We had a big scare with my one-year-old cat a few days ago. He was diagnosed with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and couldn’t pee. I found out this can be life-threatening within 24-48 hours!
We had to take him to the vet and the bill was massive. They kept him overnight, drained his bladder with a catheter, and found crystals in his urine. He managed to pee a little on his own after, so they sent him home with pain meds and special food to stop the crystals from forming. But now he’s trying to pee again, and nothing’s coming out. We’ve already had to go back once, and they drained his bladder again and gave him antibiotics. I picked him up last night, but this morning he’s struggling to pee again.
Has anyone been through this? I’m lost. I can’t keep taking him to the vet every day just to have his bladder emptied, and the bills are piling up. I’m not ready to say goodbye, but I don’t know what to do. Any advice would mean a lot right now.
My cat only had this problem once, but the vet said if it happens a lot, they might need surgery. It’s a surgery that makes the urethra bigger so the crystals can pass more easily.
Sky said:
My cat only had this problem once, but the vet said if it happens a lot, they might need surgery. It’s a surgery that makes the urethra bigger so the crystals can pass more easily.
That’s exactly what they told me was the second option if it happens again. Luckily, my cat hasn’t had any more issues.
Sadly, it’s common for cats to block again not long after the first time. It can take a few tries to control it. Other options include leaving a urinary catheter in for 2-3 days to let the swelling go down, or a surgery called a perineal urethrostomy where they remove the narrowest part of the urethra. But that surgery is tricky and can have complications. Both options are expensive though. There are also some medicines that help relax the muscles, but the success rate isn’t great. You’d need to drain the bladder first before trying them.
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. Blockages are awful, especially in young cats. I’ve had to euthanize cats before because they kept blocking and the owners couldn’t afford more treatments. My best case was a cat that blocked 5 times in 2 weeks, but he eventually got better after the fifth time. More often, though, if it’s still a problem after three times, the chances of success drop.
Do they block so quickly because the crystals form again fast, or could some have been left behind the first time? Or is it more about swelling or muscle issues?
Right now, my cat seems pretty comfortable, more than after his first time home. He’s on gabapentin and buprenorphine. He’s licking the area sometimes, but there’s barely any urine coming out, and I don’t think he’s drinking enough. I’m giving him water with a syringe, but I’m also thinking about ordering some lactated ringers for subcutaneous fluids (I have experience with rodents, so I think I could do it, but I’m not sure of the dosage). Do you think this would even help, since the meds aren’t really working?
@Ren
It’s usually both. You can’t get rid of all the crystals, and the inflammation or muscle spasms after a blockage can close the urethra again. Male cats are especially prone because their urinary tubes are so narrow.
If you’re comfortable handling your cat, you can feel the bladder yourself to check how urgent it is. Stand behind your cat, cup his belly with one hand, and gently press. Start in the middle of his belly and move your hand back. If you feel something firm like a tennis ball, that’s bad and he needs to be unblocked right away. If it feels more like a water balloon, that’s a partially full bladder. Keep checking to make sure it’s not getting hard. If you can’t feel anything, either the bladder is empty, or you missed it, so try again to be sure.
For anti-inflammatory meds, I usually give meloxicam (brand names like Metacam or Loxicom), but you’d need to ask your vet about that, especially if they were worried about kidney issues. Over-the-counter, glucosamine is good, and Cystaid is a common brand, but make sure you get one made for urinary health, not joints.
Try to get him to drink more, and if he likes drinking from a running tap, that can help. I’d hold off on subcutaneous fluids, though. If it’s bad enough that you’re thinking about that, he probably needs an IV drip and another stay at the vet.
Good luck! It’s a really tough situation to deal with.