Help with Charlie... update #16

[NoahsMommy]

Personally, I don't think his thin stature nor his meowing are cause for concern, espeically if he's been like that since you got him. Some kitties, like your hubby said, are just smaller, thinner. Some are plumper. Just like people - its his breeding, just normal for him.

Some kitties are MUCH more vocal than others. Phoebe and Micah are my vocal kitties, they make noises and meow all the time, almost like they're talking to me.

But, the urine issue...that's where you need to worry. A vet visit is certainly in order. They'll take a urine specimine and check it for crystals. Typically, if a cat has a UTI, they have a hard time in thier litterboxes and then seek out more comfy places to urinate - thus your soft, fleece blanket. Its actually very common for a kitty with a UTI or stool issues, like chronic diarrhea, to seek out soft alternatives for going potty. When my Micah (who has Inflammatory Bowel Disease) was having really, really bad diarrhea (so bad he'd cry in the litter box ), we found he was using a down comforter in our closet to pee on. The vet said this was normal behavoir for kitties that had urine/stool issues.

When kitties have ANY urine issues, you want to RUN, not walk to the vet. I'm not trying to scare you, but urine issues can lead to kidney damage and very quickly death. Please take Charlie to the vet ASAP...if its just a mild UTI, they'll give you some antibiotics and he'll get all better. If its something more serious, time is of essence.

Please keep us updated on your sweet Charlie. He's such a cute tuxie!

Hugs, Kelly

P.S. One of our males was also cryptorchid - meaning his testicles weren't distended. We thought the kitty was a girl!! When I brought HIM and his sister in for their spays, the vet was examining him and found his penis! We were shocked!! When he finally has his neuter, it was abdominal because one of his testes was all the way up inside his abdoman. He had a longer recovery, of couse...and got a name change from Emma to Samson!

[Freedom]

Some male cats are vocal all their lives, my Amber was. (Mr. Amber Cat.) So I wouldn't worry about that.

The thinness seems to bother you. They could do a blood test for thyroid issues. Overactive thyroid is common in cats, but older than your boy. Amber was 5 when he developed thyroid issues. They eat a LOT, often eat more than 6 times per day, can't go all night with OUT eating, and keep losing weight. If Charlie has always been thin, that is different than losing weight, thought.

The peeing and spraying, I can't really say. Amber sprayed all his life, drove me nuts. He was neutered, no issues with his neutering, either. Talk with the vet about that.

These are just some thoughts.