Hi everybody,
I haven't posted on here since I first signed up years ago, but I visit the forums often as questions arise. I find them informative and helpful and calming at times.
I'll start off by saying that I think I'm having some anxiety issues again, and hope they're not making things worse for my furbabies (as they did back in Oct/Nov of last year, but we got/are getting through it).
Apologies for the long post...
I've been home for a few months now and have become familiar with my cats' patterns. Everything seems normal, good and healthy appetite, water/hydration, play time, nap times around the same time of day, and consistent litter box deposits (with chronic intermittent diarrhea/sometimes explosive gassy loose stools with small formed snaky poops, but that's another issue that's been addressed and ongoing under Vet care).
In the last two days, I've seen both cats use the litter boxes. I tend to scoop a few minutes after each use (as long as it's daytime or when I'm otherwise awake) as I'm kinda paranoid, you could say, about bacteria and parasites and such (every since Oct/Nov due to poop issues above) thriving or multiplying in there since they share boxes. So for one cat, Rosco, I've seen him and he's left pee and poo deposits. For my other cat, Leo, I've only ever caught him after poo, not pee. However, there was a pee deposit just now and yesterday morning, but I didn't see which one left it.
Both cats are napping now as they usually do this time of day. They had some kibble this morning - my mom gives them 'breakfast' since my wake times are most challenging/inconsistent right now, and opening cans is challenging for her hand issues. And the rest of the day they eat wet food that I portion out for them. Appetites are normal. Water consumption is variable, but that's normal for them as well. (Sometimes they drink a lot, other times not so much, but we see them drinking.) Behaviour is normal - no lethargy, aggressiveness, seeking shelter at unusual times or in other places, etc. And most of all, when I have either seen or heard litter box use, there hasn't been any crying out or straining or repeat trips with no result. Pee deposits in the clumping litter have been a consistent golf ball or hand palm size, and I haven't seen any blood or colour otherwise.
Should I be worried about any urinary issues? Back in Oct/Nov, the Vets found no parasites (but we did a course of Panacur) and blood/urine labs came back normal. I'm thinking of submitting another fecal sample from each to address the poop issues, but I'm not sure if my anxiety is making it seem like Leo isn't peeing or something else is actually going on. What if the 'mystery' deposits are his (while I'm asleep/not hearing it happen) and I'm almost freaking out for nothing? Which would cause them stress, too.
I think I'm looking out for all the typical signs as I'm aware that urinary blockage can be fatal for cats, especially males, if not attended to immediately. Every since Oct/Nov I've been trying to increase wet food and decrease dry (with goal of eliminating dry) as I've been reading lots on here and catinfo.org about that topic.
Any insight or words of wisdom? Had Leo been displaying other symptoms and I for sure knew those 'mystery' deposits weren't his, I'd be with him at the Vet right now.
Thank you so much for reading & I appreciate any kind of response. Have a wonderful day!
I haven't posted on here since I first signed up years ago, but I visit the forums often as questions arise. I find them informative and helpful and calming at times.
I'll start off by saying that I think I'm having some anxiety issues again, and hope they're not making things worse for my furbabies (as they did back in Oct/Nov of last year, but we got/are getting through it).
Apologies for the long post...
I've been home for a few months now and have become familiar with my cats' patterns. Everything seems normal, good and healthy appetite, water/hydration, play time, nap times around the same time of day, and consistent litter box deposits (with chronic intermittent diarrhea/sometimes explosive gassy loose stools with small formed snaky poops, but that's another issue that's been addressed and ongoing under Vet care).
In the last two days, I've seen both cats use the litter boxes. I tend to scoop a few minutes after each use (as long as it's daytime or when I'm otherwise awake) as I'm kinda paranoid, you could say, about bacteria and parasites and such (every since Oct/Nov due to poop issues above) thriving or multiplying in there since they share boxes. So for one cat, Rosco, I've seen him and he's left pee and poo deposits. For my other cat, Leo, I've only ever caught him after poo, not pee. However, there was a pee deposit just now and yesterday morning, but I didn't see which one left it.
Both cats are napping now as they usually do this time of day. They had some kibble this morning - my mom gives them 'breakfast' since my wake times are most challenging/inconsistent right now, and opening cans is challenging for her hand issues. And the rest of the day they eat wet food that I portion out for them. Appetites are normal. Water consumption is variable, but that's normal for them as well. (Sometimes they drink a lot, other times not so much, but we see them drinking.) Behaviour is normal - no lethargy, aggressiveness, seeking shelter at unusual times or in other places, etc. And most of all, when I have either seen or heard litter box use, there hasn't been any crying out or straining or repeat trips with no result. Pee deposits in the clumping litter have been a consistent golf ball or hand palm size, and I haven't seen any blood or colour otherwise.
Should I be worried about any urinary issues? Back in Oct/Nov, the Vets found no parasites (but we did a course of Panacur) and blood/urine labs came back normal. I'm thinking of submitting another fecal sample from each to address the poop issues, but I'm not sure if my anxiety is making it seem like Leo isn't peeing or something else is actually going on. What if the 'mystery' deposits are his (while I'm asleep/not hearing it happen) and I'm almost freaking out for nothing? Which would cause them stress, too.
I think I'm looking out for all the typical signs as I'm aware that urinary blockage can be fatal for cats, especially males, if not attended to immediately. Every since Oct/Nov I've been trying to increase wet food and decrease dry (with goal of eliminating dry) as I've been reading lots on here and catinfo.org about that topic.
Any insight or words of wisdom? Had Leo been displaying other symptoms and I for sure knew those 'mystery' deposits weren't his, I'd be with him at the Vet right now.
Thank you so much for reading & I appreciate any kind of response. Have a wonderful day!