UTI Concerns

[Krienze]

Last month, I noticed Jasper had bloody urine. We of course rushed him to the vet where he was treated for a UTI.

The vet sold us a bag of the hills urinary food and we gave that to him until we ran out and eased him back into eating Acana for dry food and instinct/tiki for wet. The vet had said that most likely it was the food that caused the UTI and I assumed that it was due to the fancy feast I had given him when I hadn't been able to get to the store to give him his normal food.

Now I'm noticing him going in the box, squatting to pee and not peeing.

His stomach is soft, he doesn't yelp or seem like he's in discomfort when I prod him. He's eating and drinking water and very playful still. He's his usual self if not a bit more affectionate (but I think that's because we're in a hotel room and not at home.) No blood in his urine like last time either.

Could he really have a UTI again so soon after having one??

Because of the hurricane we're in a hotel, so things around him HAVE changed. I just don't know if stress would cause this weird litter box fixation

 

[maggie101]

Last month, I noticed Jasper had bloody urine. We of course rushed him to the vet where he was treated for a UTI.

The vet sold us a bag of the hills urinary food and we gave that to him until we ran out and eased him back into eating Acana for dry food and instinct/tiki for wet. The vet had said that most likely it was the food that caused the UTI and I assumed that it was due to the fancy feast I had given him when I hadn't been able to get to the store to give him his normal food.

Now I'm noticing him going in the box, squatting to pee and not peeing.

His stomach is soft, he doesn't yelp or seem like he's in discomfort when I prod him. He's eating and drinking water and very playful still. He's his usual self if not a bit more affectionate (but I think that's because we're in a hotel room and not at home.) No blood in his urine like last time either.

Could he really have a UTI again so soon after having one??

Because of the hurricane we're in a hotel, so things around him HAVE changed. I just don't know if stress would cause this weird litter box fixation

Stress can cause uti. I have never heard of food causing it. Also litter box not regularly scooped and not getting enough water so canned food for the extra moisture and help the teeth. Males are more to uti and blockage/crystals. Another sign is cleaning his genitals a lot My cat had uti,went back for a recheck and she had struitive crystals. Glad you are keeping an eye on him.

 

[Krienze]

Stress can cause uti. I have never heard of food causing it. Also litter box not regularly scooped and not getting enough water so canned food for the extra moisture and help the teeth. Males are more to uti and blockage/crystals. My cat had uti,went back for a recheck and she had struitive crystals. Glad you are keeping an eye on him.

The vet said something about minerals in the food, I think? I'm trying to recall exactly what he said but my brain is just mush from everything.

I also believe he may have been fixed too early - as his meow is still very babyish and I read that that can happen when a male is fixed to early.

My issue is we aren't home, we're like 6 hours away from our vet. Should I try to take him to one here... or just keep an eye on him for now? Is there anything I can do to help?

 

[maggie101]

If he is straining to pee he needs to see a vet asap

 

[Tik cat's mum]

I have to agree with maggie101 if he's squatting and no pee he does need to see a vet ASAP. I know it's difficult for you right now but it sounds like he might be blocking so I'd take him to a vet near you if possible.

 

[Holistic Cat Mama]

Last month, I noticed Jasper had bloody urine. We of course rushed him to the vet where he was treated for a UTI.

The vet sold us a bag of the hills urinary food and we gave that to him until we ran out and eased him back into eating Acana for dry food and instinct/tiki for wet. The vet had said that most likely it was the food that caused the UTI and I assumed that it was due to the fancy feast I had given him when I hadn't been able to get to the store to give him his normal food.

Now I'm noticing him going in the box, squatting to pee and not peeing.

His stomach is soft, he doesn't yelp or seem like he's in discomfort when I prod him. He's eating and drinking water and very playful still. He's his usual self if not a bit more affectionate (but I think that's because we're in a hotel room and not at home.) No blood in his urine like last time either.

Could he really have a UTI again so soon after having one??

Because of the hurricane we're in a hotel, so things around him HAVE changed. I just don't know if stress would cause this weird litter box fixation

Unfortunately, unless the Vet went to college a few years longer than their peers to be a Holistic Veterinarian, they do not give the best advice or the best remedies! UTIs in cats and people are caused by the same thing. Dehydration. A properly hydrated cat will not get a UTI even under stress. Dry kibble is the cause of UTIs, IBS, Diabetes, obesity, early death due to kidney failure (one of the most common causes of early cat death)

It just amazes me how a Vet can say cats are obligate carnivores and prescribe dry kibble in the same sentence! These Obligate carnivores eat raw mice, rabbit and birds. You do not see them sitting around a fire roasting mice, birds or rabbits on sticks. You don't see them chasing herds of highly processed baked goods in the wild. No cat should be fed dry kibble. Ever. You wouldn't feed a child McDonald's everyday but that's what people are doing to cats by feeding them dry kibble. You can treat a cats UTI holistically without the cost of a Vet visit or harmful antibiotics that take twice as long to provide relief. ORGANIC RAW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. It must be RAW! Dilute 1/4 tsp with 1 tsp water or even better 1 tsp Tuna juice then mix in your cats wet food 3x a day. You will notice a significant decrease in symptoms within 24 hours or less! But you must continue the Raw Apple Cider Vinegar regimen for 5 days. NOTE-This works for UTI even with bloody urine. If your cat has zero urine coming out then it is a veterinarian emergency!

Catinfo.org
Please read the plethora of info on this site written by a renowned holistic Veterinarian.

 

[silent meowlook]

The food can cause urinary issues. Dry cat food is not good for cats. If your cat was prescribed a urinary diet, it is best to feed the canned variety of that diet and absolutely nothing else. Provided of course that they eat it.
You need to have a clear urinalysis with the proper pH before considering returning to another diet.

Dry cat food is carbohydrates and cats are not designed to eat carbs. Grain free is a gimmick by the cat food companies as it isn’t the grains but the carbs in the grains. When these companies remove the grains, they replace it with potato and peas etc, all high in carbs.

Diet plays an important role in the urine pH. If it is to alkaline crystals will form. To acidic, other types of crystals will form.

The most common crystal in cats is the struvite, which is usually formed in alkaline urine of 7 or above although I have seen it in acidic urine as well.

if your cat isn’t urinating he has to go to the vet ASAP.

 

[Krienze]

One of the biggest problems I find though is that ALL the urinary care wet food I'm finding is full of meat-by products, which I actively try to avoid in their cat food.

 

[silent meowlook]

Meat by products are way better than carbs.

 

[Krienze]

Meat by products are way better than carbs.

Are they really?

I had no idea >.< I always thought they were something to avoid at all costs

 

[silent meowlook]

No. Carbs are the problem.

 

[Krienze]

No. Carbs are the problem.

Would you suggest Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Wet Cat Food?
The vet had suggested hills but I don't see that available on insta cart and I'm stuck in a hotel with my animals at the moment so I can't run to different stores =( limited on what I can buy

EDIT: The pro plan UTH food says it has high carbs... I'm so confused as to what food to buy for this. They all seem to say high carbs

 

[Krienze]

UPDATE:

My mom is heading to the vet with him now. I'll keep ya'll posted.

 

[fionasmom]

I am so sorry that you have a crisis on your hands on top of the original crisis. You are doing the right thing to get him to a vet. That was going to be my only advice for now as this can be so dicey with male cats. As for the wet food, yes. Dry food only can be an accident waiting to happen. You can, when your life is not as difficult as it is right now, start to research ingredients in wet food and try to find one that you feel comfortable with. I hope that you and your mom can get this taken care of for the cat and that nothing else goes wrong in the forseeable future.

 

[silent meowlook]

Let us know what happens please. Purina makes a urinary prescription diet called U/R. It comes in canned. Remember that your vet can give you a written prescription for the prescription food so you can buy it more economically at chewy or somewhere else.

 

[maggie101]

Purina ur is what I give my cat. She did not like other brands. For now she does not have them so he said it's OK to mix commercial food. I use earthborn and weruva chicken Frick a zee. I read it's best commercial food for cats with urinary issues

 

[Krienze]

UPDATE!!!

My mom just called from the vets. He is NOT blocked (thankfully!) but does have another UTI. The vet gave him 2 shots and is sending him back with some specialty food. He suggests putting Jasper on urinary tract food permanently. He seems to think the Acana might be what is causing it since the Acana is the food we switched to right before he had his first UTI and what he has been eating now. They only have dry food available for him to take home with him but said we can order the wet food on chewy and that the hills c/d is safe/fine for the other cats to eat as well.

The vet said other than the UTI, he seems fine. He said the second shot hurts to receive, but that Jasper took it like a champ!

I'm thinking we need to try and switch them back to Tiki for good. It seems to be the only food he's eaten where he doesn't have issues eating it... the only problem is after awhile of eating tiki, he starts to snub it and doesn't seem as interested in it.

 

[fionasmom]

That is a relief that he was not blocked! At least one less problem to fix. The change in diet should be a help with the UTIs.

 

[Tik cat's mum]

So relieved for you. I was worried he'd blocked when he wasn't peeing. He's so lucky to have you. With all you are going through you noticed something was wrong. Give him a extra cuddle from me.

 

[Krienze]

That is a relief that he was not blocked! At least one less problem to fix. The change in diet should be a help with the UTIs.

As much as I hate to do it, I'm thinking I'm going to have to give him the Hills c/d. Gonna try and swing the wet food - but all of it seems so expensive that it just kind of blows my mind. If I get the dry (which I kind of want to just for them to chomp on for their teeth) then I can mix it with the Tiki (which they are getting whether they like it or not.)

So relieved for you. I was worried he'd blocked when he wasn't peeing. He's so lucky to have you. With all you are going through you noticed something was wrong. Give him a extra cuddle from me.

I was super worried about that too! I'll try to cuddle him but he's kind of pissed at the moment over the 2 shots XD He has not forgiven anyone yet