Feline Urinary Tract Infection ****PICTURE OF SMOKEY ADDED ****

[BarbK]

Since it is so late I won't tell you to take the cat in to the vet because that means an emergency trip but if the cat is blocked it is a life or death situation. A urinary blockage can throw off the electrolytes and affect the organs. Cats go down hill very very fast.

We did a triage project in class with different senarios where we had to rank the cases that should see the vet first. The cat with a blockage was #3 on the list after a cat that was dying and a cat in severe respiratory distress. The cat with the blockage made it back before the dog with a severe laceration that was gushing blood.

Keep and eye on the cat. If he starts vomiting take him to an emergency hospital IMMEDIATELY. If he makes it through the night without going down hill call the vet and get him in asap. Let your vet know he has a POSSIBLE blockage and when you noticed it. Again a blocked cat is nothing to play around with it is life threatening.

Also warning if it is a blockage be very carefull picking him up. He will be in pain and may bite or scratch you.

 

[Southern28Chick]

BarbK,
I noticed today he was looking 'weird", not like himself, and I told my DH about it. DH picked him up and we looked him over and couldn't see anything wrong with him. Then he walked around the yard trying to pee 3 times in 5 minutes. When I picked him up to take him in the house he was fightin me the whole way. I'll try not to pick him up anymore tonight. He's acting fine so I think this is the first day this is happening. He's eating and drinking and has been playing with his kids so I don't know how much pain he's in. Cats are good at hiding their pain though. As soon as the vet opens in the morning I'll take him over there. It's a good thing I have such a strong connection with my animals. I can usually tell they're not acting normal and catch things before they get real bad. I'll let y'all now how this all turns out. I'm thinking hospital time for sure with this one. That sucks too because he was just in the hospital about 2 months again with a bad sting, he's allergic to bee stings. He almost died then, I got him to the vet 10 minutes after the sting. I'm glad I'm I wasn't working. I've quit my job since then so I can focus on my animals and my business.

Rooster-Red,
Thank you for the info on the feed fillers. I'm going to research feline nutrition an learn how to make my own cat food. I have 6 cats right now and I think it would be better for them if I control what they eat.

 

[BarbK]

There are a few urinary diets out there if you are going to change his diet. I personally like purina one or pro plan. My male cat gets urinary tract infections a lot so I have a mixture of haiball controll and urinary diet for him. I can't keep my bengal girl out of his food so that is part of the reason I mix the two diets the other reason is my male got a hairball so bad that we almost had to do surgery to get it out. It took 5 days total to pass it. I am glad my vet (I start my intern with him the first week of sept.) is giving me employee pricing because I am a tech student.
I think Iams or Eukanuba also have a urinary diet but I know for sure Hills Science diet does.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
Thanks. I have Smokey and his 3 sons and they seem to get hairballs way more often than Smokey's wife, Baby, and their daughter. I'll look into those feeds.

 

[Lunachick]

I had a cat with that problem, my vet told me to put a LITTLE bit of salt in his food, so it will make him drink water, the more water they drink the better the flow. I hope he's fine now.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I just dropped smokey off at the vet. They said he is NOT blocked!!!!

They're going to keep him for most of the day and make sure he pees before I can take him home.

I found this great site on blockage. I think every cat owner should read this.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_urinary_blockage.html

 

[mom'sfolly]

I've had cats with this problem. A premium food usually has less ash content then regular store food. FUS is most common in neutered males from what I understand. The younger they were neutered the more likely they are to have a problem. Premium food is more expense; but , it is more nutrious, and better digested so the litter box is less full, so to speak. For me, with three indoor cats, its definitely worth it. We use various sorts of Science Diet...hairball control, indoor cat, light, etc.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Just got off the phone with the vet. He does have a urinary tract infection (DUH) and he had a temp of 104 when I brought him in this morning. I think normal temp for a cat is 102 or something. They said he'll be on meds and I can pick him up in 2 hours. I'm guessing about $100-$150.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Trisha, at least now you know what it was and that he is being given what he need to get well. If you had not carried him and he died you would feel awful. So it was money well spent

 

[TreyClark281]

this happens because they dont get enough water that is why i feed my cat the wet cat food it is kind of expensive but it helps.
if you feed him the dry food then the vet might give you this other dry food that makes them thirsty and so they HAVE to drink water or he might tell you to switch over to the wet.
that is what happend to my old cat.
now he live on a farm somewhere and he is happy...