket. But he keeps cleaning himself obsessively, when I felt his tummy it seems he has a full bladder and he cried when I touched his belly, then he went under the bed and hid up in the boxspring. He came down and ate his wet cat food, but remains under the bed. I've placed the litterbox in my bathroom and shut him in my room, hoping to see whether he is peeing or not. Does the fact that he is eating mean he can wait until Monday? They made an appointment for first thing Monday morning, but I'm concerned about making him wait that long since he keeps sitting funny and licking down there. I wish he could talk and tell me what is going on. It's a long drive to the emergency clinic and it is $100 to just walk in the door.
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When Max got sick, he wouldn't eat or drink, he just laid on the floor and didn't even move. I tried giving him food soaked in tuna juice, and water, but he wouldn't even sniff it. (Molly ended up eating it). He was one sick kitty. Wolfie sounds like he's pretty active, and it's good that he's eating, but it's gotta come out sometime. I think it's a good idea you've isolated him to see if he is eliminating anything. I know it seemed like an eternity until I could get Max to the vet. The night before, I would get up every couple of hours to see where he was (he never moved) and see if he was still alive-I know that sounds awful, but I was so scared. But I know how you feel about spending the extra money. It sounds like you could wait until Monday, but watch him carefully.
Posted 3 years ago by MaxandCali'sMom #
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I am so sorry Catwoman..... I just went through this a second time with my Perry in the past 15 months. If I were you, I wouldn't wait cause it is dangerous if they block and can die. I took him to the vet at 11pm cause he was licking himself and growling and hissing! The vet asked how long he has been blocked. I didn't know. They unblocked him right away and he stayed there for 3 days. He just took his last antibiotic and is doing very well.
I am very worried for your darling Wolfie. :( The poor baby..... I believe it is very painful for him and can feel like glass cutting when they pee. Please take him to the vet.
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I don't know what to tell you, CW. I don't know how long a cat can wait to pee without becoming ill. How about calling the emergency vet and asking them if there is anything you can do for Wolfie until Monday?
Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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MMM, I'm just so tired! It's been such a long week and I just want to get some sleep. I hate to think my baby is suffering. If I have to get dressed and drive to the emergency vet I will not get back home and in bed until 3 am or so, and it will definitely cost around $300. I am just not able to do it. I'm going to move the water fountain to my room also to encourage drinking, and I'm going to put water in his mouth. I don't know if he is hiding under the bed because he is irritated that I felt his belly (he doesn't like that) or if he is in pain.
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OMG...while looking up the emergency vet for our area, I cam across this page...shockingly unfavorable reviews, and this is the only emergency vet in the area!
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Does your regular vet have a phone service for after hours calls? Mine lets me request a call back from the on call vet.
You do sound exhausted. I hope you can get some rest tonight!
Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Deb, you can call your vet, even on the weekend, and they will probably have another number you can call for emergency. It might not be the same one as you mentioned above. Or do you know your vet personally, I mean, personally enough to call him/her at home?
By the way, Max became ill on a Sunday morning (that's when he first threw up his food and I saw him trying to pee-on my bed, no less) and I waited until Tuesday morning to get him to the vet because Monday was the holiday. The vet's office said-"why didn't you call us?" I said "because I didn't know I could get him in on a holiday". Hopefully, you might be able to reach someone tomorrow. But get some sleep first, if you can, because it wouldn't be safe for you to be out driving in your condition tonight. God bless and I'll say a prayer for you and Wolfie.
Posted 3 years ago by MaxandCali'sMom #
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Thanks everyone...I think I have no choice but to try to get some sleep tonight. If I went out driving right now it would be the equivalent of driving drunk. Wolfie ate his dinner and has come out from under the bed and is sleeping on the bed and purring. Maybe this can wait until morning. Maybe then I could try to find another vet who is available on the weekend. I remember a woman who used to work the front desk at my real estate office is married to a vet. I have her email address still so I'll send her an email--maybe he could tell me what to do or see Wolfie tomorrow.
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