My cat is having urinary issues, taking her to the vet this evening

[charlie and algernon]

I just made an appointment for my cat for this evening. For the last 24 hours or so, she's been having issues peeing. She'll just squat for a couple minutes and it seems there is only a little bit of pee in the liter. She's also been doing this frequently, she went at least 5 or 6 times last night. Each time just a little and squating for a while.

She seems fine otherwise and is eating normally (she ate her breakfast this morning just fine) or else I would've taken her to the emergency hospital last night.

Am I right in assuming she probably has some kind of urinary infection? I'm really hoping it won't require surgery, but has anyone had cats with this kind of problem? What did the vets do when you took your cat in?


* I posted this in the lounge, but wanted to also post this here *

[rox63]

1. Sounds like a probable UTI

My Mom's cat gets them occasionally, and that's one of the signs. The vet usually prescribes antibiotics, which generally clears it up.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Let us know what the vet says. I wouldn't be worried too much.

Urinary tract infections are pretty common and easily treated. And that is probably what the problem is. Keep us informed.

[charlie and algernon]

3. UPDATE: Had to take her to the emergency hospital Friday evening

I did take Esther to the vet on Thursday but they couldn't determine what she had. They said, from my description, that it was probably UTI, but they weren't able to get a urine sample since Esher was so tensed up. So they gave me Amoxicilan drops to give to Esther twice a day and said that it should be cleared up by Saturday.

I get home from work Friday afternoon and now she's going VERY frequently. Like every 5-10 minutes. And at this point she's already had three doses of the drops. They obviously aren't working. The Vet has already closed for the day, so it's off to the Emergency Vet hospital. This time, they're able to see the reddish urine stains in Esther's carrier from her going on the way over. So they give her an ultrasound and see that her bladder is VERY small. The vet at the hospital tells me to stop giving the cat the drops and instead has me giving her pills once a day and pain medication every 6-8 hours.

So she's definitely improved. She's still going somewhat frequently than normal and not going all that much, but definitely better than before. Perhaps even better, it doesn't look like she's straining as much or in as much pain. I have to give her pills for 14 days, so she has a while to go. Hopefully it's gone by then.

Oh, and pill pockets are miraculous. She fought me all to hell when I tried to force the pill into her mouth, she kept spitting it out. So I tried breaking the pill in half and putting each half in a pill pocket and she gobbles it right up, none the wiser about what she's eating.

[rox63]

4. Could she have kidney or bladder stones?

Those can be painful.

[charlie and algernon]

5. The ER vet thought it could be possible

but she did say that stones are much rarer in female cats and she did do an ultrasound and didn't see any. Esther was really tensing up on Friday, you could see her muscles flexing at the ER, but she's been better so far since she's been on the pain medication and the pills. She spent the weekend lounging around somewhat normally. If it doesn't clear up by the end of the week, then I'll most likely bring her back in to the ER and get X-rays done to see if there are stones.

[charlie and algernon]

6. UPDATE: One week after the ER and she's doing just fine!

She's still on the pills and will be all of next week too, but she's FINALLY returned to normal. She's no longer using the box frequently and she's actually peeing a normal amount too. Her behavior has returned to normal as well. I think she was a bit traumatized by all the attention and me forcing medicine in her mouth that she took to hiding under the bed. But now she's out and about and even ventured out to the screened-in back porch yesterday. She's actually returned to sleeping ON my bed with me after about a 5 day absence. I think she finally feels comfortable enough that she can stop hovering around the literbox.

I can finally say that All is Quiet on the Western Front.

[hamsterjill]

7. Glad to hear it!!!

She's lucky to have a diligent human guardian such as you!!!

[rox63]

8. YAY!!

[TorchTheWitch]

11. Great news!

I'm so glad that it's working out well. What a relief!

[Curmudgeoness]

9. So glad that all is now well. But she sure put you through the paces,

didn't she? Did the ER vet know what the problem was? Or was it just one of those situations where they try something because that usually will help?

Blood in urine is possible with a UTI, especially if it has gotten bad.

If you find at some point that Pill Pockets don't work (gotta love them, but I had a cat that got wise after 2-3 weeks), have a syringe of water with you. Put the pill in the mouth and quickly squirt water in behind it to make the cat swallow. A vet tech gave me that hint and it made my life so much easier.

[charlie and algernon]

10. Yeah, the vet never gave a definite diagnosis

She just ordered the antibotics that are most likely to help if it was UTI. I am supposed to bring Esther back in 4 days after she's off the pills. I'll schedule another appointment the last week of August and perhaps then, Esther won't be sooo tensed up and they can actually get a urine sample.