So, my cat, Smoothy, has just come home after spending two nights at the vet's. He had to be catheterised because of a bout of cystitis. The problem is that since we've been back, he's been dripping bits of wee all over the flat. I'm really worried that this might become a habit later on. What should I do to stop my flat from ending up like one big litter tray?
Thanks in advance for your help.
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He’s having accidents in the flat but he’s also using his litter tray a lot, and since yesterday there have been more and more drops; I feel like he’s doing (a bit) better. Even if he is still going a bit everywhere.
As for the dry food, I’ve got about 22 lbs of Hill's Urinary Care s/d. It acts directly on the crystals in his bladder and after three months on that diet, I’ll switch to the c/d range for stress and urinary tract infections, as recommended by the vet and yourselves. :)
Evening, my cat has the same issue. If yours is leaving little drops around the house, it means the cystitis hasn't cleared up! You really need to get back to the vet (especially if they're still doing this after finishing their treatment). Your cat feels the need to go but can't quite manage it; they're straining and only a few drops are coming out because a sort of "grit" or small stones are blocking the way. It’s dangerous if you just leave it, so you definitely need to see a vet as soon as possible. Obviously, don't scold your cat for these little accidents—they aren't doing it on purpose, they're poorly.
This recurring issue is often down to stress—either the cat is naturally anxious or their environment is very stressful. The best way to prevent it is to make sure their home life is calm and consistent. For instance, too much forced "cuddling" or lots of shouting and noise can really set them off.
There is a specific dry food (which my cat is on) that is prescribed for cats with this problem, and it really helps or even stops the issue entirely. It’s called "Hill's Prescription Diet Urinary Care Stress". You can order it through your vet, but the only downside is that it isn't perfectly suited to a cat's natural diet (like most kibble, really) as it contains far too many grains and not enough protein. Remember, cats are obligate carnivores. This often leads to obesity and constant hunger because while their stomach is full, their nutritional needs aren't being met, which triggers hunger and can sometimes lead to fur loss and other health issues. For my cat, who used to get cystitis all the time (she’s a very anxious girl with a difficult past), this food worked and the flare-ups gradually stopped, but it did lead to her putting on weight, losing fur on her tummy, and being constantly hungry because of the low protein levels. So, the best thing is to use this food to get the cystitis under control—making sure you're portioning it correctly for their age and size—and then supplement it with some bits of fresh meat at least every couple of days.
Thanks for the update, that’s really kind of you!
So, the vet reckons everything should be getting back to normal then?
We’ve got everything crossed here—fingers, paws, and pads—that his bladder function gets back to normal... and stays in the litter tray!!!
I’ve got to keep an eye on him. The vet told me that if he wasn't passing anything at all I should be worried, but he’s doing a few drops here and there around the flat and he’s still on medication. The next three days will be crucial for his recovery.
