Please help, what's wrong with my cat?

[Tiwi]

So apparently the operation was just sticking the catheter in plus pushing the crystals/stones back into his bladder. To take them out would be a whole nother surgery... : (
the doc said he could get blocked in a day or if were lucky, a few months. We are hoping it doesn't happen until atleast feb when my parents will get their tax money. So that's that. My mom is really upset about it.

Other than that I think he comes home tonight, I'll be sure to take pics.

[Freedom]

Oh Sammy! What a close call THAT was!

Paws crossed you can find a way to help him feel better for good!

[katladyd]

I have a cat that can block up from time to time. My vet put him on amitryptiline. It's a very inexpensive medication, $10 for 100 pill from Pet Meds. It has kept Ming from any more blockages for over a year now, and he used to block up every couple of months. Ask you vet about this, it couldn't hurt.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I assume he is neutered, right?

the catheter was just to relieve the pressure. It's more dangerous to operate on a full bladder. hopefully they can find a diet to dissolve and prevent the crystals from coming back.

He's such a handsome boy. He reminds me of my beloved Montego who I lost back in January.

[Tiwi]

katladyd, thanks! I'll be sure to show my mom about that. Sammy deserves the best.
aTailOf2Kitties, yes he is, and I see. Makes sense. Montego is positively beautiful, I see the resemblance<3

Anyway, he is home! He is eating like a piggy and using his litterbox! We have him in a room all to himself and keeping the other cats out.

here's some pics

[Catty1]

OH, he looks so much happier. What a sucky boy!

If your vet knows money is tight and wants to try him on a crystal dissolving food, maybe the vet has some sample packs to try. Also, Innova Evo and other grain-free foods keep the urine at a good pH so crystals won't form. A vet told me about the pH, but do check with your own vet.

Sammy is gorgeous! I just wanna bury my face in that fluffy tummy!

[columbine]

There's also a supplement called Cosequin that, while it was invented as a joint strengthener, also strengthens the inside of the bladder and urethra so crystals can't cause so much damage. Might be worth asking the vet about that too. How soon will you know back what kind of crystals they were, and which kind of food the vet recommends?

If they're struvite (ammonium magnesium phosphate) crystals, you can also get a urine acidifier (here's an example) supplement to help dissolve them. I've also heard that you can let a cat lick a spoonful of spaghetti sauce daily to bring down their urine pH! Never tried that, though. But it will depend on what kind of crystals they were - if they were calcium oxalate, you'll need to take a different course (one with which I have no experience).

Sammy is a beautiful fluffy boy, and I hope you get some useful information soon to help you take care of him!

Love, Columbine

[TommyCat]

Tiwi,

Oh my gosh, I am so happy to see Sammy looking so good and on the way to recovery. You have a lot of support here and lots of good info from others. What a beautiful kitty! Bless you and Sammy.

[Medusa]

Sammy is such a big fuzz nugget; how handsome! I'm so glad that he's doing better. I do hope that your vet will give you some amitryptilene for him. It's really inexpensive and it does work from what I've read of the experiences here on PT. I've not had to deal w/crystals w/my cats (just about everything else but not that LOL) but I can sympathize w/you. Give Sammy some head scritchies for me.

[Freedom]

WOW, Sammy, look at you, TONS better!

Glad you posted some new pics of him, thanks for that!

[Tiwi]

I can't thank you all enough!　I'm so glad I came here.
He went back to the doctor this morning for a scheduled check-up to see how he's doing. I told my mom about the info you gave me, I hope she talks to the vet about it. And he says thank you for all the compliments! I sat with him for nearly half an hour when I got home. He's still sort of wobbly, but he moves a lot quicker and smoother, he kept running to his food dish
I can't even look at that old picture of him, words can't describe how grateful I am for PT.

[krazyaboutkatz]

He looks great now. I hope he'll continue to do well. My cat Storm became blocked twice so he needed to have the PU surgery which makes his opening larger so he pees like a female cat. Since he's been on grain free food,Innova Evo, he hasn't had any more problems. Good luck.

[Tiwi]

I have bad news. Last night he got blocked up again. The doctor said the surgery to fix him would be over $2,000. So we're giving him to a pet sanctuary my mom's friend owns. It was either that or put him down. So they are going to take care of him.
He seemed fine and happy last night.. now we have to give him away. I asked if we could at least visit him and she said no. I'm going to miss him so much. I can't stop crying.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear this but at least the pet santuary can help him. That's too bad that your mom told you that you can't even visit him. I know how expensive these surgeries can be and if I didn't have credit cards there was no way that I would've been able to afford it either. I sure hope that his surgery will go well and that he'll recover quickly and live a long happy and healthy life.

[Catty1]

Oh sweetheart...I am so sorry, you must be heartbroken!

But the best news is that Sammy will be looked after and will be better!

I hope you will be able to visit him at some point - and at least get news that he gets a great home, and maybe you can get updates.

He is such a lovebug, I am sure he will get great humans to train.

I am so sorry that can't be in your family. You are all brave to do what is best for Sammy.

{{{{hugs}}}}