Help! Problem with one of my cats.

[Kanga]

We have a 2 1/2 year old cat that has been having problems lately. It started about a week ago when I saw him squatting in the corner. (he NEVER does this) I went over picked him up and hurried him to the box. I went back to his spot and noticed small brown spots on the carpet. Since then I've noticed similar spots in other places of the house. Could this be anal glands? I know dogs have these that need to be expressed every now again, but do cats have them as well? Also today he has been in the litterbox no less than 7 times and over at "his spot" as well several times. Each time he comes out of the box he licks himself. Maybe he is constipated? Ate something that is blocking him up? I plan on calling the vet tomorrow (today is sunday) but wanted to see what you gals had to say in the mean time.

[jnettie]

Oh, poor guy! If it's constipation, you can put a little olive oil in his food and that ought to lube him up. But I'd still call the vet to be sure. Olive oil shouldn't hurt him, just in case.

[Kanga]

I called the vet and they said that it's important especially for a male cat to get them in right away, so we'll be going in at 10:30 :( . I hope it's nothing serious.

[annie_girl]

Maybe it's a urinary tract infection!!! So glad you noticed and are bringing him in today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kam]

Yeah - it can be any number of things. In hearing your description, I thought UTI and it's good that you're going in. Hope it turns out okay!

[Kanga]

Yup, the vet said most likely UTI. WHY I didn't think of it before I have no idea. They are keeping him until they can get a sample and will go from there. My other kitties will NOT be happy if he gets canned food (to flush out his system) and they don't. They have a habit of smelling each others mouths after they eat to make sure they didn't miss out on something.

[Tonysweetie]

poor guy! I hope he feels better soon! UTI are crappy! lol

[southerner]

My other kitties will NOT be happy if he gets canned food (to flush out his system) and they don't. They have a habit of smelling each others mouths after they eat to make sure they didn't miss out on something.
Maybe they could have some too while this is going on? Glad to hear it's nothing serious.

[Kanga]

Well they also did an xray on him to rule out bladder stones and they found mineral crystals in his urine. They gave him an anti inflamatory shot and we have to give him antibiotics. Also has to be on rx food for a month to clear it up and then will have to be on a different rx food for life after that. *Sigh* I'm just hoping that he will go to the bathroom like normal soon so he doesn't have to go back for a possible surgery.

[GeekGirl]

Oh, your poor kitty!! Hopefully he'll feel better soon and not need surgery. :(

[tlew12778]

You can get this special litter for him to help DX elimination problems. It turns different colors based on what the mineral content of the urine is. It might help you keep track of his bladder status in the future.

[mb1197]

Well they also did an xray on him to rule out bladder stones and they found mineral crystals in his urine. They gave him an anti inflamatory shot and we have to give him antibiotics. Also has to be on rx food for a month to clear it up and then will have to be on a different rx food for life after that. *Sigh* I'm just hoping that he will go to the bathroom like normal soon so he doesn't have to go back for a possible surgery.
I am so glad that you got him to the vet! My beloved cat (Capone) had to be put to sleep several years ago due to complications from being blocked and having crystals. He became blocked and was gone a week later.:( Boy, I can't believe how it still makes me cry just by writing this. Keep a very close eye on your kitty for further progression. You will notice discomfort when you pick him up if something is wrong. It is rather common in male cats and is know as Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS) or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). It affects the bladder and produces small crystals and bloody urine. Most cats will urinate more often than normal, but will only be able to go a little at a time. It's often confused with constipation. If your cat becomes totally blocked it can be fatal - and was for my cat.:(

[Kanga]

Well I'm happy to report that he's back to normal now and healthy now!! I didn't have to take him back after his initial visit and he didn't need surgery. Now that he's not sick anymore he's still peeing and pooping all over the house but that seems to be getting better. We may need to get a different litterbox as I think he associates the litterbox with the pain. :(

[LSirola]

I read about your cat. I ams so glad your cat is doing better. I am going through it right now with my persian Mickey. He kept going to the sink and squatting, and then there would be brown liquid in the sink. I actually didn't notice it for about 3 days, I just kept finding the brown liquid in the sink, and could not figure out what it was and how it got there. I tried to take him to the vet, but couldn't get him in the carrier! So I got a urine testing kit from the vet, and he did have a really bad bladder infection. Antibiotics for two weeks! It got worse over that weekend, so I found a way to get him in his carrier and took him to the vet. The x-ray showed a bladder stone, and we were given the option to put him on special food to dissolve it, or have surgery. My husband wanted to try giving him the food and dissolving it.

So its been about a week since the visit to the vet. And he won't eat the food! He has lost weight(he needed to, he was fat anyways), so we started feeding him his regular food again.. The vet said if he doesn't eat his special food, he is going to have to have surgery.

So today I started him on the food and locked him in the bathroom with it. He's been in there about an hour now, I hope he's eating it. We are also giving him a natural vitamin that helps with the bladder and urinary tract(to keep it healthy), but he refuses to chew it(even though its fish flavor), so we have to crush it and mix it with water and shoot it in his mouth. Twice a day, along with his twice a day antibiotic(we now have to do this for 4 more weeks, untill his next xray). I think we are going to switch his food after all this is over. Don't know which one will be best though. Which one are you using to flush him out? And which one are you going to put him after that?
Lauren

[greenbunny]

Changing the litter box to avoid pain association is a good idea. You also might want to change litter for a while, too, since the texture might remind him as well. Try something soft and not too granular, like Yesterday's News.

[fuzzy]

We had to sort of retrain our cat after his really bad bout of UTIs a few years ago. Kinda like he was a kitten. We also got him a new box, and moved it (not far, I mean probably six feet away from the old box).

I took him down to the box every few hours. When I carried him down there, I was scratched his "special spot" (right behind his ears) and was all lovely dovey with him. I also hid a small pinch of kitty nip in my pocket. When he would pee or poop, I'd gush all over him and them toss a bit of nip on the ground as a "reward."

It took a little while but he's 100% on track now.

[kam]

I'm sure the vet also recommended prescription food for him as well? We use Hills Prescription Diet c/d - it prevents the crystals from reoccuring. Glad he's doing better!

[vwinkel]

When my kitty starting peeing in the bathtub, our vet recommended trying different litter and also trying covered and non covered boxes. I set out three boxes - one with scoopable, one with those granule thingys, and one with regular litter. She only used the scoopable litter!! (and stopped peeing in the tub). Certain cats have preferences - good luck.

[Kanga]

Thanks for all the ideas. I actually did go out a buy a brand new litterbox (2 actually) but didn't have time to set it up til the next day when I realized I hadn't seen him going on the carpet for awhile (or evidence either). So I waited and watched over him like a hawk and he hasn't gone anywhere but the litterbox since so I returned them. However my persian cat pooped on OUR BED I think in retaliation to having him groomed. If the litterbox isn't to his standards, he'll poop right outside of it or sometimes on the bathroom rug, but never in our BED. Oh, well. At least no one was actually IN it when it happened and he hasn't messed up since although I'm still kicking myself for not catching him in the act.

The food we're using to flush him out is Science Diet Hills prescription s/d. We are supposed to switch to c/d permanently in about 2 weeks.

I'm finishing up his antibiotics. I'm supposed to give it to him 2x a day until it's gone. I think we've got about 2 weeks left. He's been pretty good about the whole thing. LOVES his new food, and has gotten lots better about taking his medicine. Of course the other kitties think they're missing out on something when they smell his breath:rolleyes:

[ignutzz]

You're so lucky he likes food. Our Brizlo HATES all the prescription foods we've tried and it's a constant battle to get the Methigel in him at night! I'm so glad you're able to treat him so easily, we hit worst case scenario with BLo and he had to have surgery. Keep watching him for any signs of blockage reoccurance.

The pooping probably was retaliation. Brizlo (again) peed and pooped in our bed on multiple occasions a while ago because we were taking care of one of the strays in our neighborhood and he was jealous. Boy were we frustrated!

Good luck keeping the kitty healthy and happy!

[Kanga]

we hit worst case scenario with BLo and he had to have surgery. Keep watching him for any signs of blockage reoccurance.
:( :( I hope he gets better and stays better soon!

Have you tried mixing his old food with the prescription? Start with just a little of the new, and mostly the old and then gradually add more and more of the new and less of the old til it's all the new food. This is what our vet had suggested if he refused it. Also they do have it in the canned style as well. Maybe he'll take to that better? It would be more upkeep on his teeth, but at least no more bladder problems. Or you could even mix the dry and the wet together if he'll eat it that way.

[ignutzz]

:D

Believe me, we have tried EVERYTHING (every food, every method of introducting etc)!! We went through this with Brizzy about a year and half ago so we're well in to our routine now.

I think the biggest problem is that none of our guys like chicken/turkey and those are the only flavors available in the CD/UR varieties. He does love the UR dry food and we give him his methigel so his PH has stayed fairly level.

The funniest part about it all is that the vet techs who weren't part of his original care now think he's a girl (that's basically what the surgery does). :p