Urinary Tract Infection

[csanchezveloso]

Hi Everyone! I was wondering if any of you had dealt with a female cat that had a UTI (urinary tract infection).
A few months back, she got one and was given some medicine. However, I see signs of her having one again and since I just moved to the area I haven't found a vet I trust yet.

Anyone know anything I can give her to make her all better? Anything they may sell at the pet store?

Thanks!

[emily_the_spoiled]

I would really suggest that you take her to a vet. The longer you wait the more difficult it can be to treat.

If you tell us where you live maybe someone on PetTalk can recommend a vet for you?

Good luck (and welcome)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Yes, she needs to go back to the vet. Peanut had the same thing happen. She got a UTI, it cleared up and about a month later it was back - with a vengence! The vet gave her a different type of antibiotic and that cleared it up once and for all.

UTI's are nothing to mess around with since they can lead to much more serious complications - not to mention the discomfort for poor kitty. If you've ever had one yourself you know what I'm talking about.

If someone here can give you a reference to a vet in your new area, that would be great, but you need to start doing some quick research and get her back in.

Also, if it appears she's completely blocked and not peeing at all - get her to a vet immediately. Urinary blockage can be fatal within 24 hours.

Good luck and let us know how she's doing...and welcome to Pet Talk! :)

[csanchezveloso]

I live in New Jersey in North Bergen. Do you know of a website that has respectable vets in that area?

Thanks for the feedback although now I'm in extreme panic. I want to leave work and take her ASAP.

She is still urinating but very little. She is still eating and playing which is why I didn't panic at first.

Thanks.:(

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I think Neko1 and Christiansmommy live in NJ, but I'm not sure where. I did a quick search on Yahoo and came up with the following in North Bergen, NJ


Boyle, John DVM - Bergenline Animal Hospital
(201) 854-7330 7706 Bergenline Ave
North Bergen, NJ Map

Wisegarver, Fred DVM - Bergenline Animal Hospital
(201) 854-7330 7706 Bergenline Ave
North Bergen, NJ Map

Wisegarver, Rich DVM - Bergenline Animal Hospital
(201) 854-7330 7706 Bergenline Ave
North Bergen, NJ Map

Young, Kimberlee DVM - Garden State Animal Hospital
(201) 868-3753 9018 Kennedy Blvd
North Bergen, NJ Map

So it looks like you have a choice of Bergenline Animal Hospital or Garden State Animal Hospital.

If it is just a UTI, the only urgency would be kitties discomfort, but I would say that yes, if you can get an appointment and get off work, your kitty will be forever grateful - especially if it is more than a simple UTI.

[carole]

I am glad you are getting kitty to the vet ASAP, as if you have ever experienced a UTI yourself they are extremely painful, so Kitty will not have to suffer anymore, good luck at the vets.:)

[csanchezveloso]

So I took my little baby to the vet earlier and she's pretty sure it's a UTI. However, she was unable to get a urine sample so she sent me home with a little cup of 'crystal' looking like things.
I put that in the litter box and waited for my little girl to pee. When she did I put the 'crystals' back in the cup. Ever heard of that??
So, first thing in the morning I have to bring the cup in and the urine analysis can be completed.

Either way, I've started my baby on some antibiotics.

Thanks for all your help!

You guys really are the best!!:)

[slick]

Forgive me for the late response as I've been away for a few days and just got back this afternoon.

Welcome to Pet Talk. Along with Debbie (T & P's Mom) I've had alot of experience with UTI's and believe me it's nothing to fool around with. When I first got Speckles she had recurring UTI's for the first year. It seemed that we would put her on meds and when they did not work the vet would change it to something else. This went on and on until finally he did a "sensitivity test" and found that the infection would most likely respond to Sulphatrim (spelling?) and that's the meds that she was given for all other UTI's.

It is very common for the vet to hand out those crystals for kitty to pee in. I had to do that earlier this year with my male cat, Max. I'm sure you will get the results back in a day and I'm glad that she's on antibiotics now.

What is your kitty's name?

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to Pet Talk.:) I'm glad to hear that you brought your cat to the vets and I hope the meds help her recover quickly.Good luck and please keep us updated.

[Uabassoon]

Welcome to Pet Talk! I'm sorry to hear that your kitty is having problems with a UTI. Hopefully the vet will get it all cleared up soon.

I would love to hear more about your kitty.

[jazzcat]

Welcome to PT!

I'm glad you were able to get her to the vet quickly and on antibiotics. I hope she gets better soon.

I hope you will tell us more about your baby and share more pictures. She looks like a real cutie.

[jenluckenbach]

I am glad your kitty is on medication. Please make sure to do the ENTIRE amount, don't stop early.
Glad you got the urine for testing (sometimes it can be hard to get them to give up a sample) ;)
Make sure they test for crystals too as it is possible that this is her problem.

[csanchezveloso]

hi everyone! you guys are so nice and knowledgeable.. I feel very welcome.

Well, the update is that the vet is analyzing the urine sample as we speak so as of tonight we'll have a better idea.
However, she is on antibiotics. She's taken 1/2 a tablet 2x a day.
Any hints on how I can make the process of giving her this med easier on her AND ME? it's a mission.

All the same, my baby is 1 yr and 2 months old. She has a brother named Antenita. Her name is Bieli. They are wonderful and playful. They were born in Florida and just relocated with Mommy to the New Jersey/New York area. They enjoy looking out the window at the Empire State Building-such tourists! :D

Anyhow, thanks for all the help and here's some more pics of my little crazy girl.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I'm glad you were able to get her to a vet. Were you happy with the vet and you'll go back there? Hopefully 'cause I know how hard it is sometimes to find one that you feel comfortable with.

I've never heard of the crystals, but I've always been able to get a sample - or they've been able to get one (don't even want to know how!).

Bieli is adorable, but you must be warned that now we know you know how to post pics, there might be some whining going on for more. ;) :D

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by csanchezveloso

Any hints on how I can make the process of giving her
this med easier on her AND ME?
it's a mission.

How to *PILL* da Kat...

See this thread >>>

How do I give a pill? (http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48950&perpage=10&highlight=pill&pagenumber=2)

:D
.

[Equus217]

Hello and welcome to PT!

I just wanted to give you a smidge of advice on pilling your kitty. You have to try and see what works best for her cause every kitty is different. Either scruff her, or if she doesn't like the restraint use a big towel and wrap her up baby blanket-style so only her head peeks out. The pill guns can work, but so do your fingers...personal preference there. I have found though that once the pill is in her mouth, hold it closed and blow a couple times in her face towards her nose. For some reason this makes them swallow! And it's worked every time for me!
Good luck!:D

[QueenScoopalot]

Glad to hear your kitty's being treated now. Call some of the vets from the list T&PS Mom gave you, and see if they carry "Pill Pockets". They are a soft very tasty kitty treat made to hide pills in. My kitties have no clue there's a pill in them...they just want them! Pilling cats is the pits! :rolleyes:

[csanchezveloso]

hi guys... i wanted to let you guys know that my vet just called and she mentioned that the urine analysis showed some blood, lots of protein and lots of red blood cells. However, it showed no bacteria. The vet seems to think that it's normal though since the 'infection' was caught so early. She said the best thing to do was finish giving her the medicine and take it from there.
She did, however, mention that my kitty has lots of 'strubite' (spelling??) crystals and that is predisposing her to the UTIs.

Having said that, she is putting my kitty on a special low pHs diet. I have to go pick up the bag and pray she eats/likes it!!

Sorry to go on and on and on but you guys were so helpful I figured I'd keep you in the loop.

Here's a pic of my boy and girl when they were just three months old!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

awww...such sweet babies! :D

Crystals are somewhat common and I know others here have dealt with them. I think they are more common in males, but females do get them also. I know some of been treated with the special food and that has taken care of it. Hopefully others who have dealt with this will see this and give you some advice. :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad to hear that you caught it early so hopefully the antibiotics will do the trick.:)
When you say strubite cystals I think you mean stuvite crystals. My cat Cirrus had both stuvite and calcium oxalates. I know that my vet said that one is caused by stress and the other by diet but I forget which is which. He's now on Hills Precription c/d diet and also had to have the perineal urethrostomy surgery and is doing very well. Here's a link that talks more about lower urinary tract disease in cats http://courses.vetmed.wsu.edu/vm552/urogenital/fus.htm.

Good luck and please keep us updated.:)

[lilvet11]

when i had to give my cat vitimins i hid it in their fav food and it worked infact i still do it and they don't relize their taking vitimens [they were pill form the vitimens] i hope she feels better poor kitty:( hope it will help