Cat Chat Feline Forum

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. I’m looking for some advice on my cat’s health issue.

My cat is a neutered male, he will be a year old on Christmas Day.

He’s an emotional cat, a Scottish Fold. He doesn’t like to be alone.

On October 25th, I was left the house at 7:30 am and was gone until 4 PM. He wasn’t used to this, he entered our family right when the pandemic started.

Two days later, October 27th, I noticed he was going in and out of the litter box and not peeing. I monitored him all day but by 11PM I was very concerned and took him to animal emergency.

They did an ultra sound and said his bladder was small, they have me a 5 day round of anti biotic, prescription food, and muscle relaxers.

My cat usually drinks A LOT of water, he has a fountain. We try to feed him wet food, he hates it. He eats dry, but drinks so much water.

We finished the antibiotics after 5 days, and while on the anti biotic he seemed to be doing better. However, a day after the antibiotics were done, his UTI symptoms started again. I called my regular vet. ( this was on Mon Nov 2nd) My regular vet recommended taking my cat in for urinalysis, X-ray and blood work. They couldn’t schedule me in until Thursday Nov 5th.

On Wednesday Nov 4th, my cat was still going back and forth to the litter box and not urinating. I was so worried I took him back to emergency.

Emergency did X-rays / urinalysis/ and blood work. They told me his bladder looks normal, no blockage. They told me it was a UTI and gave me a heavier dose of anti biotics for 14 days.

My cat was done with the antibiotics around Nov 18th. He seemed 100% back to normal and I was happy. However, my in-laws stayed at my house for Thanksgiving and didn’t leave until Saturday November 29th.

On Sunday November 30th, my cat was in and out of the litter box again. I called the emergency clinic that did the urinalysis/ blood work/ and X-rays and asked if I needed to purchase more antibiotics. They told me they couldn’t give me anti biotics unless I brought my cat in, for them to do the same test they had just done, a few weeks before.
( I had already spent $1050 because of emergency prizes and couldn’t afford another $550 for test)

I called my regular vet and they told me to bring my cat in and they would do a urinalysis.

I brought my cat it, but they couldn’t do a urinalysis because his bladder was too small. They said it was most likely a UTI and gave me a 21 day course of antibiotics . My cat has been on antibiotics for a week, and he seemed to be getting better, but now he is in and out of the litter box again.


PLEASE HELP! Any advice ?

The majority of UTI's arent caused by antibiotics, his sounds like stress so things like something to soothe the lining of the bladder might be more beneficial than constant antibiotics but I'm not sure if you have the same products in the US, my go to is cystease, metacam, reducing dry food and adding water to wet food which works the majority of the time

Thank you! That really helps, I’m afraid the antibiotics will do more harm than good

I was writing this as you were posting, booktigger - great minds really do think alike!!

as blockages have been ruled out, I wonder if his bladder problems are stress-related

it might be worth trying him on one of the bladder support supplements, which can be bought online - Cystaid is probably the most commonly found one, but there are others - because it is a supplement rather than a medication, it cannot do any harm, and is tasteless mixed into food

as he doesn't like wet food, cat soup might be the way forward, even though, like my cat, he'd probably leave the bits of meat or fish

if these supplements do work, you will need to be aware that he could have a blockage at a future date, which would require emergency treatment

I kept a cat on these supplements for years, going up and down in the amount I gave as her symptoms came and went, and eventually she grew out of it

Sorry I'm about to really mess with your head.

Cats' urine is supposed to be reasonably concentrated and acidic, which kills bacteria in the urethra that can cause UTIs. So there is an optimum amount to drink, too little can be harmful but so can too much. Sometimes cats in chronic renal failure can be more prone to UTIs because their urine is too dilute because the kidneys are not working properly, but this can also be caused by other metabolic diseases like diabetes and hyperthyroidism that also increase thirst. Well intentioned owners thinking the more fluids the better can sometimes be wrong.

With the third course of antibiotics in a short time, do keep an eye out for tummy upsets.

Kay wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:25 pm I was writing this as you were posting, booktigger - great minds really do think alike!!

as blockages have been ruled out, I wonder if his bladder problems are stress-related

it might be worth trying him on one of the bladder support supplements, which can be bought online - Cystaid is probably the most commonly found one, but there are others - because it is a supplement rather than a medication, it cannot do any harm, and is tasteless mixed into food

as he doesn't like wet food, cat soup might be the way forward, even though, like my cat, he'd probably leave the bits of meat or fish

if these supplements do work, you will need to be aware that he could have a blockage at a future date, which would require emergency treatment

I kept a cat on these supplements for years, going up and down in the amount I gave as her symptoms came and went, and eventually she grew out of it

It’s funny you mention the cat soup because I have been giving him that and adding d-menose powder. He too leaves the chicken bits. I think I’ll keep him on the urinary diet too, just to be safe. I’ll implement the Cystaid as well !

Mollycat wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:57 pm Sorry I'm about to really mess with your head.

Cats' urine is supposed to be reasonably concentrated and acidic, which kills bacteria in the urethra that can cause UTIs. So there is an optimum amount to drink, too little can be harmful but so can too much. Sometimes cats in chronic renal failure can be more prone to UTIs because their urine is too dilute because the kidneys are not working properly, but this can also be caused by other metabolic diseases like diabetes and hyperthyroidism that also increase thirst. Well intentioned owners thinking the more fluids the better can sometimes be wrong.

With the third course of antibiotics in a short time, do keep an eye out for tummy upsets.

Oh wow! Thank you for that information. Is this something the vet would of noticed during blood test or would I have to request special testing?