Max had to stay at the vet's overnight--need prayers, vibes, etc.

[meow2u3]

I had to take him to the vet because he was not holding down his food or water, nor was he peeing in the litterbox.
He started throwing up Friday, but I thought he was simply eating too fast, but he kept throwing up everything and stopped eating, drinking, and playing altogether yesterday. Ruby has been unusually clingy towards me (she doesn't want to lose her son). Even my roomie's cat, Stymie, was upset Max was sick--he doesn't want to lose his new buddy. :(

I took him to the vet today and the diagnosis: urinary tract blockage. When the vet examined him, he screamed when she got to his bladder area. He has to be knocked out, catheterized, and medicated with antibiotics. The cost: about $600 (down from $1000), but thank God I was able to get a $500 credit approval. Otherwise, I would have had to surrender him to the shelter because of the lack of money. I should be picking him up tomorrow.

Please send prayers, thoughts, and/or vibes the way of me, my roommates, and our cats.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Poor Max! *hugs* I hope he heals up quickly!

[GoCubsGo]

2. Poor baby!

Sounds like you caught it in tie time. Sending good vibes to all of you, especially Max.

[Tikki]

3. Strong vibes Max's way.

And hugs for you..I know you miss your buddy. He'll be
so glad to see you tomorrow.

Tikki

[Odin2005]

4. (((GOOD VIBES))) for Max!

:hug:

[emilyg]

5. Prayers on the way.

[hifiguy]

6. (((((Good vibes))))) for your Max

I lost my Max a little more than a year ago. :cry:

But my "new" rescue kitty Butch sends purrs. :hug:

[Pool Hall Ace]

7. Healing vibes a-plenty

for your beloved Max. :hug:

[ceile]

8. Poor baby.

Keep us posted! :hug:

[TuxedoKat]

9. So sorry

hope Max is doing much better now. (((HUGS)))

[meow2u3]

10. MAX UPDATE: he's coming home tonight

I'm going to pick him up in about 5 hours. He's alive and doing better; that's the good news.

He has to be on a special diet I can ill afford on my budget. His treatment is already breaking my bank. That's the bad news, plus I have no one in my family who can help me. They're in Texas struggling with sky-high electric bills and can't afford to help me financially.

[myrna minx]

11. I'm so glad he's doing better.

All of my best to you and your fur baby. :grouphug:

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Good For You

We had to put a kitty down about 10 days ago. She was over 18, so she had a good long life.

And, we just had puppy fixed. But, he's fine.

Hope you and Max do well.
GAC

[hamsterjill]

13. Glad he's doing better!

Glad he's doing better. Glad you caught this in time. It can be life threatening for a male kitty.

On the special diet, take it one bag at a time. Learn as much as you can about his situation. I've never had good luck with any of mine eating prescription diets in a multi-cat household without putting all of them on the prescription diet. But I've heard of other situations which were completely different, and the cat gobbled the prescription stuff right up. Most cats recover from this if treated properly (which you've obviously done!!!), and continue to do well for many years.

I wish you and Max the very best, and I thank you for taking such good care of him!

[meow2u3]

18. I found a good, natural cat food that cost me $20 for a 12-lb. bag

It's called Verus, its main ingredient is corn meal, and it contains dried cranberry. The Royal Canin the vet sold is a 7.5-lb. bag for $35. Both my cats like this Verus stuff.

[marzipanni]

19. This article about UTD and cat food is interesting

Years ago I had a neutered male cat who pee'd in the bathtub, and I thought he was smart to show me that something was wrong- his urine was pink. In those days we were told that male cats are susceptible to getting urinary tract problems due to high ash in their food. This article says it's the pH of the cats urine, which the food affects, and you can find out the target range for various foods.

http://cats.about.com/od/lowerurinarytractdisease/qt/catsurinpH.htm

[meow2u3]

14. MAX IS HOME!!!

He ate and used the litterbox, but he also peed on my boot! He needs to get a job after what he cost me--$871 and change!

The vet gave me painkillers and antibiotic pills for me to (try to) give him. It'll be a lot of fun trying to give him his pills.

So far, he's holding down his food. But he's licking his you-know-whats.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. If they will work, try using Pill Pockets to give the pills.

Sometimes they work for me, and sometimes I have to descend into hell to pill the cat.

Also, a vet tech recommended that I have a syringe of water available, get the pill in the back of the mouth (if possible) and then squirt water in, which will make the cat automatically swallow a lot quicker than the "hold the mouth closed, blow on the face, rub the throat, etc." advise.

Good luck.

[meow2u3]

17. I have no trouble giving him a pill at all

I learned a trick from the vet of one of my Bridge kitties: scruff kitty, hold kitty's head back, and shove pill down throat. I use that technique on Max and down the hatch the pill goes.

[Arugula Latte]

16. Poor kitty. Poor you.

Glad he's back!