- Joined
- Jan 24, 2023
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This is buddy, our 1-year-old sweetheart, a male long hair cat with a white mane and white boots.
I'd like to share buddy's story because we almost lost him this weekend and a lack of information online, combined with circumstances that masked what was really going on, might happen to someone else. Last Thursday he seemed perfectly fine, now he's fighting for his life, and it happened so fast.
- Two months ago: Buddy, a perfectly healthy and happy 10-month-old cat, got fleas. It happens, they were treated successfully.
- One month ago: Buddy unfortunately got worms from the fleas, we noticed he was growling at his own bottom and licking it a lot, so we took him to the vet where they diagnosed worms and gave him medicine. They were treated successfully, and he stopped itching.
- 4 days ago: Last Thursday, buddy seemed fine, but vomited after eating and drinking that morning. He wasn't feeling well but was behaving normally and was as playful as usual.
- 3 days ago: Friday, He ate and drank but didn't go potty. He began going after his bottom again, so we called the vet and got another appointment for Monday, they don't give worm meds without prescription and need to see him first.
- 2 days ago: Saturday. Something is clearly wrong. He's becoming lethargic, didn't want to eat or drink in the morning, and he still hasn't pottied. He's still going after his bottom, too. The emergency clinic is not open this weekend.
By Saturday evening, he's crying occasionally and clearly in pain. He won't walk and is very lethargic, sleepy. We noticed a mass in his lower abdomen. We also noticed blood and a really foul odor in his mouth.
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The following is why I'm sharing buddy's story in hopes another cat and owner can benefit if they experience this. It is NOT medical advice, ALWAYS get to the vet quickly if you notice a change in behavior, etc. This is what was going on...
-----
As you can imagine, we're really worried now. We're on the phone talking to local vet and clinic 'after hours' personnel, scouring the internet for possible causes, calling shelters in case they know a vet we could talk to.
1 day ago: Sunday morning. Everyone we spoke to, and everything online, led us to believe our little buddy was suffering either from a tumor that had now ruptured and so surgery was too late, or an ingested object, and he's now going septic. Neither of those, in his current condition, have a good expected outcome. The blood in the mouth help mask the real problem.
He's in pain when he's not unconscious now. We won't give up. There isn't anywhere to get him a painkiller, and it's clear he can't wait until Monday morning. Bad timing, but it's Sunday afternoon now and in this rural area there's nowhere to bring him.
Luck, we reach an animal hospital that is two hours drive away. It's closed, the phone message says come in the morning, but hold to speak to someone. We literally said we think we have a cat needing Euthanasia because it's in pain, not eating or going potty, and getting very cold (temp dropped 10 degrees, buddy was critical). The vet said she was afraid that's what it sounded like, but she'd give him a look immediately.
Sunday: 5pm. The vet agrees to open the hospital for buddy for a fee. Two hours later we're there.
Sunday 7pm: A quick look at buddy and the vet knows exactly what's wrong, and it's nothing the internet or the people we reached by phone thought. Buddy has a total blockage from urinary crystals. His bladder can't empty, his kidneys are swollen, and even if she operates he's suffered damage, the odds aren't good. We opt for the surgery, buddy is young, but that's the only thing going for him at this point.
Sunday 9pm: He survived the surgery, as many of the crystals that could be removed were, he's sedated with a catheter and IV and now we wait.
Monday 8am: Buddy is still very sick, but he survived the night. Bloodwork will tell how bad the damage to his kidneys is, but it will wait until he gets a little strength first. The crystals might keep forming and block the catheter, but he'll be watched closely for several days in the hospital.
The crystals might immediately reform and block him again if we get him home, too. He's young, he'll be taken well care of, he'll need a special diet for life, but it's now Tuesday morning, and he's fighting. Our little lion of a sweetheart will need round the clock care for a few days at the hospital.
So what happened - hindsight is always easier to evaluate.
- The previous worms delayed suspecting something else might be wrong, like urinary crystals
- The symptoms fit tumors and ingested objects, as well as parasitic infection
- Blood in his mouth was from chewing on himself to try and pee, but we didn't see the wounds and suspected the blood we did see was from his bum, it was intermittent, not constant(occasional stains in his bed the past few days). Even his long hair made checking him out while he was in pain difficult.
- The timing, weekend, snow storm, nothing open...
The biggest thing in hindsight is that crystals would have begun forming after he was being bothered by the worms, they made him itchy, and he wasn't drinking as often. They would have been forming for days before completely blocking him. Buddy was getting sick and didn't show signs of it until they were very serious.
If you ever notice crystals in kitty urine, get to the vet. We never saw any in his litter, and we feel guilty of not having caught this sooner. If anything seems wrong, get to the vet asap! Cats can deteriorate very quickly sometimes.
Again, my hope is that by sharing this, someone else out there might consider looking for urinary crystals or a urinary blockage, especially if they've been told by ANYBODY other than a vet WHO HAS SEEN the cat it sounds like a stomach tumor or parasitic infection. Get it checked out IN PERSON, these little friends have so much love to give, they deserve it in return.
I'd like to share buddy's story because we almost lost him this weekend and a lack of information online, combined with circumstances that masked what was really going on, might happen to someone else. Last Thursday he seemed perfectly fine, now he's fighting for his life, and it happened so fast.
- Two months ago: Buddy, a perfectly healthy and happy 10-month-old cat, got fleas. It happens, they were treated successfully.
- One month ago: Buddy unfortunately got worms from the fleas, we noticed he was growling at his own bottom and licking it a lot, so we took him to the vet where they diagnosed worms and gave him medicine. They were treated successfully, and he stopped itching.
- 4 days ago: Last Thursday, buddy seemed fine, but vomited after eating and drinking that morning. He wasn't feeling well but was behaving normally and was as playful as usual.
- 3 days ago: Friday, He ate and drank but didn't go potty. He began going after his bottom again, so we called the vet and got another appointment for Monday, they don't give worm meds without prescription and need to see him first.
- 2 days ago: Saturday. Something is clearly wrong. He's becoming lethargic, didn't want to eat or drink in the morning, and he still hasn't pottied. He's still going after his bottom, too. The emergency clinic is not open this weekend.
By Saturday evening, he's crying occasionally and clearly in pain. He won't walk and is very lethargic, sleepy. We noticed a mass in his lower abdomen. We also noticed blood and a really foul odor in his mouth.
-----
The following is why I'm sharing buddy's story in hopes another cat and owner can benefit if they experience this. It is NOT medical advice, ALWAYS get to the vet quickly if you notice a change in behavior, etc. This is what was going on...
-----
As you can imagine, we're really worried now. We're on the phone talking to local vet and clinic 'after hours' personnel, scouring the internet for possible causes, calling shelters in case they know a vet we could talk to.
1 day ago: Sunday morning. Everyone we spoke to, and everything online, led us to believe our little buddy was suffering either from a tumor that had now ruptured and so surgery was too late, or an ingested object, and he's now going septic. Neither of those, in his current condition, have a good expected outcome. The blood in the mouth help mask the real problem.
He's in pain when he's not unconscious now. We won't give up. There isn't anywhere to get him a painkiller, and it's clear he can't wait until Monday morning. Bad timing, but it's Sunday afternoon now and in this rural area there's nowhere to bring him.
Luck, we reach an animal hospital that is two hours drive away. It's closed, the phone message says come in the morning, but hold to speak to someone. We literally said we think we have a cat needing Euthanasia because it's in pain, not eating or going potty, and getting very cold (temp dropped 10 degrees, buddy was critical). The vet said she was afraid that's what it sounded like, but she'd give him a look immediately.
Sunday: 5pm. The vet agrees to open the hospital for buddy for a fee. Two hours later we're there.
Sunday 7pm: A quick look at buddy and the vet knows exactly what's wrong, and it's nothing the internet or the people we reached by phone thought. Buddy has a total blockage from urinary crystals. His bladder can't empty, his kidneys are swollen, and even if she operates he's suffered damage, the odds aren't good. We opt for the surgery, buddy is young, but that's the only thing going for him at this point.
Sunday 9pm: He survived the surgery, as many of the crystals that could be removed were, he's sedated with a catheter and IV and now we wait.
Monday 8am: Buddy is still very sick, but he survived the night. Bloodwork will tell how bad the damage to his kidneys is, but it will wait until he gets a little strength first. The crystals might keep forming and block the catheter, but he'll be watched closely for several days in the hospital.
The crystals might immediately reform and block him again if we get him home, too. He's young, he'll be taken well care of, he'll need a special diet for life, but it's now Tuesday morning, and he's fighting. Our little lion of a sweetheart will need round the clock care for a few days at the hospital.
So what happened - hindsight is always easier to evaluate.
- The previous worms delayed suspecting something else might be wrong, like urinary crystals
- The symptoms fit tumors and ingested objects, as well as parasitic infection
- Blood in his mouth was from chewing on himself to try and pee, but we didn't see the wounds and suspected the blood we did see was from his bum, it was intermittent, not constant(occasional stains in his bed the past few days). Even his long hair made checking him out while he was in pain difficult.
- The timing, weekend, snow storm, nothing open...
The biggest thing in hindsight is that crystals would have begun forming after he was being bothered by the worms, they made him itchy, and he wasn't drinking as often. They would have been forming for days before completely blocking him. Buddy was getting sick and didn't show signs of it until they were very serious.
If you ever notice crystals in kitty urine, get to the vet. We never saw any in his litter, and we feel guilty of not having caught this sooner. If anything seems wrong, get to the vet asap! Cats can deteriorate very quickly sometimes.
Again, my hope is that by sharing this, someone else out there might consider looking for urinary crystals or a urinary blockage, especially if they've been told by ANYBODY other than a vet WHO HAS SEEN the cat it sounds like a stomach tumor or parasitic infection. Get it checked out IN PERSON, these little friends have so much love to give, they deserve it in return.
