Nikkita has crystals.....

**carole** · 03-10-2010, 08:34 PM

Oh thank you so much from the both of us.

**Momto4FemaleFelines** · 03-12-2010, 09:00 AM

Aw, I'm sorry to hear Nikkita has crystals.

I wonder if you know the importance of knowing if her PH is high or low and the ways you can attempt to keep that level. Sometimes keeping the PH levels correct can go a long way to hold off the UTI and crystals issues.

I've done quite a bit of research and asking around about UTI issues because of the problems I had with Tiger Lily, whom I ultimately had to re-home due to her stress of living with other cats and the escalating fighting problems between her and Molly and Kit.

Cats with urinary issues should eat all wet food, no dry. Knowing the PH and finding ways to keep it at the right levels is also very important. None of that helped with Tiger Lily's stress levels, though. And it was her stress that kept throwing her PH off. She never had crystals. But the PH being off can lead to crystals.

If Nikkita's issue is high PH you might want to have the water you use tested to see what the PH in that is. If it's higher than 6.5, you might want to try to find a bottled water to use or invest in some kind of filter that lowers PH(I don't even know if there is such a thing, though). As well as learning what foods promote a healthy PH level.

**astrid** · 03-12-2010, 09:07 AM

I know I haven't posted in this thread but I want you to know that from the moment I read Nikkita is not OK I have kept her in my prayers, I also lit a candle for her and with all my heart I do hope she's feeling better and gets well soon. God bless you.
Have a beautiful day!

**carole** · 03-12-2010, 02:28 PM

Thank you from Nikki and Me Astrid and everyone else for their prayers, kind words, and advice.

Momto4FemaleFelines I am rather puzzled though about your suggestion that she only eat wet food, the diet prescribed by the vet for my lexie who had the problem about three years ago, is dry biscuits, and what Nikki will eventually be put on as well.
Apparently the PH level was not too high, infact everything was not too bad at all according to the vet.

She seems happier now ,each day a little better and she used the litter box this morning, she is a cat who goes long periods without needing the toilet,one thing though from the tests her kidneys are fine and she does not have diabetes,which i also was worried about.

Again thank you everyone for your concern and well wishes,they must be working.,the miracle of PT works its magic yet again.

**Pinot's Mom** · 03-13-2010, 08:09 AM

Carole, how did I miss this thread completely??? I'm so sorry Nikki has issues; glad she seems to be feeling better, though. Please accept my apologies I didn't write sooner, and give Nikki special kisses for healing from me & Pinot.

**columbine** · 03-13-2010, 08:18 AM

What MomTo4FemaleFelines said is what my vet said to me - that the pH determines the type of crystals and what should be done about them, and that wet food and plenty of water are the key. Smudge isn't a big fan of wet food, so I get [looks left and right] the kind that starts with T

and mix in plenty of extra water along with his various medicines (skin & coat, Cosequin for his urinary tract, antihistamine for allergies, and fiber supplement) and he will eat that. I even got him a kitty water fountain - but he was afraid of it! Luckily he's much more enthusiastic about drinking out of a glass bowl in the living room than a steel one in the kitchen, and he's fine now.

Maybe the most important thing I did, although it was serendipitous, was put him on grain-free food (which I did because of his allergies). His crystals (struvite) were the kind that form when a cat's urinary pH is too high, and grain does drive up the pH. So between the Cosequin, which will also help keep his joints comfortable, and the grain-free food and extra water, he's quite the comfy kitty these days.

Love, Columbine

**krazyaboutkatz** · 03-13-2010, 12:15 PM

Carole, I'm so sorry to hear about Nikkita.

I've been through this with my Storm and he even needed the PU surgery because he became blocked 2 times. He was on Royal Canin Urinary S/O both canned and dry and I would also add some water to the canned to give him more moisture. Now he's on a grain free diet and he eats mainly canned food with water added to it. So far he's done very well and the most important thing is that he loves his food. I hope that her new diet will help her. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

**katladyd** · 03-13-2010, 05:40 PM

My Ming had chronic crystals and blockages until my vet put him on amytriptiline, wet food (with gravy or water), and Purina One for Urinary Tract Health. He has not had either crystals or a blockage in 15 months, knock on wood. They can eat dry, it just has to be one that balances their pH levels.

**carole** · 03-13-2010, 09:22 PM

ok thanks for the explanations, my vet is recommending the same food as for Lexie, so i guess i will just have to got with that and hope it works, it has so far for Lexie, so i have good faith in them.