Bladder infection

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that Ritzy's condition is more serious than you or the vet had realised. Since she's on a new diet and has been properly diagnosed, I sure hope that she'll make a speedy recovery and continue to remain healthy. Prayers are on the way for a complete and quick recovery.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Oh poor Miss Ritzie I hope she can kick that UTI once and for all. I can imagine she's quite uncomfortable...poor thing I do hope she gets AND STAYS well soon.

[tuxluvr]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
sorry to hear about the relapse and the lack of proper diagnosis the first time, but from personal experience, the new diet shoud do the trick!!! I had at least 4 different cats with 4 different stages of the UTI (one with bladder stones ) before I put the ENTIRE gang on Hill'sPrescription c/d food. Never even a hint of a problem since then.
p.s. I also use bottled water to cut down on the possibilities of minerals in the tap water.

Jen, I asked ab out bottled water, but the vet said it shouldn't be necessary...still, couldn't hurt. He GAVE me a giant bag of the Hills Science Diet (I think as a small consolation for all of the hassles)...and she seems to like it.

Do you know, is the food just supposed to clear out the crystals that are there? I asked so many questions and i believe he told me yes...but if you have experience with this, would appreciate feedback.


I thought Iams was supposed to be good for urinary health - it says so on the bag...but the vet said that cats are like people, some are just more sensitive to things than others....so, we are going this way and will wait and see.

She' s still straining at the litterbox, but is passing urine, so she's not blocked...since the infection seems to have been there for a while, it will also probably take a while to completely shake it off. She's very inquisitive this evening...active and playful....

will keep all posted
Ritzy's mommee

[wolflady]

Awww....poor Ritz! I can imagine how uncomfortable she is. I can totally relate with Scooter and his UTIs. I can't tell you how many times we took him to the vet for the same thing. There were several times where he got tested and no crystals were found...and the last time we went, they found crystals.

Scooter has been put on the same thing that Ritzy is now on, and the vet told me that he has to be on it for the rest of his life, so he doesn't get a relapse. Basically the food will not necessarily remove the crystals (that's what the meds are for...is she still taking meds?...until they pass), but this food will prevent buildup in the future. As long as she likes the food, stick with it and hopefully she'll get to feeling better soon. So far so good with Scooter. He seemed to have a major problem once every year, but it's been a couple of years since his last really bad episode and diagnoses, and we've been keeping him on the special Science Diet prescription food for urinary tract ever since. Until the infection clears up, she will probably still strain a bit, but once it clears up she should be well on her way to recovery with the food! Good luck and give her some extra cuddles for me! I hate seeing our little fur-kids have to suffer like that
**hugs**
Karen

[Cataholic]

How is Ms. Ritz doing today?? I hope better...

[Randi]

tuxluvr, no wonder if you didn't get all the info the vet told you, it can be confusing when you're in the middle of it and your cat is having a hard time. Not to mention the transport!

Hills S/D is supposed to dissolve the struvit stones and Hills C/D is supposed to prevent them. I thought of giving Fister bottled water also - as the vet said, it can't hurt! Another theory is that cats can develop UTI if they get stressed, or from lack of exersise. Could that be the case for Ritzy?

I hope Ritzy is getting better and continues to use the sand box!

Keep us posted, please. Best of luck!!

[tuxluvr]

Well, slowly but surely...keeping fingers and paws crossed...she's peeing a bit more, but still making very frequent visits to litterbox.

She's transitioned to the new food very well. The vet said if she is still straining after finishing the antibiotics (two more doses) to call him and he can put her on some milder antibiotics for another few days, but doesn't want to go overboard on the antibiotics.

Fister, I've read about the boredom and stress thing. We have playtime every day....and although she's a chunk (15 lbs), she honestly doesn't eat that much (the vet was not concerned about her weight). She is a big-framed cat. any suggestions on cat toys and things to keep her occupied are welcome, but she seems to be reasonably well adjusted and active (she makes us get up and play).

The vet did say that cats tend to gain weight more easily on this new food and we may have to work on that, but not to worry about it for now. He didn't feel it was stress related, but that's a hard one to call.

I'll keep you all posted - she's "so far so good" but not 100% yet...but she is more active the last two days than she's been so that's a good sign. I'm hoping we can correct this and put it behind us....but one more vet visit is in the offing - she seems to be handling these better than she used to, isn't afraid of her carrier any more (I got a new "soft sider)

[marysmerrycats]

poor Ritz, and you, I know it's hard to have a sick cat. I hope she continues to get better. about the cat toys, have you tried those wand toys with a feather on the end? some of my cats just love those! or those round toys, some have mice in them, others have balls, but it never comes out, just goes round and round...Cassie and Charlie go crazy trying to get the toy out of there!

Ritzy, get better!

[tuxluvr]

Originally posted by marysmerrycats
poor Ritz, and you, I know it's hard to have a sick cat. I hope she continues to get better. about the cat toys, have you tried those wand toys with a feather on the end? some of my cats just love those! or those round toys, some have mice in them, others have balls, but it never comes out, just goes round and round...Cassie and Charlie go crazy trying to get the toy out of there!

Ritzy, get better!

Marys...I was chuckling as I read the list of cat toys....to myself I was saying "yup, got that one, and that one, and that one too"....she did love the ball in a circle thing, but only for a short time...the feather is a new one and she does like it...that is now our evening play. I don't want her to eat it, so I put it away when we are not home or up.

It seems that she doesn't like to play "byherself" when we are home...."get the mousie" is the fav....we throw the mouse and she retrieves. It seems to be about the only play she wants to do. There is one big "mousie" that she plays with by herself, flinging it into the air.... but mostly she snubs her nose at other toys....I have one of those balls with holes in it for her to get things out of...catnip toys that she thinks stink (tries to "air bury" them)....most of which she has no interest.

I'm thinking we have spoiled this cat! Either that or she has us reallywell trained.

Last night she was exhibiting 'RCO's (random cat outbursts) or what we call "the nine-oclock crazies" where she runs through the house at warp speed for no apparent reason....so that is a GREAT sign.

[smokey the elder]

Oh, Ritzy does the 9:00 crazies too? My cats did that when they were younger.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Originally posted by smokey the elder
Oh, Ritzy does the 9:00 crazies too? My cats did that when they were younger.

LOL Sunny does this several times a day.

[wolflady]

Originally posted by tuxluvr


...Last night she was exhibiting 'RCO's (random cat outbursts) or what we call "the nine-oclock crazies" where she runs through the house at warp speed for no apparent reason....so that is a GREAT sign.

LOL LOL
I can so picture it!! RCOs are quite humerous indeed. I just have to wonder what's going on in their minds, sometimes!

So glad that Ritz took to the food and that she's doing better.
**hugs**
Karen

[tuxluvr]

Last night's RCO consisted of Ritz, first skulking behind the patio door curtains, perusing her outdoor kingdom from indoors..then, this little black head pops out from under the curtain, leaps completely over an ottoman, rips across the living room floor and WAM, dives under the couch head first....just the butt, back legs nd tail sticking out...where she sits for a few seconds, then pops out, tears back over the ottoman, back to the curtain.

Repeat about 5 times....with that classic "wide eyed" look like she's stoned (Scooter taught her this, I'm sure)

They are such fun and it's so nice to see after a few weeks of lethargy

[Randi]

I'm so glad to hear the latest news on Ritzy! Looks like it's working!

Oh, we know of the RCO too! But not until around 23.00 or before bedtime. Fister races around the whole flat and bangs his head into doors etc. I think he does it to adjust his energi level - he IS sleeping most of the day! He also likes to open all the cupboards he can. I guess he wants to make completely sure there's nothing in there which shouldn't be.

He doesn't care much for toy mice, but pulling a string though the flat will get him going - and throwing a ball under the dresser will keep him occupied for quite a while. He'll get it out eventually, and then kick it in again ("by mistake" ) just to try to catch it once more.

[smokey the elder]

TicTAc has RCO's about 6 AM. He'll jump on the bureau, talk to the birds, run around the room, attack the bed monsters, etc. He's better than an alarm clock, now that I need to get my lazy bones out of bed early.