Never-ending cystitis

Noisette35
Noisette35 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

My little cat is back home after staying at the vet's for three days.

Following yet another bout of cystitis which got worse this time, he had to be 'catheterised'—if that's the right word—to unblock him so he could pee again.

He’s still quite shaken up, especially since I picked him up in a right state, with his claws torn and blood in his carrier. He must have been struggling a lot during those three days.

He doesn't like being in unfamiliar surroundings. Yet, he’s such a sweet cat who loves a cuddle.

I asked the clinic what I could do to stop it from happening again, and they just said, "You need to give him our Royal Canin Urinary dry food."

But that’s actually what I’m already giving him. Along with some grain-free wet food.

They told me, "If he’s on this dry food, he shouldn't have any problems. You must be overfeeding him; anyway, your cat is overweight, he needs to lose weight."

The problem is that today, four days later, he’s in the exact same state as when I first took him to the vet.

He keeps going to his litter tray all the time and can't manage to pee. He’s even had spots of blood...

I’m starting to get desperate seeing him suffer like this.

I contacted the vet, and they told me to bring him back in.

I asked what they were going to do, and they said he’d need to be catheterised again!

So I asked if there wasn't another solution because clearly the catheter didn't work!

They told me that if he still can't pee, it’s the only way.

Then I asked if I’d have to pay again, because I’ve already paid around £340. They replied, "Of course you'll have to pay; it’s not our fault your cat is ill."

Now I feel completely hopeless, so I’m looking for your help and advice—what can I do?

Should I let them catheterise him again, only four days after the last time, knowing it didn't seem to change much?

Honestly, I’m losing faith in vets and I feel like I'm being ripped off. I can't afford another £340. If I have to, of course, I’ll find a way.

But do we really have to go through this and put my cat through more pain?

He’s only five years old; does he deserve to go through all this?

What is the solution?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Never-ending cystitis

Photo: Kaly back home after three days at the vet's.

Translated from French
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32 answers
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    • L
    Lyzzza Icon representing the flag French
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    I had a vet (he’s an absolute pro) who used to take urine samples by going straight into the bladder with a needle, right through the tummy. He’d draw the urine out like that for testing; the cat never felt a thing and didn't need to be admitted. You often see him on the telly, actually—a fantastic vet. "When stress is the trigger for cystitis, or if no clear cause is found, you should try to make the cat's environment as peaceful as possible: pheromone diffusers, more litter trays, keeping the cat more active (toys)..." I couldn't find anything to help them actually pass urine, like a muscle relaxant, for example. If it happens again and he has to be catheterised under anaesthetic every time, the poor thing! Especially with the vet he has now. Finding a competent and caring vet seems like the top priority for Noisette.
    Translated from French
    L
    Lyzzza Icon representing the flag French
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    First of all, you need to find out what’s actually causing the cystitis—whether it’s a UTI, bladder stones, or if it’s idiopathic. Has the vet done a urinalysis? If it is a UTI, you might want to look into Dorwest products. I’ve used their Garlic & Fenugreek tablets on my dog with great results. I noticed they also have a "urinary comfort complex" by Floralpina. The website explains everything—ingredients, causes, dosage, and customer reviews. They have a phone number too, so you can give them a ring to discuss the issue and they’ll give you some advice. The Dorwest tablets are quite large, but they do sell pill crushers. The Floralpina urinary complex is a liquid, which might be easier to use. They also have products for anxiety, though I haven't checked if they can be used long-term. You can probably find these products on other sites too, but I chose this one because it’s easy to navigate and you can get advice over the phone. Hi Kalou, If he’s already had cystitis 10 times, it’s bound to be idiopathic. "One study showed that in over 60% of cases, diagnostic tests fail to identify the cause of cystitis in cats; in these instances, it’s referred to as idiopathic cystitis. Research conducted on cats shows that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are actually very rare: fewer than 2% of cystitis cases in cats are caused by bacteria (compared to 20% in dogs)." On page 1 of the first link I gave to Noisette, there’s a list of all the tests that are done to rule out a physical cause. Since this has been going on for a while, it’s clear that bacteria and stones have already been ruled out. The fact remains that we don't know the cause and we need to find it, as these cats are much more sensitive to stress than others.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I have a vet (he’s a real pro, mind) who would take urine samples by going straight into the bladder with a needle, right through the tummy. He’d just draw the urine out like that to test it; the cat never felt a thing and didn't need to be kept in. You often see him on the telly, actually – a brilliant vet.
    Translated from French
    Blue_Cat
    Blue_cat Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi @Noisette, The problem when a cat can't pee is that they usually need catheterisation; otherwise, it can be fatal if the bladder isn't emptied. That is the most urgent step. However, a catheter can really irritate the urethra, which causes the cat pain and stops them from urinating. Cystitis is a real nightmare to deal with... Then, of course, you need to have some tests done to find out the root of the problem. Royal Canin Urinary dry food usually clears up struvite crystal issues; my previous British Shorthair had the same thing, and that diet stopped the cystitis completely. Like the others, I think you should look for a different vet. Make sure to explain everything that has already been done, but try to avoid bad-mouthing the previous vet (even if they definitely deserve it...). Vets tend to stick together and can be wary of clients who criticise their colleagues. You can find tutorials online that show you how to help a cat pee by massaging the bladder. If a stone is blocking the tract, the cat won't be able to urinate at all, and that is a life-threatening emergency. If the urine is coming out in spurts, I’d suspect severe, painful irritation rather than a full blockage. It’s a difficult situation for both you and your cat. Having them stay at the vet's costs a fortune, and that money would have been better spent on in-depth exams to diagnose the underlying issue, even though cystitis is complex and often down to multiple factors. Hang in there, both of you. Please keep us posted.
    Translated from French
    Schtroumphy
    Schtroumphy Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, I’m definitely not qualified enough to help you, but the one tip I can give is the same one you’ve already had: you absolutely must change vets. Have all 10 bouts of cystitis over the last 3 years been treated by the same vet? If so, has he never even done an X-ray?! Bearing in mind that recurring cystitis can, although rare, be caused by a malformation. You should always look for the underlying cause, even with the very first bout. Blaming it on stress is a last resort for when you can’t find any other cause, but you actually have to look for one in the first place. Anyway... I’m in no position to criticise a vet’s work, but I really feel like nothing is right here. I’m not saying he isn't doing his job, but it clearly seems like a case where he’s completely out of his depth. (And no, he isn’t fat. Depending on the size of the cat, some are much heavier than others without actually being overweight. He’s a very handsome boy, though!) :)
    Translated from French
    Noisette35
    Noisette35 Icon representing the flag French
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    He’s already had about 10 bouts of cystitis in the last 3 years.
    Translated from French
    Noisette35
    Noisette35 Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes, I've got the bills, but I don't have the answers to your questions.

    They cover the drip, the hospitalisation, and the prescribed medication (Baytril, an anti-spasmodic, and Metacam).

    Translated from French
    Noisette35
    Noisette35 Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for those links. I think it must be idiopathic cystitis, actually. In his case, it’s definitely down to stress, even though he has no real reason to be stressed – he’s spoilt rotten and lives out in the country, but that's just his personality.

    Ulalie, that’s a good idea about the water. I’ve got a Brita filter, so that’s perfect.

    I’m still looking for a good vet to look after him in my area; it’s proving quite hard to find one at the moment.

    One thing's for sure: I won't be going back there. On top of their snide remarks, they didn’t even manage to remove the catheter and the dressing. I had to do it myself. I really don’t think that’s very professional.

    Translated from French
    L
    Lyzzza Icon representing the flag French
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    He hasn't had any X-rays, unfortunately. Human antidepressants? Isn't that a bit dangerous? I've used Zylkene before, maybe I should try it again. But would that mean he'd have to be on it for the rest of his life? That was 150 years ago, Noisette 🙂 We've found things much more suited to cats since then, but the experts still don't really know the exact cause of these types of cystitis. When it’s crystal-related cystitis, there are solutions if an internal problem is found (Ulalie). One of my cats had a blockage like that; he had to be catheterised. He had some small stones that were dissolved and after that, that was it—no more recurrences.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    What really baffles me is keeping the cat in for three days for a urinary catheter; that’s an age. No wonder the poor thing lost it, poor little soul. There are some right vets out there, real characters! You get the best and the worst...
    Translated from French

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