Max is sick - nothing serious

[slick]

Last night and this morning he was showing signs of either crystals or UTI; visiting the LB lots and only peeing very tiny amounts. Soooo, we just got back from the whitecoats where he had an antibiotic injection and now has to take Clavamox for 7 days. In the meantime, I have to put some special litter in a new box and hope that he pees there so I can get a sample. No small task, I tell you. :rolleyes:

Last night I had him in my bedroom with the door closed and an empty LB. Do you think he would use it?????? Natta. As soon as I opened up the door this morning he tore into the LB room and took a wee pee. :rolleyes: I tried to reason with him, but he just would not listen.

Anyway let's hope it's nothing serious and the pills work. I prefer the pills because it's faster. Grab, open, shove in, close. :D Poor guy.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that Max has a UTI.:( Hopefully the pills will do the trick and he'll be back to normal very soon. Please keep us updated.

[trayi52]

Slick I don't know what I would do if I had to give either of mine any medicine. I guess I would try. The last time, I was trying to give Stubby something I had to count my fingers to make sure he didn't eat one of them off.

Grover is pretty good, but she is older now and well I fear for my fingers life. Wow, she is almost been with me a year!

Anyway, I hope Max gets well really fast. Poor Max.:(

Willie

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

AWWW poor Max. I hope he is feeling better soon. And good luck with the litter box challenge!

[slick]

We haven't confirmed that it's a UTI. Only a urine sample will prove it. I just gave him is morning pill now and it went down OK. I've got this pilling thing down to a science but with Max I still have to use the Burrito wrap. :D He still would not use the new box with the special litter in it so don't know what I'm going to do. The vet said Max could stay overnight there but I'll only do that as a last resort.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Sorry to hear about poor Maxie. :( You might have to confine him to your bedroom with the special LB for an entire day. Sounds cruel knowing he'll try and hold it as long as possible, but better your bedroom than the vets, right?

I sure hope it's just a UTI and not crystals. Has he had a problem with crystals in the past? Tubby's UTI cleared right up after the dreaded Clavamox dosing, so hopefully Max's will too.

So does this mean you have a Spice Girl and a P Daddy living with you? ;) :D

[PayItForward]

Sending positives thoughts that Max gets well soon.

Good Luck with the pilling.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by slick
The vet said Max could stay overnight there but I'll only do that as a last resort.

Ahem,

The kennel at the vet's isn't a vacation spot....


Resort???

Sheesh.
--------------
time for a little Man to Man.

Hey Max,

Pee where you must...it's for your own good.:D

[Cataholic]

Poor Max...I hope it is 'just' a UTI and that is he gets better soon.

[slick]

OK, I just don't get it!!!!:confused:

Max is purrrfectly back to normal. A UTI or crystals does/do not go away in a day, so what's happening here???? Max is peeing buckets and he's only had 2 pills. Should I finish off the meds for the next 6 days like you are supposed to do with antibiotics?? Should I still try and get a urine sample??

Richard: should I just throw in the towel (:D the one I use in the burrito wrap) and head for the resort/spa?????

:confused:

Kids, no wonder my hair is grey.....:eek:

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Yeah, that means the antibiotics are working! :)

And a big definite YES, absolutely keep up for the next 6 days. Antibiotics will usually clear up the symptoms in 24-48 hours, but you need to do the entire ......(can't think of the word)....regimen...that's the word :rolleyes: to make sure the UTI is completely cleared up. It's pretty much a guarantee that if you stop now, Max will be back at it again before you get home from work tonight. You can still try and get a sample although since it appears to be working, they might not be able to tell as much from it, but then again they may so I would say if you can get one, get it, otherwise just wait and hope it's just the UTI. If it's crystals, I'm sure it'll be back real soon.

Way to go Max Man! :D

[slick]

Thanks Deb. That was my gut feeling as well. With other UTI's that they have had I have not seen results for at least 3 or 4 days but this time it seems to be clearing up quickly. May it's just a mild case. He still won't pee in the special litter.......I locked him up in the bedroom yesterday with the LB and when I got home there was nothing.:rolleyes: He didn't pee elsewhere (in spite of Richard's advice...) at all and as soon as I opened up the door he raced into the other room and peed in clumping litter.

[jenluckenbach]

I am sorry to hear Max was ill but glad that he seems to be doing better now.

If you still need to get a urine sample (I KNOW how impossible it is to make the cat cooperate in this manner) ask if your vet can draw a sample. My vet said that as long as the cat is confined (in a carrier) for a few hours prior to a vet visit, she could draw the urine out with a syringe. (and has done this several times for my cats)

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by slick
(in spite of Richard's advice...)

Us men can't even hit the bowl,
or did you forget?;)

[slick]

The continuing saga:
I've discovered that the reason he won't pee in the LB with the special litter is because it's a brand new box and brand new non-absorbant litter.
So this morning I emptied out his regular one with his smell on it and put the non-absortant litter in it. Now he's soooo confoooozled. I know he really has to go but he walking around and meowing, jumping in the box and scratching around, then jumping out. I just may have to confine him again. He was confined for about 5 hours last night. If this does not work then he goes back to the vet on the weekend and either the vet will take some (thanks for the advice Jen) or he will stay overnight.

He make several trips to the LB after supper last night so all is not well just yet.

Richard: US men can't hit the bowl??? Canadian men can.:D :D ;)

Edit: 20 min later - HE DID IT!!!!!! I now have a sample I can drop off to the vets on my way to work. He gets extra special treats for that.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Yeah!!! Way to go Max!!! You're such a good boy, and probably sleeping like a baby now that you've got that out of your system. ;) I think they can tell right away if it's an infection, so you should have an answer soon, Slick. Fingers crossed that it's just the dreaded UTI. :)

[gini]

Slick, I just saw this. I am sorry that Max is having some problems. Sounds as though you are right on top of it though.

Boy, isn't it amazing what we will do for our little men - be they US or Canadian:D

Let's hope that the test shows he doesn't have UTI!

Hugs!!

[slick]

It's funny...when he finally peed I thought.....

small things can bring big pleasures :D :D Only Pet Talk people can understand my excitement at the time :)

[jenluckenbach]

I can honestly say that I truly know how exciting it can be to have a cat pee (when and where you want him to):D

Hope the tests come out with good results or at least results that are treatable.

[catcrazylady]

I'm late catching up but it was intresting reading! I've never had to try to get a sample before so I was thinking about just how hard that could be!!
I'm hoping that all is well with Max and keep us posted on what you find out.

[PayItForward]

Just a post requesting a Max update, how is he doing ?

[slick]

Originally posted by PayItForward
Just a post requesting a Max update, how is he doing ?
Thanks for asking. I just got a call from the vet's office and he has crystals. So it looks like a change in diet for him. I have to go today to pick up some C/D. Poor guy, he hates changing food at the best of times so this is not going to be easy. He has been improving with the meds so I guess I should continue them. Anyway, all is well.

[Killearn Kitties]

Aww, poor Max. I hope he eats his new food. I know how you feel, ours are just the same when you want them to eat something new. At the moment we are feeding them sensitivity control food because someone was being sick quite often and I think I could almost count on my fingers the amount of kibbles that are eaten in a day! Not that they couldn't do with losing a few pounds! :D

All the best to adorable Max. Please give him scritchies and headbumpies from us.

[jenluckenbach]

Well, my guys LOVE the C/D so hopefull max will too.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Oh no, Slick, I'm sorry to hear he has crystals, but hopefully he'll take to the C/D like Jen's guys, and that'll do the trick for him - poor guy. :( But I know you're the best meowmy, so I'm sure he'll be back at 'em in no time. :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

Slick, I'm so sorry to hear that Max has crystals.:( My Cirrus also has them and is on the dry c/d diet. He loves it but so do all of my cats so I have to make sure that they don't eat his food.:)
I hope he'll start feeling better soon. I think that my vet said that it could take about 3 months before you'll notice a change. Good luck and please keep us updated.
BTW if you buy the 20lb size it's cheaper. My vet will special order this size for me because they don't always carry it.

[slick]

Thanks guys. Max and Speckles say MMMMEEEOOOOWWWW. I thought it was going to be C/D but the vet gave me a 4 lb bag of S/D and said he had to finish the whole bag up before going back to his regular diet. Apparently the S/D dissolves the crystals. In the meantime, he's been fine for the last couple of days; not straining and peeing OK, so I obviously caught it in time. The only other time he had crystals when right after I first brought him home 6 years ago, but I think that was because he was stressed and I tried all sorts of diets out on him. Back then, he did not take to the S/D at all and I had to crush it up and mix it in with wet in order to get him to eat it.

So tonight is his first helping. Wish me luck and thanks again for your well-wishes. I know this thread is not a serious one compared to what some of you have had to endure, but it's worrisome nonetheless.

Have given M & S headbumpies and scritches from all of you.:)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by slick
I know this thread is not a serious one compared to what some of you have had to endure, but it's worrisome nonetheless.

Have given M & S headbumpies and scritches from all of you.:)

No need to downrate it Slick. We all know how we all worry about our babies even when they have the most minor illnesses, and I don't know about you, but after seeing what Fister, Boots and others have gone through, I don't think crystals are a minor thing!

Now, about those headbumpies and scritches - did you give them smoochies from me too? :D

[slick]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
Now, about those headbumpies and scritches - did you give them smoochies from me too? :D
Most definitely YES!!!! I've even given them kisses from their Auntie Debbie, licks from their Uncle Tubby and smooches from their Auntie Peanut. :)

Oh Yes, and "rubs" from Mr. Smiley. :) :)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by slick
Oh Yes, and "rubs" from Mr. Smiley. :) :)

:D :D

[PayItForward]

Glad to hear Max just needs a new food and I hope those crystals disolve very fast :)

[felinefanatic]

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: I am so happy to hear Max is doing better!Cats are very particular about their litter boxes. They really are creatures of habit and changes in there day to day routines can really confuse and upset them , as you saw with Max. Could you maybe use the new litter but put in the old box that he is used to? That might make it a little easier for him to make the trasition to the new litter . Then when he is used to the litter you could try the new box with the litter.
I also hate to give my cats pills !I can't tell you how many soggy pills I have wasted because they wouldnt go down. You can buy these neat little gadgets at the pet store that make "pilling" your cat much easier. I dont know the name of them but they generally cost about 5.00 and they enable you to place the pill far back on kittys tongue without losing a finger! It does make the task of "pilling" a little easier and a lot safer.
Good luck with Max and I hope the antibiotics made him all better.:D :D