Posted on 03/17/2015 9:06:56 AM PDT by rarestia
I'm hoping the FR community can help me with a seemingly chronic feline issue.
I have two boys, Luke and Drake, who are from the same litter. They are very different cats. A few years ago, Luke developed urinary crystals. He was straining to urinate, would squat on everything, and he was generally irritable. Vet gave us anti-spasmatics to keep him from trying to urinate excessively and antibiotics to clear up any infections. After a few weeks, his symptoms cleared up, and he seemed better.
Two weeks later, he started again, we put him through the same regimen, and this time we changed him from kibble to canned food after I'd read about all the fillers in kibble that can lead to the formation of these stones. The problem with this strategy was that his brother, Drake, didn't handle the transition well and was vomiting up everything he ate. The wet food was too rich, so we kept him on the dry food thinking that he wasn't having the problem so why change?
Around the same time the next year, it all came around again with Luke. We took him to the vet, same diagnosis, put him through the regimen, and he's back to normal. Doc ruled out anything environmental insomuch as allergies causing this issue.
Fast forward to last weekend, and now Drake is having this same issue! We took him to the eVet, and they said his bladder was empty. Put him on antibiotics and gave him a painkiller, and he was fine; but now he's doing the same thing his brother was doing with the licking of his genitals and going to the cat box ten times an hour.
The question I have for you all: I've read tons of reviews on the urinary health foods. We currently feed Drake Blue Buffalo indoor cat kibble. I've heard some doctors say Blue is one of the worst for crystals and others say its one of the better for overall health. Our vet recommends Hill's Science Diet C/D or Royal Canin SO (which runs up to $85 for a 15 lb. bag!), but I've read some nasty things about Hill's foods.
Can any FReepers help me out here? Any kitty owners who've had these problems who can help me find a good balance? We want our boys to be happy, healthy kitties, but I feel like I have two irreparably broken toms.
Change his food to low ash cat food. You might have to see a vet to get the blockage removed.
I have 4 females. the oldest is about to turn 21. I’m taking her to the bar to celebrate.
CC
Yes, it is expensive, but Walter came from a home where they wouldn't keep him on the right diet and he had a serious relapse, so if you love your cat, keep him on that diet.
It is a challenge for us as we have six other cats and Walter would love their food, but we persevere.
If they are house cats, try giving them rainwater to drink instead of your flouridated and chlorinated tap water.
With the Hills Science Diet dry food, I add water to it to soften the nuggets....That way she's getting the water in her food as well as whatever she drinks out of her bowl......
Do yourself a favor and don't get a pet.
see # 7 and also search Apple Cider V for cats...try a few drops in the water.
I also buy bottled spring water for this one and maybe should use distilled just to be sure there are NO minerals
Our cat had surgery.he hated the HILLS CD and we put back on regular moist. He’s on daily Methigel and doing fine.
This is the kibble that my fella loves:
No grains and good for sensitive cats. No idea re: crystals.
Years ago I had a male cat with a blockage. He had to spend a week at the vet’s clinic. I always fed my cats dry food-—Science Diet-—but afterward I switched to a prescription low-ash food.
However, we know more about feline nutrition now. My next cat will be given an all-meat diet. Cats are obligate carnivores; they can’t digest carbohydrates, and most commercial food is laden with them. The health benefits of feeding cats all meat includes improved urinary health; cats in the wild rarely have UT problems.
Hope your kitties are well soon!
Can't sneak one past you!
Should rarestia just let the cats suffer and die? I mean, they're not people, after all.
We feed our male and female cats Purina Beyond superfood blend with cranberry. I fed our other boy cranberry solids, about a fourth of a cube, twice a day as a short term treatment.
For everyone who questioned the water, our pets all get RO water. We never drink from the tap and neither do our pets.
We add water to Luke’s food to help him produce. We might have to start doing the same for Drake.
For everyone mentioning blockage: they ARE passing urine. They problem is that their urinary tract gets inflamed from the crystals and causes them to think they have to urinate when their bladders are really empty. The anti-spasmatics help, but I don’t want to have to pill them forever.
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This problem is simple to fix.
Two steps.
1. Discontinue the use of dry foods of any kind, best choice is raw beef cut in small bits and thoroughly washed.
2. obtain juniper berries from a botanical supply co. like Starwest Botanical, or Pacific Bonanical. Smash a handful of berries, and drop them into about a quart of boiling water, turn down the heat and allow to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Fill a large (2 oz) eyedropper bottle with the ‘tea’ after cooling. Give the cat 4 droppers full (gently, on the back of the tongue) 3 times per day for about 4 days.
The juniper tea will clear out the entire urinary tract.
If a cat is prone to this problem it will be necessary to do this treatment about one day per week to keep them healthy.
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This tends to happen more often in male cats due to the narrow and S shaped urethra. There are a lot of good quality foods as others have suggested that will help. Consequin supplements along with joint health also support bladder health as well.
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No need to roast the beef.
Cats will be healthier if they eat raw food (dogs too).
It just has to be kept frozen so it tastes fresh to them, and is free of bacteria. Any left over after feeding should be either refrigerated, or discarded.
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We’ve had a LOT of cats of our own, plus we foster. So I’ve seen a lot of cats over the years. I can only say that I generally feed ours Iams (just regular, or weight control for our fat cats) and we’ve never had any urinary problems at all through the years. The last time a cat had a UTI for us was ... uh, 14 years ago. So I’d suggest giving Iams a go. (I also feed them Friskies canned food twice a day, which is not a “great” food but it’s what they like!! It hasn’t seemed to cause any urinary issues for us.)
Were your boys neutered at an early age? I generally don’t get our boys neutered until 4 or 5 months, because I’ve read that in some boys the urethra can be a bit small if they are neutered at 8 weeks, as is common in shelter kittens.
Best of luck! I suggest trying Iams dry food if you haven’t tried it already. Other than that I’ve got nothin’. So sorry. Best of luck!!!
“I’m taking her to the bar to celebrate.”
The Door Into Summer
If the reference is too obscure — Robert H. in his younger sane days.
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People have the same problem too.
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Had a fellow with this very issue not long ago. Our Vet told us that the problem was caused by the canned food we were feeding him. Apparently the seafood varieties of canned cat food have a particular preservative which can lead to crystals in the urine.
We switched to chicken, turkey, beef, etc. and all was well.
Good luck!
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