carmenelectra
Cathlete
my vet thinks my cat may have one or the other and I want 2 know what 2 expect TIA
any1 have experience with a cat with urinary or bladder infection?
- Thread starter carmenelectra
- Start date
kathryn
Cathlete
Usually, these are not serious, and go away with a course of antibiotics. Sometimes, if infections are more serious, the vet wil give kitty an antibiotic injection to start things off, otherwise, you just have to give pills to kitty for a certain number of days. As with all antibiotics, make sure you give them on time, and don't miss any, and keep giving them until the prescription is up, even if kitty seems much better (you may not have eliminated all the bacteria, and if you stop the antibiotics, they will come back with a vengeance).
Urinary/bladder infections may cause litter box problems, as in cat's not using the pan (because s/he needs to go urgently). If that's a problem, you may want to get some extra litter boxes and keep them in areas where kitty might go.
Urinary/bladder infections may cause litter box problems, as in cat's not using the pan (because s/he needs to go urgently). If that's a problem, you may want to get some extra litter boxes and keep them in areas where kitty might go.
eminenz2
Cathlete
When my older kitty had a UTI, the most obvious behavior she exhibited was a constant straining to pee - both inside and outside the box. She did this over and over. She wsn't actually peeing, but it looked like it.
She was also a bit depressed and didn't enjoy her food.
The vet gave me an antibiotic and I had to pill her for a couple of weeks. Stick with the meds and hopefully your cat will be on the mend quickly!
If you are worried, please don't be. Cats get these things ALL the time. It's their biological weakness, like colic in horses. It's not something to be treated lightly, but it is something that happens enough that there are effective protocols for dealing with it.
Good luck!
She was also a bit depressed and didn't enjoy her food.
The vet gave me an antibiotic and I had to pill her for a couple of weeks. Stick with the meds and hopefully your cat will be on the mend quickly!
If you are worried, please don't be. Cats get these things ALL the time. It's their biological weakness, like colic in horses. It's not something to be treated lightly, but it is something that happens enough that there are effective protocols for dealing with it.
Good luck!
carmenelectra
Cathlete
Thanks for all the responses - i do feel a bit better cuz he is at least walking and eating a little now. I was a little freaked out at first cuz saturday was his second day not eating and lying on my bed for hours at a time w/o moving. My other cat did this same thing and 2 weeks later I had to put him to sleep due to cancer. He is on antibiotics so hopefully thats doin the trick. Unfortunately I have to fight the little guy to get it down his throat and he gives me the pouty face after - I hate that - it just breaks my heart. Anyway, thanks agin!
materialsgirl
Cathlete
>Giving pills to a cat is like sticking your hand in a wood
>chipper.
Ain't that the truth!!!
I try to avoid pill-form medications for my cats at all costs. There are many antibiotics that can be compounded in different ways - such as a fish-flavored paste that they just eat right up (theoretically), or a gel that is rubbed on the inside of the cat's ears. If the thought of pilling your cat makes you run away in terror, see about having the medication compounded specially in an easier form - it costs more, but IMO, it's worth it.
Your kitty will be fine - don't worry!
>chipper.
Ain't that the truth!!!
I try to avoid pill-form medications for my cats at all costs. There are many antibiotics that can be compounded in different ways - such as a fish-flavored paste that they just eat right up (theoretically), or a gel that is rubbed on the inside of the cat's ears. If the thought of pilling your cat makes you run away in terror, see about having the medication compounded specially in an easier form - it costs more, but IMO, it's worth it. Your kitty will be fine - don't worry!
carmenelectra
Cathlete
<<Giving pills to a cat is like sticking your hand in a wood chipper. >>
haha aint that the truth. I am giving my cat liquid tho so its a little easier but not much. he makes a gagging sound everytime I give it to him like Im choking him to death. Then when Im done, he will run and wont let me touch him fur like 1/2 hour.
haha aint that the truth. I am giving my cat liquid tho so its a little easier but not much. he makes a gagging sound everytime I give it to him like Im choking him to death. Then when Im done, he will run and wont let me touch him fur like 1/2 hour.
kathryn
Cathlete
I tell you, I'd rather give shots (sub-Q, not intravenous or intramuscular) than pills to most of my cats (I give sub-Q fluids to one, and daily insulin shots to another).
Some cats have the "jaw locked like a steel trap" thing down. While others have mastered the "so you think I swallowed it, huh?" followed by your finding the pill later on the floor technique.
Some cats have the "jaw locked like a steel trap" thing down. While others have mastered the "so you think I swallowed it, huh?" followed by your finding the pill later on the floor technique.
There is something the vet can give you to make it eaier to give pills, or my vet did anyway. I don't recall the name. My first cat had bad asthma and had to take pred twice a day her entire life. She was the queen of hiding that blasted pill in her mouth. The vet gave me this litter thing to help put it back further in her mouth and kind of shoot it down.
Colleen
Colleen
kathryn
Cathlete
The vet gave me this litter thing to help put it
>back further in her mouth and kind of shoot it down.
>
>Colleen
"Pillers" work well with some cats.
Also, putting a little bit of margarine or butter on the pill can make it slip down more easily, and keep it from sticking to the tongue.
To pill (have you done it before?) take the cat's head in your non-dominant hand (left, if you're a righty), hand on top of the head with the palm over the eye area, open the jaw by using your fingers at the area where the jaw comes together, hold the lower jaw down with the middle finger of the right (or dominant) hand to help keep it open, and put the pill as far back as you can, in the center, with the first finger and thumb. It helps if you find the person in the house with the smallest fingers. And with short fingernails, so you don't jab the cat and make it unpleasant.
If kitty is really squiggly, then you might have to wrap him/her in a towel first (wrap around the body and front legs, with just the head sticking out. I find that straddling kitty (putting kitty between your legs while you kneel, like you're "riding" the cat, but NOT actually sitting on kitty!) works well for controlling many cats (I use this position for washing ears!)
Dogs can be tricked into gobbling up pills in a ball of food, but cats would just lick around the food and avoid the pill altogether.
>back further in her mouth and kind of shoot it down.
>
>Colleen
"Pillers" work well with some cats.
Also, putting a little bit of margarine or butter on the pill can make it slip down more easily, and keep it from sticking to the tongue.
To pill (have you done it before?) take the cat's head in your non-dominant hand (left, if you're a righty), hand on top of the head with the palm over the eye area, open the jaw by using your fingers at the area where the jaw comes together, hold the lower jaw down with the middle finger of the right (or dominant) hand to help keep it open, and put the pill as far back as you can, in the center, with the first finger and thumb. It helps if you find the person in the house with the smallest fingers. And with short fingernails, so you don't jab the cat and make it unpleasant.
If kitty is really squiggly, then you might have to wrap him/her in a towel first (wrap around the body and front legs, with just the head sticking out. I find that straddling kitty (putting kitty between your legs while you kneel, like you're "riding" the cat, but NOT actually sitting on kitty!) works well for controlling many cats (I use this position for washing ears!)
Dogs can be tricked into gobbling up pills in a ball of food, but cats would just lick around the food and avoid the pill altogether.
carmenelectra
Cathlete
ok guys, in continuation of my cats saga....he now has an open sore on his butt that of course, he is licking all the time. Right near his "whoo-hoo". I plan on bringing in a urine sample to be analyzed after he gets done with antibiotics in a few days. My question is, what the heck is this and could it be related to the initial urinary infection? is the vet gonna be able to do anything about this or should I let it go away on its own?
FiddleFit
Cathlete
Interesting. Now that this topic was raised, my own cat has come down with a UTI/bladder infection of some sort. She had her first bout with this 3 years ago (struvites, specifically). She's 13 years old now, and the vet says this becomes more common with advanced age. I've got her on antibiotics - the pill form.
Over the years I've had to give pills to my cats quite frequently. Kathryn's method of pilling a cat is the one that I use, and I just wanted to add that once you've got the pill as far into the cat's throat as you can, you need to then hold their mouth shut and tickle/pet their throat. This will encourage them to swallow. This technique works very well for me, and I don't have any problems getting the pills in.
I have no idea whether the sore on your cat's rump is related to this. If he's licking the area alot, he may have caused an abrasion? I hope he's okay!
Sandra
Over the years I've had to give pills to my cats quite frequently. Kathryn's method of pilling a cat is the one that I use, and I just wanted to add that once you've got the pill as far into the cat's throat as you can, you need to then hold their mouth shut and tickle/pet their throat. This will encourage them to swallow. This technique works very well for me, and I don't have any problems getting the pills in.
I have no idea whether the sore on your cat's rump is related to this. If he's licking the area alot, he may have caused an abrasion? I hope he's okay!
Sandra
kathryn
Cathlete
I just wanted to add that once you've got the pill
>as far into the cat's throat as you can, you need to then hold
>their mouth shut and tickle/pet their throat. This will
>encourage them to swallow.
I forgot that part! And it works best if you tip their head back a bit while stroking their throat. (And wait until you see their tongue come out to lick their lips, which will mean that swallowing has actually happened...and they aren't trying to fool you!).
Even though they can be tough, I find pills much easier to give than liquids. When I try liquids, there's usually more ON the cat (and me! ) than IN the cat!
>as far into the cat's throat as you can, you need to then hold
>their mouth shut and tickle/pet their throat. This will
>encourage them to swallow.
I forgot that part! And it works best if you tip their head back a bit while stroking their throat. (And wait until you see their tongue come out to lick their lips, which will mean that swallowing has actually happened...and they aren't trying to fool you!).
Even though they can be tough, I find pills much easier to give than liquids. When I try liquids, there's usually more ON the cat (and me! ) than IN the cat!