My kitty can’t pee

ive taken my little boy to the vet 3 times in just over a week. The first time the vet sent us home with antibiotics (8days ago) for an infection...along the lines of a bladder or kidney infection. I took him back in pretty bad shape 4 days later and the vet kept him over night, drained and flushed his bladder...said there were no stones or crystals but lots of blood. I ended up taking him back yesterday because he’s barely peeing (meaning only a few drops about every 3rd attemp) and the vet dismissed it and said it was a bad infection and give the antibiotics more time. Has anyone had any experience with this and are there any tips or tricks you know of to help my sweet boy.

 

How old is your boy and is he a diabetic? Did your vet take a urine sample to test for bacteria?
It could possibly be FLUDT ...feline lower urinary tract disease. Google it.
Symptoms include difficulty peeing, painful peeing, blood in urine, trying to go more frequently, urinating outside the box, feeling miserable.
My cat Sheba had episodes of FLUDT and she would try going to the LB many times then finally start peeing small amounts often. It would settle down but start up again Weeks/months later.
It is not an infection but inflammation.
Treatment is removing stress, plenty of fluids, wet diet, feliway collar or room spray, pain medication if necessary during acute episodes, and there is a medication I gave Sheba daily for the bladder wall which is very good but the name escapes me....I will look it up and post.
It is usually diagnosed by eliminating other causes.
Sheba was diagnosed with idiopathic cystitis which is basically inflammation of the bladder of unknown causes after testing of urine, examination by vet and an ultrasound to eliminate a growth and stones in the bladder.

 

He turned 1 in March. I will definitely go get him the Feliway collar. I also switched his feeds to can only since last Monday. He now hissed and growls after he tries going...it’s heartbreaking. Was the med you gave your baby from the vet or can it be picked up from the store?

 

He is young to be having these problems. Is he also a diabetic?
He is hissing because it is hurting him. Ask the vet for some pain medication while it is acute. Poor baby.
Has the vet checked to see that he does not have a blocked urethra?
Is he peeing much urine at a time?
I used to find with Sheba that she would start one of these episodes with going back and forth into the litter box with no success, then after a few hours, she would start doing tiny pees every few minutes.............or she would start peeing in inappropriate places...something she never would do normally. Sometimes it would go on for days and at other times it would be for only 24 hours. I found the collar helped and when we had extra visitors staying in the house, she often had an episode......stress. My grandchildren racing around the place never worried her as she had had them all her life, but when stranfers arrived it was a different story.
I am not at home at the moment but I do have the name of thatmedication at home and will post as soon as I get home....in about 6 hours. It can be bought online and doesn't need a vets prescription.
That is good you have switched to wet food.

 

I don’t know that he is diabetic. He is only hissing and growling when he’s cleaning himself after trying to go unsuccessfully. Not peeing much at a time at all. Usually he tries 2-3 time with only 1-3 drops of urine at a time. Usually the 3rd or 4th time around he can get about 10 drops out.

 

D-mannose can be very helpful in treating bladder/urinary issues.

I have the same question as Bron: has the vet checked him for any blockage?

 

The vet put a catheter in, emptied his bladder and flushed it 3 times. He could also express his bladder on the table but for some reason my poor boy can’t seem to get much out on his own.

 

I only asked about diabetes as this is a diabetes forum.. that is good news indeed that he is not a diabetic.
If he is continually only doing tiny amounts...a few drops ......you need to be aware that his bladder is getting full.
Poor boy must be feeling pretty awful with the pain. I am surprised your vet didn't offer some pain relief.

 

I think the not being able to pee on his own is all part of the FLUDT. As I said Sheba would go from peeing normally to suddenly not being able to get anything out. It is very painful for them. The fact he is licking himself all the time after trying is another sign of FLUDT.
Are you happy with your vet? If you are not happy with the care it might be time to seek another opinion.

 

It might be worth having an ultrasound done as well to detect any additional issues <3

 

I'm sorry if he's not blocked them he must be inflamed. Did the dr do am ultrasound or x-rays? Did he perscribe an anti inflammatory? I would get a copy of all labs and get a second opinion somewhere today. At the very least he should get bupe for pain.

 

How's he doing today? My girls have idiopathic cystitis and I've found the biggest thing for them is pain relief. My vet prescribed bupe which I can give when they start an episode...it calms the back and forth issue and allows them to relax some. It also allows them to pee more easily since it doesn't hurt. A non prescription pain relief would be Cantharis: https://amazon.com/Boiron-Cantharis...UTF8&qid=1531906521&sr=8-4&keywords=cantharis. You can get it on Amazon or at some health food stores (I've found it at The Vitamin Shoppe). It's not as strong as bupe, but might help if you can't get anything else.

 

The name of the medication I couldn't think of earlier is Cosequin. It is used for joints but also is good for supporting the health of the bladder wall.
https://www.medi-vet.com/Cosequin-Sprinkle-Capsules-For-Cats-p/10072.htm
I agree with Janet that a second opinion is a good idea. Your boy is still very young and your current vet doesn't seem interested or doesn't understand feline bladder issues very well and I agree with Rachel that pain relief is most important. If you have ever had a bladder infection yourself you will know how painful and uncomfortable it is.

 

I would go for a second opinion somewhere else if possible ASAP- like right now. If he is not getting his urine out (and a few drops is def not enough), it's VERY dangerous. It could literally be fatal. I wouldnt wait around to see antibiotics help.

UTIs in male cats are far more dangerous simply because of male anatomy.
Male cats have a narrower urethra than female cats. When a UTI occurs, the bacteria can cause a change in your cat’s urine pH. High pH can lead to the formation of crystals to form in the urine. If those crystals become lodged in the narrow urethra of a male cat, it can cause a blockage.

A blocked urethra is deadly and should be treated immediately by a veterinarian.

Sorry to be so blunt and alarmist, but your baby's life may depend on it. Keep us updated. Hugs to you both.

 

When Sheba has an episode do you take her to the vet everytime or treat with remedies at home? So FLUDT isn’t necessarily an infection so doesn’t need to be treated with antibiotics per se (if that is in fact what is going on with Baxter) of course I will finish the antibiotics but am wondering for future reference if he has another episode...

 

I agree with the idea of getting a second opinion, if he doesn't have infection he still can have his bladder and/or uretra inflamed and that can cause blockage which is seriously dangerous with males.

He needs to get extra water even giving it to him with a syringe and some medicine to help with the inflammation

 

I used to take her to the vet in the beginning because I thought she had UTIs and she was given antibiotics but as it kept recurring and her urine had no bacteria but did have blood, she had an ultrasound and was diagnosed with the idiopathic cystitis. After that I used to treat at home.
But because Baxter has not yet been diagnosed with that, I think you need to take him to see either your vet. ( although he didn’t seem to know a lot about it) or go to another vet and establish what is actually happening. If he isn’t peeing much at all, he may need catheterising or be given pain meds and anti inflammatory meds to help reduce all the swelling.
I would ring and say an urgent appointment is needed.
Baxter is only a baby, poor boy.
Please keep us posted what happens.
To you and Baxter

 

You all have been so very helpful and I will set up another appt today for a second opinion. I am also making a trip to Petsmart with a list of things you have all recommended. I knew this was a diabetes website but surfed a little through the boards and quickly realized that I no doubt could get some answers from you guys. Thanks again!

 

Update us on how he's doing.

 

I'd ask about idiopathic cystitis for sure. It's quite common and often looks like a UTI. The flares can recur and the manifestations can be scary: many trips to the litter box, dribbling small amounts of urine there, peeing in inappropriate places, urine that has blood and mucus in it, etc.
http://www.thecatclinic.ca/uploads/...thic Cystitis Client Handout.pdf?lbisphpreq=1

 

Please do let us know.

I used to take my girls to the vet each time too and finally I handed them to my vet and said run any tests you need and find out why this keeps happening. And I’ll give it to my vet...he did. He ran in house UA sent another sample out for culture and sensitivity and did an ultrasound. We determined FIC from that. I now treat at home. I have pain meds for during a flare, I give cystease (which is a form of cosequin), feed a raw diet, use CBD oil, and give extra water in food. We have flares from time to time but I handle them. It’s kind of about finding the magic combo that works for you and your cat.

 

Exactly!

 

I would definitely have someone check for any blockage; if your current vet won't, then look for one who will. Do also look into D-mannose. My Squallie gets it with food twice a day because he was having a lot of UT issues. Since he's been on it he hasn't had any more problems. It's the active ingredient in cranberries that make them helpful for bladder/urinary issues; it works by binding bacteria to itself rather than the bladder walls, so that it can be easily flushed out. Squallie also gets a couple of spoonfuls of extra water mixed into his food, that also helps.

Best of luck.
Please keep us updated!