Hi
I have 2 cats, a 12 year old male and 7 year old female. The female has always been a very skittish cat - affectionate but hates being held, and is easily startled and nervous. Over the last 7 weeks she has had 3 episodes of what we think may be ideopathic cystitis - squatting and peeing outside of the litter box, peeing frequently and in small amounts, bloody urine. She has been to the vet twice. With the first episode she had a bladder ultrasound, xray (no evidence of stones, bladder wall looked irritated). She had an antibiotic shot as a precaution and was sent home with Onsior. Episode lasted for about a week. It came back 2 weeks later, just a couple of days after a follow up vet visit where everything looked good. Back on Onsior, diet change to prescription urinary food, Feliway diffusers, and followed other advice from vet to create a more calming environment, (although nothing obvious has changed in our home environment to stress her out). Episode 2 lasted a week, went away only to come back again 3 weeks later. Now we are back on Onsior and Gabapentin. I brought in a urine sample for urinalysis (red and white blood cells - no obvious bacteria but now a urine culture is being suggested, which will involve bringing her in again. Taking this cat to the vet again is a nightmare and stresses her out even more). I am at a loss. She has never had this before, and now three episodes in seven weeks - has anyone dealt with cystitis in a cat starting out of seemingly nowhere and then returning with such frequency? What else could this be? Advice, thoughts?
I have 2 cats, a 12 year old male and 7 year old female. The female has always been a very skittish cat - affectionate but hates being held, and is easily startled and nervous. Over the last 7 weeks she has had 3 episodes of what we think may be ideopathic cystitis - squatting and peeing outside of the litter box, peeing frequently and in small amounts, bloody urine. She has been to the vet twice. With the first episode she had a bladder ultrasound, xray (no evidence of stones, bladder wall looked irritated). She had an antibiotic shot as a precaution and was sent home with Onsior. Episode lasted for about a week. It came back 2 weeks later, just a couple of days after a follow up vet visit where everything looked good. Back on Onsior, diet change to prescription urinary food, Feliway diffusers, and followed other advice from vet to create a more calming environment, (although nothing obvious has changed in our home environment to stress her out). Episode 2 lasted a week, went away only to come back again 3 weeks later. Now we are back on Onsior and Gabapentin. I brought in a urine sample for urinalysis (red and white blood cells - no obvious bacteria but now a urine culture is being suggested, which will involve bringing her in again. Taking this cat to the vet again is a nightmare and stresses her out even more). I am at a loss. She has never had this before, and now three episodes in seven weeks - has anyone dealt with cystitis in a cat starting out of seemingly nowhere and then returning with such frequency? What else could this be? Advice, thoughts?