Post Crystals Leaking Cat

ChanelB

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Hello!
im really hoping someone can help me here. Our 6 month old kitten, Roy, got crystals back in mid-October after we had been evacuated due to wildfires. He wasn’t catherized, but eventually with a change in his diet and some meds, he started passing urine on his own. He honestly never seemed in any kind of distress throughout the entire thing, which blew my mind. But also, please note, Roy is my first cat.
Once he seemed on the mend, I realized he was having accidents when he was sleeping. He has peed all over my lap, in his bed, MANY places. We now have puppy pads in the room where he sleeps. I called my vet a few times to let them know about the behavior and they told me he really just needed to be neutered (we had missed his neuter during the forest fires). So, last Tuesday he was neutered. I told the vet tech when she came outside to get him that Roy was wet from having a bath, because I butt-bathe him once or so a day. She mentioned him possibly having a UTI and I agreed but said I had called and was urged to just get him neutered. So, later that evening when he was home I realized that I could not get his incision site wet and nearly lost my mind because he has to be bathed at least once a day. I called the vet and was connected with the surgeon who had done the neuter and she was appalled that no one had told her about his leaking. So, she immediately put him on Clavamox. He’s still leaking and it’s been 6 days.
So, here’s my most immediate concern: Roy smells awful, I’ve tried using pet wipes but they don’t quite do the job. Can I bathe him at this point? For the love of God.
My next concern is, what do I do to help him stop setting the bed in his sleep? I have bought a feliway plug in, changed his litter to Dr. Elsies kitten litter, we try to get in a solid 20 minutes of play per day, and he is taking Dr. Hills prescription urinary food. I definitely do not feel supported by my vet clinic, so I feel as though this is something I am going to have to try to forge my way through. All of your help is very welcome.

Best,
Chanel
 

Furballsmom

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Hi!
Is he getting the canned food of the Hills? Do you have several water bowls around the house and/or a pet fountain for him?

About the smell and bathing him, can you post a picture? If it's been six days, I'm thinking he should be healed up enough that you can clean his behind with a damp cloth - I'm not necessarily a fan of the wipes unless they're as chemical free as you can obtain.

Can you find out from that surgeon how much time she expected it to take for the clavamox to take effect? In the meantime there's not a whole lot else you can do other than utilizing unscented puppy pee pads either disposable or reusable, as you have been.

Also try cat music if you haven't already, there is Cat In My Arms on spotify and elsewhere, youtube has a lot of cat music as well as cat videos and there's RelaxMyCat and MusicForCats as well.
 
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ChanelB

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Yes! He’s eating the canned hills food. I’ve been playing the relaxing cat music soundtracks. We very carefully washed him down with a wet rag last night and dried him with a blow dryer (using the cool setting). And then he immediately fell asleep and got all wet again.
I will try calling his vet tomorrow. The frustrating part is the vet techs who answer have been really dismissive of my concerns. So, I just don’t have much faith in them any more.
mom considering putting a diaper on him, but I am worried about the moisture making it even worse with less air flow.
 

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I figured I would continue posting here in case others want to read and so that you don't get duplicates of the same information.

So Roy is on the clavamox, but I still wonder about him having cystitis.
When Chewie was recovering, he was put on a medication that was said to help with regaining proper muscle function???? I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it. He was also on an anti-inflammatory, as well as an antispasmodic. We also had issues with eating with him so he was put on an antidepressant (acts like a appetite stimulant in cats).

I would hold off on a diaper, at least until his neuter is completely healed, but I have heard of others who have used diapers for incontinent cats...so it may be helpful as you figure this out.

Perhaps an ultrasound of his urinary system would be a good place to start as well as a full urine analysis AND culture.....and perhaps with a different vet. Do you have a cat only vet in your area? Perhaps the surgeon would have a referral for a new vet.
Has he had an analysis or culture done at all yet? Have they done a second one to determine if the crystals are indeed gone?

When Roy pees, does it take a while for it to come out (weak stream, straining)? How does he act while in the box? How big are the clumps?

There is a product called Zylkene that is said to be helpful with stress and big changes, but without the sedative effects that traditional anxiety medication has. I purchased some for my little girl who developed separation anxiety when we went back to work after the covid lock down ended. I haven't started her on it yet, so unsure of how effective it is (whole other story!), but it was something I had never heard of until now so I thought I'd mention it.
 

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You have really been through it and I hope that you were able to return to your home after the fires. The only addition I would make is to be cautious with diapers. I have had dogs who had to wear them for very long periods of time (nothing was going to get better) and the skin has to be maintained carefully so as to avoid irritations and diaper rash. If they are used briefly, such as overnight, you are probably okay as there will be enough hours to air the skin.

I do think that you need further investigation and a new vet.
 
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ChanelB

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I figured I would continue posting here in case others want to read and so that you don't get duplicates of the same information.

So Roy is on the clavamox, but I still wonder about him having cystitis.
When Chewie was recovering, he was put on a medication that was said to help with regaining proper muscle function???? I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it. He was also on an anti-inflammatory, as well as an antispasmodic. We also had issues with eating with him so he was put on an antidepressant (acts like a appetite stimulant in cats).

I would hold off on a diaper, at least until his neuter is completely healed, but I have heard of others who have used diapers for incontinent cats...so it may be helpful as you figure this out.

Perhaps an ultrasound of his urinary system would be a good place to start as well as a full urine analysis AND culture.....and perhaps with a different vet. Do you have a cat only vet in your area? Perhaps the surgeon would have a referral for a new vet.
Has he had an analysis or culture done at all yet? Have they done a second one to determine if the crystals are indeed gone?

When Roy pees, does it take a while for it to come out (weak stream, straining)? How does he act while in the box? How big are the clumps?

There is a product called Zylkene that is said to be helpful with stress and big changes, but without the sedative effects that traditional anxiety medication has. I purchased some for my little girl who developed separation anxiety when we went back to work after the covid lock down ended. I haven't started her on it yet, so unsure of how effective it is (whole other story!), but it was something I had never heard of until now so I thought I'd mention it.
Oh my gosh! I have hardly any answers to these questions because I didn’t know what to even ask the vet. But now I feel prepared for a rebuttal once I see them again.
His pees aren’t very big probably an inch or two in diameter. He does pee pretty regularly, but I don’t think he fully expresses his bladder much. He doesn’t act uncomfortable in his box and I’ve been giving him dehydrated chicken pieces if I see him go in his box.
 
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ChanelB

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You have really been through it and I hope that you were able to return to your home after the fires. The only addition I would make is to be cautious with diapers. I have had dogs who had to wear them for very long periods of time (nothing was going to get better) and the skin has to be maintained carefully so as to avoid irritations and diaper rash. If they are used briefly, such as overnight, you are probably okay as there will be enough hours to air the skin.

I do think that you need further investigation and a new vet.
I don’t think I can diaper him. I work four, 10 hour days and with my commute I can be away from home for as much as 12 hours. But, you’re right—I could just diaper him at night.
We are back home in our house. It’s just been pure chaos since the fires because, not only has Roy been ill but one of our dogs was diagnosed with cancer and has had to have a major surgery. So, our household is like a nursing home right now.
 

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Oh my gosh! I have hardly any answers to these questions because I didn’t know what to even ask the vet. But now I feel prepared for a rebuttal once I see them again.
Sorry for all the questions... :p
It's just all the things I've learned to look for/ask..I'm glad you'll feel better prepared.:thumbsup:
I don’t think he fully expresses his bladder much.
I don't think so either....
Hey! I just though that perhaps you could get the vet to show you how to express his bladder so it empties. Depending on what they find of course, but if this does turn out to be something he needs help with long term, (or even short term if it's safe). Learning to express his bladder may eliminate, or at least lessen how much he pees when he's sleeping.
 
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ChanelB

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Sorry for all the questions... :p
It's just all the things I've learned to look for/ask..I'm glad you'll feel better prepared.:thumbsup:

I don't think so either....
Hey! I just though that perhaps you could get the vet to show you how to express his bladder so it empties. Depending on what they find of course, but if this does turn out to be something he needs help with long term, (or even short term if it's safe). Learning to express his bladder may eliminate, or at least lessen how much he pees when he's sleeping.
Ok, we do know how to express his bladder and my husband and I have discussed this approach, so that’s another really good question for the vet. THANK YOU
 

fionasmom

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Bladder expression can become pretty routine and much less stress than it seems it would be....I hope that your little guy feels better.
 

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I think he may need to see another vet if possible
What if his infection isnt clearing up?
 

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Hope he gets better soon, sending you love and energy
 

Grayson’s Mummy Julia

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Oh my goodness poor Roy! And poor you 😿😿

The only advise I can offer is that Gray was constantly suffering with UTI and he has Hills prescription dry food and it has changed his life! On top of stopping the crystals forming it makes them thirsty so in turn he is drinking more.
I am sending all the positive and healing energy your way.
Keep us posted and good luck ❤❤
 

cataholic07

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So he has leaking before the neuter? Was he treated for the UTI first by the vet or just changed the diet and seemed ok but still had leakage? I would think he still has the UTI and would need urine culture, and xray or ultrasound to ensure there's nothing physically wrong. And I would get that done asap. Continue on the all wet food diet in the mean time though and try a different vet.
 
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