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5623238 tn?1371237237

Male cat struggling to pee no blockage

Hello,
I'm very worried about my male cat, Buddy. A couple days ago when I got home from work I realized Buddy wasn't there to greet me as he normally is. I searched all over the house and found him in one of the litter boxes. He was hunched over in a strange position. I let him do his business but realized he had not come out for 3 minutes or so. I went back into to check on him and he looked like he was trying to come out of the litter box but was just stagnant with his tail end still in the box. I tried to persuade him out the rest of the way and when I got his back end out I noticed him contracting a little with tiny drops of urine coming out. At this point I was convinced he probably had a UTI. I called the vet to try and set up an appointment as soon as possible, and they informed me to go to the ER vet because he could have a blockage and need immediate assistance. I took him to the nearest ER right away and they checked his vitals and ran a urinalysis. From this they found him to be relatively healthy. There were only trace amounts of white cells, a small amount of proteins found, but no crystallization. They gave him a muscle relaxer and opiate for the pain and to help his urethra relax so he might be able to urinate easier. He urinated quite a large amount on the vets table after they administered these medications. I took him home and he was acting completely fine went straight to his food bowl, drank some water, but still proceeded to go to the litter box several times with only small amounts of urine coming out each time. I took him to his regular vet the following morning where they ran xrays to insure he didn't have any bladder stones. No bladder stones finding there. They sent the xrays to a radiologists to see if there might be smaller stones the xrays couldn't pick up. They found nothing as well. They ran some blood work to make sure his kidneys were functioning properly and all of his blood work returned normal. Upon picking him up the vet explained that he was very confused by Buddy's condition because he's obviously not blocked, doesn't seem to have an infection, he can produce urine and it's healthy (no blood and a clear yellow color) It just seems as if his urethra is not allowing the right amount of urine to come out when he has the need to go. He's said he would speak to the neurologist he knows to see if he might know the reason behind his strange condition. He also prescribed buddy some valium in attempts to to relax him once again so he might pee normally. As of today he is still exhibiting the same litter box behavior. His mood is the same as it always is for the most part he has a great appetite, drinks well, loving, playful, and alert. I gave him his second dose of valium this morning and noticed he's now almost laying down in the litter box with an even smaller amount of urine coming out. I'm scheduled to take him into the vet again today at 4:30 so hopefully he'll have some more answers for me. At this point I've spent an extortionate amount of money. I can't imagine how much more I'll have to spend for giving him some kind of surgery. So naturally I'm hoping this will just go away on its own. I'm sorry this is so lengthy. I know its a bizarre problem I was just hoping there might be someone out there who may know what's going on, or maybe had the same problem with their cat. Thanks for reading.

-Emily
33 Responses
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5623238 tn?1371237237
Hi Everyone,

Today has me feeling even more optimistic. This morning Buddy wasn't showing much improvement from yesterday. I checked all the litter boxes and there was little tiny bloody drops throughout them all. He ate a good bit of his canned food (I added a dose of the Urinary Tract Infection Homeopathic medicine and a tbsp of water) Before I went to work he was in the bathroom and I came in to check on him, and he hissed and growled a little bit because of how irritated and uncomfortable he is :-( I went to work and was worried about him all day. I rushed home and he was at the the top of his kitty condo (his favorite spot) He hasn't been up there for the past few days so I was happy to see him there. And he jumped down quickly, gave a little meow, and stretched and rolled like he used to whenever I get home from work. He was being very loving and I could tell he just wanted comfort. I checked his litter boxes and I found even bigger puddles of urine with barely any signs of blood! I was so relieved to see this. Since I've been home he's only gone to the bathroom a couple times each time with a good amount of urine (compared to the past couple days anyway) and it look pretty clear of blood. He seems to be in such better spirits and more comfortable. He ate a little more of his food from this morning and has been taking little naps here and there. So it seems like to me he's on the road to recovery.
   Thanks to you all again for your continued support. I was very surprised actually that I even got a response to my problem let alone a plethora of helpful tips and kind words. :-)
To Jade59-I was actually considering syringing him water last night so that's funny that you mentioned it. He seems to be taking in water ok today and is eating his high moisture food so I think I'm safe from having to do that for right now. :-)
To Furmom- I've had the circulating water fountain for him now for a few months and he loves it. He also loves playing in the sink water so I've been trying to encourage him to do that more even though his spirits have been down so he's not in the mood for it much. Today he was showing more interest. That would be great if you could find what the anti-spasm medication is called so I can mention it to his vet on Sunday. Thanks!
To Opus-Thank you for the link to the stress relief plug-in I will add it to my growing wish list on Amazon haha. Thank you also for the link about Cystitis and the info on grain free food. I really appreciate it!
To Everyone-check out the new picture I added to my profile of little buddy taking a nap on me. This was today after I got home from work. He's such a sweetheart. Thank you all for everything!!!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I dont' want to upset you with my story but I think I should have you ask the one question since they cant find anything wrong with your cat. My little girl cat age 2, would go outside the litter box  but it was because the litter box reminded her of how much pain she was in, when she would be in the litter. box and try to go. That poor little girl was on meds for something called Idiopathic Cystitis because they couldn't find anything with x-rays and no blockages or no UTI's and they even had her urine specimen sent out to another specialist. But later down the road, they did find ongoing UTI'S and she was on prescription urinary food by Hills and seemed so much better until she wasn't. Then off and on, after spending oodles of money on scripts and tests and Vets, she was laying on my lap and actually urinated on me and jumped off, almost as if embarrassed and started rolling from side to side. due to the pain she was in. I took her to the vet the very next day and she had a major UTI , so at first with an injection of antibiotics, they thought she was doing well and kept her overnight but the very next day she started swelling up because she wouldn't let the urine out and would have died of Septis ,so they had to put her to sleep and because of the pain she was in. Ask your vet is it possible, though,  ignoring the latter part of what I went through, that your cat could have Idiopathic Cystitis, since they can't find anything wrong with him. Males more than females have those UTI's more than females, so they say. Did you change the type of litter or placement of litter box? Anyone different coming to your home or have you moved? Just asking in case anything helps. Cats hate change! They resort to very strange things when they don't want something changed! Sincerely hope you find the answer!
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Glucosamine/condroidin yes the human form, get it in capsules so you can open up and extract the powder. I will try to get you the info asap re brand to buy as there are some safer for cats with limited added ingredients. I think it's Natural Factors but will research that when I can have the time, also the dosage
I will say right now no matter what your Vet recommends do NOT feed dry food, darn they upset me!!! For goodness sakes any research would tell you it's dry food causing the crystals to begin with!!! MUST be wet food only
Read the site catinfo.org
Meanwhile I'll get back to you soon. Plz just let me know you've read this
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi, I appreciate the info in this thread, my cat has same problem. Have you posted the Brand and dosage for Glocosamine/condroitin somewhere? If so may I have the link?
Avatar universal
My male has some crystal formation and the Vet recommended the dry food, ( Urinary trace, etc).  In addition to change to wet food, it seems that ones have had some success in these Herbal type relaxers?  Gluco/Condroytin. Question: Is this the same as what human ingest or is there a cat formula?
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Thanks for sharing this info about Blue Buffalo Spa Weight Control formula.  It's good that you're such a good owner that you were able to put two and two together.

I'm sure that others will find this post very helpful.

Praying that you're kitty will not be blocked from this.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi Katy,

I am sure I do not have to tell you that if there is no pee to watch then it is time to take him to the vets--perhaps for a urinary blockage. Does not take much for male cats to get in this state.

Hope the watch is PEE-ful!!!


Keep us posted !!
CML







Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was looking up information this evening to see if I could find out more about kitties with urination problems.
We have a male cat who is 8 yrs old.  He gets both wet and dry food daily, and drinks enough for a cat. (We found we have to put the water in a coffee mug for him to drink it! Ha!)  

Last year, he started getting struvite crystals in his urethra.  I wanted to let other people know that this change happened in DIRECT correlation to us changing to the Blue Buffalo Spa Weight Control formula dry food. We have used BB for years, but when our vet said our cat could lose a lb or two, we decided to try a weight control food. BAD IDEA!  It was within a month of the change that he started getting struvite crystals for the first time ever. We immediately stopped that food and went back to his regular one. We still have to check him for crystals building up, and give him crnberry juice every other week or so for his urine pH. But I highly advise people NOT to use the BB weight control. I don't know what they changed in that formula, but it created a big problem for our male cat (our female wouldn't eat it).

So, just wanted to share that. We are on "pee watch" tonight to make sure he goes potty - he's not used the litter all evening so far, but has a heavy feel when you pick him up.  Stay safe and don't use that particular formula of dry food for your male cats please!
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
good you are getting the Gluc/chron it will help sooth the bladder and help with spasms...that is probably what your Vet is prescribing the narcotic for...would be much easier on Kitty if the Gluc/Chron could do the job...

I will send you a write up by Dr Pierson...on how to transition dry food addicts over to wet food, she has many hints. I used this advise a few years ago on mine, it too time and patience but it IS possible...go slow, very worth it!!! so don't give up

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi --my kitty Ghost has some protein and a bit of blood in the urine came back on the urinalysis result yesterday. He's been getting in the litter box with only a walnut size of urine coming out each time. I took him to the vet as soon as I noticed the problem and he took an x-ray.  Showed nothing and he felt around for any blockages, but there were none. The vet tried him on a bladder narcotic (type of morphine) because I explained that Ghost was stressed about a kitten we took in this Spring and we're fixing up parts of our house, so there has been a little disarray.  The narcotic made him amazingly drunk and I couldn't give it to him. Then he tried him on an antibiotic.  Now he's had a urinalysis with the above result.  The vet suggests taking one part of the narcotic out of the original serum and trying him on that. I'm changing Ghost's diet to wet food only, but he's really not happy about it.  I'm not sure what to expect from this narcotic, even if it doesn't make him drunk to the point of falling down.  This is confusing. I'm going to order the Gluc and Chron. sulfate and give it a try as well.  Any advice? I'm on board with the diet.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Everyone - thank you so much for all of these thoughts and experiences!  Our kitty rooster is having the same issue,  we've brought him to vet, got all the tests and he's not blocked.  We're introducing wet food and giving him anti spasm meds as well as pain med. This thread makes me feel like we're on the right path for our rooster (weird cat name,  i know).thanks for everyone's input and glad for so many happy endings!
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi Heavnly,

I wish everyone would be as diligent in taking their kits to the vet when problems like this arise. I know the cost can be prohibitive, but there are always ways to pay, that your vet can set up.

Could you please give us an update  on TOD.!

Hope he is feeling much better and peeing like a champ!

CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Hi welcome sorry to hear of kitties issues but you'll be happy to know it's all very treatable. I do hope the Vet checked for crystals????
Be sure an read the very important info on the site I listed above, good luck and keep us updated
Copy:

thanks for the update....sorry I missed your first post, emgo89 hasn't posted on our forum for 2 years so very likely you won't get a response...

I am happy your kitty has finally gotten a diagnosis....now you can take it a step further and know how to help this poor little fella out...
first of all no matter what your Vet tells you PLEASE STOP ALL DRY FOOD, that is the root of his problems without a doubt!!!!!

I urge you to read this site...this Vet is so very knowledgeable abt diets and diseases following her site has totally transformed how I think about cat food...and has made a huge difference in the health of my own cats...I too had one with bladder issues..I beg you to read her site and learn it and you will have a healthy kitty once again...keep us updated. best to you both♥

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you SO very much for posting all this wonderful info on FLUTD.  My baby kitty, Tod (well he is actually 13 years old, but still my baby!) started walking with little drops of urine behind him last night.  It immediately followed him vomiting. It had no blood, but still very much concerned me. He was very distressed about not being able to control his urine and would just stop all dazed and have a little puddle behind him.  After reading about the possibbilty of a blockage online, I rushed him to the vet at 1am.  They thankfully said, no blockage after an x-ray, urine, blood test and exam where they hand-expressed urine.  No blood, but they said the test showed he did have an infection.  He got pain meds and antibiotics.

He's still not happy or comfortable, but I am grateful it wasn't the blockage.  He still has little drops of urine everywhere this morning and I am regretting turning down the spasm medication that they recommended last night as well. However, it is one that we could pick up easily today and I just didn't want to spend money that wasn't necessary.  

I again, very much appreciate all these resources and will arm myself with them when I go back to pick up the spasm meds today.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Good news glad to hear thx for letting us know, stop by anytime:))
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is hopefully my last update here. Our cat is doing fine now. Our vet checked his bladder on Saturday and it was again empty. Even though our cat is only producing a few drops on each urination, he is going so often that he is emptying his bladder himself, so he's on the road to recovery. This morning (Tuesday) again his bladder was empty (even though he's drinking and eating plenty) We've noticed that our cat tends to stop off at many of the extra water containers we placed around the house, this is a great tip to get your cat to drink more. Thanks everyone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Again an update for anyone out there who comes across this forum. Yesterday we brought the cat again to the vet, he hadn't really gone to the toilet at all (except for a few drops each time he tried) but the vet was able to push on his bladder to get the urine out, this he was able to do very easily which he said definitely indicated that the cat was not blocked, he probably has pain when trying to urninate himself.
This morning we noticed some larger clumps in the kitty litter, indicating that he had urinated a bit more than just the few drops he has been doing. The vet checked his bladder again this morning and said it was empty! we are cautiously optimistic!
BTW we put out 4 or 5 little tupperware containers throughout the house with water on his usual walking routes, and he does tend to drink from them so thats a good tip to get your cat drinking more. We have also bought some wet food which he has only licked at but we will persevere!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your reply and the link as well, this is quite an eye opener and it makes sense, I definitely need to discuss this with my vet. Our cat is home now again, without the catheter, fingers crossed that he'll do a pee at some stage tonight! this is so frustrating, the only relief he gets is going to the vet and the catheter yet all the stress involved in going to the vet is certainly not helping things, but with all the dangers involved in him not going to the toilet, I think he's not getting a chance to to get over the stress...sigh.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
thanks for the update....sorry I missed your first post, emgo89 hasn't posted on our forum for 2 years so very likely you won't get a response...

I am happy your kitty has finally gotten a diagnosis....now you can take it a step further and know how to help this poor little fella out...
first of all no matter what your Vet tells you PLEASE STOP ALL DRY FOOD, that is the root of his problems without a doubt!!!!!

I urge you to read this site...this Vet is so very knowledgeable abt diets and diseases following her site has totally transformed how I think about cat food...and has made a huge difference in the health of my own cats...I too had one with bladder issues..I beg you to read her site and learn it and you will have a healthy kitty once again...keep us updated. best to you both♥

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just thought I'd update the status of my cat in case anyone else comes across this. The vet did an ultrasound and said the cats bladder was very inflamed, they're keeping him in for at least another day for observation and treatment with antibiotics.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Emily, My cat is having more or less the same symptoms (except for passing blood). Our vet is puzzled because there is no sign of any blockage. Today he placed a catheter for the second time.What do you think helped in the end? Our vet has not mentioned anything about spasms or valium. We had also been feeding him exclusively dry food, he's now on special urinary tract dry food.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
you mean your kitty cannot pass urine? if this is what he is struggling with it is a medical emergency, his bladder could burst...he is in alot of pain and needs to see a Vet asap....please don't wait.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey have just seen my male cat going through same thing today/tonight.  What do you think was the main fix for buddy?
Thanks in advance for any help
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am soooo glad to hear that your Buddy is doing better!  Hopefully he continues on this path......we all felt bad for the lil guy.  He is such a handsome little guy!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Emily,
  My girl was on all of her medications for about a year.  I would wean her off of them to see if she still needed it and she would start right back up with her issues.  She was always kind enough to pee in my bathroom sinks, I think it was her way of yelling at me. lol  She had blood in her urine as well as the frequent attempts to go and the pained look on her face.  I also went out and bought one of those water bowls that circulates the water and I moved it far away from her food bowl.  The moving water seemed to encourage her to drink more BUT she isn't afraid of water, if your baby is it may not help as much.  I'm not sure what made off of her symptoms disappear but putting her on the grain free diet (she eats Wellness pea and chicken) was when I saw the most improvements.  
My girl was never on valium so I'm not sure if its does the same thing as the anti spasm med she was on, I will dig around and see if I can find her old pills to tell you what the name of it was.  
Helpful - 0
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