Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My cat (male, 3yrs old) has been having problems while using the litter box. He makes many attempts but very little (if anything) is coming out, He cries pitifully and washes his genital area constantly. I have brought him to the vet and each time they give me antibiotics for a UTI. They seem to help for a bit but then within a week the problem is back. In between office visits, I have brought him into the vet to be monitored for possible blockage of the bladder and every time they say that he is NOT blocked.

The one thing that is aggravating me is that they keep alluding to the fact that some of this discomfort can be caused by kidney stones, yet each time I ask for xrays ro see if they are present, or ask for treatment options in case he does have them, they tell me "let's give the anitbiotics another go". Or, "there is not much you can do if your cat is subject to have kidney stones, they will be a problem for his entire life". And I cannot tell you if the cat has any crystals in the urine b/c the vet has never checked for them (or even told me that crystals were something I need to be concerned with. I only jst now read about them on this message board!!!)

I guess I need to find a new vet, but I've been through several in the area and have yet to find one who I think actually diagnoses the animal rather than just "treat and street".

I am at my wit's end!!! I do not want to subject him to another round of the current antibiotics if they are not helping (I can't spell it but he is on something called Clauvamax). Some research online shows that cranberry juice extract can help but I am not sure how much to give and what steps I need to take to prevent stomach problems due to the acidity.

Please Help! What steps can I take at home to help alleviate my kitty's suffering? Should I be bringing him back to the vet to get more specific information, and if so, what should I be asking (or demanding) them to do?

A note: a few weeks before this started happening, I switched over from Purina Indoor Cat (which I had been feeding for well over a year) to Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul in order to get away from by-products. I did the switch gradually by slowly adding the Chicken Soup brand to the Purina brand and eventually weaning off of the Purina altogether. Could the switch in food be causing the problem? Are there specialty foods out there geared to urinary problems (looked for some at the pet store but no luck).

Thanks for listening! Any help will be GREATLY appreciated!

Hi There,

You definitely need to find another vet. Your cat's life may depend on it. If possible, try to find a cat-only vet.

You are right to be very concerned about your cat not urinating, or urinating very little. A cat can be partially blocked and still urinate some, but a total blockage is a medical emergency and is fatal if not treated correctly.

Most blocked bladders are caused by crystals, so your cat really needs a urinalysis done. If crystals are present, there are prescription foods to help dissolve them. As long as a male cat has crystals, he is in danger of becoming blocked. In my opinion, repeatedly putting a cat on antibiotics without finding out if there is bacteria and/or white blood cells in the urine is malpractice. There is no excuse for not doing a urinalysis.

An x-ray should be done as well. Stones in the kidneys often cannot be removed, but stones in the bladder are fairly easy to take out. Bladder stones can cause repeated infections and/or blood in the urine. Some cats will also develop stones in the ureters and this can cause them to block as well. These types of stones could prevent urine from getting to the bladder.

Please take your baby to another vet ASAP and let us know how it goes.

Regards,
PHKitkat