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I have A Himalayan male cat who had a urinary blockage.
He was at the emergency vet for three days and was cleared to go home and has been doing good since, but he is peeing everywhere except his litter box. They said this would be expected but it has been longer than they said and he has no desire to use his box.
Has anyone else had this issue and how did you help fix it?
Why are the majority of Harford County veterinarians charging $400-$650 to spay/neuter a cat or kitten? Only a few offer under $200 surgeries for what is generally a very simple and quick procedure – I know, as I assist at low-cost spay/neuter clinics. Cecil County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County all offer the same procedure for less than half the going rate in Harford. Several local veterinarians, when clients balk at pricing, are referring them to rescue groups rather than offering a reasonable price for an operation that is ESSENTIAL to the animal’s well-being and longevity, not to mention eliminating unwanted litters.
What can Harford residents do to force changes to make our county more cat friendly and help owners wanting to do what’s right but not at unreasonable cost?
I’d guess the low cost clinics don’t do pre-op bloodwork? Furthermore, costs of everything have gone WAY up, and shelters/rescues are funded with donations and fundraising efforts while veterinarians have businesses to run and employees to pay.
I find $400 to be quite fair. We paid around $700 for our Doberman’s spay about 6 years ago.
Hi, my vet recommended that I give my long-haired cat malt paste every three days or so. I’m seeing that there are lots of brands and prices. Do you have any product suggestions? What should I look for in a quality malt product?
Thank you!
For what reason was this recommended?
I took her in for her yearly exam and the vet said that it would help prevent a hairball blockage given that she has long hair. (As of now I don’t think this has ever been an issue, she rarely vomits, etc. and she doesn’t have any health issues.)
My cat seems to have a urine blockage. I can’t afford to take him to a vet, I really don’t want to put him down just for this. Please help me, save my buddy. He’s barely going to be a year old in February.
I’m sorry, but this is an emergency. He WILL die if he doesn’t get immediate medical attention. Please try to get funds – gofundme, Care Credit, borrow from friends and family.
Looks very normal to me. Ask your vet to look at it in person if you are worried.
I feel like when it rains it pours, we just had our dog down for 3 weeks with a herniated disc and IVDD, now, our 2 year old cat started acting weird. Meowing, howling, laying in the litter box. It’s Christmas Day and we cannot afford an emergency vet visit. What do we do? I suspect it’s a UTI, I just want him to be okay until the morning.
Hello,
Based on this brief description I am very worried that your cat has a urinary blockage which is often fatal if not treated. I’m sorry but I cannot advise anything except to go immediately to the closest ER.
There is no at home treatment and hoping it’s a uti and being wrong may very well cost your cat their life.
My cat’s teeth are yellow, she has black spots on her gum, also she has a bad breath ,what should i do ?
My 3 yo male nuetered tuxedo cat Kenobi was diagnosed with FIC by the ER DVM yesterday with no blockage. He is peeing just a dime size at a time. Should I also give him Apple Cider Vinegar as his PH was 7.0 ? Other than his urinary levels, red blood cells in his urine, struvite crystals, his blood work was good with no infection. The ER DVM gave him ; Buprenorphine, Prazosin, & Gabapentin. We have changed his food to all wet Royal Canin Urinary SO from mainly kibble with some wet. We think the stressor was the absence of our 19 yo tabby Tinkerbelle we had to help cross over 2 weeks ago. Should I get Kenobi a companion kitten to replace Tinkerbell? We also are buying a water foundation as he does not drink water enough.
Hello,
I would ask your vet about the following;
Giving sq fluids at home daily, adding a short course of a steroid and the latest opinion on prazosin’s efficacy. (I don’t use it).
Also I don’t use vinegar.
These are a matter of experience and preference. Therefore please ask your vet or find a feline only practitioner to help.
Thank you for your reply. Ill ask but given this study I don’t see why she would.
Summary
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Prazosin administration increased the likelihood of rUO by 14 days; ongoing investigation of other therapies to decrease rUO in cats is warranted. Without specific indications, the use of prazosin for the prevention of rUO should be discouraged.
Link
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/S2/javma.21.10.0469.xml
He is doing better this AM and has had at least 2 large urine eliminations during the PM, one I would consider normal. the other the size of a gold ball ( litter clump) We administered 1/2 teaspoon of H2O and ACV orally x2 last night. 1x this am. along with prescribed meds. He is running around to get to food bowl , face rubbing, purring, jumping on the bed, acting like his old self . I plan to continue to water his wet food. He does not seem to drink well. We have bought a fountain to encourage water consumption. He likes to drink directly from the tap so maybe that will work.
I took my male cat to the vet and they told me he need a catheter to help him pee because he has a blockage. They suggested me to take him to a vet ER overnight but unfortunately I can’t afford it. They gave me the option of bringing him tonight Saturday with the catheter and take him Monday morning so they can take it off. Any helpful tips so I can properly take care of him ?
Hello.
Call your regular vet and every shelter and rescue asking for help or affordable referral. In almost all cases these are an emergency. In some cases a steroid and fluids will help. But you have to be prepared for the emergency that might occur.
I am in Dallas, TX. My 6 years old male cat Simba had urinary blockage which was cleared by my vet. Now, my vet wants me to go for PU surgery. Does anyone know affordable vet clinic in dallas area for the surgery?
Thx!
Hello
I’m sorry. I don’t. Call every rescue and shelter and ask around. If you find anyone please let us know.
Very best of luck
Have you tried cat attract litter? Or moving the box? Or *changing* the box to a different style? He probably associates the litterbox with pain, so changing things up should be the next thing. Also make sure you use an enzymatic cleaner for the messes.
Hi Laura, thank you for your response. I guess I should have mentioned what I have Done. I have Two litter box in his room with two different kinds of litter and do use an enzymatic cleaner to clean the messes. I will Try moving the boxes around to see if that makes any difference.
Are you using cat attract litter?
How about dirt? I know that freshly turned dirt attracts cats, so why not try that? (Make sure it’s plain old organic topsoil with no additives.)
Hello
I would add that in cases like this I place the cat in a large crate. They stay in the crate for whatever time it takes to retrain them. Like a dog crate. Place newspaper on the bottom. Then add a litter box and bed. If they aren’t using the litter box in the crate then remove the litter box and place litter over the newspaper. If they aren’t using it then I rem e the bed. Therefore the only thing their feet feel is litter. I should also add that I let the cat pick the litter they like by giving them Potok s. Like place clumping litter in one area. Non clumping in another. Try sand. And try potting soil. Some cats just have a preference and you never know what that is until you offer it. Also people need to be thinking about litter boxes. Some cats want open. Some want covered. Some want big and flat. Others hidden and quiet.
If the cat still isn’t using it I add a medication for stress and pain. Maybe gabapentin. Or fluoxetine. But there are others.
Ask your vet. Or find a feline vet who only sees cats. They are often great resources.
Hope this helps.
Hi krista , thank you for the suggestions. I will Try those ideas. He has started to slowly come around to using it and it’s 50/50 now if he’s in the box or on the floor. He does have gabapentin and zylkene to help lower his stress. Will update with results!