Urgent blocked male cat dilemma, please help

Fizzle52

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We took in a 1.5 year old un-neutered male stray cat 4 months ago and he started getting blocked a month ago. We rushed him to the vet where he was catheterised and hospitalised and after all the blood work and scans, there was no clear cause, no stones, no crystals, nothing. Ever since then he hasn't been able to pee normally and at best, pees small amounts into the litter box, at worst, strains with nothing coming out until he needs to be manually expressed, and failing that, rushed. Yesterday I had trouble manually expressing his bladder and he started vomiting, so I brought him back to the vet and he is now catheterised and hospitalised. We're racking up over $5,000 in bills and can no longer afford it if there's not guarantee that he won't be reblocked.

The vets keep recommending PU surgery, but it's expensive, seems poorly studied and the complications look plenty, and the last thing I want to do is further lower his quality of life. We live in a small apartment on the second floor with no way for him to leave the house, and I get the sense that he's bothered about not being able to roam. When we open the door, he often wants to come poking out, and we'll let him walk around the corridor, but he'll come back after a few minutes. I wonder if he's better off released to roam on the streets, rather than cooped up in this apartment. He's an easygoing cat and loves being petted, but I wonder if he's just so mild that we can't tell his unhappiness from being in the house. For the first 3 months he was often left alone at home for most of the day with our dog, but he always seemed fine, no issues. The only change I can think that happened recently was me and my partner working from home a lot more starting last month. Could that have made him stressed out and blocked for some reason?

When he gets discharged, we're considering letting him stay a few days to recover but then releasing him soon after because we're just afraid that being in the house again will cause him to be stressed and reblock just like the last time, and this time we won't be able to afford the crazy bills. Of course we're thinking of trying more things like getting him a better cat condo, a running water source, more cystisis supplements (he's already on an all-wet diet and drinks a decent amount of water) but I can't risk these things not working and him getting reblocked.

If we do let him go immediately after he's been treated, he will remain un-neutered, which isn't ideal. The vet said he shouldn't undergo the neutering in his weak state right now either. I don't want to let him go, but I can't help but think that I'm inflicting more pain on him by keeping him... what should I do?
 
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Fizzle52

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It could well be stress related that's causing him to block. What exactly did the vet find, any debris in the bladder, what was the blockage?
Have a look at D-Mannose and Cornsilk, they help my cat with stress related UTI.
No debris at all! It just seems as if his urethra is really narrow and the penis is still inflamed from the previous catheterisation so he’s just clenching it so tightly that pee just cannot come out. I will look into D-Mannose! Currently trying Uromaxx and hoping it will help, but I don’t know if just letting him go and roam is a safer option so he no longer has to be put through this pain.
 

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Letting him out to roam is not the answer! If he can’t urinate while out there, he will die a very painful death. Has the vet given him anti-inflammatories? Or urethral sphincter relaxation medications? Sounds like maybe he should. What kind of food is he eating?
 

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Also, I had a cat that had to have a PU. make sure your vet has done this procedure successfully before. it allowed him to have a great quality of life but it sounds to me like there have been some missed steps in your guys treatment. (Granted, I only know what you have posted).
 

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(Geez, I wish I could add to a previous post) You say you had him for 3 months before he started with this issue? Did you change foods at any point? Manually expressing a cat’s bladder is not easy and it’s painful for the cat. Once they’re feeling better enough to not like it, it’s a losing proposition. There is corn silk in the uromaxx. The herbs are all good for the bladder. not familiar w d-mannose but have heard of it. I wonder if a 2nd opinion is an consideration. Verna Davies. What is the dosage you used for the d-mannose?
 
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Fizzle52

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He was on so many medications - anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, muscle relaxants, two painkillers - but none of it really seemed to help. He was on the Royal Canin Urinary S/O but after he finished the carton we switched back to his regular canned Fussie Cat food. He still hasn't had a good proper clump of pee ever since the first blockage incident. I just don't want him to be in pain anymore... we didn't change foods at any point before, no! He's been wearing a cone constantly, but we just bought him a soft cushioned one so that it won't hurt him too much, but he's now figured out how to use his paw to bat at his genitals when it's inflamed and irritated, and I'm helpless. I'm just worried that doing the PU is going to cause even more complications, and put him through all this pain when really he was just a happy stray and we ruined his life by trying to adopt him and keep him confined.
 
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Fizzle52

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(Geez, I wish I could add to a previous post) You say you had him for 3 months before he started with this issue? Did you change foods at any point? Manually expressing a cat’s bladder is not easy and it’s painful for the cat. Once they’re feeling better enough to not like it, it’s a losing proposition. There is corn silk in the uromaxx. The herbs are all good for the bladder. not familiar w d-mannose but have heard of it. I wonder if a 2nd opinion is an consideration. Verna Davies. What is the dosage you used for the d-mannose?
He was on so many medications - anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, muscle relaxants, two painkillers - but none of it really seemed to help. He was on the Royal Canin Urinary S/O but after he finished the carton we switched back to his regular canned Fussie Cat food. He still hasn't had a good proper clump of pee ever since the first blockage incident. I just don't want him to be in pain anymore... we didn't change foods at any point before, no! He's been wearing a cone constantly, but we just bought him a soft cushioned one so that it won't hurt him too much, but he's now figured out how to use his paw to bat at his genitals when it's inflamed and irritated, and I'm helpless. I'm just worried that doing the PU is going to cause even more complications, and put him through all this pain when really he was just a happy stray and we ruined his life by trying to adopt him and keep him confined.
 

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Did he seem to do better on the urinary s/o? No matter how “super premium” a cat food it, (I looked up the fussie cat) it may not agree with his system. I tried my Jethro (not the p/u cat) on a dozen expensive premium foods as well as premium urinary diets ( prescription and non) and he just did not react well on them. Urinary irritation. I have to feed him iams orange bag. I don’t think it’s the best food in the world but he’s able to eat it and after all is said, I’m good with that. I also feed him raw. Is he on anti-inflammatories now? (prednisone?). He absolutely needs to have his inflammation tended to straight away. Maybe consider a raw diet? Primal has every chicken or turkey batch tested for salmonella. Or whoever you choose, if you do, do your your homework. I would take him off of the fussie cat. It’s been my experience and for whatever that’s worth, some urinary issues are diet related. Even tho the diet may State that it is urinary friendly.
 

verna davies

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(Geez, I wish I could add to a previous post) You say you had him for 3 months before he started with this issue? Did you change foods at any point? Manually expressing a cat’s bladder is not easy and it’s painful for the cat. Once they’re feeling better enough to not like it, it’s a losing proposition. There is corn silk in the uromaxx. The herbs are all good for the bladder. not familiar w d-mannose but have heard of it. I wonder if a 2nd opinion is an consideration. Verna Davies. What is the dosage you used for the d-mannose?
I give a quarter of a teaspoon in a little water and syringe it in once a day or an eighth twice a day. I tend to only give it for a week, that and the Cornsilk seem to do the trick
 
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Fizzle52

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Did he seem to do better on the urinary s/o? No matter how “super premium” a cat food it, (I looked up the fussie cat) it may not agree with his system. I tried my Jethro (not the p/u cat) on a dozen expensive premium foods as well as premium urinary diets ( prescription and non) and he just did not react well on them. Urinary irritation. I have to feed him iams orange bag. I don’t think it’s the best food in the world but he’s able to eat it and after all is said, I’m good with that. I also feed him raw. Is he on anti-inflammatories now? (prednisone?). He absolutely needs to have his inflammation tended to straight away. Maybe consider a raw diet? Primal has every chicken or turkey batch tested for salmonella. Or whoever you choose, if you do, do your your homework. I would take him off of the fussie cat. It’s been my experience and for whatever that’s worth, some urinary issues are diet related. Even tho the diet may State that it is urinary friendly.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply in so much detail! It’s hard to say what has helped and what hasn’t really... since he hasn’t reached a point where he has really been peeing big clumps at one go. I’ll look into Primal!
 

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I think that you have really tried to help this boy and have ended up between a rock and a hard place, which is not fair, if things were fair in life. I do fear that letting him out, given his urinary history and unneutered. Like Xena44 Xena44 I see him possibly meeting a sad end in pain and alone. I have no experience with the surgery, so can't advise but do see it mentioned from time to time on TCS. If you put it in the search, you will find a number of anecdotal accounts.

Jamie who is 4 was dxed with high BUN and creatinine 2 years ago. We do yet another ultrasound on Monday, probably before we head to a specialist. His renal index predicts kidney failure within 2 more years. One huge worry for me is Fussie Cat. It is by far his favorite food along with Applaws, always fish which is not good for these issues. Current vet said to let him eat it as he can't be starved and so far has rejected all prescription food and all other mixtures of beef, chicken, etc. I would try working with changing the food for your boy if you can.

I have never given D Mannose to a cat but will see if I can find the dosage online. I have used it otherwise for years for my GSD. The last one had a paralyzed bladder and should have had one UTI after another but never got one in his entire life.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQOLTUS/?tag=thecatsite

D-Mannose and preventing urinary tract disease
http://s3.amazonaws.com › cc_feeding_d-mannose



PDF
 
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rubydoo67

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OH, I feel your pain. I had a cat last Spring with a blockage (you can read my posts from last March? on here). Turns out it was stressed induced. I honestly thought he had adapted to living with us and our other cats after his owner passed away and he was left alone in the house for a month. I had no idea how traumatized he really was on the inside. Other than the blockage discharge and peeing, he seemed normal and happy.

He went to the emergency vet, catheterized, and stayed for a night. We learned he didn't have blockage, stones, crystals or anything of that nature. He did have a small pee tube. A visit with our regular vet and he was put on medication to relax him and the Royal Canin S/O food. We stood by, watched and waited. Took him back to the vet to check his urine periodically. He peed very, very little at first but gradually it became more and then normal. We watched him like a hawk and he hasn't had any issues since last Spring.

I will say that you MUST keep your cat on the S/O food. We still haven't taken ours off, just to be sure, even though we are sure stress caused his issues, not diet. The S/O is important because it's what causes your cat to be thirsty and drink more water. It is expensive but less than vet bills!

I think the combination of S/O food and adjusting to life with us and other cats (aka time) is what helped. Doesn't sound like you have had your cat that long? If nothing else, please put him back on the S/O with extra love and attention so he can feel more secure. Sounds behavioral so it will get better but it takes time.
 

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It was well over 20 years ago that we had a neutered cat who had several blockages. He was catheterized two or three times, becoming debilitated. I brought him home with an catheter stitched in place and a collar, kept him caged and had to build him up for the surgery.

My questions were: would he have control for urination, and could he block again. My vet said the cat retains urinary continence. The penis is removed, the urethra brought a little forward and flared so the opening is larger. So even if the cat did develop crystals again he would not block.

We had the surgery done. My vet said the first few times he did it he thought he was something special. I asked how many he had performed. Our cat was the fifth.

It was a great success. Of course, this was a pet cat, very tame and loving, and much loved.

Since then, I'm sure the surgery is even more commonplace, better understood, and refined / revised.

If you decide that for whatever reason you cannot be responsible for the surgery for this young, un-neutered, stray cat then these are the choices I see. Turn him loose to possibly die in agony. Or sign him over to a rescue with the understanding that if they cannot afford the surgery he will likely be euthanized, but at least there is a chance his life will be saved and an adoption follow on.
 

Xena44

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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply in so much detail! It’s hard to say what has helped and what hasn’t really... since he hasn’t reached a point where he has really been peeing big clumps at one go. I’ll look into Primal!
Maybe consider a Feliway diffuser. Or Rescue Remedy for pets. (Or both!) The human version of RR is exactly the same but is brandy based. I do use it on my kitties if needed. I also use it on myself. Just drop a few drops on your fingers and rub it on their ears. Shake it gently a few times before dispensing. You can find them on Amazon. Or your local pet store or health food store for the RR. You can read up on both online. I personally love the RR.
 

Xena44

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I think that you have really tried to help this boy and have ended up between a rock and a hard place, which is not fair, if things were fair in life. I do fear that letting him out, given his urinary history and unneutered. Like Xena44 Xena44 I see him possibly meeting a sad end in pain and alone. I have no experience with the surgery, so can't advise but do see it mentioned from time to time on TCS. If you put it in the search, you will find a number of anecdotal accounts.

Jamie who is 4 was dxed with high BUN and creatinine 2 years ago. We do yet another ultrasound on Monday, probably before we head to a specialist. His renal index predicts kidney failure within 2 more years. One huge worry for me is Fussie Cat. It is by far his favorite food along with Applaws, always fish which is not good for these issues. Current vet said to let him eat it as he can't be starved and so far has rejected all prescription food and all other mixtures of beef, chicken, etc. I would try working with changing the food for your boy if you can.

I have never given D Mannose to a cat but will see if I can find the dosage online. I have used it otherwise for years for my GSD. The last one had a paralyzed bladder and should have had one UTI after another but never got one in his entire life.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQOLTUS/?tag=thecatsite

D-Mannose and preventing urinary tract disease
http://s3.amazonaws.com › cc_feeding_d-mannose



PDF
Something to do possibly do some research if you like, is this product. The reviews are worth reading. Talk to your vet. Tho I know some vets aren’t into herbals. Kidney Support Gold - for Cat Kidney Function
 

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It happened to our cat, Oscar. When we first took him to the emergency vet, it cost $1,800 USD. Approximately two-three months later, it happened again, with him screaming in pain. He was rushed back to the emergency vet, where it became a choice between surgery vs. having him PTS. I don't know the name of the surgery, but he will pee like a female cat now, whatever that means. I can understand the financial burden, because it was quite an expensive surgery. He is not a cat that likes being inside, so he went crazy when staying in the house. He had his cone off within a short matter of time. We had to have him boarded, and a kind relative is paying that bill for us.

I am begging you not to put your cat out on the street. I have had a kidney stone where I was completely unable to pee. (Sorry if that is TMI.) The pain was unreal.

As lavishsqualor lavishsqualor said, please don't put him on the street. I would try to find an organization local to your area that might be able to help or ask the vet to work with you on the bill. Our cat was in such horrible pain that he couldn't bear to be touched. I can't imagine how much he would have suffered if he did not have the surgery.

We were very angry that the emergency vet didn't tell us the blockage could return if he didn't have surgery to fix the problem. They did a quick fix and then sent him home. I believe it could now return again, but I know other cats who've had it done and they were fine after. We are to put him on special dry food and he is no longer allowed to eat wet food.

I am not trying to money shame you or anything like that. Your cat is blessed that you and your partner took him in. I doubt you are stressing him out. The desire to roam is probably because he hasn't had the chance to be neutered yet. (Oscar has always acted like he is being murdered if we try to keep him in the house, he tried to jump through a glass window while wearing the cone directly after the surgery. He is different from any of our other cats - we have even had a feral live inside who only let me touch him once - on the tip of the nose.)

I wish you the best and pray for a solution for your cat. God bless you and your partner. You are good people. :hugs:
 
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